1. Stop to be Silly! Nick Bilbrough info@horizonlanguagetraining.co.uk

2. Silly suggestions.. Let’s all… ( + verb) Why don’t we…. ( + verb) It might be a good idea if we..( + verb 2) I’d strongly recommend…( +verb –ing) I’d really be up for ( +verb –ing)

3. A teacher of English in Chile Said ‘People learn best when they’re silly’ So up stood a student Who’s normally prudent And showed off his pants which were frilly

4. A man from the Isle of Wight Could travel much faster than light He set off one day In the usual way And returned on the previous night

5. A m f t I o W C t m f t l H s o o d I t u w A r o t p n

6. One fine day, in the middle of the night Two dead men got up to fight Back to back, they faced each other Drew their swords and shot each other (Anon)

9. He’s Barack Obama He doesn’t like drama He always wears armour It makes him feel calmer He’s Barack Obama

11. He’s Tom Cruise He likes jumping queues While wearing high heeled shoes And listening to the blues That’s why he has a bruise And he’s always in the news He’s Tom Cruise

12. night light bite right fright bright shoe through glue knew two you farmer drama charmer pyjamas armour calmer hates dates weights states plates creates ears years tears beers hears cheers Snow White /a ɪ / Winnie the Pooh /u ː / Britney Spears / ɪ ə/ Bill Gates /e ɪ / Barack Obama / ɑ :/ and /ə/

13. By the way I want to say That from today I ’ m going to stay By the way

14. it’s up to you have a go just in time by any chance If you ask me If I were you just as well all day long where’ve you been? the last but one I know what you mean you never know have a drink never mind guess what? whatever you want If you like good for you from now on too bad I couldn’t care less

15. From Sweet (1899) The Practical Study of Languages The philosopher pulled the lower jaw of the hen… ….and then went and had a nice cup of tea with the anthropologist.....and decided to become a vegetarian......but still could find no answer as to how languages are learnt.

16. Puns Did you hear about the man who lost the whole left side of his body? He’s all right now. Why is it a problem if you get sick at the airport? It could be a terminal illness. Two aerials got married. The wedding was pretty bad but the reception was great. A hole has been discovered in a nudist camp wall. The Police are looking into it.

17. Silly gapfills 1) Job = 2) Verb+ing = 3) Verb+ing =

18. Adapted from ‘Laughing Matters’ by Peter Medgyes (CUP 2002) Man: May I ask what qualifications you have? Woman: I’m a 1)______ Man: So that’s why your English is so good! Any other skills you may have? Woman: I have advanced 2) ______ skills Man: That’s wonderful! I have to admit this job involves a lot of 3) ________ Woman: Oh, that’s no problem. I love 3) ________

19. Write down something for each number 1)Place 2)Means of transport 3)Thing you find in a house 4)Activity (verb+ing)

20. A: And it’s easy to get to 1) ______ from here, yes? B: Very easy. The 2) ___________ stops right outside the house. A: And I’m allowed to use the 3) ________, am I? B: Yes, but please don’t do any 4) ________ at night. It’s very noisy for the neighbours.

21. Silly Grammar 1234567 fryingumbrellateacherspoke

22. Silly Grammar 1234567 While I was fryinga/an/the/m y/your umbrellaa/an/the/m y/your teacherspoke ironingbraindoctorexploded cuttingpenciltigersmoked swallowingmotorwaycowflew washingdustbinsalmonwhistled pushingwindowmonkeycried countingcomputerpolicemandied

23. References Language Play, Language Learning - Guy Cook (OUP 2000) Laughing Matters – Peter Medgyes (CUP 2002) Memory Activities for Language Learning– Nick Bilbrough (CUP 2011)