Freer speaking activities

‘Grammar for Language Teachers’ course

ContentsWhat are freer speaking activities?

Why have freer speaking activities?What makes them successful?

What problems can arise?

Accuracy FluencyControlled practice

Freer practice

Why have freer

speaking activities?

Isn’t this just conversation practice?

Language input Speaking Language

input

Language input Speaking Language

input

Language input Speaking

PPP

PresentationPracticeProduction

Language input

Speaking

Task Based LearningDogme

Language input Speaking Language

input

What makes them

successful?

Example activity 1

A good friend• Name

• How I know her

• Job/family etc

• Why I like her 1. Think about a friend of yours

2. Tell your partner about them

3. Your partner must ask you two

questions afterwards

Language input Speaking Language

input

Adjectives of personality

Describing people

Example activity 2

Parents

TeenagersIs there any chance of –ingWould you mind if I –ed

I’d be really careful…

I don't think that’s a great idea.I’d like to but….

If you borrowed it, you’d probably….

Parents

Error Correction

If you would borrow the car, you would crash!

Please let me to borrow it!

You will accident.

Language input Speaking Language

input

What makes them

successful?

An interesting

topic

Note: Cultural sensitivity

Personalisation

Warm upModel

Time for preparation

PurposeStructure

Stru

ctur

e

Level

A bit of conflict can help!

Relaxed atmosphereEven participationAppropriate level

Problems 

You want to give up smokingYour child is being bullied at schoolYou have a really bad headacheYou’ve lost your job.Your girl/ boyfriend has left you.Your life is boring.

How would you set this up?

What problems can arise?

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.

Learners are unable to express themselves.

Learners feel inhibited

Learners have nothing to say.

Learners are unclear about what to do.

Some learners are silent, others do all the talking.

Learners use their mother tongue.

Learners make lots of mistakes with the language.