By Robert Dobie, M.Ed./TESOL
Throughout the 'All Things Grammar' site, as well as the 'All Things Topics' site, you can find close to one hundred Pair Work Discussion activities.
On each one-page file, there are ten 'Student A' questions - and ten 'Student B' questions. Each activity file is based on a particular grammar point or topic. These files are among the most popular on the sites because they are simple and easy to use, and they immediately get your students talking.
But did you know that there's a lot more you can do with them? The suggestions below focus on 'before', 'during' and 'after' activities that will help you get the most out of the Pair Work Discussion activities.
On each one-page file, there are ten 'Student A' questions - and ten 'Student B' questions. Each activity file is based on a particular grammar point or topic. These files are among the most popular on the sites because they are simple and easy to use, and they immediately get your students talking.
But did you know that there's a lot more you can do with them? The suggestions below focus on 'before', 'during' and 'after' activities that will help you get the most out of the Pair Work Discussion activities.
'BEFORE' Activities
Before giving the handout (already cut up into ‘A’ and ‘B’ sections), consider incorporating a listening/spelling component into the activity by dictating the first two or three sentences of each of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ question sheets. In addition to providing a bit of blended learning practice, you’ll be better able to focus your learners’ attention onto the grammar aspect of the questions. After checking and correcting* the sentences, you could, for example, zero in on (and briefly discuss) the use of the grammar target. This may help your learners to realize that more is going on here than simple discussion practice – they should be, ideally, making an effort to use the grammar, and to use it correctly.
*There is no need to check each learner’s work. After dictating a few sentences, simply have a few students write their sentences on the board for all their classmates to see. Encourage assistance (if needed) from your students who are seated.
*There is no need to check each learner’s work. After dictating a few sentences, simply have a few students write their sentences on the board for all their classmates to see. Encourage assistance (if needed) from your students who are seated.
'DURING' Activities
During the interview activity, you might consider putting a twist on things by telling your students to lie about one of their answers. At the end of the activity, each member of the pair can then make a guess as to which of their partner's answers was a lie. Not only is this fun, but it will encourage each pair to listen for meaning much more attentively.
Just be sure that guess are held off until the end of the activity.
Also, be sure to tell your students to try to tell convincing lies – otherwise, some students may ‘spill the beans’ (expose the lie) by saying something that is obviously not true (for example, “Last weekend, I travelled to the South Pole,” while possible, would nevertheless almost certainly be a lie.)
Just be sure that guess are held off until the end of the activity.
Also, be sure to tell your students to try to tell convincing lies – otherwise, some students may ‘spill the beans’ (expose the lie) by saying something that is obviously not true (for example, “Last weekend, I travelled to the South Pole,” while possible, would nevertheless almost certainly be a lie.)
'AFTER' Activities
Okay, so your learners have just finished the pair work discussion activity. They have found out some pretty interesting details of their classmate. Now what? Well, at the conclusion of any good book or movie, what you most probably want to do is talk about it with some of your family or friends. Likewise, your learners will likely welcome the chance to sit (or stand) with a new partner and briefly discuss what they found out about their previous partner. This is truly communication for a purpose.
You can assist and give structure to this activity-wrap up by writing the short dialog on the board before the interviews end:
A: Who did you talk to?
B: I talked to ….
A: What interesting things did he / she tell you?
B: ….
You can assist and give structure to this activity-wrap up by writing the short dialog on the board before the interviews end:
A: Who did you talk to?
B: I talked to ….
A: What interesting things did he / she tell you?
B: ….
For the complete downloadable list of all 90+ Pair Work Discussion activity files, just click here: