Humanising Language Teaching
Year 3; Issue 1; January 2001

Level: beginners +
Time: 30 m. to 1 lesson the first time, from them on, 'empty' spaces during the lessons (e.g. whenever a student finishes an activity ahead of time, or when you want to make a 5 minutes rest)
Outcomes: this activity has two complementary types of outcomes, the first has to do with multi-abilities groups, and it is, first, to provide both an opportunity for the kinaesthetic students in the group to move 'legitimately' and, also, to offer something interesting to do to those students who always finish their work ahead of the others.
The second type of outcome has got to do with group dynamics and the development of good relational skills and interpersonal intelligence. The ribbons create a frame to encourage the students to relate to each other in a respectful manner, focusing on respective strengths.
Materials/Preparation: you will need to take to the class papers or cardboard, pieces of ribbons or cord, and also something to fix the cardboard pieces to the wall (you can use blue tack to stick them to the wall, or pin them to a corkboard)
If possible give each student a list of the students in the group, or ask them to write their own list.
Note: real ribbons can be expensive, what I do is I cut some pieces of old of cheap cloth into strips.
Procedure: Tell the students that they need to prepare a card with their names on it written in big, legible letters. Give them paper or cardboard to prepare their names cards. Half a A4 sheet of paper is big enough. Once they have the card with their name, they have to tie a piece of ribbon or cord to it. About a meter long, though it doesn't really matter if it is longer or shorter.
When their 'ribbon' is ready they stick it on the wall, ribbon hanging down. If more than one group is working in the same space, it is better to arrange a space for each group.
From now on their task is to write compliments and positive feedback for their classmates on small pieces of paper and attach their compliments (only compliments are allowed) to the appropriate ribbon.
They can write as many compliments as they want, whenever they have time for it, but they have to give compliments to all the students in the group before they can give a second compliment to somebody else. So every time they compliment somebody they have to record it in their list to avoid repetitions.
This will spread compliments among all the students and will also help them to find qualities and aspects to praise in even those students they don't normally pay attention to or those they dislike.
At the end of the school year (or the term) each student can take his/her ribbon home.