Humanising Language Teaching
Year 5; Issue 1; January 03

Ages 6 – 12
Time 5 minutes
Materials None
Focus Speaking in chorus; Pronunciation; Group formation

This activity is especially good for an early lesson with a new group, maybe the first lesson of all. It results in a jolly but orderly bout of group shouting. One aim is to help shy pupils will overcome their fears. Weaker pupils especially benefit enormously from this type of choral recitation.

Preparation
Pupils should be standing, either in a group or just behind their chairs with enough space to breathe freely. Be ready with a list of suitable market place cries--e.g., My fruit is the best!, Pots and pans!, Oranges and lemons!, Fresh herring and trout!, Ten pence off today!, Cups and saucers!, Hot cross buns!, Last chance to buy! and so on.

Procedure

1. Introduce the cries and lead choral chanting. Vary the enunciation by getting pupils sometimes to whisper, sometimes to call out the messages slowly and sometimes quickly, sometimes to repeat a cry four times, sometimes to glide from a high to a low pitch and sometimes the reverse, alternate boys with girls and so on.
2. Divide the class into two, three or even more groups that chant different slogans, not at the same time but alternately. Pay close attention to rhythm.
3. All the groups are shouting out their slogan at the same time.

Extension
Later in the lesson, or in a subsequent one, pupils write ( if they can) the cries down in their notebooks either in plain form in interesting scripts and layouts.