Editorial
This article was first published in Modern English Teacher, April 2010, Vol. 19/2 For more on ‘Logic for Language Learning’ click here.

Logic for Language Learning 2

Simon Mumford, Turkey

Simon Mumford teaches EAP at Izmir University of Economics, Turkey. He has written on using stories, visuals, drilling, reading aloud, and is especially interested in the creative teaching of grammar. E-mail: simon.mumford@ieu.edu.tr

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Find the wrong words 1
Find the wrong words 2
Find the missing words
Fill in the blanks
Put the words in the correct order
Find the unnecessary words 1
Find the unnecessary words 2
Fill in the missing letters
Conclusion
Reference

In ‘Logic for language learning’ (Mumford, 2010), I proposed that grammar exercises in the form of logic puzzles could be a way to help students think about grammar. In this article I continue the ‘logical’ theme, but instead of devising new types of exercises, I suggest adaptations of old favourites such as filling in the blanks (cloze tests), deleting unnecessary words, putting words in the correct order, and correcting mistakes. A little creativity can breathe new life into old teaching formats, adding challenge and increasing motivation.

Find the wrong words 1

In this exercise, each incorrect noun should be replaced with the correct noun starting with the same letter. The first one has been done.

I was walking with my door dog along the soup when I saw a big cat driving very fast. Suddenly it hit a tie, which fell into the rice, and damaged another cat. My door started barking and pots were shouting. Then, an aeroplane arrived and took the driver to the horserace with serious head inventions and a broken arrow.

Key

I was walking with my dog along the street when I saw a big car driving very fast. Suddenly it hit a tree, which fell into the road and damaged another car. My dog started barking and people were shouting.Then, an ambulance arrived and took the driver to the hospital with serious head injuries and a broken arm.

Find the wrong words 2

The position of some nouns have been changed. Underline the nouns in the wrong place, then change their positions so the story is logical. Not all nouns are in the wrong place. The first wrong noun has been underlined.

Last week I went to visit my art galleries in London. He met me at the birds and we walked towards a film, where we fed the Chinese restaurant. Afterwards, we looked around some train and then did some shopping. We had a meal in a station, and went to the cinema to see Trafalgar Square, then I caught the last friend home at 10.30.

Key:

Last week I went to visit my my friend in London. He met me at the at the station  and we walked towards Trafalgar Square, where we fed the birds. Afterwards, we looked around some art galleries and then did some shopping. We had a meal in a chinese restaurant, and went to the cinema to see a film, then I caught the last train home at 10.30.

Find the missing words

Every misspelt word is followed by a missing word. Correct the spelling and find the missing word. The first one has been done for you.

Last Tusday (Tuesday + at) 7 pm their a loud noise in our street. A big dog was runing the street with a bag in its mouth. A women running behind shouting ‘Bring my handbag back!’ But the dog refussed stop, it just kept going. Then a man with a big stik the dog on the leg. It let the bag dropp the ground and bit the man. Then two more men atacked dog, and finaly ran away barking. What a terible!

Key

Last Tuesday at 7 pm there was a loud noise in our street. A big dog was running up/down/along the street with a bag in its mouth. A woman was running behind shouting ‘Bring my handbag back!’ But the dog refused to stop, it just kept going. Then a man with a big stick hit the dog on the leg. It let the bag drop to/on  the ground and bit the man. Then two more men attacked the dog, and finally it ran away barking. What a terrible event/thing/day!

Fill in the blanks

Fill in a blank with the words in the box. There is a pattern to the order of the words. Can you see what it is?

Last week (1)________ saw an old friend I had not seen for ages. He invited me to go (2)_______ a cafe for a chat. He told me about (3)_______ wife. She had been ill for a very (4)________ time. Now he wanted me to (5) _________ a letter to her. I asked why he (6)_________ me to do this. He asked, ‘Do you remember that very cold day we went to the (7)_________?’ I said, ‘Yes it was 31st (8) ____________, 1999.’ What did he mean? Why was he talking like this? My mind was full of (9) ___________. Then I (10) ___________ what he meant ! I (11)___________ picked up my pen and began to write the letter.

Key: (1) I, (2) to, (3) his, (4) long, (5) write, (6)wanted, (7)seaside, (8)December, (9) confusion, (10) understood, (11) immediately

Pattern: Blank number 1 is a 1 letter word, number 2 is a 2 letter word, and so on.

Put the words in the correct order

Each word starts with the last letter of the previous word. Add punctuation and capitals as necessary.

1. Fred if everything doesn’t the table take get elegant
2. waiters now so train Wendy’s can’t new often son Nic
3. has seat watch slid this slow near Ron’s down
4. although noone entertained even noticed he Dan
5. Lucy song tomorrow don’t yet editing George’s we’re tell
6. would yellow how Dennis see weed every gosh
7. speak said kindly ladies several yesterday doctors yes

Key

1. If Fred doesn’t take everything, get the elegant table.
2. Wendy’s son Nic can’t train new waiters so often now.
3. This slow watch has slid down near Ron’s seat.
4. Although he entertained Dan, noone even noticed.
5. Don’t tell Lucy yet, tomorrow we’re editing George’s song.
6. Gosh! How would Dennis see every yellow weed?
7. Yes, several ladies said doctors speak kindly yesterday.

Comment: Having more than one word beginning with the same letter makes this exercise more challenging.

Find the unnecessary words 1

In the following story, the last eleven words have been taken out and put in different places in the text. Find the extra words, cross them out and write them in the blanks to make the last part of the story. The extra words are  hidden in the text in the same order as they appear at the end of the story. The first one has been done for you.

Last week I had a very strange experience. I was at there home watching TV when the phone rang. It was my old uncle Jim, who I had not seen for years. He was asked me how I was. Another he said he was in hospital in a nearby town, and he wanted me to visit man. I said I would.

With the next day I drove about 30 miles to the hospital. I asked a nurse for the Jim Rogers. She looked same at me and said that someone called name Jim Rogers had died in the hospital in last week. I was the shocked! I spoke to a doctor. He said a man called hospital Jim Rogers had died the week before, but    __there___    ____________    ___________    _________    _________    _________    __________    _________    __________    __________    ___________

Key: Last week I had a very strange experience. I was at there home watching TV when  the phone rang. It was my old uncle Jim, who I had not seen for years. He was asked me how I was. Another he said he was in hospital in a nearby town, and he wanted me to visit man. I said I would.

Withthe next day I drove about 30 miles to the hospital. I asked a nurse for the Jim Rogers. She looked same at me and said that someone called name Jim Rogers had died in the hospital in last week. I was  the shocked. I spoke to a doctor. He said  a man called Jim Rogers had died hospital the week before, but

Answer: there was another man with the same name in the hospital!

Find the unnecessary words 2

In the following dictated letter, the secretary has written every word spoken by the manager. Cross out the words that should not have been be included, so that the letter appears as the manager intended.

Right dear Mr Smythe with a  ‘y’,

Let’s see, thank you for your letter. I am sure no certain that  you will be fully satisfied with the new part component I think is a better word that we are sending. If you have any any further queries well please do not hesitate to contact who? our sales department, I think who will be happy I mean very happy to assist you erm in any possible way. One more sentence we look forward to working with you again in the future that should be enough.

Yours faithfully just sign that for me could you?

Key

RightDear Mr Smythe with a ‘ y’ ,

Let’s seeThank you for your letter. I am sure no certain that you will be fully satisfied with the new part component I think is a better word that we are sending. If you have any any further queries well please do not hesitate to contact who? our sales department, I think who will be happy I mean very happy to assist you erm in any possible way. One more sentence we look forward to working with you again in the future that should be enough.

Yours faithfully, just sign that for me could you?

Comment: Reading the letter aloud, with appropriate intonation, stress and volume will make this activity easier.

Fill in the missing letters

In the following text, parts of some words are missing. Complete the words with groups of letters from the box. Note that groups of letters can be from the beginning or ends of words. The first one has been done for you.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It has a population of over 12 mil. It has two sides, one Asian and the other Euro. It has a long story, with lots of museums and anti buildings. The most fam is prob the Blue Mosque. Although no longer the capital of Turkey, it is the big city and the richest. Many million live along the Bosphorous, Istanbul’s picture waterfront. It so has a ace, monuments and cient city walls. Thous of tour visit every year, and there are plenty of hotels to choose from. My favour is a small hotel near the centre called the Hotel Regal. I really commend that you go there sometime.

Key:

Istanbul is a large city in Turkey. It has a population of over 12 million. It has two sides, one Asian and the other European. It has a long history, with lots of museums and antique  buildings. The most famous is probably the Blue Mosque. Although no longer the capital of Turkey, it is the biggest city and the richest. Many millionaires live along the Bosphorous, Istanbul’s picturesque waterfront. It also has a palace, monuments and ancient city walls. Thousands of tourists visit every year, and there are plenty of hotels to choose from. My favourite is a small hotel near the centre called the Hotel Regal. I really recommend that you go there sometime.

Comment: The challenge can be increased by making the incomplete words look like actual words, eg favour-favourite

Conclusion

A more creative approach can turn traditional exercises into puzzles, providing extra elements of logic and challenge. These exercises actually give more support to students by limiting answer possibilities, providing answers hidden in the exercise itself and giving various types of clue, such as first letters. Thus, in such exercises, students may be able to deal with more complex language compared to the traditional type of language practice exercise, where generally, less support is available.

Reference

Mumford, S. (2010) Logic for language learning. Modern English Teacher Vol. 19/1

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.