Humanising Language Teaching
Year 5; Issue 2; March 03

Before class : prepare a set of different pictures, one per pair, and approximately 10 slips of paper per student.
Aim: expanding chunks, word order in chunks, pooling vocabulary know by the class
Time: 20 minutes

Procedure:

1. Put pictures on tables and give each student a set of blank slips.

2. Students work in pairs and look for English words in the picture, e.g. red, woman, big. They write the words on separate slips of paper. Make sure they write single words not phrases or sentences.

3. Students at this stage leave the pictures and slips on their tables and stand up.

4. Students in pairs go from picture to picture, pick up the slips and find the words in the picture. If they have problems with some words they can ask the teacher or classmates. Stop the activity when you see the first signs that the students begin to lose interest.

5. Ask the students to take pens and continue milling around. This time they add one word to the words on the slips, e.g. red hair, young woman, big car. They write their words on the slips. Make sure the word order is correct.

6. Tell the students to keep milling around. This time they add a third word where it is possible.

7. Display the pictures along with the chunks on the wall or some other display area for further reference.

Variation: At elementary level this can be followed up by a writing activity in which students describe the pictures using all the chunks.