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The Spy, the Enforcer, the Resourcer, the Doppelganger    

Lindsay Clandfield 
Secondary and adult

( reprinted with thanks from it's MAGAZINE for teachers.
For more about this excellent 'zine's sister mag, look in this Issue under Publications)

THE DILEMMA

It is Monday morning and you are in class.  You have planned the perfect pairwork speaking activity and you are looking forward to it.  All the material is ready and the students file in.  Then, five minutes into your warmer, you realise with horror that someone hasn't shown up, leaving you with an odd number of students.  Your heart sinks…what do you do?

THE TRADITIONAL SOLUTION

Of course the most common solution is to divide the class into pairs and to make one group of three.  For many activities this is perfectly feasible.  However, in such a case, try the following suggestion: designate the group of three FIRST and then divide the rest of the class into pairs. This avoids the all-too-common situation in which the teacher names the pairs and finishes lamely by saying something like:

"…and Miguel…hmmm..you work with Vera and Raquel.. OK?"
By designating the three-person group first you reduce that sensation of being the third wheel of a bicycle for the extra student.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

But why not use the extra person to your advantage by giving them a different/special role?  This way(1) no one feels like an "extra" and (2) your great pairwork activity is maintained, and even enhanced.  The following are four possible roles for your extra student that can easily be adapted for any activity at any level.  Just give the extra student a role card.  You can of course give more than one person a role.  For example, in a class of 15 you would have 6 pairs and 3 "spies" (or 1 "spy", 1"resourcer" and 1 "enforcer").

CONCLUSION

As classes continue, your students will get used to these special roles.  Alternate roles and students, have fun with it.  Soon you and your classes will be looking forward to someone being absent!

THE ROLE CRADS

THE SPY

Your job is to listen carefully to the other groups and take notes of what they are saying.  Write down: the following are some suggestions
-any information you think is interesting, or surprising
-any mistakes that you think you heard
-how many times someone spoke in a language that wasn't English.  Prepare your report for the teacher at the end of the activity.

THE ENFORCER

Your job is to keep a little bit of order around the place.  To do this you can use a yellow and red card for minor and major offences!  You have to:  the following are some suggestions
-make sure people speak only English
-make sure that people use the language or structure (past simple for example)
-make sure that people don't make a certain mistake
-make sure that people are talking

THE RESOURCER

You are like a walking resource for the groups.  Your job is to help them if there are any words they don't know how to say.  For this job you will be given a special piece of resource equipment:  a dictionary or grammar book.  Make sure you can use it quickly!

THE DOPPELGANGER

A doppleganger is a person who changes into another person and takes their place.  In this activity you have to take someone's place!  You can walk around and listen to any group or pair that you like.  When you decide who you want to replace, tap them on the shoulder and show them this card.  That person has to stand up and let you take their place. Give them the card. They become the new doppleganger.