I used to, but not anymore

This is a little something to do at the start of class to get the learners going. Also a useful tool to have people know more about each other.

Skills: speaking, listening

Level: Elementary and upwards

Procedure:

1. Ask to learners to work in pairs. Invite A's to speak for three minutes and begin all their sentences with (I used to…). Ask all B's to just listen without interrupting A's, and to try to make a mental note of what A's say. (If your learners are anything like mine, the chances are you will need to work on the pronunciation).

2. Time the learners. When the three minutes is*** up, invite B's to tell A's what they remember and to start each sentence with 'You used to…'

3. When B's are done, ask the learners to swap over.

*** Chaz, like many other educated native speakers of US and UK English is now happy with "three minutes is". Would you mark this wrong in student English?
BEWARE…. the river of language flows on and may leave you high and dry!