Speech Related Activity:
Aim: to provide students with opportunity for authentic communication. To encourage them to express their ideas and opinions in English, and to listen to others.
Description: This is often a good activity for Sentaku (elective) classes, particularly in 2nd and 3rd year junior high school.
Procedure: Break the class into groups of 4 – 6 students. Each group will randomly select a topic slip (e.g. Sports, Movies, Hobbies, Books, Weekend Activities). Allow the students some time (maybe 5 – 10 minutes) to formulate ideas: questions and statements. When time is up, one group of students plus the AET should form a circle with their chairs (no desks) and have a simple, free conversation about their topic for a set period of time (usually about 3 – 5 minutes). The JTE can watch the clock, and also maybe think of comprehension questions for the rest of the class, based on the conversation. The rest of the class should stop formulating and listen to the conversation. Having the JTE ask them comprehension questions after the conversation turns the activity into a task-listening activity in addition to an authentic communicative one.