Game of Tones

Good afternoon all,

In further adventures from the land of STRIP I bring you. "You Had Me at Hello" This is a wonderfully quick activity which helps students understand the difference tone makes. With a great number of languages tone is absolutely vital so this concept is usually be very easily transmitted.

I start by asking the Ss what difference tone can make. I then arm them with two words. Hello and Really.  I  make sure they are aware the power these two words can weild and then I let them unleash that power on their partners.

For the first half of the activity I ask students to use one of the situatuions on the powerpoint (paper, boards) and speak to their partner in the tone of voice one would imagine a person in that situation would use. Their partner then has to guess which one they are trying to convey. If they get it wrong and feel their partner has misunderstoon the phrase then they can show them how it should be done.

It always helps to model the first two or three situations just to get students up to speed with the task. Especially those who aren't as quick as your star students.

When the students get to the Really section, I get them to translate or simply share with the class what each phrase means. Then they get 5 minutes to practice with a partner and finally they are called upon at random to do the same action as before, however, this time to the whole class. He, (or she) who guesses correctly get's to choose who speaks next.

The funnier you make the situations the more fun the students will have doing mock, over the top tones of voice.

As always you can find the slide for this within the STRIP presentation just there ------>STRIP materials
in  even more materials.

I hope your students enjoy this task as much as mine.

hasta la proxima.

H

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

For this activity I like to get the students to direct the class. 

First I get them to define exaggeration, using the definition below. Then I give them an example of a boring story exaggerated to make it a little more interesting.

After I've given the example I put these points up on the board and ask a student to direct the class.

—Ok then, let’s get into pairs.

—Now tell your partner a story about your weekend. It doesn’t have to be exciting or amazing.

—Now change partners. Re-tell the story you just heard but exaggerate. REALLY exaggerate.

—Use extreme adjectives and adverbs.

—Too, so, such and very are useful words when exaggerating.

Now tell the class what your partner did at the weekend.

—Remember…... Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. 

'Til the next time. Keep on teaching. 

@sirhofthebomb