Pairwork: tai chi classes

This is a simple pairwork activity that can be used with low level groups to provide practice in the present simple question form – What does he/she do on…?, days of the week, times and leisure activities. The lesson is designed for adults but could also be used with older teenagers.

Activity: Find out about the daily activities of another person
Activity type:
Information gap/exchange
Level: Up to B1
Age: Adults or Senior YLs

Preparation

  • Make one copy of the worksheet per pair, and cut into two sheets, A and B. (download the worksheet below)
  • Brainstorm vocabulary for leisure activities and write them on the board. Help them using mime, drawings, descriptions or translation. Encourage the students to come up with leisure activities that they do.
  • Ask students at random what they do in their leisure time: What do you do on Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays…? etc.

Procedure

  • Put the students into pairs. One student in each pair is given a copy of sheet A, and the other sheet B. They should not show their partner. Explain that sheet A has information about half of Sonia and Nick’s busy social and leisure agenda. Sheet B has the other half.
  • Explain that Sonia and Nick want to go to Tai Chi classes together but first they have to find a time and day when they are both free.
  • By asking questions, the pairs complete the two agendas and try to find a time when both Nick and Sonia are free to go to Tai Chi classes. Point out the times of the Tai Chi classes on the flyer which appears on both sheet A and B.

For example

A: What does Nick do on Mondays?

B: He goes to Arabic class from 4 o’ clock to six o’ clock.

B: What does Sonia do on Mondays?

A: She goes to a cinema club from 7 o’ clock to nine o’ clock.


Extension

In the same pairs, students ask each other about their leisure activities.

Downloads
Language Level

Comments

Submitted by Mane Mehrabian on Sun, 07/07/2013 - 20:52

 great ideas,I like the way and motivations you teach English

Submitted by CrazyJane on Sat, 09/29/2012 - 12:20

What I really like is that you take them step by step from a formal activity to a more communicative one.

Submitted by rika zulkarnain on Tue, 05/29/2012 - 04:28

AmazingThis is what Ireally want for along time and I find it here.

Thank you for the idea and I have to try this to my students.

Submitted by shakira1993 on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 09:03

In reply to by rika zulkarnain

Please help me regarding the use of the Site

Submitted by P.Fanlac on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 16:56

WONDERFUL! Never mind adults or older teenagers, I tried this today with a class of 11-year-olds who are just learning the simple present. "Belly dancing" cracked us all up (especially when I drew a belly dancer on the board). I think they've nailed "what does he do...?" thanks to this activity! It was really useful to have "he goes to..." as a constant in the replies, as we have just been focusing on the third person "S" or "ES". I think I may recycle the activity by asking the pupils to suggest other funny or weird classes/hobbies. I adapted the exercise for screen; made a poster advertising Tai Chi classes and then diary pages for the characters... and I didn't find the answer in advance, but "discovered" it with my pupils. The kids were very motivated. Thank you Katherine...

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