Giving clear instructions is one of the skills we CLT language teachers should master. To avoid repeating the instructions many times I have started to have the very same instructions on the screen. In my experience one student out of ten always asks for clarifications.
The phrases below are divided into four groups: Pair work, group work, station work and co-operative work.
Please make your students understand the instructions below and then make them repeat the phrases. They serve as examples of pair and various group work phrases. The recordings already have pauses in them so there is usually no need to stop in between. The actual techniques for pair and group work are explained under heading ‘Modern pair and group work methods’.
PAIR WORK INSTRUCTIONS
Today we are going to work in pairs. Find yourself a partner. Who’s my partner? Well, it’s up to you. / You can decide. / It’s all the same. Has everybody got a partner? Ah, OK Mike is without a pair. The three of you can work as a group. Mike, please join this group.
Today you will get a pair at random: I have numbers in this box. Pick up one paper and find your pair. They have the same number as you. Numbers ones sit here, numbers two sit here, threes over there, fours at the back and fives over here.
One of you is A and the other one is B. One of you will read the question and the other one will find the answer in the text. Take turns in answering. Then do the same and change roles, you are A and you B, alright? Understood? Got it?
GROUP WORK INSTRUCTIONS
Today we are going to work in groups. Pick up a number from this box and go to the right table. Number ones here, twos there, threes there and finally fours here. Here is a handout for each group. / Here is a copy with the task for you.
Every group has the same task. / Every group has a different task. Please start working. You have 20 minutes to finish the job. In the end everyone has to say something in front of the class.
OK, your 20 minutes is gone now. Group 1, please come over here to present your findings. Excellent work. Does anyone have any questions for Group 1 or something to add? OK, let’s move on to Group 2.
STATION WORK INSTRUCTIONS
OK, today we will have work stations. The groups are selected randomly, so pick up a number from this box and go to your table.
As you can see we have five sets of tables together and each of them is a ‘station’ with a different task. You will have 10 minutes to finish the task and there are also extra tasks if you are very quick. Even a super task for the super quick ones on the whiteboard.
The correct answers are in the envelope on the table and after 8 minutes I will ask you to check the task. Don’t worry if you did not finish the task. You can do it at home. Look at the instructions on the table and start working.
CO-OPERATIVE GROUPS
Today we are going to work in number and letter groups. First, pick up a numbered paper from this box and go to the right table. Number ones here, twos there, threes there and finally fours here. The topic is ‘What to show a tourist in our home town/village/region’. The same topic in all groups.
Never mind the letter on the paper (A, B, C and D). We’ll use them later on. Everybody, take notes on the things you talk about in your group. Look at the task on the screen and start working. 20 minutes to go.
Time to stop working in numbered groups. Get to your Letter Groups, please. As here, Bs here, Cs here and Ds over here. Take your notes with you and tell the others what your group was talking about. In 15 minutes you will go back to your Number Groups to hear what the others thought about your ideas and what they had to say.
