The Four Skills and Video in the ESOL Classroom

Speaking Activity Guide

Activity: Tell Me What You See
Purpose/Skills: Fluency Practice
Level: Beginning and above
Materials: 2 video clips, monitor
Time: 20 minutes

Preparation:

You need to prepare two selections of video clips with a lot of action. Each piece should not be more than 3 minutes long.

Directions:

  1. Divide the class into two groups, and arrange them so that group B faces the video monitor. Group A faces group B with their backs to the monitor. Each person in group B speaks to a partner in group A.

  2. Tell the students in group B that they are going to narrate the action of the clip to their partner in group A. Let the students know that this activity is noisy--everyone will be talking at once.

  3. Play the clip with the sound off.

  4. When the students have finished their narration, replay the clip so groups A and B can see it together.

  5. Group A now faces the screen and group B faces group A.

  6. Play the next clip with the sound off.

  7. Group A narrates the second clip to their partners in group B.

  8. Replay second clip for both groups.