Alleviate those first-day-of-class jitters, and facilitate the acquisition of new language, with fun exercises that incorporate movement and elicit real communication. Such exercises allow students to rehearse language not only with their thoughts and mouths, but with their feelings and bodies as well.
What Are You Doing?
Students form a line alongside a "stage" area. The first student walks onto the stage and begins miming an activity. The second student walks on and asks, "What are you doing?" The first student replies, "I'm sawing wood," or whatever. The second student then begins a new activity. The first student goes to the end of the line, and the third student walks on and asks, "What are you doing," and so on. No one can repeat another's activity. After the first round, repeat the whole exercise with everyone performing the same actions as before.
Encourage students to perform any activity regardless of whether or not they know the word for it, and be at each student's side to provide needed vocabulary.
As with all exercises, review words and phrases that were new to students, and write them on the board.
Doctor, My Blank Hurts
Have one student play a doctor and one a nurse. Everyone else will be a patient. All the patients sit in an area designated as the waiting room. The nurse enters and says, "Next," then admits one of the patients into an area designated as the examination room, introducing each by his or her real name. Each patient has a complaint. Teach them phrases such as, "Doctor, my _______ hurts (is sore, aches, is bleeding, throbs, feels weak, feels bad...") No one should repeat anyone else's complaint. The doctor should respond with an appropriate, simple prescription, such as, "Put a bandage (ice, some ointment, a cast...) on it," or, "Take this medicine (pill, drug...)" or, "Have it removed." Provide the correct vocabulary as needed. Repeat the exercise like it's a theatrical performance.
Witnesses
In front of the class, improvise a scene, such as a robbery, with one of the students. Make sure you do at least three actions, such as 1) point a gun, 2) shout, "Give me your money," and 3) remove the money and throw the wallet away. Next, play the part of a television reporter interviewing witnesses. Call individual students up to tell the TV audience exactly what they saw. Encourage them to use pantomime if they don't know the words to describe something. Then provide the words and have students repeat what you say. For example, if a student indicates through body language that the robber pointed a gun, you say, "He pointed a gun at the other man?" Encourage the student to reply, "Yes, he pointed a gun at the other man." Similarly, if a student answers you in broken English, such as, "He have gun for him," you will say, "He had a gun?" and encourage the student to say, "Yes, he had a gun." Before starting the exercise, explain how as the reporter you will be subtly correcting their English, and expecting them to repeat the correct English.
Tags: first student, student walks, area designated, asks What, asks What doing