Yes, I do have some filler activities ready to be used. If you open my binder you will find a plastic envelop filled with a series of very short texts, rated basic, intermediate and advanced. When I look at my watch and I see that I still have 10 minutes to go, I select one of the texts, according to the level I am teaching, and I read it out loud.  Depending on the program I am teaching, I ask students to perform a certain type of activity. If it is a general English course, I ask them to retell the story to another student. If it is a writing course, I ask them to write a summary of the passage in two lines. If it a translation class, I ask them to translate it orally. If I want to practice pronunciation, I might ask them to stand up every time I read a word with the tense vowel /i/, for example.

To avoid repetition with the same group, on the lower part of the sheet, I write the date, the group and the activity I used that text for.

I usually try to play some kind of game to recycle the vocabulary we've been using in class.

For example I will do a board rush where I divide the class in to two teams and give each a board pen. I then describe a word and they have to rush to the board and write it down when they think they know what the word is.

It also helps to get the class generally to get them on their feet and running about.

Try this puzzle: Note this is a LANGUAGE game not a MATH game!

Can you complete the yellow square make it like the white square?

[Clue count the letters in each word...]

Nick

Hi Carol,

Well, as most people start talking when it comes to relating stories about a recent holiday, I usually choose this topic. All of a sudden the shy ones start showing interest and even tell their stories to their neighbours. Occasionally I put 'What a day!' on the board, which has also proven successful, as most of my students work a full-time job and they can all come up with stories about work.

As regards performing in front of the entire class, however, I have always realized that the students immediately 'freeze' and only give the minimum amount of information to fulfill the task.

Shy students seem to prefer group or pair work....

Andrea

I tried to use my Mathematical Intellingence and then I discovered that I had to use the linguistic one!!!

Much better I'll try with my students

Thanks

My favourite for Young Leaners is "Make a line". When they have learnt the alphabet, What's your name? and My name's ____.  I ask them to form a line from A-Z.

You can do this for first name, family name, telephone number, pet's name, height, birthday, etc. I great activity to generate repeated use of simple question and answer forms.

Nick