Teaching grammar to A2 Restricted output: drills, exercises, dialogues

Task 160: Variations on drills

What variations could enliven the basic drill technique (while still keeping the drill as no more than simple repetition)?

Commentary • • •

The following section lists some possible variations. Note that even the apparently silly ones (like doing it with flat intonation) serve to raise awareness of the importance of intonation -sometimes messages are easier to take in when the example is exaggerated! •

Factors that can vary a drill
Who speaks?

• 
  Whole-group speaking ('choral') I Individual students practise
  
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  Round the class I Random selection of individuals
  
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  Male I Female
  
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  This half I That half of the room
  
• 
  As / Bs
  
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  Pairs: alternate words
  
• 
  Students lead drill (rather than teacher)
  

How do they speak?

• 
  Normal volume/whispered/loud/shout/sing/mouth silently
  
• 
  Normal speed/fast/slow
  
• 
  Normal intonation/flat intonation/exaggerated intonation
  
• 
  Change the stress
  
• 
  With an American/Australian/Liverpool accent