Browse By Topic

This enjoyable alien quiz is a great way to introduce this topic with your teens or just a nice lesson warmer or way to wrap up a lesson with something competitive and engaging.

1. Copy one handout for each individual student and distribute them.

2. This quiz can be done individually, in pairs or in small groups. Set students a strict time limit and monitor while students do the quiz.

3. For feedback, students can write the answers on the board or contribute them orally. The quiz can be marked by redistributing the handouts with students or groups marking each other's.

Type:

A class mingle activity

Level:

Teens

Time:

20 minutes

Skill:

Speaking

Work:

Students work together as a whole group, then individually

Stage:

Free speaking practice

In this class mingle/role play activity students design and take on the role of an alien in a class mingle with the objective of sharing information between students on themes such as home planet, weaknesses etc.

1. Copy one handout for each individual student and distribute them.

2. Focus students' attention on the instructions. Students must first draw an alien being in the square in the top right of their page. Encourage a creative design with a short description including name, where it comes from. What it can do, and what its weaknesses are.

3. Next, tell them to stand up and mingle and to ask the four questions to find out about their partners' aliens. Explain that they must also describe their details of their own aliens to their colleagues. Allow students the time necessary to get the required information from their fellow students.

4. Monitor the students, providing language input or error correction when necessary.

5. Finally, elicit responses from some of the students and draw to their attention any appropriate vocabulary or serious language mistakes.

Type:

A reading/speaking task

Level:

Teens

Time:

30 minutes

Skill:

Reading/Speaking

Work:

Students work individually then in pairs

Stage:

Controlled grammar speaking practice

For an enjoyable jigsaw reading task dedicated to aliens, use this pair work handout that developed young learners' abilities for putting questions together, culminating in a productive information share.

1. Copy one handout per pair of students and distribute them.

2. Put the students into pairs with an A and B student, and distribute the handouts. Get pairs of A and B students to work together to write the questions to find out each missing piece of information. For weaker levels, check the accuracy of the questions before proceeding.

3. Now, pair up students with differing sheets, A and B. Get them to ask and answer the questions they wrote and share the information.

4. Allow students the time necessary to do the information share, providing individual input where necessary.

5. Finally, elicit responses from some of the students and draw to their attention any appropriate vocabulary or serious language mistakes.