Activities for individual learners or for groups:

Cloze test noun A task-type in which learners read a text with missing words and try to work out what the missing words are. The missing words are removed regularly from the text, e.g. every seventh word. A cloze test is used for testing reading ability or general language use. It is different from a gap-fill activity, which can focus on practising or testing a specific language point and particular words connected to the language point are removed from the text. Multiple choice cloze (you choose one word), open cloze (you write the word yourself).

Dictation noun, dictate verb An activity which involves the learners writing down what the teacher reads aloud. Learners can also write down what another learner reads aloud. Dictation helps learners to practise listening, writing and spelling.

Gap-fill activity noun An activity in which learners fill in spaces or gaps in sentences or texts. Gap-fill activities are often used for restricted practice or for focusing on a specific language point, e.g. John _______ to the park yesterday. A gap-fill activity is different from a cloze test, which can focus on reading ability or general language use. See cloze test.

Information-transfer activity noun An activity in which learners move information from one source to another, e.G. Reading an explanation then completing a diagram with key words from the explanation.

Jumbled letters, paragraphs, pictures, sentences, words nouns A word in which the letters are not in the correct order, a sentence in which the words are not in the correct order, a text in which the paragraphs or sentences are not in the correct order, or a series of pictures that are not in the correct order. The learners put the jumbled letters, words, text or pictures into the correct order.

Picture dictation noun A classroom activity in which the teacher describes a scene or an object and learners draw what they hear. The activity can also be for learners to describe a scene or an object and other learners draw what they hear, perhaps in pairs; e.g. learner A describes and learner B draws.

Proofread verb To read a text in order to check whether there are any mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. Teachers encourage learners to proofread their homework and correct their mistakes before they hand it in.

Ranking activity, rank ordering activity, prioritising activity noun, prioritise verb, rank verb Putting things in order of importance. In the classroom, a prioritising or rank-ordering activity is a communicative activity in which learners are given a list of things to rank (put in order of importance). It involves discussion, agreeing/disagreeing and negotiating.

Sentence completion activity noun A task-type in which learners are given parts of a sentence, e.g. the beginning or the end, and are asked to complete the sentence, using specific target language, e.g. to practise using –ing forms: At the weekend, I love … ; In the evenings, I enjoy … .

Sentence transformation activity noun A task-type in which learners are given a sentence and a prompt, and have to make a second sentence, which means the same as the first, using the prompt, e.g. It's too cold to play tennis. It______to play tennis. (enough)

Sequence noun and verb, sequencing activity noun A sequence is a series of things which follow each other in a logical order. Learners can sequence pictures in a story, i.e. put them in order.

True/false question noun A task-type in which learners read or listen to a text and decide whether statements are correct (true) or not correct (false). True/false questions can be used as comprehension tasks or as a speaking activity in which learners say if they think sentences are right or not and why they think so.

Individual long turn- You talk about a set of three pictures on your own for around a minute. Then you listen to your partner talk about a different set of pictures before commenting on what they have said.