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Activities to get students talking.

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Back to normal after the Christmas break and looking for ideas to get students back into the mood, my faithful companion The Wheel of Fortune is again unfailingly helping me to provide, with almost no effort, an engaging activity to get started: grammar and vocabulary will probably follow, but let's start off on the right foot.

So, I have in mind a warm-up activity that gets students out of their seats (have they even had time to sit down?) while animatedly sharing their experiences during their Christmas break.

How to go about it:

1. I filled the wheel with some questions from the Internet TESL Journal

2. After the mandatory welcome-back salutation, I asked my students to stand up (initial sceptical look assured, so please, don't be discouraged and insist with your sweetest voice)and occupy the space in the middle of the class or any other free space available in your classroom. Ask them to choose a partner.

3. Spin the wheel and ask them to talk about the randomly chosen question with their partner. Allow them 2 or 3 minutes to discuss the question. Use a classroom timer to add more fun and excitement.

4. Ask them to change partners and spin the wheel again.

Note: this is a warm-up activity, so I'll keep it going for just about 15 minutes.

Now, that they are right where I want them, let's begin this new term.

Photo: Greg Lonbinsk

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A Simple Activity to Get Started after the Christmas Break

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Back to normal after the Christmas break and looking for ideas to get students back into the mood, my faithful companion The Wheel of Fortune is again unfailingly helping me to provide, with almost no effort, an engaging activity to get started: grammar and vocabulary will probably follow, but let'

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Christmas in Killarney - The Irish Rovers (lyrics on screen)

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Merry Christmas everybody and may joy and peace be in the world!

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3 little pigs Christmas fairy tale with a twist!

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3 little pigs Christmas fairy tale with a twist!

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The Digital story of the Nativity: Hilarious!

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The Digital story of the Nativity: Hilarious!

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4 multimedia students and all digital natives...

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Christmas Interviews in London: What Do Brits Really Want for Christmas?

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In this episode Harry and Charlie interview the British public at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London, in the build up to Christmas. Essential listening practice for English learners of all levels! Subtitles available.

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If you like writing stories check this cool site out!

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If you like writing stories check this cool site out!

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Generatore di storie. Per scrittori in erba...

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Powered by Aardgo

Mixing it up

Plot Generator

Our aim is to inspire you to write your own stories, using common genres and themes. We'll help you set the scene then build characters, describe them, name them, and work out how they fit together in an interesting story. We draft a compelling blurb to get you started.

Quotes About Plot Generator

"This is the best thing to exist ever."
"So I used a generator to create a random story and it turned out to be hilarious."
"This is fun. A little silly. It tried a few variations and got some very quirky results. It might be good for a little inspiration, as a writing exercise, or if you're bored."
"Plot Generator is really best if used completely randomly (press 'fill in) and see what happens. We got a completely zany storyline that included robots poking each other."
"Plot Generator can be a fun way to jumpstart your plot."

How to plot a good story

1. Choose a theme from our selection of plot generators.

2. Give us some keywords to play with or let us prompt some ideas at random.

3. We automatically create a plot, title and a cover for your novel or film.

Masterpiece Generator refers to a set of text generator tools created by Aardgo. The tools are designed to be cool and entertain, but also help aspiring writers create a range of different media, including plots, lyrics for songs, poems, letters and names. Some generated content parodies existing styles and artists, whilst others are based on original structures.

Our first generator, Song Lyrics Generator was launched in 2002 as a student magazine project. After it proved popular, we expanded to include plots, and the project grew from there.

We're proud to see work we've helped you create pop up on blogs and in fun projects. We enjoy watching you read your creations on YouTube. We're currently developing a cool app based on our site.

Story Idea Generator - Random Story Maker - Novel Prompts - Create Storyline Ideas - Movies / Film Plot Lines - Story Titles - Book Plots - Creative Short Story Ideas - Synopsis Maker - Writing Prompt Generator - Story Generators

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Hilarious random plot generator. Answer a few quick questions and this website will automatically write a story or blurb for you using your keywords. Select from a variety of genres including romance, mystery or teen vampire. Plots suitable form books or films

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The LearnEnglish Facebook Christmas Playlist - YouTube

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Favourite Christmas songs chosen by our LearnEnglish Facebook fans!

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Mystery train

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'The ghost train is for kids!' said Claire. 'You guys go on it if you want, but I'm not paying for a kids' ride.'

'People look pretty scared when they come out,' said Peter, trying to pull her towards the ticket office in front of The World's Scariest Ghost Train. 'Come on, it'll be fun!'

'They're pretending to be scared,' said Claire. 'They know it's not real, so what's there to be scared of?'

'OK, your loss,' Peter called over his shoulder as he went off to buy a ticket for himself and the rest of their friends.

Maybe it was time to go home anyway, Claire thought, though there was one thing left to do at the fair - buy candyfloss. Claire had never, ever managed to finish a whole one. They were just too big and too sweet, yet, at the same time, there was nothing there. It must be possible though, she thought, as the lady at the candyfloss stall handed her a huge, pink sugar cloud. She set herself a challenge. Tonight she was going to eat all of it. For that, she would have to give herself time, and that meant walking home from the fair by the train tracks instead of through the town.

It wasn't very dark yet, and she could see the dust kick up under her sandals as she stepped off the dirt and onto the track. Each wooden sleeper was just the right distance apart so she could step from one to another comfortably. Of course, Claire knew better than to walk on train tracks anywhere else - it was stupid and dangerous. Only last year some boys in the city had died playing on the tracks. But there was nothing dangerous here, as long as she was careful not to fall and break her ankle.

No one in Fellside had any memory of a train ever using the railway tracks that cut across the north-west corner of town. There wasn't even a train station. The tracks suddenly finished at the football stadium as if the engineers had simply run out of wood. The iron rails continued a few metres further, and then ... nothing. Claire always thought of them like those cartoons where the cat chases the mouse and the mouse puts down tracks in front of his speeding carriage until he runs out.

The train tracks were a mystery, but one that was so old nobody wondered about it any more. They were just there, they'd always been there, and that was that. The tracks seemed to buzz as she walked. She could feel the vibration through her sandals and into her feet. And then she could hear it too. She stopped and it got stronger and louder. And then she heard a much louder sound, the screech of metal on metal. She looked behind her. A round light, small but getting bigger, was rushing towards her. It couldn't be ...

A train.

The wheels screeched louder against the rails as the driver braked. There was no way the train could stop before it reached her. Luckily, Claire lost her balance and fell to the right, off the track. She knew she was screaming even though she couldn't hear anything above the old steam train as it slowed. Its carriages passed her, empty.

Where is it going? she wondered. The tracks end in a couple of miles.

A man stuck his head out of the window of the engine and shouted, furious. 'Don't you know it's dangerous on the tracks?'

'But ... but ... there aren't any trains!' Claire said, feeling stupid as the words came out of her mouth. There was clearly a train now, whatever had been true before. The train shouldn't be, couldn't be, there. It's not real, she told herself.

'This isn't real,' she repeated out loud. But the heat coming from the engine certainly felt real enough.

'You can't keep walking on the tracks, so you're going to have to take the train the rest of the way.'

'No!' Claire protested.

'Not scared, are you?' he said. 'If it isn't real, what's there to be scared of?' It was what she had said to Peter.

She found herself climbing the metal stairs up to the train's engine, candyfloss in hand.

'Sit.' He pointed at a pile of wood as the train slowly started moving again.

'Where are we going?' Claire asked.

'End of the line,' he said.

'Oh, OK!' Claire was relieved. That wasn't far at all. The tracks ended not far from here. He said nothing.

She didn't want the candyfloss. It would take forever to eat it all, she decided. Impossible. After a few minutes, she guessed they must be reaching the end of the line, but they weren't slowing down.

'Er ... excuse me?' Claire shouted, because it was as noisy inside the train as outside. 'How long until we get there?'

'As long as it takes to finish your candyfloss,' the driver of the real ghost train said. The pink cloud in Claire's hand looked as big as when she took her first bite.

'How long is that? she asked, but she already knew the answer.

He turned to face her. Except now there was no face. There was nothing there under his cap at all. 'Forever.'
Nicola Prentis

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'The ghost train is for kids!' said Claire. 'You guys go on it if you want, but I'm not paying for a kids' ride.' 'People look pretty scared when they come out,' said Peter, trying to pull her towards the ticket office in front of The World's Scariest Ghost Train.

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Mystery train

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'The ghost train is for children!' said Claire.

'People look afraid when they leave,' said Peter. He tried to pull her to The World's Best Ghost Train. 'It's fun!'

'They know it's not real, so why are they afraid? I'm going home.'

'OK,' Peter said. He bought a ticket for himself.

But there was one thing left to do at the fair - buy a candyfloss. It was very difficult to finish a candyfloss. They were too big and too sweet. It's possible, she thought, as she paid for the big pink sugar cloud. And tonight I'm going to eat a whole one. For that, she needed time. I'll walk home by the train tracks, she decided.

It wasn't very dark yet. Of course, Claire knew not to walk on train tracks - it was dangerous. Last year some boys in the city died playing on the tracks. But there was nothing dangerous here because there were no trains in Fellside. There wasn't even a train station. The tracks just finished.

It was a mystery, but an old one and nobody thought about it now. They were just there, and that was it. Claire thought about another mystery. Where does candyfloss go when you eat it? It disappeared in her mouth so fast. There was a lot left. She needed to walk slower.

The tracks vibrated as she walked. She could feel it and then she could hear it too. It was getting stronger and louder. She looked back. A round light, small but getting bigger, was coming. It wasn't possible!

A train.

Claire fell to the right, off the track. The train passed her, empty, and then slowed and stopped.

Where is it going? she thought. The tracks end soon.

A man put his head out of the window and shouted. 'What are you doing? It's dangerous on the tracks!'

'But ... there aren't any trains!' Claire said. Maybe there were no trains before, but there was a train now. It's not real, she told herself.

'This isn't real,' she said. But the heat coming from the train felt real.

'You can't walk on the tracks,' the driver said. 'You have to come on the train.'

'No!'

'Are you afraid?' he asked. 'It isn't real, remember? So what are you afraid of?' They were her own words to Peter.

She didn't want to, but she climbed the stairs of the train, candyfloss in hand.

'Sit,' he said, and the train slowly started moving again.

'Where are we going?' Claire asked.

'End of the line,' he said.

'Oh!' That wasn't far because the tracks ended near here.

She didn't want the candyfloss. It takes forever to eat it all, she thought. It's not possible.

'How long until we get there?' Claire shouted, because it was noisy inside the train too.

'The time it takes to eat all the candyfloss,' the driver of the real ghost train said. He turned his face. But now there was no face. There was nothing under his cap at all. 'Forever.'
Nicola Prentis

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'The ghost train is for children!' said Claire. 'People look afraid when they leave,' said Peter. He tried to pull her to The World's Best Ghost Train. 'It's fun!' 'They know it's not real, so why are they afraid? I'm going home.' 'OK,' Peter said. He bought a ticket for himself.

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Mystery train

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'The ghost train is for children!' said Claire.

'People look afraid when they leave,' said Peter. He tried to pull her to The World's Best Ghost Train. 'It's fun!'

'They know it's not real, so why are they afraid? I'm going home.'

'OK,' Peter said. He bought a ticket for himself.

But there was one thing left to do at the fair - buy a candyfloss. It was very difficult to finish a candyfloss. They were too big and too sweet. It's possible, she thought, as she paid for the big pink sugar cloud. And tonight I'm going to eat a whole one. For that, she needed time. I'll walk home by the train tracks, she decided.

It wasn't very dark yet. Of course, Claire knew not to walk on train tracks - it was dangerous. Last year some boys in the city died playing on the tracks. But there was nothing dangerous here because there were no trains in Fellside. There wasn't even a train station. The tracks just finished.

It was a mystery, but an old one and nobody thought about it now. They were just there, and that was it. Claire thought about another mystery. Where does candyfloss go when you eat it? It disappeared in her mouth so fast. There was a lot left. She needed to walk slower.

The tracks vibrated as she walked. She could feel it and then she could hear it too. It was getting stronger and louder. She looked back. A round light, small but getting bigger, was coming. It wasn't possible!

A train.

Claire fell to the right, off the track. The train passed her, empty, and then slowed and stopped.

Where is it going? she thought. The tracks end soon.

A man put his head out of the window and shouted. 'What are you doing? It's dangerous on the tracks!'

'But ... there aren't any trains!' Claire said. Maybe there were no trains before, but there was a train now. It's not real, she told herself.

'This isn't real,' she said. But the heat coming from the train felt real.

'You can't walk on the tracks,' the driver said. 'You have to come on the train.'

'No!'

'Are you afraid?' he asked. 'It isn't real, remember? So what are you afraid of?' They were her own words to Peter.

She didn't want to, but she climbed the stairs of the train, candyfloss in hand.

'Sit,' he said, and the train slowly started moving again.

'Where are we going?' Claire asked.

'End of the line,' he said.

'Oh!' That wasn't far because the tracks ended near here.

She didn't want the candyfloss. It takes forever to eat it all, she thought. It's not possible.

'How long until we get there?' Claire shouted, because it was noisy inside the train too.

'The time it takes to eat all the candyfloss,' the driver of the real ghost train said. He turned his face. But now there was no face. There was nothing under his cap at all. 'Forever.'
Nicola Prentis

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'The ghost train is for children!' said Claire. 'People look afraid when they leave,' said Peter. He tried to pull her to The World's Best Ghost Train. 'It's fun!' 'They know it's not real, so why are they afraid? I'm going home.' 'OK,' Peter said. He bought a ticket for himself.

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This is the first sound version of the novel "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and it also is the only adaptation of the story with an invisible Marley's ghost. Seymour Hicks plays the title role in this British import about the miser who's visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.

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Tired of reading? Listen to the story!

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A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens | Lit2Go ETC

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A Christmas Carol is a Victorian morality tale that focuses on the life of the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge. First published by Charles Dickens in 1843 as a means to relieve personal debts, A Christmas Carol has become one of the most enduring Christmas stories of all time.

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A Christmas Carol: simplified version with questions

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A Christmas Carol: simplified version with questions

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https://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/literature/christmas-carol

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By Charles Dickens

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"In 1834, John Dickens sent this begging letter to his friend Thomas Beard.

He asks for a loan of two sovereigns.

He wrote, 'I ask you sir to oblige me with the loan of two sovereigns, until the first proximo.'

That's the first of next month.

John Dickens uses an excuse - saying he needs the large sum of money for shoe repairs.

We believe that Thomas Beard did loan him the cash."

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"In 1834, John Dickens sent this begging letter to his friend Thomas Beard. He asks for a loan of two sovereigns. He wrote, 'I ask you sir to oblige me with the loan of two sovereigns, until the first proximo.' That's the first of next month.

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Last Xmas...

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Karaoke time!

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Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You - Lyrics

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It's your turn to find out about your partner!

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Make your own Xmas tree!