Let's get the ball rolling! Let's talk sports!

Today we are going to move our students from their comfortable sofas and do some speaking push ups :) But don't worry, even if you are out of shape, you'll catch up with our pace easily.

Actually, no serious workout today (I hate push ups, what about you?). Let's start with some warming up activities that will encourage our students to use sport-related vocabulary in speaking. Besides, it is said that a good warm-up is the most important part of your workout and the key to success. I bet it is the same with speaking!

Let's kick off with a short interview with Londoners who talk about their routines that keep them fit.

Source: Speakout Pre-intermediate video podcast Unit 6 Fitness

The intrviewer asks three questions: What do you do to keep fit? What other things would you like to do to keep fit? Do you do anything that isn’t very healthy? 

First, ask the students to answer the questions for themselves and to talk about them in pairs. As soon as they are ready, play the clip for the second time and ask them to note down any information about the speakers that they hear. There are 8 different speakers - divide students into groups and ask them to focus on one speaker at a time. Then ask them to present the profiles of their speakers to the rest of the class. The clip is appropriate for pre-intermediate students and offers a great oportunity to listen to some authentic English.

Now, as you have discussed the questions about students' sport activities or inactivities ... :) try to think together what they can do to improve their lifestyles and let them answer this question:

Which sport are you made for?

Even if their answer is 'none!' reassure them that there are sports that they might like to take up. But maybe they have never thought about it before. Ask them to take a BBC test that might inspire them: 

Which Sport Are You Made For? - test

Before you take the test ask the students to complete this short vocabulary exercise:

1. Match the phrases with their definitions and provide their Polish equivalents:

1. put up with                                               a) a bit silly
2. stub one’s toe                                           b) a clumsy person              
3. scorching                                                 c) a talkative person
4. trip over my own feet                              d) very tired
5. chatterbox                                                e) to tolerate something unpleasant
6. butter fingers                                            f) to grow or to progress
7. scatterbrain                                              g) to hit one's toe
8. ditzy                                                         h) very hot
9. to thrive                                                    i) to stumble 
10. exhausted                                                 j) react quickly
11. to be quick off the mark                          k) an absent-minded person

After completing the test ask students to share their results with the class and say whether they agree with them or not and why. I wonder if they get inspired by the test:)

The last game is a perfect speaking activity. You have heard about taboo, surely. Nothing motivates students more than teamwork and competition, so the taboo game is ideal for getting them to speak. And you can prepare your taboo cards for any topic you wish. You can also ask students to prepare their own taboo cards as a part of their homework.

You will find sport taboo cards below, have fun!

Sport Taboo Cards

Have an active Wednesday evening!