O P E N ‘T H E’ D O O R S
Level: Intermediate – Upper-intermediate
Class Size: Pairs
Language Focus: Use of zero articles with certain classes of a noun: institutions, means of transport, times of day, seasons, meals, illnesses...
Pronunciation: the /D«/ the /Di:/ before vowels and consonants; weak form: at /«t/
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Game time: 10 – 15 minutes
In the Class:
1. This is an activity where learners are placed in the center of a maze. As with a real maze, there are some doors they can pass through or get out, and others that will not help them to escape.
2. Divide learners into pairs. Distribute the copy of the Maze to each pair. Explain that you are going to put them in a maze (they start in the middle) and what they have to do is to find their way out as quickly as possible. To get out they can only go through doors where they have to put ‘the’ for the phrase to be grammatically correct.
All those doors (phrases) where the zero articles are either acceptable or usual are locked and entrance is not allowed.
3. The aim is to be the first pair to have found a route out.
4. Make it clear to the class that they have to find a complete route out before you will check their answers. Tell them there is only one correct way out. (See key below). When one pair have found a route out they should shout ‘Out’. One member of the pair should then read out their route to the rest of the class.
In the library. . . in the south . . . etc
As soon as the pair makes a mistake says: ‘Blocked!’ and ask everyone to continue the search. You might also like to encourage members of the class to shout out blocked if they feel a pair has made a mistake. The ‘blocked’ pair can only have a turn at reading out a route again after another pair has had a turn.
Key:
in the post à on the radio à in the daytime à at the end à on the
stairs à on the phone à in the past {alertInfo}
|
Times of the day and night . . . especially after at, by,
after and before Meals . . . when talked about as part
of the day |