Cut-ups and Kaboom!
Students often struggle to distinguish between formal and informal language, and also to produce appropriately formal language when appropriate. Given that academic language is generally formal, and that my students need to be able to write texts of varying registers for their IGCSE E2L, it’s worth some time focusing on the features of formal language. In fact, after analysing an example of a report for their IGCSE, my students told me they needed to learn this (along with the passive voice and ways to make recommendations – good job, class!).
Here’s what they did:
- In pairs, they shared ideas of what they think are features of formal language. Or, if it was easier, anything they think is definitely NOT formal.
- I then gave them the cut ups (pictured left) to sort into 2 columns.
- After checking their work, they stuck the strips into their books, and added examples of the active and passive voice (studied in the previous lesson).
- 4. Next, I gave them a few minutes to come up with as many sentences of their own as they could, starting with the formal list.
The sentences they prepared could help them win the game we then played – Kaboom! Many of you probably know this game already, but just in case you don’t, here’s how it goes (or how we played it, anyway):
This is projected onto the board. Students are in teams (2 works well, more is fine but you need to make a plan for the Exchange Points action).
Teams take it in turns to choose a square, e.g B5.
You have the squares plotted out in front of you, and let them know if they chose a Q (question), C (challenge), E (exchange) or K (KABOOM!). You’d fill in this in on the board, so everyone can see that that square has already been taken.
What do all the squares mean?
Q – I numbered all my Qs 1- 13 and played it like this: odd numbers required students to give an appropriately informal sentence for 50 points, even numbers required a formal sentence for 50 points.
C – Challenge. This is open to all teams to win points. In this case, I gave them a sentence in the active voice and asked them to transform it into the passive voice in mini whiteboards.
B – Bonus! 50 points, free, for doing nothing at all!
E – Exchange. If they choose this square, they have to swap points with the other team.
K- KABOOM! They lose ALL their points.
The winning team is the team with the most points at the end of the game when all square have been taken (or the bell goes).
To download the files for this lesson, click on the image above.
If this resource that I made saved you a bunch of time and you’re looking for a way to say thank you – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/EmmaGL 🙂
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