Answer: Dice Discussions is an activity for intermediate to advanced learners to help them develop fluency and confidence in using topic-related vocabulary items in a light, game-like situation. This group work activity requires some writing before the Report Back stage.
PREPARATION:
A. Choose 6 topics. Write them on Bb, next to the numbers of a die, for example, 1=Music, 2=Homes, 3=Inventions, 4=Natural Disasters, 5=The Environment, 6=Food and Our Health. You can elicit these topics from learners or choose past coursebook unit topics.
B. Learners will work in groups of 4, so procure one die for each group.
IN CLASS:
1. Divide learners into groups of 4 and call on one learner in each group to be 'Learner A', the one who speaks. 'Learner B' , the time keeper, (i.e. the learner to Learner A's right). 'Learner C' will ask questions to help Learner A continue speaking fluently on the topic. 'Learner D' will take notes. Remember: With each roll of the die, the roles of the learners within each group change.[1]
2. Learner A rolls the die and speaks for one minute, as fluently as possible, on the topic corresponding to the number on the die. Learner B can keep time: one minute.
3. Learner(s) C interjects questions on the topic whenever Learner A hesitates
4. Learner D takes notes of vocabulary items used by Learner A (especially, those items relevant to the topic).
5. Allow about 8 minutes so that each member of each group has a chance to speak. When time is up, ask the learners of each group to huddle together, sharing the notes they have taken, to write four sentences. These sentences can be representative of those topics that their group discussed and should be read to all for the report back.
RATIONALE: Learners are encouraged to revise vocabulary by coursebook topic, while at the same time, to practice speaking fluently, listening, note taking and sentence writing. It is appropriate for exam preparation classes as it gives opportunities for cooperation and mutual support in building confidence for speaking and writing.
Suzanne and Lilika
July 2016
[1] If your number of learners is not divisible by 4, have some groups of 5 in which the 5th learner will ask the learner speaking somequestions as an additional 'Learner C'.
