This activity can be used as an ice-breaker; to repeat a language structure to reinforce the use; to warm up students into a topic, or to have students reflect, and so on. No materials are needed.
1. Tell students to get into an alphabetical line according to their names.
- Ask them to get into two groups. (As & Bs)
- Have them stand in two concentric circles. Each inner-circle student (A) is facing an outer-circle partner (B).
- Have students discuss on a topic with the help of some guiding questions.
- The inner-circle students speak first. Say:” You have two minutes to talk. There is only one rule. Don’t stop talking. If you finish early, start over again. If you can’t think of the right word, say it in a different way. If you don’t have any ideas say ‘Bla, bla, bla..’ Sooner or later an idea will come to you. But don’t stop talking.”
- Tell Bs (the listeners- the students in the outer circle) that their job is very important and that this is not a conversation, so they shouldn’t ask any questions or talk at all. Tell them to just lean forward to show that they are interested, and listen to their partner.
- When you clap your hands students should stop and move one place to the right, and tell the same thing to their new partners. Speakers will have to edit and speak even faster this time.
- Tell the students to swap roles- As become listeners, Bs speakers this time. Repeat the same steps as above.
See some other example activities:
Concentric Circles from David Sawyer
Note: I learned this activity some years ago, and have been using it since then. However, it is very unfortunate that I don’t remember where I learned/got it from.
