making requests with WOULD

There are plenty of ways to make requests or ask politely about something. Today I'd like to share a very simple and quick speaking activity in which the students are asked to use different variations of WOULD (also in expressing wishes). It could prove useful both in the practice stage of a lesson and as a revision exercise. Enjoy.

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

The teacher asks particular students to make sentences with would, would like, would love or wouldn't like.

• You want to do something with your friend tonight. 
• You are in a restaurant and you ask for a glass of water.
• You are saying having children is not for you.
• At school you’re asking the teacher to repeat something.
• You want to be a famous artist very much.
• You are saying how much you want to go to Casablanca.
• You are offering your friend a piece of cake.
• You don't like to work as an undertaker.
• You are asking your friend where you should put the box.
• You are explaining that your family doesn’t like to live in a village.
• On a train station you’re asking for a one way ticket to Glasgow.
• You are excited about going to a film premiere with your friend.

talking about ABILITIES & DISABILITIES

It's about time to introduce some simple speaking activities for lower levels. A while ago I've found a great one that I'd like to share. I'm also giving some other ideas how to explore the subject of ABILITIES or DISABILITIES with beginners. Hope they'll be helpful.

WRITING
Fill in the blanks with CAN or CAN'T. 
I ________ ride a motorbike.
I ________ climb a rope.
I ________ speak Arabic.
I ________  use a tablet.
I ________ sail.
I ________ stand on my head.
I ________ make a toast.

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below. Tell the truth.
a. I can ___________________ but I can't ___________________.
b. I can ___________________ and ___________________ .
c. My mother ___________________ but she can't ___________________.
d. Tigers can ___________________ but they can't ___________________.
e. Babies ___________________  but they ___________________.

SPEAKING
1. A game of chain questions. Students are supposed to ask one another Can you...? questions. It goes like this: first student asks a question to the one on their right. The student just asked, answers it and then asks the same question  plus one extra question to the student on their right. Then again, the student just asked answers both questions and asks the student on their right the extra question he just answered and a new one. Sounds complicated but just look at the example below.

A: Can you swim?
B: Yes, I can swim very well.
B: Can you swim?
C: No, I can't.
B. Can you drive a car?
C: No, I can't.
C: Can you drive a car?
D: Yes, I can.
C: Can you make a cheesecake?
D: Yes, I can make a delicious cheesecake.
etc.
However, there's one catch to the game: all the new question a student asks a partner must be unique, i.e. not asked before.  

2. A challange.  Another idea is to ask the class if they are able to to the following things in English:

• Can you say days of the week backwards?
• Can you count 1-20 in 15 seconds?
• Can you spell your surname?
• Can you name 3 cities in the United Kingdom?
• Can you say your cell phone number? etc.

They may then give it a try to do it.