Chapter I organizing teaching listening games

Silly stories

Language	Making up stories, using the past tense.
Skills	Listening and speaking.
Control	Free.
Level	Intermediate/advanced.
Time	5—10 minutes.
Materials	None.

Preparation: None, unless you would like to think of some beginnings for stories
Procedure: Class work.
Begin the story with the first half of a sentence. Then ask the class to think of a continuation, e.g.
Teacher: I saw a horse sitting . . .
Learner 1: . . . , in the kitchen.
Teacher: It was eating. . .
Learner 2: . . . a piece of cake.
Learner 3: And drinking a cup of tea.
Teacher: I said . . .
Learner 4: Don't you have milk in your tea?'

Discuss the idea that there arc always people who like 'to pull other people's legs', i.e. to make them look a little foolish. Explain that this game will train the learners not to have their legs pulled! Explain that you will talk and include a few untrue statements. The learners must immediately raise their hands on hearing an untrue statement and say what is wrong with it.

Once the idea of the game is understood, it can be played in groups in pairs. Learners might prepare their 'talk' in writing, perhaps for homework.
Teacher or Learner 1: Yesterday I went into town and saw a marvelous car. It had six legs and went very . . .
Learner 2: That's not true. Cars don't have legs, they have wheels. And. they don't have six wheels either. Teacher: Oh, sorry. You are quite right. Anyway, it was going very fast indeed. I was at the chemist's buying some bread,
Teacher: Paris is the capital of Italy...
Learner 3: Rome is the capital of Italy!