Straightforward
5 ways to use quotes in class
by Lindsay Clandfield
1. Dictation
This is the simplest way. Dictate the quote to the class. Students write down what they hear individually. Ask the students to check in pairs, then read the quote again. Finally get a student to come and write it on the board. Follow up with a discussion.
2. Dictogloss
This is a variation on the dictation method above. Tell the students to put their pens and paper away for the moment. Explain that you will read the quote only once, so they must listen very carefully. Read out the quote (for lower levels, you may wish to read it twice - but only twice!). Now tell students to work with a partner and try and write down what they remember you said. Ask a student to come and write the final version on the board.
3. Translate back and forth
Put the students into pairs. Give each pair a list of, say, five quotes. Ask them to choose three quotes that they like and to translate them into their mother tongue. They should write these translations on a separate piece of paper. Tell them to put away the original (English) quotes and to swap papers of the translated quotes with another pair. The students should now translate back into English the quotes they have. At the end, they can check with the original version.
4. Similar quotes
Let students read a series of the quotes you have chosen. They should translate them into their own language. Ask them if there are any similar quotes or expressions in their language. Elicit what these are, and ask the students to provide a word-for-word translation into English.
5. Matching halves
Take an even number of quotes (four or six).
For example:
Health food makes me sick.
Never give a party if you will be the most interesting person there.
I've never needed much sleep.
The only way to have a friend is to be one.
Now split them in halves and jumble up the halves:
| Health food | much sleep. |
| Never give a party if you | makes me sick. |
| I've never needed | is to be one. |
| The only way to have a friend | will be the most interesting person there. |
Give these to the students and ask them to put the halves back together to form to reform the original four quotes. Ask them which quote they like best at the end, and why.
If you enjoyed this activity, click here to read last month's great activity on using realia.
