This is an activity I really like to use with
my students, it is suitable for B1-B2 students. They'll be able to practise
three of the four skills, reading, speaking and writing, while they learn new
vocabulary.
I got the idea for this activity from an episode of the Simpsons in which Marge becomes a realtor. She is told to use positive language when describing houses in order to sell more. In this way a 'small' house is described as 'cosy'.
You should allow at least 1 hour to complete
the whole activity although the third exercise, being a composition, can be done
at home.
In the first exercise students must read the
description of a house where the adjective nice is repeated several
times. They should replace it with an appropriate adjective. The idea is to
make students aware that there are other adjectives they can use apart from
nice.
In the second exercise students are given the
characteristics of a very special flat. This is a very old apartment that needs
renovating in a rough neighbourhood. Students must use positive language in
order to focus on the positive aspects of the flat. I always tell them they can exaggerate things but never lie. They tend to find it a bit
difficult at first but once they start to come up with ideas they enjoy it a
lot.
To conclude the activity students must use
their own ideas from exercise 2 to write an article similar in structure to one they read at the beginning.
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