What's the Story?

Purpose:  To help learners improve their writing skills and practice grammar tenses

Preparation Time:  10 minutes

Materials Needed:  sets of comprehension questions (see example below)

Example 1:

1. What was Ahmed’s job?
2. What does he do at his job?
3. Why does he like his job?
4. When does he go to work?
5. What does Ahmed do after work?

Example 2:

1. What was the weather like?
2. What did Rosa do first?
3. What did she do after that?
4. What didn't she want to do?
5. Why?
6. What was the surprising end?

Procedure:

1. Tell the learners that you had a text for them to read but unfortunately you left it at home! However, you still have the comprehension questions.
2. Give out the questions to the learners and ask them to read all the questions and then write the answers to them. They can work independently or in small groups
3. The answers should have some connection with each other and should be in note form only.
4. Now, using their answers, they have to construct a story the questions. This is a good chance for the learner to practice using linking words (e.g. previously, next, after that, finally, etc.).
5. When the learners have finished, you can have them share their stories with the whole class.

Modification: You can choose which tense you want to focus on depending on the learner (for example you could ask What did Ahmed use to do? or What would he like to do next? What has he done that no-one else knows about? etc.). You can also ask about different vocabulary too instead of the weather, (e.g. What was she wearing at the time?).