Activity type: this is a correction activity in which students have to compete against one another. It is particularly useful for younger learners.

Level: Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate

Teacher's notes:

1. Print out the sentences below; each sentence contains one or two mistakes.
   
2. Cut the sentences into strips, follow the dotted lines, and stick the sentences around the classroom.
   
3. When in class, put the students into pairs. Tell them that there are sentences stuck around the room.
   
4. Nominate one student as the scribe/’corrector’ and one student as the ‘runner.’ Explain to the students that one student in the pair, the runner, must run to a sentence, read it and then run back to his/her scribe and repeat it to that person. The scribe must then write it down word for word. If possible, the scribe can try to correct the sentence.
   
5. Whilst the scribe is trying to correct the sentence, the runner must then run and get another sentence. This is repeated until the students have all of the sentences. They should correct the sentences in pairs and then shout out when they have finished.
   
6. The winners are the ones that finish first and have all sentences correctly written down.
   
7. At the end of the activity, go over the answers.
   
   

Answers:

1. I slept all last night.
2. I went to a Korean restaurant on the weekend (note: US English can be ‘on the weekend’ and in GB English ‘at the weekend’ is more common).
3. I want to learn English.
4. It’s a very important issue.
5. I enjoy going out on the weekends.
6. She graduated from her university in March.
7. I like to go shopping.
8. I went home at 10 pm last night.
9. If I go, I will take the car.
10. Many people like chocolate.
11. Men and women like the new restaurant in the city.
12. Most people use the internet.
    

Note: Some of the errors are due to language one interference; you may want to bring this up in class and ask the students to think /discuss how they might say the sentences below in their own languages.

1. I sleep all night yesterday night.