yatcb lesson plans text reduction 20 10 5 1

TEXT
Text Reduction – 20, 10, 5, 1

Method:

1.

T asks SS to read a text and summarise the main point of the text in one sentence of exactly 20 words. Not
21 words, or 19 words, but exactly 20!

2.

SS work with their group (or partner) for a short time, e.g. 10 minutes. T monitors, checks, and corrects.

3.

Group feedback: a member from each team reads out their 20-word sentence. T or SS could write some on
the board and SS have to compare them. T elicits corrections to errors from the whole group and discusses
interesting grammar points. The whole group could discuss “What were the difficulties raised by the word
number rule?”

4.

Repeat steps 1-3, except SS have to summarise the same text in one sentence of exactly 10 words.

5.

Repeat steps 1-3, except SS have to summarise the same text in one sentence of exactly 5 words.

6.

Repeat steps 1-3, except SS have to summarise the same text with only 1 word.

7.

T discusses the activity with SS: what was easy? What was difficult? What have you learned from doing it?

Tips:

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T must enforce the word count limit. It is this restriction that makes the activity challenging – and fun! SS
have to find different ways to say the same thing – adding and removing words to meet the target number
of words.

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This is a nice activity because it practices:
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grammar
vocabulary
word order
speaking & listening
reading & writing
teamwork & negotiation

You Are The Course Book – Lesson Plans

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