[Chris Patton]

A simple but effective activity for a class like yours is random role plays. I would split them into threes or fours to start. Then you have some basic role play elements on slips of paper and put into different pots. So, you might have a pot each full of celebrities, jobs, locations, food items, vehicles etc.

The procedure is simple. Each person in a group needs to draw an identity out of a pot (a celeb name, or a job) then each group can draw a couple of other elements like a location, a lexical item or a problem out of other pots. They put together what they have and create a brief sketch.

So for example one group of three would draw three identities, maybe they would get Lionel Messi, a barber and a taxi driver. Then a location - a police station, a problem - someone has lost a ring, and another lexical item - a bunch of bananas.

Give the students a few minutes to prepare while you are dealing with other groups, set them all performing, have a vote to see who was best, mix in some reformulated error correction and feedback and presto! you've got a solid speaking activity.

Good luck!