Speaking Unplugged - 30 Activities for One-to-One Classes

Sep 30, 2026

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Speaking Unplugged outlines an approach to one-to-one English teaching that reduces imported materials and increases conversation-driven, materials-light interaction focused on emergent language. It explains the rationale through an example of learner feedback, then provides practical guidance for giving feedback using a two-column template and teacher-learner equal participation. The document culminates in a curated list of 30 minimal-resource activities, each designed to stimulate talk and communicative competence without heavy preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

What is unplugged teaching?

Giving Feedback

30 Unplugged Activities for One-to-One Classes

1. Know the teacher

2. The Question Generator

Speaking Unplugged: 30 Activities for One-to-One Classes By reducing the amount of material that is imported into the classroom, the teacher frees the learning space for the kind of interactive, talk mediated learning opportunities that are so crucial for language development. Scott Thornbury: Teaching Unplugged Introduction Like many teachers-I suspect-I used to turn up to my one-to-one classes with a pile of worksheets under my arm. The worst thing that can happen in a one-to-one class is running out of materials, I thought. And then one day, a private student told me he didn’t enjoy my classes because he felt I was just giving him a series of worksheets to complete. What he really wanted to do was develop his communicative competence-become a more fluent, versatile, adaptable and confident communicator in English. He looked at the worksheets-exercises written for practising the present perfect, adjective and preposition combinations-and said: “These exercises-I can do them and home and check the answers myself.” Since that fateful class, I changed my approach and ‘unplugged’ my one-to-one lessons. What is unplugged teaching? If you are not aware of the term ‘unplugged teaching’ or the ‘Dogme approach’, you might want to click here. In essence, the approach is as follows: ● teaching that is conversation-driven ● teaching that is materials-light ● teaching that focuses on emergent language If you feel unsure about adopting a materials-light approach in your lessons, why not try using some of the activities to supplement the materials you use with your learners. Ask for some feedback from your learner, you may find they prefer the new approach. What follows is a list of 30 minimal resources activities for your one-to-one classes. You can‘teach’ these lessons with other resources and materials (videos,photos, dictaphones, laptops with internet access, magazines etc.) but you don’t actually need anything except a few sheets of paper to make notes on. Giving Feedback When giving feedback,I like to use a simple template with 2 columns: What you said What you should say I write down the incorrect language in the left-hand column and then find time during the lesson-after the utterance, after the exercise, at a convenient point-to see if the learner can correct their own mistakes. If they can’t, I suggest you work with them to recast andreformulate their utterances. When possible, I try to make some notes on the language my learner used in the class and send them as an email attachment so I can quickly review them at the beginning of the next class. The final point I’d like to make is that you (the teacher) can really help your learner by participating as an equal partner in many of these activities. For example, if you ask your learner to give a 2-minute presentation, you should be prepared to do the same (great listening practice for them too). When two people are together, they produce a dialogue not separate monologues which means you, the teacher, have to interact, provide feedback, and make sure the conversation flows as smoothly as possible. By collaborating with your learners in these activities, you provide a language model and a model of how to interact when conversing in English. If you do this well, you may well find that your lessons become more enjoyable: conversations in which learning occurs. 30 Unplugged Activities for One to One Classes 1. Know the teacher 2. The Question Generator 3. Two minute talks 4. TED Talks 5. Gimme the short version! 6. It’s a deal 7. The Yes/No Game 8. Every Picture Tells a Story 9. Liar, Liar! Excuses, Excuses! 10. If only things had been different… 11. Dear teacher, I need your help 12. The Audition 13. A Story before Bedtime 14. Can I have a few minutes of your time, please? 15. Thinking outside of the Box 16. Playing Devil’s Advocate 17. Celebrity Interviews 18. I’m on the phone! 19. The Elevator Pi

FAQs

What does “unplugged teaching” mean in one-to-one classes?

It emphasizes conversation-driven teaching, a materials-light approach, and focus on emergent language rather than relying on worksheets.

Why did the author change the teaching approach?

A private student reported that the classes felt like worksheets to complete at home, and the student wanted development of communicative competence and fluent, confident English.

How should feedback be given during lessons?

Use a simple two-column template: record incorrect language on the left, then identify what the learner should say. After the learner speaks or completes an exercise, give time for them to correct their own mistakes or recast and reformulate if needed.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Terk