Making questions

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Helmut and I are using some of my teaching materials here so he can improve his English. We’ve never spoken English with each other, because I’m an English teacher and there’s always this slight feeling of hierarchy in a teacher-student relationship, which doesn’t do a marriage any good. But here we are, and he wants to work on his skills, so we do. Anyway, the materials I’ve brought along include my very favorite ones, namely a set of grammar cards published by Brain-Friendly Publications, a publisher dedicated to Accellerated Learning, “whole brain” teaching, NLP, Suggestopedia and so on, written and illustrated by a wonderful teacher and teacher trainer, Mark Fletcher. This publisher now has e-books, too, but both my husband and I are hands-on types, and having cards on the table or on the beach towel is simply lovely.

Yesterday he had me in stitches (Freunde, that means: laughing my head off) as we worked with a card that asks the student to make questions to go with answers that are given on a card (and the teacher then needs to answer the questions). The answers Helmut had to work with were:

  • No. I’ve got an awful headache.
  • Very well, thanks. I’m almost finished.
  • You switch it on and press the ‘start’ button.

I’m not going to tell you what his questions were. And, no, I didn’t get the answers “right”.

Comments

5 Responses

  1. Yes! This particular pack of cards is ‘Flexible Friends’ Learning Cards Level 3, by Mark Fletcher, ISBN 189829509-3:
    “Conditionals… Passives … Idioms … Perfect tenses etc., etc.
    The essential grammar and vocabulary of English at Intermediate (First Certificate) level.”

    Other packs of 44 small plastic-coated index cards include sets for lower intermediate vocabulary (words and a scene) and pronunciation. I picked these up at one of Mark’s workshops for about 8 or 9 euros, so to order from him you’ll just need to add shipping.

    Brain Friendly Publications, Pennypot Ind. Est. Hythe, Kent CT21 6PE, England, Tel/Fax 44(0) 1303 238880 http://www.brainfriendly.co.uk

  2. Hi Anne,
    Just back from my ‘island’ – it was absolutely beautiful. We did manage to fit in some cycling over the heather mountains and chat to the sheep on the slopes. Then be welcomed by another relative with tea and cakes and you mention it. My folk in Ireland still don’t understand why people would go through this hardship – “we can drive you wherever you want to go” , was what we heard everyday. But oh the joy of cycling and travelling by bus (also unheard of by the natives!) and having those spontaneous conversations with ‘other people’ you just meet accidently.
    I love the sound if those Mark Fletcher cards, I have many of his books but the cards are new for me. I’ll try to get order some very soon.
    Cheers, Joan

  3. Sorry ’bout all the typos / errors.

    Of course the idiom goes: and you ‘name’ it! not ‘mention’ it, silly me.

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