“The panellists take turns to say a word each, the ostensible object being to avoid completing a sentence: each word must leave the possibility of the sentence being completed in a grammatically correct and meaningful manner. When a grammatically correct sentence has been formed, the player who added the final word is eliminated. Play continues with the remaining players starting a new sentence. The last player left is the winner.”

I suspect this is why the game is called Cheddar Gorge (video of Cheddar Gorge on a bike)

Thanks for visiting

That’s from quite possibly my favourite radio programme ever – RIP Humphrey Lyttelton

Onion Radio podcast dictogloss

Part 1
1. Play any Onion podcast (except this one), for example about depressed people being more depressed than other people. Students take notes
2. Play again, students take notes again
3. Students collaborate to reconstruct the feature, concentrating on making real sentences. The discussion about what was said and how to make a good sentence is the key thing here. What I mean is, if they don’t get it verbatim, that’s completely ok.
4. Feedback. Review typical news chunks , viz “according to” “say that” “are expected to”
5. Look at the overall structure of the news feature, consider whether the sequence could be switched (I’d be very surprized), look at use of tenses; whatever.
Part 2
6. Then listen to “Rules Grammar Change” and ask “What was that all about?”

I’ve done a couple lessons using news stories from the Onion, and had often wondered if the Onion Radio could be used as well. Your idea about intonation is intriguing, I feel gears turning in my head. Thanks!