Make Patterns Stick: Improv Games for Confident Student Speaking

This is a fun, active, and participatory workshop that requires an open space large enough for approximately 20 participants to stand in a circle. Attendees are invited to join and/or observe the modeling of several group improvisation games designed to create memorable opportunities for students to practice speaking in the language classroom. Two types of improv games will be explored. First, large-circle rhythm and repetition games will be introduced. These are used to reinforce useful speaking patterns and high-frequency phrases (e.g., go to the store, on the weekend, need to + verb). Second, participants will experience contextual “on-stage” speaking games in which students practice spontaneous communication within familiar roles and relationships (for example: parent and child, teacher and student, employer and employee, or classmates). In these games, some students speak, and other students enjoy the short show. Then a new group of students is rotated in. These activities, adapted specifically for English language learners and classroom use, are drawn from the practices of professional improvisers and improv training environments. The games have been tested successfully over three years with learners at all proficiency levels (A2–C2) at the University of Victoria’s English Language Centre. A brief overview, practical guidance, and take-home handouts will be provided. The objective of the workshop is both to model accessible improv-based speaking activities and to inspire participants to incorporate these flexible, low-prep games into their own English language teaching contexts. Participants will leave with a set of adaptable, low-prep improv speaking games ready for immediate classroom use. The games can be easily adjusted to align with a wide range of course content and communicative goals. (note: for practical reasons, this can't be a giant session maybe max 20 per session? - I'm willing to do two sessions if there is lots of interest!)