ESL Jigsaws

Using Go, Play and Do with Activities

Posted by Nancy Callan on 12 July 2013 | 2 Comments

Tags: beginner, go, play, do, leisure, sports, inviting, invitations, gerund, soft skills, ESL, ENL, ELL, EFL, ESOL

Summer is the natural time for a unit on leisure. This unit is suitable for ESL or EFL students of all levels and has many opportunities for fieldtrips. Low beginners can learn the names of activites and practice "can" and "can't". "I can dance." "I can't dance." Higher level students can practice the intricate soft skills required to politely navigate invitations, both in speaking and in writing. Email is an obvious medium for invitations. 

I've made a couple worksheets to practice the use of go, play and do with various activities for a mid to upper beginner class. You are welcome to download them to use in your own classroom.

This first exercise has students practice a very structured inviting conversation where they familiarize themselves with when to use go, play and do. Point out to students that go is always used before a gerund. Play is used for competitive sports and other activities. And do is used for activities without a ball that can be practised individually. Click on the image below to view the exercise large on your computer and print out for your own use. Don't forget to print out the second exercise as well. 

Follow this speaking practice up with a written exercise where students now have to write the correct verb. Click on the image below to view the exercise large on your computer and print out for your own use.

Let me know how it works in your class. Enjoy!