Toblerones for Speaking

 Pupils love this Speaking practice activity, perhaps because everyone loves a toblerone, but also because it makes them feel organised, supported and in control. It is something I used to use for the calamitous Learn Fancy Answers By Rote GCSE but you may still think it is a good idea to use for pupils to rehearse answers, at GCSE or in KS3.

Figure 1

How to Make the Toblerone.

1. Write out your answer in Spanish at the top of a sheet of A4.

2. Rotate the sheet of A4 and write the English at the other end of the sheet. The Spanish now looks upside down compared to the English. See figure 1 to check you have done it correctly.

Figure 2

3. Fold the sheet of A4 into three. This is always great fun as pupils fold it in half first and then wonder what to do. Learning to fold into three  is great practice for folding tea towels or thank you letters to your aunt Iris at Christmas. See figure 2.

Figure 3

4. Form the sheet of A4 into a toblerone and secure with a paper clip. Make sure it can stand safely on its base and that the Spanish and English both now appear the correct way up on opposite sides of the toblerone. See figure 3.

How to use the toblerone.

1. Set the toblerone on the table between you and your partner so that the Spanish is facing you.

2. Look at the Spanish text facing you. Translate it into English out loud to your partner. Your partner will read the English side of the toblerone and ask you to correct any mistakes you make.

3. Keep the Spanish text facing you. You are going to read it to your partner BUT you can't look at the text and speak at the same time. So look at the text, memorise a chunk, look up and say it to your partner.

4. Turn the toblerone round so the English is facing you. Look at the English and try to say it in Spanish to your partner. They look at the Spanish version and ask you to correct any mistakes you make.

5. It is a good idea to let your partner have a go at their toblerone in between. This means you challenge yourself to keep yours in your brain for a little bit longer between activities.

6. Decide what you want to put on the 3rd side (the bottom) of the toblerone. The question in Spanish? The verb endings? Picture cues? Then practise using at the cues you have given yourself while your partner looks at the Spanish to check you are doing it correctly.

7. You may have a series of questions to practise like this. Make a toblerone for each one and practise each one with a partner. You only need ONE paper clip. Don't be greedy. Take it off the first toblerone and use it to assemble the next one.

How to store the toblerones.

Figure 4

1. Unclip the last toblerone you were using.

2. Flatten them all out.

3. Use the clip to hold them together and keep them safe. See figure 4.

4. Reuse regularly in class with a partner. Take them home and do more toblerone practice. Store in a cool dry place. Do not attempt to eat them.