This is a teacher led auction. It can be played with mixed language points which are causing difficulty or on a specific area, as in the example.
You may need to check that the students understand the concept of an auction.
Procedure
- Put the students into pairs or small groups and give each pair a sheet of sentences and their money limit. If you can find monopoly or other fake money to use it adds to the fun.
- Ask the students to plan which sentences they are going to bid for.
- Conduct the auction in a brisk and fun way.
- After all the sentences are sold, run through and get a class vote on which sentences are correct. Confirm the answers.
- Ask them to add up their money. Who has lost money on incorrect sentences?
- Ask pairs to decide why the sentences are not correct.
Example auction sheet
| Decide which of these sentences is correct. You have 1000 Euro to spend. Try to buy the best sentences with your money. Only buy correct ones if you can! |
| 1. I am living in Paris since 1998. |
| 2. Has Pascal ever been to London? |
| 3. Betty hasn’t went to England yet. |
| 4. Nobody in the class has been to America. |
| 5. How long are you studying English? |
| 6. I haven’t seen my cousin since a long time. |
| 7. We have seen each other last summer . |
| 8. When were you born? |
| 9. I’ve been born in 1987. |
| 10. I’ve never seen a film in English but I’ve read a book. |
| 11. Sally’s lived in London for 10 years now. |
By Clare Lavery
