Language Day is on the 26th of September. I’ve produced a language quiz for pupils. They are shown 10 short jokes in ten different languages. They have to work out what language the jokes are in. The quiz is available as a simple PDF, a keynote file (for Mac users) a powerpoint file, a google slides link. There is also a PDF answer sheet with translations of the jokes and also names the language in which they were written. Check it out and see if it is the right level for your pupils. Ideally they should work in groups with one captain and they discuss the jokes one by one. The ‘captain’ then writes down the answer within sixty seconds. It should be a fun activity and will raise awareness of languages, and raise awareness that language learning can be fun!

WWF – Welches Wort Fehlt? WWF (level 1) is an activity for learners of German with minimal language ability. It boosts their confidence and shows them that they can actually work with real German words. The activity is based on 10 authentic signs with one word blanked out. The pupils are given three options, only one of which is correct. While you are free to use WWF in any way you like, we recommend that you divide the pupils up into teams. Each team needs a captain. The captain should have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Each team gets ‘100 euros’ at the beginning of the game which the captain should write on the top right hand corner of the paper. Explain that they will see a real German sign and have just 90 seconds to decide which of the three answers is correct AND to bet on their answer. The minimum bet, if they really don’t know, is 1 euro. The maximum bet, if they are really sure, is 90% of their money, initially, 90 euros. If they bet 25 euros and get the answer right, they will go up to 125 euros. If they get the answer wrong, they will go down to 75 euros. The team with the most money after 10 signs is the winner. Depending on how trustworthy your class is, you can let them look after their own words and money. You may prefer to ask that they deliver the answer and their bet to you after the 90 seconds so that they don’t cheat. Either way, they should write the missing word on their paper, not just the correct letter. Drop me a line at jeremytaylorwriter@gmail.com if you’re interested in more WWF material – at different levels and in different languages.

Learn Italian With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Italian With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Italian together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Italian jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Italian and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn Russian With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Russian With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Russian together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Russian jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Russian and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn Portuguese With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Portuguese With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Portuguese together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Portuguese jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Portuguese and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn Hebrew With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Hebrew With Jokes. In the sample there are twenty jokes in Hebrew together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Hebrew jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Hebrew and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Ich habe, aber ich habe nie is a memory game in which the pupils have to match up two parts of a sentence all based on the same structure. It is a fun activity with some hilarious 'wrong' answers. There are (at least) three different ways of running the activity, from an anarchic 'Find your partner!' to a calmer game of memory. The pupils will get a lot of practice of the target structure and could then write their own sentences based on the structure. The resource include a photocopiable page of sentences with full instructions on how to run the three different activities.

Lo he hecho, pero no lo he hecho is a memory game in which the pupils have to match up two parts of a sentence all based on the same structure. It is a fun activity with some hilarious 'wrong' answers. There are (at least) three different ways of running the activity, from an anarchic 'Find your partner!' to a calmer game of memory. The pupils will get a lot of practice of the target structure and could then write their own sentences based on the structure. The resource include a photocopiable page of sentences with full instructions on how to run the three different activities.

Learn Welsh With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Welsh With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Welsh together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Welsh jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Welsh and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Chocolates is a fun murder mystery which the students have to jigsaw together. There is a twist in that the teacher holds the most important sentence - which the students have to work out. It is an excellent way for students to practice speaking in French and the story is not too difficult in terms of vocabulary and the plot is not too complicated. As part of the resource you get 1. Instructions on how to use it. 2. The photocopiable page with the sentences. 3. The solution.

Chocolates is a fun murder mystery which the students have to jigsaw together. There is a twist in that the teacher holds the most important sentence - which the students have to work out. It is an excellent way for students to practice speaking in French and the story is not too difficult in terms of vocabulary and the plot is not too complicated. As part of the resource you get 1. Instructions on how to use it. 2. The photocopiable page with the sentences. 3. The solution.

Chocolates is a fun murder mystery which the students have to jigsaw together. There is a twist in that the teacher holds the most important sentence - which the students have to work out. It is an excellent way for students to practice speaking in German and the story is not too difficult in terms of vocabulary and the plot is not too complicated. As part of the resource you get 1. Instructions on how to use it. 2. The photocopiable page with the sentences. 3. The solution.

Chocolates is a fun murder mystery which the students have to jigsaw together. There is a twist in that the teacher holds the most important sentence - which the students have to work out. It is an excellent way for students to practice speaking in German and the story is not too difficult in terms of vocabulary and the plot is not too complicated. As part of the resource you get: 1. Instructions on how to use it. 2. The photocopiable page with the sentences. 3. The solution.

Learn Japanese With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Japanese With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Japanese together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Japanese jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Japanese and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn Japanese With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Japanese With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Japanese together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Japanese jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Japanese and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn Spanish With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn Spanish With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in Spanish together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the Spanish jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in Spanish and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

Learn French With Jokes - sample is a sample of the full book, Learn French With Jokes. In the sample there are ten jokes in French together with vocabulary support and English translations. There are lots of different ways you can use them in class: As revision to illustrate a grammar point. Matching exercise - can they match the French jokes with the English translations? Reading practice - short reading in French and they are rewarded with a laugh if they understand it. Shouting dictations. Jigsaw text (cut up a joke line by line, can your pupils put it back together?) As a reward for good work/behaviour. The book has proved very popular with lots of teachers (and pupils). Why not give it a try?

One-page stories with gaps. Teachers asks pupils for 'an adjective' 'a part of the body' etc and then read out the hilarious story. A great way to stretch your pupils' vocabulary, improve their awareness of parts of speech and to encourage story writing. Stories range from primary to teenage and are also suitable for EFL and ESL classes. You can get the students to fill in the story themselves - which the younger learners enjoy. They are also a fun activity for family gatherings at xmas.