1. Accoustical training, five exercises for sound differentiation

Preliminary remarks The primary context of the following exercises is the introduction of a certain sound as part of the alphabetization in the first language (at the end of the 1st grade or beginning of 2nd …

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2. “Anna says...”

Hints: This exercise is based on the children’s play “Simon says”, which is known and applied world-wide under various names. The name “Anna” may of course be replaced with a typical name from the language and culture of …

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3. “I see something that you don’t see”

Hint: This game can be played with the entire class, smaller groups, or in teams of two students. Procedure: A child visualizes an object in the classroom that can be seen by all (e. g. the wall board, …

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4. “Find someone, who...”

Procedure: The instructor provides each student with two or three cards with instructions. The instructions are formulated on the cards. For example: The students move around in the classroom, asking their classmates the questions from the …

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5. “Hot seat”

Procedure: The instructor divides the class into two equally strong groups (A and B). S/he designates two students to go first on the “hot seats”. For that purpose, two chairs are placed in front of …

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6. Nursery rhymes and rhymes; poems and poetry

Hints: The nursery rhymes and rhymes that are well-known in every culture, are in fact more important for language development than it would appear at first sight. With their rhythmical structure that stimulates repeating the …

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7. Rapid-speak verses, playful language

Procedure: The instructor presents a tongue twister and practices reciting it with the students part by part. The students practice the tongue twister individually, in pairs or in groups. Variants: The instructor recites the tongue twister …

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8. Simple role plays

Hint: In contrast to the more sophisticated applications of language #26–28 (quasi-reality play, fictitious playing, theater plays) the following suggestions are very simple forms of role play that are, moreover, very much determined by the children …

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