A communicative activity gives learners a reason to talk: a gap to close and an outcome to reach.
scripts/activity_picker.py filters the bank in activity-bank.md by level,
skill, class size, time, preparation, online use and language focus; the skill then adapts the chosen frame and
writes the materials.
Trigger Conditions
Activate this skill when the user:
- Needs a speaking activity, freer practice or fluency task for a language class
- Asks for an activity for a specific grammar point, vocabulary set, level or class size
- Teaches online and needs activities that work in breakout rooms
- Has learners who "don't talk" in discussions
Warmers: warm-up-icebreaker-generator. Full task cycle: task-based-language-lesson-designer. Games for word lists: vocabulary-game-generator.
Workflow
1. CLASS -> level, class size, time, room or online, target language
2. PICK -> python scripts/activity_picker.py --level B1 --skill speaking --minutes 15 --students 12
3. ADAPT -> fit the frame to the target language (references/running-activities.md)
4. MATERIALS -> A/B cards, role cards (goal, conflict, constraint), prompt cards, answer key
5. SETUP -> grouping, instructions, demo, ICQs, materials, timer
6. FEEDBACK -> content first, then 4-6 language points, then one pronunciation pointOffer two or three options from the picker with a one-line reason each, then build the one the teacher picks (or the best fit if they asked for one).
Activity output
For the chosen activity give:
| Part | Content |
|---|---|
| Aim | Fluency / accuracy practice of the target language in a context |
| Time and grouping | Minutes; pairs, groups, mingle |
| Materials | Cards or prompts written in full, ready to copy |
| Instructions | 3-5 short sentences the teacher says, plus a demo |
| ICQs | 2-3 questions with answers |
| Monitoring focus | What language to listen for |
| Feedback | Content question, language points, extension for fast finishers |
| Variations | Easier, harder, online |
Setup, monitoring, information-gap and role-card design, and class-size adjustments: running-activities.md.
Scripts
python scripts/activity_picker.py --level B1 --skill speaking --minutes 15 --students 12 [--online] \
[--prep none|low|medium|high] [--grouping pairs] [--focus conditionals] [--show 5] [--bank file.md]Teachers can add their own activities as rows in the bank (same columns) or pass --bank. Exit codes:
0 matches, 1 nothing matches, 2 bank unreadable or bad level.
Additional Resources
| File | Content |
|---|---|
| activity-bank.md | 38 activities with skills, levels, grouping, minimum class size, time, prep, online use, language focus and procedure |
| running-activities.md | What makes an activity communicative, adapting frames, information gaps, role cards, setup, monitoring, feedback, class-size adjustments |
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