IHWO Activity Pack - Level C2

Language Quality 4
‘I can consistently maintain grammatical control of complex language when my attention is
otherwise engaged.’

Complex Control

Aim: Learners are encouraged to use a wider range of complex language.

Topic: Various

Time: 30 mins

Concept: Despite being able to understand a wide range of grammar and vocabulary learners are
often reluctant to produce the language when speaking and rely on more simple language
with which they feel safe. This activity is intended to highlight the fact that they have the
language tools to speak in a more complex and specific manner and encourage them to do
so.

Suggested Procedure:

1 Split the learners into pairs. Tell them that student A of each pair is going to talk for two minutes
whilst their partner B completes an observation task. Do not tell A what the task is.

2 Give As the subject cards and tell them they have to answer the question on the card as fully as
possible, using the prompts if they wish. Give them a minute to think about what they are going to say.
Meanwhile give Bs the observation task and answer any questions about it.

3 As begin the speaking task and Bs observe. After two minutes respond to content by asking learners
to tell the class briefly what they have been talking about.

4 Ask Bs to explain their observation task to As and give any feedback. As and Bs can then work
together to think of more complex ways of expressing the same ideas.

5 As can then repeat the same task trying to use some of the more complex language. Again Bs
observe and then give feedback, especially on positive improvements.

6 As and Bs swap roles and do the task again, with a different question card.

Variation: If you have access to a tape recorder or your MP3 player / mobile phone records audio, you
could record the task before pairs listen together and suggest ways of improving the
language in terms of complexity.

Extension: The topic cards from C1 activity Keep Talking - Language Quality 1 & 4 can also be used
for this activity.

© International House World Organisation C2 Activity Pack

IHWO Activity Pack - Level C2

Language Quality 4
‘I can consistently maintain grammatical control of complex language when my attention is
otherwise engaged.’

Complex Control - Speaking tasks

How is music important to people? What changes can you foresee in your
 Tradition country in the next 10 years?
 Entertainment  Economy
 Art  Cultural
 Political

How have crime and punishment changed in How do people decide on a career?
the last 50 years?  Education
 Types of crime  Salary
 Number of crimes  Fulfillment
 Deterrents

What are the effects of global tourism? What are the major influences on teenagers?
 For the host country  Friends
 For the tourist  Family
 For the economy  Media

© International House World Organisation C2 Activity Pack

IHWO Activity Pack - Level C2

Language Quality 4
‘I can consistently maintain grammatical control of complex language when my attention is
otherwise engaged.’

Complex Control - Observation Task

Listen to your partner speaking and note down any basic language that could be said in a more complex or
specific way. Things to look out for:
Basic vocabulary. Do they use simple “friendly”
words like important or interesting where they could
use higher level vocabulary such as paramount /
vital or fascinating / intriguing?

Ambiguous verbs. Do they use less specific verbs

such as eat and walk, when they could be more
specific saying munch / nibble or trudge / wander?

Simple modifiers. Do they rely on simple modifiers

like very slow or really dependent when they could
use strong collocations like painfully slow and
heavily dependent?

Linking. Do they overuse linkers like and and

because where they could add variety using at the
same time or consequentially?

Conditionals. Are a variety of conditionals used? Do

all conditionals contain if where they could use
unless / as long as / suppose / providing?

Simple grammatical structures. Do they use

mostly subject + verb + object sentence patterns
like People are committing more computer crimes or
TV causes youngsters to buy certain types of clothes
where they could add emphasis with more complex
structures like: one crime that is on the increase is
computer crime or having been influenced by TV,
teenagers rush out to buy the latest clothes?

© International House World Organisation C2 Activity Pack