Instructions for Running Dictation

Materials required for this Dictation Activity: Printed text, blu-

tack or tape.

How to play “Running Dictation”:

In this activity, students get up out of their seats and move

around two areas: one for the passage to be posted, and another
for the “secretaries” to sit and write. Runners can only dictate,
they cannot write for the secretary, but it is allowed to spell
words.

You need to emphasize to the runners that they can only whisper
to their partners. If you let students speak in their normal voices,
they will start shouting in the classroom. In case they don't
whisper, the game is over for that team.

Students should be divided in pairs with two main groups:

runners or dictators and secretaries. The runners will find a
story, and will memorize as many sentences as they can. Then,
they will run back to their "secretary" and dictate what they can
remember. 

Students will repeat this exercise until they have correctly

dictated the entire passage. Then, they have to check with the
teacher to make sure it’s done correctly. It is also recommended
for an award to give to the best students in pairs.

Print some of this beforehand.