Using Connectors

• Put on the board the following connectors for contrast: whereas, while, but, on the
other hand and words or phrases for showing similarities: both, too, also, as well and
check students know the meaning and use of each.

• Draw a cloud or circle in the centre of the board and write or elicit several topics of
general interest e.g. education, food, entertainment, sport, holidays, nature, the
environment, social issues.

• You point to a topic at random, for example food and give students a minute to each
think of a suitable one sentence statement to make about it. Then nominate one student
to say their statement aloud. For example, The food they serve in my college canteen is
really awful.

• You then point to a connector, for example whereas and nominate another student who
must repeat the original statement, and then complete it using the connector and an
appropriate ending. For example, The food they serve in my college canteen is really
awful whereas what they provide at John's school is brilliant .

• That student then chooses another topic and nominates a colleague and the whole
procedure is repeated.

• Note: you may find that you need to set a time limit for the responses so you can keep
the pace up.

• Variation: This activity can later be practised with the whole class using a set of
visuals. (In the first picture there are some animals eating something … (as well) … and
in the other picture there is an animal as well .)