Break some ice: Impromptu Speeches

I love icebreaker activities and have plans to throw them into the middle of class periods as espresso shots here and there.  This activity was first introduced to me this year at the AVID Summer Institute.

Teacher Prep:

1. Create several questions or topics.
2. Write them on notecards (or type them and save them).
3. Make enough copies for each group to have a set.

Procedure:

1. Put the students into groups.
2. Handout the baggies.
3. Go!

Student instructions:

1. Your teacher will put you into a group.
2. Decide who will be the timer.
3. You will receive a bag of questions.
4. When it is your turn, draw a random question out of the bag.
5. You must respond to the question by talking for 60 seconds.  Other group members may not interrupt you, comment, and/or ask questions.  You must fill the entire 60 seconds.  When it’s the timer’s turn, someone else must act as the timer.
6. When all group members have gone, return the questions to the bag and give it to your teacher.

I plan to explore a modification in which after each speech, two people must ask follow-up questions.  While thus far I’ve only used this as a get to know you activity done in English as a part of my setting the tone week, I cannot wait to use it in the target language.  It will provide a fun way to possible combine presentational speaking practice with interpersonal speaking practice.