Activity for Practicing So/Too/Neither/Either (ESL)
Skill focus: Speaking
Grammar: Additions and Responses (So, Too, Neither, Not either)
ESL Level:Lower-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
Overview: Students find five things they have in common with their classmates.
Number of students: Five or more
Materials needed: one copy of the worksheet for each student.
Time Required: 20-25 minutes
This activity is meant to review additions and responses (too/so/neither/not either). You'll have to teach this grammar first.
I have done this activity twice. For the first time, I had higher-level students so I just explained the activity verbally and let them go at it. The second time (last week), I had a lower class students so I had them complete the worksheet below so they would be prepared for it. They enjoyed it.
Worksheet Preview
Speaking Activity Execution
- Review the top two columns of the table at the top of the worksheet.
- Have them complete the next four columns.
- Take up the answers.
- Now, explain to the students that they want to find things in common with their classmates. If they find something that is the same, they should give the other person a high-five.
Give some examples to the class. Have a short dialogue with some of the more advanced students in the class. For example:
- Teacher: I have a bicycle. (Offer hand for high-five)
- Student: So do I! (Gives you the high five)
- Teacher: Last year, I didn't get married. (Offer high-five)
- Student: Neither did I! (*High five*)
Explain that you want to get five high fives (note: you can actually increase this number because finding five isn't hard).
Do one more demonstration:
- Teacher: I teach English. (Offer high five)
- Students: Oh, I don't. (Leaves teacher hanging)
Make sure the students understand that they don't high five if the sentence isn't true for both of them.
- Before they start the activity, have them complete the five sentences at the bottom of the worksheet. These sentences have different modals/auxiliaries, so it's better practice than just having the students say "I like pizza / So do I!" "I like dogs. / So do I!"
- Let them start. Tell them they can sit down when they have gotten five high fives (increase this maybe to 10)
Cultural note: Some students may not be comfortable touching hands (such as female Saudi students). In this case, just let them pretend to give a high five.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
- Related: How to Use Either and Neither
- Related: Game for Practicing So/Too/Neither/Either
- Matthew Barton / Creator of www.englishcurrent.com
I am not quite sure what you mean by additions and responses here?
These are phrases you say after you hear someone make a comment. These phrases include “Me too / Neither do I / I can’t either.” etc. They are additions or responses to a previous statement.
Nice activity, thank you!