Running Dictation
(Suitable for active students up to about 15 years old.)

1.) Take your students to an open area or school hall. Place a paragraph of suitable English on the wall at one end. Sit the students with pens and paper at the other.
2.) To demonstrate the game, the teacher runs to the paragraph, puts a line through as much as he/she can remember and runs back to the students. The teacher then tells the students what she remembers. The students write down what they hear the teacher say. Then the teacher runs back for more. When the teacher has finished, he/she shows the paragraph to the students who can correct what they wrote.
3.) Now the teacher gets the students to repeat this process. The teacher chooses a student to run to a new paragraph, cross out what he/she can remember and the run back to tell the other students, who write down what they hear. Then the teacher selects another student and so on, until the paragraph is finished. The teacher shows the paragraph to the students who can correct what they wrote.
4.) Now the teacher divides the class into groups. Each group has a copy of a new paragraph in different parts of the hall. One student from each group is designated as the Runner. Another student from each group is designated as the Scribe. The Runner runs to the paragraph, crosses out what he/she can remember and then returns to tell the group. The group then tells the Scribe what to write. (Note: the Runner cannot write it; he/she can only say or spell what she/he hears.)
5.) The first group finished puts up their hands. Everybody stops. The teacher quickly checks the answer. If everything is correct, that group wins. Otherwise the activity continues....

*** Start with a small, simple paragraph and work up as the students become more enthusiastic.
*** The activity has many benefits: reading, writing, listening and speaking. It also encourages students to work and discuss in a group.
*** Even the noise and confusion is beneficial as students must try to listen and speak English in a less than perfect environment (which is how much "real" conversation takes place).
*** And the students have fun!

38 Years of teaching ESL in Australia