Decade
Subject: Can vs Could
Skills: Speaking, Listening
Level: Elementary
Recommended Age: 18+
Number of Participants: 4-12 players
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Any
Equipment: Not required
Materials: Not required
Preliminary Preparation: Not required
Immediate Preparation (1-5 minutes).
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so tha they are sitting or standing in a circle or a semi-circle in front of the board.
2. Ask the players to take it in turns saying what they could not do a decade ago, but can do now.
3. In order to give an example, you can say, e.g.:
'A decade ago I could not play tennis, but I can do it now!'
For weaker groups, you can write it on the board.
How to Play. A typical game might start something like this:
Player A: A decade ago I could not drive a car, but I can do it now!
Player B: A decade ago I could not bake cakes, but I can do it now!'
and so on around the circle.
Of course, the sentences must not be repeated during the whole competition! A player, who cannot make an appropriate sentence, drops out of the game. The activity continues around the circle as long as only one paticipant is left. This last remaining player becomes the winner of the game.