teaching "make" and "let" to upper intermediates

[lcc1311]

Anyone have an original and clever idea on how to teach "make" and "let"? The class has been working on verbs that are followed by a to-infinitive and I would like to offer something fun on a grammar heavy day.

[solidcell]

You mean like:

"Let me tell you something" as opposed to "make me tell you something"?

[Clare James]

It's probably a little late to offer ideas for that class, and it's not that original, either., but here's something I use. With teens or classes young learners, I've asked them to do role plays where they have to act out being interviewed on TV / radio about a particularly lenient or strict school they go to, particularly lenient or strict parents and upbringing, or imagining spending some time in the army. These scenarios give a (slightly silly) but possible target area to practise statements such as 'My teachers make me do six hours homework a week.' or 'Do your parents let you go out late?' etc.

I can't think of any suitable role cards in familiar supplementary materials books at the moment.

Maybe you've already come up with something that works well in the classroom by now - if so, I'd be interested to know about it!

Clare
ELTgames.com