Presenting say and tell to students?

[greystroke]

Hi,

My students understand the difference between say and tell, but are not able to apply it to their speech- they still make sentences like " I said you--" or " I said him ---" . I have been thinking of ways of presenting the difference to them ( rather than just giving them examples ).
Would a concordance with both verbs help? Or perhaps samples of reported speech?
Also, are there any activities my students could do - other than making sentences- to practice the target language?

Can someone help please?

Thanks,
Arun

 

[riverkid]

Hi,

My students understand the difference between say and tell, but are not able to apply it to their speech- they still make sentences like " I said you--" or " I said him ---" . I have been thinking of ways of presenting the difference to them ( rather than just giving them examples ).
Would a concordance with both verbs help? Or perhaps samples of reported speech?
Also, are there any activities my students could do - other than making sentences- to practice the target language?

Can someone help please?

Thanks,
Arun

The only way to learn to do something is by doing it, Arun. Copious practice should instill this in their brains.

A: Go to the blackboard. [turns to another student, B]

A: I told him to go to the blackboard. I said to him, "Go to the blackboard".

[B describes it to C, then C to D and so on.]

B: He told him to go to the blackboard. He said to him, and I quote, "Go to the blackboard".

Vary the verbs/actions so they're learning new words and the don't get bored; saunter/waddle/limp/stumble/...

Do other actions of course.

 

[greystroke]

Thanks Riverkid,

I was thinking of " Simon Says" but i think the activity you have suggested is better.

Arun