Round Robin Story: A Fun ESL Writing Activity for All Ages

Round Robin story is a fun ESL activity that focuses on speaking and listening. It’s great for all ages and can also be used as a TEFL writing activity as well. Keep on reading for all the details you need to know!

Round Robin Story TEFL Activity

Skills: Listening/Speaking (or Writing)
Time: 10 minutes
Level: Beginner-Advanced (some basic reading skills are helpful)
Materials: Whiteboard, marker

To begin, have the students sit in a large circle. Start them off with a “Once upon a time _____” sentence. Say it as well as write it on the whiteboard.

The story then builds as it travels around the room. Each student adds one idea, which you write (with any mistakes corrected) on the board. This is not a memory game—students only need to add a new idea that continues the story, rather than repeat it from the beginning. It should, however, make sense in the context of the story.

When all students have added an idea, you can either add a sentence to end it, if necessary, or ask for volunteers to finish the story. Then, the entire class can read the story aloud from the board.

Round Robin Story (Writing Variation)

To make this into a writing activity, have each student get a piece of paper. They can start the story off with, “Once up a time _____” and make a complete sentence. Then, they pass the paper to the next person in line who reads what has been written and adds one more sentence.

When time is almost up, tell students that there are only two more passes so that they have to wrap up the story. Students can then read the completed stories.

Teaching Tip:

For more active participation (and if necessary to prompt/help students), you may want to ask students open-ended questions about the story while it is still being written. Even if they have to refer to the board, the students will be more actively engaged in the story. This should also help each contribution move the story forward, especially if you are getting a lot of descriptive sentences without much plot.

Tip for Larger Classes:

If your class is large, this will take longer than 5-10 minutes, if all students contribute. You could randomly choose students to contribute until the time is up, or plan on a longer activity.

Variation for Beginners:

For beginners, it may be enough to get students to say a single word in each sentence to complete the story. For example, “Once up on a time, there was a ____ (bear).” The teacher can read the sentence and then elicit from the students which animal they want to fill in the blank with. Then, the class can read the completed sentence together. Or, absolute beginners can just say the word (bear). Continue until the simple story is complete, eliciting some of the key words from the students.

When complete, read the entire story to the students. I like to give students some tasks to do as they’re listening. For example, every time they hear a certain word (bear), they have to gesture with bear claws. Or, they have to stand up every time they hear me say a colour.

Also be sure to check this article out: How to Write an Interesting Story in English.

Procedure for Round Robin Story:

1. Have students sit in a large circle, if possible.
2. Begin with a “Once upon a time” sentence. Say it and write it on the whiteboard.
3. Have the student closest to you add an idea and the teacher writes it (correctly) on the board.
4. Continue around the room, until everyone has added an idea or two.
5. Add a sentence to end the story, or have volunteers finish it.
6. Have a student (or several) read the complete story to the class. If you have not written it, summarize or retell it.

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FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about this group writing activity. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

What are the benefits of the Round Robin Story activity for ESL students?

The Round Robin Story activity promotes creativity, listening skills, and collaborative storytelling. It encourages speaking and writing practice, boosts imagination, and enhances language fluency.

How can I set up the Round Robin Story activity in an ESL class?

Arrange the students in a circle. Provide a starting sentence or prompt to begin the story. Each student takes turns adding a sentence or paragraph to the story, continuing the narrative.

How can I make the Round Robin Story activity more engaging?

You can introduce elements like time limits, specific themes or settings, or even props to make the activity more dynamic. Encourage students to use descriptive language and create suspense or humor in their contributions.

What language skills does the Round Robin Story activity target?

The Round Robin Story activity targets speaking, listening, and writing skills. It helps students practice sentence structure, vocabulary, grammar, and storytelling techniques.

Can the Round Robin Story activity be adapted for different proficiency levels?

Yes, the Round Robin Story activity can be adapted for different proficiency levels. For beginners, shorter contributions can be encouraged, while more advanced learners can focus on complex sentences or developing plotlines.

How can I assess students’ performance in the Round Robin Story activity?

Assessment can be based on factors like language accuracy, creativity, coherence of the story, and active participation. You can provide feedback on grammar, vocabulary usage, storytelling skills, and overall contribution to the collaborative narrative.

Are there variations of the Round Robin Story activity?

Yes, variations include limiting contributions to specific sentence types (e.g., questions, exclamations), incorporating certain vocabulary words, or assigning roles like protagonist, antagonist, or narrator to participants. These variations add variety and challenge to the activity.

Can the Round Robin Story activity be adapted for online ESL classes?

Yes, the Round Robin Story activity can be adapted for online classes. You can use video conferencing platforms, collaborative documents, or chat features to facilitate the activity, allowing students to take turns and contribute to the story in a virtual setting.

Round Robin Story: Join the Conversation

Do you have any questions or thoughts about this activity? Please leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

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Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API