Activities to Teach Students Which Sentence Is More Formal
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As students advance in their academic and professional careers, it becomes increasingly important for them to be able to distinguish between formal and informal language. Formal language is used in academic and professional settings such as meetings, presentations, essays, and job interviews, while informal language is more commonly used in casual conversations with friends and family.
Here are some activities that teachers can use to help their students differentiate between formal and informal language and ultimately teach them which sentence is more formal:
Sentence Sort
The teacher can create a mix of formal and informal sentences and ask students to read each sentence carefully and determine whether it is formal or informal. Students can work in pairs or groups to sort the sentences and label them accordingly. This can help them to see the differences between formal and informal language use.
Role Play
A role play activity can help students to understand how language choice can differ depending on the context. In small groups, the teacher can assign different scenarios such as a job interview or a meeting with a professor. Each student can be assigned a role and given a set of formal and informal phrases to use. After the role play is completed, the teacher can go through the different phrases used by the students and discuss which ones were more appropriate for the situation.
Formal vs. Informal Writing
The teacher can give students a prompt and ask them to write two short paragraphs, one in formal language and one in informal language. The students can then compare the two and discuss what makes one more formal than the other. This activity can be especially useful for teaching students how to write formal emails and reports.
Replacing Informal Language with Formal Language
To help students understand how to use formal language, the teacher can give them a list of informal words and phrases and ask them to replace them with more formal alternatives. This can be done individually or in pairs, and it can help students to see how certain words and phrases can be perceived as unprofessional in certain contexts.
Formal Language Scavenger Hunt
In this activity, the teacher can create a list of items that students need to find around the classroom or school that exhibit formal language use. This can include formal announcements, signs, or posters. Students can take pictures or write down the examples they find and discuss why they are considered formal.
In conclusion, teaching students the differences between formal and informal language is an important skill that they will carry with them throughout their academic and professional careers. By incorporating these activities in the classroom, teachers can help their students to identify which sentence is more formal and provide them with the tools they need to communicate professionally in any situation.