What are They Doing? Present Continuous Speaking Game

Windows onto a street of neighbours: Emma is drinking tea, Olivia is doing her homework, the Davises are cleaning the living room. Learners answer in full sentences - he is, she is, they are.

Present Continuous is best practised on something visibly happening, and a row of lit windows is about as visible as it gets. Emma is drinking tea. Olivia is doing her homework. Mr and Mrs Davis are cleaning the living room. Buddy is taking a bath. Each frame asks what is he doing, what is she doing, what are they doing, and the answer has to be a whole sentence.

That last point is the design: the singular and plural forms alternate, so students cannot settle into one auxiliary and coast. Pause on each window, take answers around the class, then let the video confirm. Four and a half minutes, and it is as much a speaking lesson as a grammar one.