ABSTRACT
Even teachers who are uncomfortable embracing the oracy agenda can usually be convinced to incorporate one of these shorter activities as a starter, extension or plenary task within their lessons. Rebuttal Tennis gives students an argument that they bat back and forth over an imaginary net, while I Couldn't Disagree More is an alternative to questioning in which the teacher makes a statement and picks a pupil to respond beginning with “I couldn't disagree more”. Where Do You Stand? gets pupils out of their seats to position themselves on a strongly-agree-to-strongly-disagree line, ready to defend their choice. Hat Debates allow teachers to pick a topic out of a hat and start pair debates around it; they act as an excellent extension activity.
