Points Challenge (Writing)

Description:

Students will practice using the Present Perfect Continuous grammar point by writing sentences about things they have been doing for a long time. This activity has the students practice using the style of sentence with "for ~ years".

The goal is to get 50-100 points. The students get points for how many years they have been doing activities. ("I have been speaking Japanese for 12 years." --> 12 points)

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Requirements:

• You will need handouts for each student.

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Procedure:

1. Check the example sentences and action word suggestions with the students.
2. Students write sentences using the grammar point.
3. Students get points for each sentence. (1 year = 1 point)
4. Check the students' writing.

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Tips & Advice:

• Using dictionaries is optional.
• Playing classical music in the background is useful. (Or whatever your favorite music for studying is...)

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Grammar Point Explanation

This grammar point is very similar to the Present Perfect Simple. There are two differences I can see:

1. The focus is on the continuity of an action.
2. We need to use "action words".

Continuity

We may use the Present Perfect Continuous when talking about an activity that started in the past and is still continuing up to the present.

I have been thinking about which car to buy for a few weeks.

In other words... I started thinking, and I'm still thinking now. I haven't made a decision yet.

Action Words

With the Present Perfect Continuous, the verbs we use tend to have clear action gestures, such as "play", "swim", or "use". They're the kind of actions we might use in a gesture game.

I have been playing the piano since I was a child.
I have been swimming for 40 minutes.
I have been using this phone for three years.

For Stative Verbs, such as "have", "know", or "like", we will use the Present Perfect Simple. These words have more symbolic gestures.

I have had this book for five years.
I have known her since last year.
I have liked BTS since their debut.

Files:

Small files

100 Points Writing Challenge.docx (42.9 KB)

100 Points Writing Challenge.pdf (165 KB)