1. To use an adjective before a noun or after a linking verb to describe someone/ something

2. Alternatively, tell students who are drawing the pictures to ask as many questions as possible to get information about the person they are drawing, e.g., ‘Is your person a boy/ a man/ a woman/ tall /small /fat /thin? Is his/ her face square/ round?’ The student looking at the picture is only allowed to say ‘Yes.’ or ‘No.’.

1. Bring some pictures of people into the classroom or ask students to being pictures. These can be magazine or newspaper cuttings or photos. Divide students into groups of five. Give a picture to only one student in each group and ask him/her not to show it to the other students. Give blank pieces of paper to the other students. The student with the picture describes the features of the person in the picture while the other students draw the person. On the board, display the drawings together with the original picture. For stronger classes, invite students to find out the mistakes. For weaker classes, ask students to vote for the best drawing which resembles the picture.

3. Ask students to describe their friends, classmates, relatives or pop/sports stars using the adjectives they have learned. For stronger classes, encourage them to use any adjectives.

Game

2. Ask students to select and write suitable adjectives to describe themselves on a piece of paper. Invite some students to come forward and read the adjectives. Make sure that the atmosphere is supportive and that the rest of the class do not make any unpleasant comments.

1. Ask students to find more adjectives for each category of the adjectives used in Part A. draw this table on the board and brainstorm as many words as possible.

　Go through the adjectives and ask students to draw simple illustrations of the adjectives on pieces of paper. Invite some students to show their illustrations to the rest of the class.

　Provide pictures of people either pinned up on the board or cut out of magazines to groups of four students. Fay an adjective and ask students to find a picture illustrating it.

2. Go through the words in the box in Part B. less able students are not likely to know the adjectives which are only suitable to describe males or females. You may need to give them some hints. Ask students to use the words in sentences to check that they understand the meanings and use of words. Then ask students to complete the lists in groups of 4-5. Check answers orally with the class.

Extension activities

1. Explain the context of the tasks. Ask students to study the pictures and words. For weaker classes, go through the words and preteach unknown words. Ask students to do Part A on their own first and then compare answers with a partner. Ask several students to read their answers to check correct use of adjectives.

3. To select and use adjectives that are appropriate to describe the appearance of boys and girls

Background information

This section develops the use of adjectives to describe people’s appearance. Students should be encouraged to develop their range of adjectives as much as possible using the tasks on the page as a starting point.

As students become more and more able to understand the subtle meanings of words, they will be able to develop ways of accessing imaginative and creative texts to foster genuine interest and pleasure in what they read. In turn, they will gradually be able to use adjectives to write more interesting and creative texts themselves.

Teaching procedures

2. To use adjectives to describe general appearance of people