Repeated Reading with Retelling: A Multi-Skilled Fluency Activity

Two well-known fluency activities have a weakness in common. In 4/3/2, pupils give the same talk three times in shrinking time, and in repeated reading they read the same easy text several times - but in neither is there much reason to communicate, and pupils can grow bored.

The author combines the two into one 20- to 30-minute activity. Partners hold different short texts. One reads aloud while the other takes notes and then retells it; the reader checks the retelling against the text. Because the listener needs every word, the reader cannot skim, and because the text is checked, the retelling has to be accurate.

1. Choose two easy texts of about 100 to 300 words, of similar length and on related topics. Pupil A has one, pupil B the other.
2. Both read their own text silently first.
3. A reads aloud for three minutes while B takes notes. If A finishes early, B asks for parts again.
4. B retells A's text in one minute from the notes. A checks it against the text.
5. The pair fix what was missed or misunderstood, then switch roles.
6. Repeat with a new partner once or twice, keeping the same texts. Notes are improved on each round.

It turns the reading passages already in the Pupil's Book into speaking, listening and note-taking practice without a single photocopy - give the two halves of the class two different passages from the same unit.

The retelling step is direct practice for the summary and comprehension questions in the O/L paper, and pupils hear a correct model read aloud before each attempt, which matters where few hear English at home.