Business English Alibi Game Worksheet - Teachers' Notes

Business English Alibi Game (Past Perfect/ Past Continuous)

Page 1- Teacher’s notes
Summary
Students make up their last working day using the cards provided and then aim to
answer all questions about it from a police officer to prove their innocence.
NB: Unlike the usual version of the Alibi Game, this version can be played in small
classes or even 1-to-1s.

Preparation
Make one copy of the “rules of the game” sheet for each student or each group (optional-
you can just explain the rules if you like).
Make one copy of the “my work day playing cards” sheet per student and cut it into slips
of paper.

Stages
As a warmer, you could have students tell each other 10 things they did in their last
working day in random order. Their partner must then work out the order using the
minimum number of questions.

Grammar presentation of Past Perfect and Past Continuous can be done here or after
any other stage.

Give out the rules of the game, make students understand it and then give out the cut
up playing cards. Alternatively, give out the playing cards first and then explain the
rules or give out the “rules of the game” sheet.

Let them play the game in groups of two or three, telling slower groups when they need
to switch roles. Monitor for use of the past perfect and past continuous.

As they explain the differences between the stories and the slips of paper (as described
on the “rules of the game” sheet), monitor for language difficulties and go through some
examples at the end of the class.

Declare who is guilty.
The end.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2007