Six Operations in English

I found an old Total Physical Response book...

I come from a family of teachers, and when I started teaching (before the internet) I remember desperately going through my mother’s resource books when I would be back home to get ideas. One book I found, which my mother later gave me, was called Operations in English. It was a 1993 reprint of a 1980 American book, and probably the only book I’ve seen which had activities that refer to the Total Physical Response method. Basically it’s a collection of ‘operations’ for students to do in English. There are instructions on how to run these which are rather long to go into here, but a key aspect is ‘doing’ the actions while you say them (or hear them). I found this book again recently, and thought I’d share six sample operations from it. I love how some feel so old-fashioned, but I think they could still be fun to do with students today (a sort of ‘this is how we lived in the before times’ type activity).

1 Writing a Check

1 Write today’s date on the date line. 2 Write the payee’s name on the next line. 3 Write the amount of the check in figures. 4 Write the amount of the check in words. 5 Sign the check on the last line. 6 Make a note on the memo line. 7 Record the transaction in your check register.

2 Using a Pay Telephone

1 Pick up the telephone receiver. 2 Hold it to your ear. 3 Insert the correct amount of money. 4 Listen for the dial tone. 5 Press the keys for the number you are calling. 6 Listen until someone answers on the other end.

3 Mailing a letter

1 Fold the letter. 2 Put the letter in the envelope. 3 Lick the flap of the envelope. 4 Close the envelope. 5 Write the address on the envelope. 6 Lick the stamp. 7 Put the stamp in the upper right-hand corner. 8 Put the letter in the mailbox.

4 Using a Cassette Recorder

1 Plug in the recorder. 2 Push the Eject button to open the recorder. 3 Insert a cassette and close the cover. 4 Push the Play and Record buttons to record. 5 Say something. 6 Push the Stop button. 8 Push the Rewind button to rewind the tape. 9 Push the Play button to listen.

5 Using a Laundromat

1 Take your clothes to the laundromat. 2 Open the lid of a washing machine. 3 Put your clothes into the machine. 4 Select the water temperature and load size. 5 Put in the soap. 6 Close the lid. 7 Put the correct amount of money in the machine.

6 Eating cookies

1 Take the shopping bag. 2 Open the shopping bag. 3 Take out the box. 4 Open the box. 5 Take a cookie. 6 Eat the cookie. 7 Take another one. 8 Close the box.