How to teach paraphrasing creatively

Paraphrasing is an important skill and is part of the Cambridge English: Young Learner Tests. Anne Robinson, co-author of Fun for Starters, Fun for Movers, and Fun for Flyers 3rd Edition, explores how we can teach paraphrasing creatively.

Look at the word have in the following sentences. What does it mean?

I have lunch at home. Sometimes, I have tomato juice. I have a shower in the morning.

Answers: eat, drink, shower

Add two words to each sentence, then answer the questions:

I have …………., lunch and ……………. every day.
Do you eat three meals a day?
I have tomato juice, ………….. or …………. .
What about you? What do you drink?
I usually have a shower, but sometimes I have a ……… or just a quick ……….. .
Do you wash your hair in the shower or do you take a bath? Do you wash your hands before a meal?

Answers: 1.breakfast, dinner/supper 2. orange juice, lemonade etc 3. bath, wash

Many everyday phrases and words can be paraphrased like this.

There are certain patterns that students can learn together and they can also create (or least experiment with!) new combinations if we encourage them.

For example, if you can have a coffee, then you can have a/an ……(tea, hot chocolate…) If you can go for a ride on a bike, then you can also for for a ride on a/an (horse, camel, elephant, etc)

We can encourage students to use these patterns creatively. Look at the photo at the start of this post.
Set the scene: “You’re at a fantastic holiday park! You can do anything you like!”

In groups, they plan their day/trip.

What shall we do? We could go for a canoe ride on the river, or swing across the river! Or even try a mountain bike ride through the forest! Or how about going for a balloon ride? Let’s take a walk across the rope bridge! Or perhaps you’d like to go for swim in the river?
Or, they could write an advertisement (and film it!) for the Park!
Can you make pairs of opposite adjectives from these words?

Answers: big/small, long/short, cool/warm, young/old, closed/open, tidy/untidy

We could play students a video of two people talking about the weather:
Helen: “It’s much cooler today.”
Dan: “Yes, yesterday was a lot warmer.”
Dan is agreeing with Helen. He shows this by paraphrasing what she says!

Students could make short conversations where they agree with each other about: a famous person’s haircut; an elderly person’s surprising looks or talent; their bedroom.

And finally, look at the paraphrasing in this text!

Hello! My name’s Ben. Last Saturday was great! My father took me to my grandmother’s farm in his car. Dad and I love going to Grandma’s place because there are lots of animals there. My favourite is Peggy, the dog. She’s a puppy. She’s a really friendly pet.

We have paraphrasing for:
Ben: me, I
My father: Dad
grandmother: Grandma
farm: place, there
Peggy: dog, puppy, pet
Students could continue the text about Ben’s visit or the other animals at the farm.
Or, they could rewrite the story about Mary’s visit with her Mum to her Grandpa’s farm to see Mary’s favourite pet – the kitten!