I’m teaching at the Summer Seminar for English Teachers at Exeter College, Oxford.

 

Click on the link to download the slides from my talk on puzzles and wordplay in the language classroom

The main aim of this talk is to  celebrate some wonderful examples of wordplay in English, from puns and palindromes to lipograms and anagrams. If Inspector Morse’s beloved cryptic crosswords are not your cup of tea, then the crossed words of Professor Spooner just might raise a smile. One way or another, we will see how playing with language can be fun for learners of all ages and language levels, whilst thinking about ways of using wordplay to brighten up our lessons. I would also like to address the broader question of how puzzles can help our learners to think about language learning in a positive and creative way.