Two way tasks are the staple activity of the communicative approach. Also known as an “information gap” activity, they force students to communicate with each other in order to retrieve information to complete a task.

Usually these tasks involve students with different sets of information, usually consisting of a handout. But now with students bringing their own devices into the classroom or with classrooms that have laptops/tablets/phones for all students – why not have students do the same tasks but using online information? It is also a great way to explore issues surrounding digital literacy and promote digital literacy.

Here are 10 easy to do two way tasks using the internet and technology.  I’ll be making  a 50 ways list of these to compliment all our other useful 50 ways lists. So stay tuned for the rest!

For all these two way tech tasks, you’ll need to do the following.

1. Make sure all students have access to the internet through a device.

2. Put students into pairs, facing each other so they can communicate but not see each others device.

3. Write on the board or on a handout.

• webpage each student should look at / visit
• the information each student should find from their partner
• target language / phrases / sentences
• task aim

4. Model the target expression, language. This usually consists of a language cloze or fill in the blanks. Students practice and communicate using the set dialogue but depending on the level, you might omit this or encourage students to use their own language to communicate and finish the task.

For more on 2 Way Tasks, EFL Classroom 2.0 members can see these Lessons In A Can:    #101    #80   or see this complete post. 

10  Two Way Tech Tasks

1.  Cheap Flights.  What’s the cheapest flight to …………….. on (date) 

Student A.   Expedia                   Student B     Kayak

Students work together to plan a trip around the world (East to West) starting at the nearest international airport. How much will it all cost, all flights?

Task Aim:  Which pair can come up with the quickest and cheapest flight schedule around the world.?

………………………………………………………………………..

2.  Food Prices.  How much does a ………………. cost in ………………? 

Student A.   Big Mac Meal                   Student B     Movie Ticket

Compare the prices of these two items in cities / countries around the world.

Task Aim:  Where are these the most expensive and cheapest? Why?

………………………………………………………………………..

3.  Famous people bios.    Who/What/Where/When ………..?

Student A.   Choose a celebrity                   Student B     Choose a celebrity

Students choose a favorite celebrity bio and then ask each other questions about the other person’s celebrity.

Task Aim:  What information is missing/not included in the bios?  What more do you want to know?

………………………………………………………………………..

4.  Countries of the world.   What is the ………………… of …………………?

Student A.   Country in Africa                   Student B     Country in S. America

Students ask each other about basic geographical, cultural and political information about countries of the world.

Task Aim:  Which country would you like to live in? Why?

………………………………………………………………………..

5.  At The Movies.  What’s playing this evening at ………………..?

Student A.   Carelton Cinema                   Student B     Canada Square

Students  look at the schedules of these two cinemas (or use links to Cinemas in your actual city/location) and ask each other what’s playing different times.

Task aim:  Decide between the two cinemas which movie to go to this evening.

………………………………………………………………………..

6.  Giving directions / using maps.   How do I get to …….. from ………….?

Student A.   Downtown NY Map 1                   Student B     Downtown NY Map 2

Students start at Whitehall and South St. (South Ferry Terminal).  Using the maps they take turns asking for directions  to different sites/places in New York.

Task Aim:  Visit as many places as you can in Manhattan.

………………………………………………………………………..

7.  Ordering food.   What about ………………………?  How much does ……… cost? 

Student A.   Pizza Pizza                   Student B     Boston Pizza

Students only have $30 to spend.  Which place will they eat at? What will they order?

Task Aim:  Decide exactly what will be ordered and from which store.

………………………………………………………………………..

8.  Cost Of Living.   How much does …………………………. cost in ……………..?

Student A.   London, England                   Student B     Manila, Philippines

Students as about how much different things cost in either of these cities (or students can chose their own city – make sure they select $USD so they both get prices in the same currency.

Task Aim:  Which city is the cheapest to live in?  Which city would it be best to live in if poor? Why?

………………………………………………………………………..

9.  The Weather. What’s The Weather like in …………..?

Student A.   Weather.com                   Student B     The Weather Network

Students ask and answer questions from each other about the weather in different parts of the world.

Task Aim:  Where is the best / worst weather today in the world?

………………………………………………………………………..

10. TV Guide.  What’s on at …………….. on …………..day?  Let’s watch ……….. on …………

Student A – CBS                 Student B – ABC

 

Students ask each other about the television programming on these stations.

Task Aim:  Decide what to watch each evening during the week.