Total Physical Response (TPR) Activities for Listening

What is Total Physical Response (TPR)?

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a way to teach languages created by Dr. James Asher in the 1960s. It combines language learning with physical movement. In TPR, teachers give commands in the language being taught, and students respond with actions. Here are the main ideas behind TPR:

1. The more you practice something, the better you remember it.
2. Physical actions help prepare the brain for learning language.
3. Creating a fun and relaxed learning environment helps students learn better.

In a TPR classroom, teachers speak in the target language, and students respond by doing actions. This method is great for beginners and young learners because it helps them build listening skills, understand instructions and respond to the language before they start speaking it.

Why use TPR Activities for Building Listening Skills?

TPR activities can offer several advantages for developing listening skills:

1. TPR activities involve students in an active way, making learning fun and memorable. This helps keep attention in large classrooms.
2. Students respond with actions instead of words, which lowers stress and makes them less nervous about learning a new language.
3. TPR activities use hearing, seeing, and moving, catering to different learning styles and reinforcing language through various senses.
4. Teachers can see if students understand by watching their actions, giving instant feedback without formal tests.
5. TPR activities need minimal resources, and can be easily conducted with limited materials or technology.
6. TPR activities can be adjusted for students at different language levels in the same class.
7. By linking words to actions, TPR activities help students remember vocabulary and grammar better, aiding long-term retention.

Some tips for planning and implementing total physical response (TPR) activities in the classroom.

Examples of TPR Activities for Listening

The following activities can be adapted to suit different proficiency levels and classroom contexts. Remember to start with simple commands and gradually increase complexity as students become more comfortable with the TPR method.

S.No.	Name of the Activity	Activity Description	Sample
1	Simon/ Salma Says	A classic TPR game where students follow commands only when prefaced with "Simon/ Salma says."	Example: "Salma says touch your nose," "Salma says point to the door," "Clap your hands" (students shouldn't respond to this one).
2	Action Songs	Use songs with accompanying actions to practice listening and movement.	Example: "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"
3	Action Story	Tell a simple story and have students act out key elements as they listen.	Example: "The boy walked to the park (students walk in place). He saw a dog (students pretend to pet a dog). The dog barked loudly (students make barking gestures)."
4	Direction Following	Give a series of directions for students to follow.	Example: "Stand up, walk to the door, turn around, and come back to your seat."
5	TPR Telephone	Give a series of directions for students to follow.	Example: Students form a line. Whisper a series of actions to the first student, who then performs them. The next student watches and repeats the actions, and so on down the line.

Related Activities and Pages

1. Transacting audio resources in the classroom
2. Pre-listening Activities
3. During-listening Activities
4. Post-Listening Activities