ELT365 · Day 157 — The gist task — one question before they read

Idea — A gist task asks for the general idea of a text, not specific detail. Set it before learners read or listen. One question. Whole text. First pass only.

Example — Before listening: ‘What is the main topic of this conversation?’ Not: ‘What time does the flight leave?’ That is detail, not gist.

Try — Write one gist question for a text you use regularly. Check: does it require the whole text, or just one paragraph?

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