Imagine growing up in a family of eight children and never really being able to get a word in edgewise. Fast forward twenty years and imagine living half a world away from your family. You have plenty to say but don't have the language skills to be able to carry on a conversation.

This is the story of 23-year-old Shayma. Shayma grew up in Bangladesh and loved to talk to her siblings and tell stories in her native language of Bengali.  Shayma studied English throughout her school years and graduated from college in Bangladesh. After graduating from college, Shayma got married and moved to the United States with her husband. Her husband works in an office in Washington, D.C. and gets plenty of opportunities to speak English with his co-workers. When Shayma and her husband socialize with other young couples, everyone thinks Shayma is shy. Shayma says, "I am not shy at all; I have plenty to say, but when I try to speak English to Americans, my mind goes blank and I make mistakes."

Shayma spent her days studying English at home but felt she really needed to practice speaking. She was at a get-together with her neighbors when someone mentioned he was taking English classes at a church in Manassas. He studied a few semesters at the English as a Second Language program at Grace United Methodist Church, and it really helped him gain the confidence to speak English.  Shayma registered for classes. She learned many new English words she didn't know, and she gets to practice speaking English. Shayma is hoping to get a part-time job at a retail store during the upcoming holiday season. Shayma says she would never have applied for a job if she didn't gain confidence taking English classes and practicing job interviews. 

Shayma will continue studying English because she loves to learn English and to speak to all the new friends she has made in class. 

This activity can be tailored to fit any grammar topic.  It can also serve as a review of numbers and money.

1.  Before class, create a handout with a list of correct and incorrect sentences.  Aim for a ratio of 5 correct sentences to 3 incorrect sentences.  (For a beginning class, use vocabulary words instead.)

2.  Distribute the handout to the class and give them a few minutes to read the sentences.

3.  Put the students into small groups.  Give each group a money limit.  Using fake money adds to the fun.

4.  Ask the students to plan which sentences they are going to bid on.

5.  Conduct the auction in a brisk and fun way.

6.  After all the sentences are sold, get a class vote on which sentences are correct.  Confirm the answers.

7.  Ask each team to add up their money.  Who has lost money on incorrect sentences?

8.  Ask the teams to decide why the sentences are incorrect.

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