When I don't include the author's name with an activity, it means I believe it to be mine. However, if you feel you published it first, or you know who did, please contact me.
"Sources for activities have been cited wherever possible, although the problem of establishing originality persists. Responses from the contributors [the book to which this is a preface is a collection of activities from various authors - E. M.] have been along such lines as 'It grew out of a party game / workshop / article / misunderstanding, and as far as I know has not been developed in TEFL or TESL ...' If a teacher modifies an article and demonstrates it in a seminar, where a colleague likes it, adapts it and describes it to a student, who passes it on (including a few changes) to a friend, who in turn personalises it and writes it up, who is to get the credit? As Gertrude Moscowitz observes in the Introduction to Caring and Sharing in the Foreign Language Classroom (Newbury House, 1978), 'Tracking down ... activities to their original source can be as difficult as determining the creators of folklore or legends. The origin of some exercises is not traceable; they just seem to be handed down.' Any lack of proper acknowledgement is unintentional."
Page created by Elek Máthé
Updated September 30
Feel free to use any of the activities on these pages, in any form you find suitable, with one restriction: you must not use them for business purposes. Also, it would be nice if you sent me an e-mail when you use them, though of course it's not compulsory.
Here's a quote that I think puts it best: