Ball of Yarn

This method encourages advanced speakers to use their skills. Use a ball of yarn or string or thread. Tie knots in the ball at various intervals or tie together bits of different colored yarn. Give one ball to each pair of villagers or use one big ball to pass around the circle. The villagers must speak in German while wrapping the yam around one finger until the color changes or a knot comes around. Now they may pass the yam to the next person, who continues talking while wrapping the yam around their finger. Set up the conversation to use certain vocabulary words, themes of the day, grammar patterns or topics. As villagers talk, they have to follow your prearranged guidelines.