Prepared by Yusuf Terzi

"The Human Island" is a Task-Based Learning (TBL) activity designed to develop communicative competence in B1 students. This resource immerses students directly into an "Information Gap" scenario where they must negotiate meaning and collaborate to solve a survival problem using their existing language skills.

The Scenario

Students take on the role of passengers on a ship sailing near a mysterious island shaped like a human body. The ship is running out of supplies, and they must find a safe place to dock. However, the information is fragmented: every student holds a secret clue, and one student is the undercover Captain.

Teacher's Guide: How to Run This Activity

This resource is designed to be student-led, allowing the teacher to act as a facilitator. Follow these steps to execute the session:

1. Preparation: Print the "Human Island" map and the Information Cards. Cut the cards so each role is separate.
2. Grouping: Divide your class into groups of 9 (1 Captain + 8 Passengers).
   • Adaptation: If you have more students, you can have pairs share a single role card so everyone is involved.
3. The Setup: Place the blank map in the center of the table and distribute one secret Information Card to each student.
4. Explanation to Students (Scenario & Rules): Before starting, explain the following to the class:
   • The Situation: "You are all on a ship running out of supplies. You see a mysterious island, but you don't know which port is safe."
   • The Goal: "Your task is to locate all 7 ports on the map and identify the 'Safe Dock'."
   • The Roles: "Most of you are passengers with partial knowledge of the island. One of you is the secret Captain who holds the final order."
   • The Rules: "Do not show your card to anyone. You should speak in English to describe locations. You cannot land the ship until the map is complete and the Captain is identified."
5. Gameplay: Students stand up and mingle to share information. When they successfully identify a location described by a peer, they must mark the spot with an 'X' and write the name of the port directly on the map.
6. Conclusion & Verification: Once all ports are marked and named, the group must identify the Captain. Using the Captain's final clue (that the safe dock is in the furthest East), they must agree to land at Broken Toe Island Port.

What is Included in the Download?

• Role Cards (DOCX): 9 unique character cards including the Secret Captain and Passengers with specific geographical clues.
• Student Map (Image): A high-quality blank map of the island for the group to mark and label.
• Answer Key (Image): A completed map showing the correct location of all ports (e.g., Thumb Port, Belly Bay) for the teacher to check results.
• Task Instructions (DOCX): A printable sheet for students explaining the situation and the rules of the game.