Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bish]

Just been informed by my school that I won't be going on GEPIK orientation this week and so have to prepare for Monday. My co teacher wants me to do a game. I have classes of 40+ and could do with a game or activity that get's the students speaking and lasts about 20 minutes.

Could anyone offer any ideas?

[Smee]

What level?

Here's an activity I've done with elementary school kids (grades 4-6) and middle school kids (7-. It will require them to read a little bit of English, so if they can't, you won't be able to do this activity.

I guess the common name is "Find somebody who _____." I type up a page with about 7 questions and with 2 or 3 answers to each. Questions will range on their abilities and on what they've learned already, but for low levels it looked something like this:

1) Do you like chicken?
Yes, I do ____
No, I don't _____

2) What's your favorite color?
My favorite color is blue ____ (or, "I like blue")
My favorite color is purple ____ (or "I like purple")

3) What did you do this summer?
I saw "Transformers" ____
I stayed home ____

and so on . . . for lower levels a lot of the questions will be "Do you like ___?" and for kids a little more advanced you can do things like "What's your hobby?" or "What color are your socks?" Then, they'll go around the room interviewing their classmates. If their classmate gives an answer on the page (Like, "My favorite color is purple" ____) they'll write their name on the line.

It helps to have a coteacher explain in Korean, but I've done it plenty of times w/o any translation. Make sure you demonstrate with the class, though, and walk around randomly asking students questions and having them sign. Make it clear that "Purple" (or whatever you choose) gets a "sign" (they know that word), and red (or whatever is not on the paper) gets "no sign." This has lasted about 20 minutes, and the kids seem to enjoy it.

edit: I also do an answer or two that's exclusive to me, to make the kids ask me questions. FOr example,

Can you drive?
Yes, I can ____
No, I can't ____

When is your birthday?
My birthday is in September ____
My birthday is _____ (then give your birthdate).

edit2: For kids with a little higher levels---well, it worked for 5th grade elemtnary class with 35---you might do something "educational" at the end. Ask them "Whose favorite color is purple," make them look at their sheet, and plug in the answer. If "Minsu" signed on the line, have them say "Minsu's favorite color is purple." It will take some modeling on your part, but you should be able to get them to rearrange the sentences to fit their answers. This'll take another 5 minutes.

If they're fairly good and eager to talk (doubtful, I know), you could also do 20 questions. The students probably are familiar with this game, but they might not know strategies behind it. If you have to fill anymore class time after the first activity, play this game, and show them strategy. I've found that in the first round the kids'll just guess, without trying to narrow down the field. You could break them into teams and do that activity.

[bish]

Thanks. They are Middle School, Grade 2 but most are lower intermediate level at the very best...

[Smee]

Well, 20 Questions probably won't work then, but the first activity will. I spent part of my first class showing them the proper way to greet me and a few niceties of English---I hate getting screams of "Hiiiiiiiiiii" and "Hey" and "Nice to meet you"---so with this activity I had them ask "Excuse me" before every question. Be patient with them, and let them move around the room. Walk around and make sure they're doing the activity, saying "Excuse me," asking the questions in English, and so forth. If they are your class---and you're not just a one-time sub---you can spend your time introducing yourself. Have them ask questions, and give a little information about yourself, too.

[ddeubel]

Bish,

I'd go to my teaching folder. At the back are many Bingo games. Not the traditional style but made for conversation. You model and play whole class, teams asking questions to a student being interviewed. First team to get the Bingo wins.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/ff8f7031-1ea3-4ae4-a494-35691976b3ab/DID-YOU-BINGO

Each student has a sheet and in each square are pictures. They ask/answer using the set conversation gap. Ex. Did you....? Yes, I did / No, I didn't. If the student up front answers yes, draw an 0 , if No, an X. The students try to get an X or an 0 bingo. If they find no bingo at all - the student being interviewed wins! (but this is next to impossible). Draw a big grid representing the bingo sheet on the board.

Then, they play it in pairs, trying to find a bingo with their partner. You can even extend, have them draw on the other side their own bingo card and play.

Battleship in the same folder, works similiarly. One the students see how it is done whole class, they play well in pairs and it is off to the races. Teachers just circulate and monitor.

Alternately you could try the little town/big town interview cards. Give students the cards, they interview each other and then selected students at the front of the class. Also, Who is it conversation game in the same folder works really well.

Come join us in our community where this game is described and more (don't have time to search and link the thread.)specifically meant for talking about the classroom.

good luck,

DD

[bish]

cool, thanks. will have a look at this now...

[Fishead soup]

Chinese whispers.

Have one student from the back of each row go outside with you.
say a short sentence. They have to whisper the sentence to the student sitting next to them. The sentence is passed on until it reaches the front. The last person writes it on a board.

Dictation races.

Students work in teams and try to rewrite a writen page that is pasted on the board. Have one writer and three runners. First team to rewrite the full
passage wins.

Fast words
Teams compete writing words on the board. Divide the board. Give each student chalk. Shout out a letter. teams compete who can come up with the most words that start with that letter.adds points for each word. Change students. call out another letter.

[lowpo]