Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

My job now has "game days" for a lot of classes. Games are encouraged and students expect to play a lot of the time. But the school doesn't really have any games except an old Scrabble board with about 20 tiles missing. I got some cards. I use "Let's Go" cards to play "hint game" and pictionary. And regular cards for go fish. Bingo works sometimes. Classes are 50 minutes. Sometimes that's a long time for games only. I make puzzles too. I'm thinking of getting a monopoly game, maybe Uno too. I know there are many ideas on this site and others. I'm trying to figure out what works since at least 30% of my class time will be devoted to games, which could be good, or could sometimes be a drag, because kids get bored easily no matter what one tries to do.
===================================================
Several classes also have no book, and several are just once a week. I can photocopy stuff to help. Just "talking" for 50 minutes does not work a lot of the time. Finding a topic is better. Esp. the lower level kids, having no book is silly, but if it is just once a week, no big deal.

[Kenny Kimchee]

Right, I��ve got a few suggestions for you.

In honor of your avatar, I give you Team Hangman. Divide the class into two or three teams. Think of a full sentence (not just one word), one that preferably addresses whatever grammar point you have been studying recently (e.g. ��I am teaching English and you are studying English��) and write the blanks on the board. Have the kids rock/scissors/paper to see which team goes first. Make sure they ask ��Is there a/an (a,b,c��z)�� and not just blurt out the letter. Each letter is worth 100 points; e.g. in the above example if the kids choose ��I�� that yields 500 points. The team that solves the puzzle gets 500 points.

As an alternate variation, you could use dice or a Wheel of Fortune-type wheel to vary the points, e.g. roll a ��1�� and all letters for that turn yield 100 points, ��2�� yields 200 points, ��3�� is bankrupt, etc.

I think this game is good because it��s fun and competitive and also educational (by addressing a relevant grammar point). The point system also cuts down on the smartasses that try to hang the game by asking for an ��x�� or a ��z�� and whatnot.


A game that��s really popular here in Japan is a card touch game. Get or make sets of cards with pictures and/or words of related vocabulary or grammar (e.g. fruit, -ing verbs, pictures of various occupations, etc.). Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 students and give each group a set of cards. Have the students spread the cards around on the table and then surround the cards. Have the students chorally ask you the target grammar point (e.g. ��What��s he doing?��) and then you respond with the target response (��He��s running!��); whichever student touches the relevant card first (e.g. a picture of a guy running) gets the card.

A couple of tips:
1) Make sure the students put their hands on their heads as a starting position; don��t let them hover their hands over the cards. Don��t let them lean over the cards, either.
2) There will inevitably be ties, i.e. two kids will slap the card at the same time, and the kids will argue over who gets the card; if this happens, make them rock/scissors/paper for it. Also be on the lookout for kids who try to cheat or bully the other kids into giving them the card.
3) Keep them off-balance with nonsensical replies. For example, if they ask, ��What��s he doing?�� reply with ��He��s a chicken!�� Kids who slap a card in this instance have to sit out that round; this cuts down on them just slapping cards without listening. This trick works especially well at the end of the round when there are only a few cards left on the table.

You can have the kids make the cards, too. Give them 5x7 cards (or pieces of paper cut into 5x7 sizes) and assign them pictures and/or vocabulary to draw/write. There are multiple variations; you can have them draw just the picture or the picture and word together, or you can have them draw a picture on one side and write the word on the other side. In this way, you can use a full class on this activity – 30 minutes to make the cards and then 15 minutes to play the game (and also save yourself a lot of work by having them make the cards). If you have a laminating machine, laminate the cards so you can use them in other classes. Finally, you can use the cards for a gesture game, e.g. show a student a card (e.g. running), ask the class ��What��s he doing?�� and then have that student mime the gesture.

Hope these help!

[joe_doufu]

Memory.
Make 12 questions, 12 answers, and one decoy phrase, like a question without an answer. Number all of them randomly.
Draw the numbers 1 to 25 on the board, like this:

1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25

Tell the first kid to pick a number. Read the question or answer that goes to that number. Tell him to choose another number. Read the phrase. If it's a match, that kid gets a point. Otherwise make a big "X" with your arms and say "no match." Move on to the next kid.

I've never had to explain the rules. They always figure it out by the third or fourth turn. It seems slow to start because it takes a long time to make a match when there are 25 numbers up, but trust me, it accelerates as you get closer to the end. With 25 items you can play for a good 30 minutes. However, it requires a lot of talking from you, so don't do it if you have a sore throat.

I love this game because even the worst jerks of kids will concentrate totally and I don't have to kick anybody out of the room.

EDIT: Make sure you don't make answers that can go to more than one question, like "Yes, he is." or "No, I'm not." You can use gender and tense to slightly differentiate your answers.

[CaptainConjunction]

One game I like for vocab practice is this one:

1) Buy two flyswats

2) Write the vocab you are teaching on the board randomly like this:


bored exhausted tired


depressed suicidal


hagwonteacher

3) You can add in some distractors if you want

4) Make two teams

5) Give the first person in each team a flyswat

6) Read out a definition

7) Students run and hit the correct word. Give a point for the first one to hit the correct word

My students love this game. Tried with tons of classes over the years. Only time I had a bad response was with one group of girls who just lazily walked to the board and tapped the word lightly. Hence, it's a good idea to encourage students to try and block their opponent with their free arm.
This helps them get into it a bit more. I also allow my adult students to hit each other if they 'get in the way'

Tons of variations on this one. Hope it helps

[Kenny Kimchee]

I like that memory game, Joe - great for review. Captain, I'm a big fan of the flyswat game, too - I make sure that the kids turn around before I write the words on the board so they can't see.

Right, I got two more for you.

Blackboard Word Memory

Divide class into teams. Write target vocabulary on the board (e.g. apple, orange, banana, etc.) - at least 8 words. Have the kids cover their eyes (or turn away from the board). Erase one word. Tell the kids to open their eyes. The first kid who raises their hand (no blurting out the answer!) and correctly tells you which word was erased gets a point for their team.

To increase the difficulty, use phrases instead of words (e.g at the park) or erase multiple words at one time - if a kid answers and knows one of the words but can't remember the other words erased, the other team can steal the word(s) and get the point(s).

Typhoon!

Write a grid on the board like this:

1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25

And then write out a Master Sheet on a piece of A4 (don't let the kids see it!) like this:


1 1 2 3 T
3 2 5 1 1
T T 1 1 5
3 1 2 4 T
T 1 1 1 1

The numbers represent numbers of houses (e.g. 2 = 2 houses) while the T's represent a typhoon.

Divide the kids into teams. Ask questions (e.g. What is your name?). First student to raise their hand and answer the question correctly gets to choose a number off the board grid. Look at your Master Sheet; if there's a number behind their selection they get the corresponding number of houses, e.g. if the kid selects #4 on the board, they would win 3 houses. If there's a T behind the number, it's a typhoon and all of their houses are destroyed (e.g. if the kid selects #5 on the grid it's a typhoon and their houses are goners). Add pauses for dramatic effect; say, "I'm sorry...but it's...a TYPHOON!!!" Spin around the room and make lots of typhoon sound effects and erase their houses with a flourish. Once they have selected a number, erase it off the board.

For additional fun (for example, if one team is way behind), throw in a "Double" points question; if there's a point value, award them double points, and if it's a T it's a Double Typhoon! that also destroys the neighboring teams' houses (e.g. if you have four teams A B C D and Team A hits a double typhoon it destroys A's houses and B's houses, too).

Don't let one kid answer too many questions. Depending on class/team size, I'll let the kids answer 2 or 3 questions; after that, they have to sit out until all their team members have answered a question.

[jajdude]

Thanks for replies guys, I'll try it out...

[bosintang]

If you haven't already,

I highly reccomend you pick up a copy of Teaching English to Children to Children in Asia by David Paul. It's available at Bandi's & Luni's at the COEX.

It's reccomended here on Dave's all the time for good reason. An appendix at the back of the book lists 100 games. The age group it's most pertinent to is young beginners. The older your students, and higher their level, the more creative you'll have to be, but this book is a great place to start.

[Grotto]

2 chairs is a personal favorite of mine.

after teaching a subject, split the class into two teams, place two students in chairs at the front of the class facing their classmates, standing behind them either draw or write on the board or hold up a flashcard. Their team must get them to say the word/sentence. No Korean or a point to the other team. No saying the word or spelling but they can use action, motion, mime and other English words to get the student to say the word/sentence.

Great way to involve the whole class, it also helps build confidence in some of the lower level students(give them the easier words), builds vocabulary and creativity.

Kids love it!

[captain kirk]

Cool, this is what I was looking for in my A Chance To Play Doctor thread. No response there because I guess all the doctors and nurses are in surgery.

You know Battleship. Well you can do that. Just put up grids for each team on the board and ask questions. Right they get a shot. You have the secret map showing where the ships are. Make a lot of noise when they hit home. I always enjoy this, making explosion sound effects, dive bomber sounds and so on. Cracks them up.

A simpler Battleship is one grid for both teams. It's numbered. You have a secret map showing the secret value for each square. It can be in the plusses or minuses. Much ooooing and awwwing about what they get.

A lot of work, but once it's done it's done is what I mentioned on my capsized and sinking A Chance To Play Doctor thread. The pocket hanger. What's a pocket hanger?

Can you sew? Do you want to? Probably not. It's a piece of cloth that hangs over the whiteboard and you've meticulously sewn pockets, twelve of them, in which you put cards. The pockets have numbers sewn/written on them. 1-12. Students pick a pocket (damn pickpockets) and try to make a sentence with that word, or answer the question on the card, or whatever challenge you've set down on the card. Right they own the square and are getting ahead on their tic tac toe world domination scheme.

And win candy.

[mindmetoo]

Change a word

This works well if you have a medium sized class. Write a word on the board. Work through the class. A child can add a letter, drop a letter, or change a letter (but only one action) to form a new word. If the child can't do it, the child is dead. Make a bit show of "jook da!" the kid. The last man standing wins a prize. Repeat words are not allowed although you can use plurals.

[some waygug-in]

This is a game for younger kids, but it takes quite a bit of prep.

You have to make 2 identical sets of picture cards with the vocabulary you want to practice.

I used the picture squares from the back of American English Today level 1 workbook to make my cards.

Make about 30 cards per team. Then make a copy of the full page with all the pictures for each team.

How to play:

Class is divided into 2 teams.

at the front of the class put 2 desks and the corresponding sets of picture cards. (if each team has a complete set, there will be no fighting over cards.........it's up to you)

Put the full page copies of all pictures at the back of the room.

Each team is given a pair of wooden chopsticks.

They have to line up at the back of the room. Then 1 player at a time/team takes the chopsticks and has to race to the front, find the right picture card and bring it back and place it on their master sheet before the other team.

The teacher stands at the back of the room and when the teams are ready
he/she calls out random pictures. ex: rabbit.

The 2 players rush to find the rabbit picture and bring it back.

First one back ...........their team gets a point.

To make it more intersting, you can make them do various things, like
hop on 1 foot, walk backwards, tiptoes, make 3 circles around a desk etc.

This is not a great game for small classrooms and you have to make sure the area is big enough and clear of obstructions so the kids won't get hurt.


For older classes this game is good for about 10 minutes. If you play too long it gets boring.

Divide the class into 2 teams. Each team uses their textbook.

You stand at the board and write a letter on the board.

EX: P

They have to find a word that starts with "p" from inside their books.

The team who answers first scores points, but you give points for each letter.........so longer words are better.

You can vary the game by saying 3rd letter "a" or last letter "y" so that it's more interesting.

You can also play this game using sentences.

Ex: Longest sentence beginning with "The"
or
Longest sentence with the word "school" in it.

[Atkinson]

http://www.eslcafe.com/ideas/sefer.cgi?Games

[ddeubel]

Thanks for the idea cookbook link.....i was going to also list / mention it. Lots of great game ideas...

I play Jeopardy, categories on the board . I cross out each number (listed from 2 pts to 10pts) as students answer. Students have to knock if they know the answer. Bonus and a final betting question. Great for reviewing lessons/vocab.

I use treasure island and battleship from www.mes-english.com

Lots more games -- one I made up myself is "the blind man's game". I got the inspiration after watching a mother play it with her son on the subway.....
Students draw on the teacher's back and then in pairs.. Make sure they use the back of a pencil. It can also be on the other person's hand (but make sure they have their eyes closed!). Start first with "what number is it? " -- students guess and practice. Also, how much does it cost? Make sure the students ask each time......Continue to "what letter is it? " and then "What word is it?" .....Fun game and lots of English by the students. Yesterday, one of my grade 6 students even guessed the word "encyclopedia"!

DD

[jajdude]

One I just remembered today. "Pass the Sentence": Take one student outside class and tell him a sentence to repeat to next student. Then first kid comes back in, another goes out, etc.... last student comes back to write sentence on board. Others correct his mistakes. Works well with elementary classes 4-8 students.

[dbee]

Check out http://www.englishteachingkorea.com/askgari/gari_form.html for a list of games as well if your interested jadude.