Korean Job Discussion Forums

wille bobo · Joined: 13 Mar 2003

when you have a free discussion class with elementary school students, what are some good games to play that will keep the students fairly interested?

humanuspneumos · Joined: 08 Jun 2003

Free discussion? Hmmm - elementary. It's usually not like they can chat-up a storm- so- I go with the rapid fire conversation questions.

1. Split them into 2 groups.
2. Pick the first 2 students from their respective group. Have them stand if you like.
3. Rapid fire conversational questions at them (or speak slowly- depending on their level).
4. Give them a point under their team name. Give them a funny team name or draw a picture- they love this kind of stuff.
5. Reverse-rapid fire: Use a statement and they make a question. eg. I'm fine thanks. Student: How are you?

If the owner sees they're having fun and opening their mouth- that's "conversation."

Anyway- anything that has the team 1 and 2 spirit with points, stickers, candies, or anything as a visible representation of their "conversation" is usually a winner.

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

A good motivating game that perks the students up during a conversation is what I call the "Password" game.

Break the students into 2 teams. Sit two chairs in front of the board, looking out towards the class. Get one student from each team to sit in the chairs. Write a word or a phrase on the board that the students sitting in the chairs can't see. Let their team mates throw them clues as to what it is using English only - no Korean and no actions.

For example, if I write "apple" on the board... students say things like, "It's red!" "You can eat it!" "It's a fruit!"

First student to guess correctly wins a point for their team.

(It's really hard getting them to not do any actions... sometimes I make them sit on their hands... but they forget!)

Another thing I do (but it isn't a game) is surveys. I give the kids surveys (or they use the one's in their book Talk Your Head Off.) They have to move around the room or work in small groups and ask each other questions... what's your favourite _________, do you like ______, have you ever _________, if you were magic, what spell would you do? etc.

Then when they've filled in the responses, we re-group as a class and find out if there are any similar ideas or if people like the same things. You can also have students report on another person... Sarah likes ___________, her favourite colour is ___________.

I'll be back if I think of more. Razz

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

wow! the kids do all that for you?
I play the step out of line game. Any kid who does, gets whacked with the ruler. I enjoy it anyway.

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

wille bobo · Joined: 13 Mar 2003

thanks for the replies

I have played the password game with them and I have played scrabble but I have had this class for 6 months so they are pretty bored with those games by now, and the fact that there are only 4 students makes it difficult to have group activities. Any other ideas would be great.