Learning Word Games

[williamleach]

Hi,

Teaching English in Vietnam. . .

Class range: late teens to late 20’s – Beginners to Intermediate

Objective: To engage every student into thinking, speaking and using English

Can anyone suggest some good learning word games? I have a couple that I am currently using but variety is the spice of life.

Thanks so much,
William

[bell]

teaching English needs a lot of skills. I myself am also a student of English Department at the University of Education. I really want to become a successful English teacher. your quote is quite useful to me, it gives me some ideas for designing games for my students. Besides that, I wonder if you can spend a little of your time to visit our website: khoaanh.net. This is the website of English Department. It contains too many helpful things. you can find some methods for teaching English or how to apply technology in teaching and many other exercises for you to practice for some important examinations such as TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS....Thank you reading!!!

[sasikumar]

Learning Word Games - best way to develop English.. particularly for kids

[williamleach]

Sasikumar,

Yes I realize it's a good way but you did not offer an answer to my question. Perhaps you should re-read it again. Amazing!

[pyoung]

Dear William:

A game my students enjoy is a sort of relay race. Using a set of words equal to the number of students in the group, you make a set of small cards divided into two sections. One section contains a vocabulary word, the second section contains a simple definition of a different vocabulary word. The first card may say, 'I have the first card./Who has the word that means the study of life or living matter?' The student who has the card with the word 'biology' says, 'I have biology. Who has the word that means the study of the earth and its features?' The student with the word geography says, 'I have geography. Who has the word that means the scientific study of matter in outer space? The student with the word astronomy will respond, and so on, until the last card, which will have only a vocabulary word and the statement 'It is the last word.'
My students enjoy being timed and trying to beat their own record.

Another favorite activity is pair work in which the students create a short dialogue to be acted out. The goal is to choose an appropriate situation in which a word or words might be used and, through dialogue, demonstrate it. This is excellent for discussing and clarifying nuances of context in the use of words. It is also good for lightening the mood.

Is this the kind of thing you are looking for?

All best wishes,

Petra

[williamleach]

Yes Petra, it is.

Any class activity that will initiate interest is good.

One of my several challenges teaching in Vietnam is that some of the students are quiet timid. The more I can get them to engage the more comfortable they become. Optimistically. . . comfort will then manifest into confidence.

Thanks

[pyoung]

Dear William:
I was just thinking of your post and thought I might add another classroom favorite. It is played like the television program, 'Jeopardy.'
You can make this very simple and completely teacher-made, or it can become something that involves your students at every step.
Basically, you need several categories of words, clues and answers. A very simple version is definitions/words. The definitions of your vocab words are written on cards. Each definition is assigned a point value according to difficulty. It is this point value which is displayed on a grid with the definition hidden.
Students, in teams choose a category and a point value. You read the definition aloud and the team must supply the word. If the answer is correct, the team wins the points. There is a version in which points are subtracted for wrong answers; you can decide on this, and any other rules you want to impose.
My students love this game, and some groups have gotten to the point of writing their own definitions to challenge opposing teams.

Petra

[kevchua]

Hi William,

For a start, you might want to look for Hangman, a vocabulary game. There are variants to this game. Look for Hangman on the Internet, and students are able to play it online.

Hope this helps
Kev

[Ahmann]

It actually needs good skills to teach English. People who are good in spoken English doesn't necessarily to have good written English. Because written English requires knowledge of grammar too.

[williamleach]

Thanks Petra,

I’m very familiar with Jeopardy and it’s a great idea for a classroom game.

How many students are in your class? You mentioned teams, how many students per team?

William