| ESL ("English as a second Language") classes are | | | | If you are not familiar with educational versions of |
| intended to teach English speaking, reading and writing | | | | bingo, here are the basics: |
| to people (mainly adults) who do not speak English as | | | | 1. Each student is given a bingo card (also known by |
| their primary or native language. These classes are | | | | some as a "bingo worksheet" or "bingo board"). |
| attended by people who wish to learn Engish for | | | | 2. The bingo cards are printed with a grid of squares. |
| business or professional reasons, for some as a | | | | Within each square is a number. |
| leisure or self-improvement activity, and also, quite | | | | 3. The teacher calls out the numbers in random order. |
| frequently, by people who are immigrating to an | | | | As she does so, teachers mark the corresponding |
| primarily English-speaking country such as Great Britain | | | | squares off on their cards. |
| or the United States. | | | | 4. The winner is the first student to achieve a winning |
| It is hard to say if there is such a thing as a typical ESL | | | | pattern of marked off squares and shout "Bingo!". |
| class - classes can vary greatly depending on how | | | | Exactly what counts as a winning pattern but can be |
| advanced the students are, and the favored approach | | | | varied, but usually the requirement is something like a |
| of the teacher - but most ESL classes involve a | | | | line of five items, or two overlapping lines of five items. |
| variety of different activities including speaking, reading | | | | While the above explains the basic game, the rules of |
| and group activities such as classroom games. There | | | | bingo can easily be adapted to different situations and |
| are many different activities that can be done in ESL | | | | occasions by teacher. For example, at Christmas or |
| classes. Generally talking, listening, and reading of | | | | Thanksgiving you might play bingo using bingo cards |
| course forms an important part of classroom learning, | | | | printed with words and phrases chosen for that |
| but additionally games and group activities can also be | | | | holiday (such as "Christmas Tree" and "Sledge") , |
| helpful for many ESL students. | | | | rather than the usual numbered bingo cards. Indeed |
| There are many different games and group activities | | | | there is no reason why you can't play bingo using |
| that can be introduced into ESL classes, but one | | | | cards printed with English words or phrases at any |
| particular one that is very popular with many teachers, | | | | time of the year. You might assume that obtain such |
| is the game of bingo. You might assume that bingo is a | | | | specialized custom bingo cards might be hard - but |
| relatively simple game, but for a non-native speaker, | | | | actually it is very easy and quick for a teacher to print |
| understanding the rules, setting up the game, and then | | | | bingo cards on any theme at all using a PC and some |
| actually playing the game, entirely in the English | | | | bingo card maker software. |
| language, can be quite a challenge. | | | | |