| ESL Games are an absolute must in the ESL | | | | the student runs up to the board, slaps the picture card |
| classroom. If you are teaching ESL and not including | | | | or word card with their bat and runs back to their |
| games in your ESL lesson plan, then you are totally | | | | team. |
| missing out on some serious enjoyment and your | | | | The variation is as follows: |
| students are most likely not picking things up as quickly | | | | The students are divided into 2 teams and they are |
| as they could. ESL games put fun in the lesson and if it | | | | sat against one wall. The two children in the middle |
| formatted to the lesson at hand, it is beneficial to the | | | | where the two teams meet, stand and everyone |
| entire classroom. | | | | moves in one seat so that the only vacant seat is on |
| Below are 2 games that have proven invaluable to | | | | the outside ends of the row of chairs. |
| many teachers. Either game could be played | | | | Then the teacher calls out a word/phrase and the |
| immediately after the lesson has been taught, whether | | | | students race to the board, slap the word or phrase, |
| it is just vocabulary, review or a phrase pattern. These | | | | say the word or phrase then run to the outside vacant |
| games will make you a hit with the students! | | | | seats. He/she then sits down and passes the bat to |
| Game #1 - Slap N Say | | | | the next student, then the next, etc... until the bat |
| Divide the class into two or three teams. | | | | reaches the last student in their team. At which time all |
| Taking turns; one student from each team stands and | | | | the students jump up and say the word or phrase. |
| waits for the teacher to say the name of one of the | | | | The first team to do so, gets the points. |
| picture cards. | | | | Try to get the students to chant the word or phrase |
| As soon as the teacher says the word, the students | | | | while they are passing the bat to the center for added |
| standing race to the picture cards and slap the correct | | | | vocal practice. Also, an important rule! Make sure that |
| one with their hand and say the word. | | | | the bat gets passed to EACH STUDENT! No passing |
| They then race back to their team and the entire | | | | by 3 or 4 students at a time. That is considered |
| team repeats the word. | | | | cheating. |
| The winner's team gets points. | | | | Both these games are very much loved by the |
| Make sure that you lay down the ground rules of no | | | | students once they get the hang of it. Your students |
| hitting another student with the bat and no hitting the | | | | will be asking to play it after you have shown them |
| floor with extreme force or you will not have the bats | | | | how to play. |
| for long. In China, I just went to the toy market and it | | | | Including games in your arsenal of teaching tactics will |
| was easy and inexpensive to purchase the blow up | | | | give your class more benefit than you can imagine. |
| bats/hammers/etc... | | | | Your students will be more attentive, eager and willing |
| The students NEVER tired of playing this game. | | | | to participate freely. Is that not enough reward for a |
| Game #2 - Slap N Say Relay | | | | little fun in your classroom? |
| This game is very similar to the above game in that | | | | |