| An increasing number of non-native speakers of | | | | adapted to teaching many different topics. |
| English around the world wish to learn the language. | | | | In English class the game can be played: |
| This is no doubt for a variety of different reasons, and | | | | 1. Ahead of time, before the class, the teacher should |
| includes people who wish to come to a largely | | | | prepare bingo cards for each student. The cards |
| English-speaking country (such as the United States, | | | | should contain the types of items that form the subject |
| the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, | | | | of the lesson - for example, they might numbers, be |
| Ireland) to live, work, study, or just visit, and people who | | | | they might also be dates, times or English words. A |
| wish to learn English for professional reasons. The | | | | particularly popular choice is "sight words", which are |
| professional demand for English comes from | | | | common English words which students need to be |
| increasing ubiquity of the Internet (as you no doubt are | | | | able to instantly recognize in order to read English |
| aware, English has become the dominant language for | | | | fluently. Anyway, these cards can be prepared by the |
| online communications), and English's status as a global | | | | teacher simply printing them from her computer - this is |
| lingua franca of business, commerce, diplomacy, | | | | easy since ready-made free bingo printables can be |
| science, technology, and aviation. | | | | download from the Internet, or the teacher can |
| With the demand to learn "English as a Second | | | | purchase low cost bingo card printing software which |
| Language" (ESL) or "English as a Foreign Language" | | | | will allow her to print unlimited quantities of bingo cards |
| (EFL), also comes a demand for teachers of that | | | | on any subject at all. |
| subject. For native English speakers, including young | | | | 2. At the start of the class, each student is given their |
| people such as recent university graduates, going | | | | own bingo card. You can then play the game normally, |
| abroad to "Teach English as a Foreign Language" | | | | with the teacher playing the part of the bingo caller. |
| (TEFL), provides an excellent opportunity to travel and | | | | Students can either mark off the items from their |
| see the world. | | | | cards as they are called, or cover the squares on the |
| TEFL teachers aim is to provide their students with a | | | | cards with a coin or counter if you wish to re-use the |
| good understanding of both spoken and written | | | | cards in a subsequent lesson. |
| activities. Learning is facilitated by a variety of | | | | Playing bingo in class can be a lot of fun - but it's also |
| classroom activities, including both speaking and reading | | | | excellent practice for learning English - provided of |
| English. Ideally such activities will enjoyable and | | | | course that the game is conducted entirely in English! |
| engaging for the students, as well as being educational. | | | | Smart teachers can also adapt the game with their |
| One game that is very well suited to be used as a | | | | own twists that enhance the educational element of |
| classroom activity is bingo. The game is very easy to | | | | the game - for example, they might require that the |
| learn and play, doesn't have complicated rules, doesn't | | | | student who claims "Bingo" to read out (in English) all |
| require expensive equipment, and can in fact be | | | | the items that they have marked off. |