SPEAKING Games/Activities that can be adapted for any expression

[GreenFloyd]

Is anybody else having difficulty finding games or activities to fit a general speaking structure or expression they have to (or want to) teach? Wouldn't it be nice if we could collect some ideas for fun games and activities that can be adapted for any kind of expression? Yeaaaah  ! I think it would! I'll start with a bunch of things I've either collected from others or worked out on my own, but if you have them,
please add more speaking games/activites that are adaptable for different expressions. 

Something other than PPT Bomb games would be a huge help, I think. If not for others, then for me. As much as I love the templates here on waygook, I feel that other kinds of games are a bit lacking. If we can pool together our resources and post some games and activities that fit various kinds of expressions, I think it could be a big help to a lot of people.

Thanks. Happy Lesson planning 

[GreenFloyd]

Broken Telephone: This worked for me in a large class with rows. The person at the end of the row steps outside of the class with you for a second. You whisper an expression to them a few times until they are sure they’ve memorized it. Then have them go in and whisper it to the person in front of them. This goes down the line in their row until the first person runs to the board and writes what they heard. First correct team earns the point. Tests speaking, listening, and key expression recognition.

Line Up!: Have the entire class line up in two long rows facing you at the front. The two people at the front of each row will battle against each other. You will ask them a question and the first person to answer correctly between two will get to sit down. The other person goes to the back of the line. This is pretty fun and engaging. You can give them the answer and ask for the question so they know how to ask questions in addition to answering.

Pass the Toilet Paper: Props to the person who made this: http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,3959.0.html
Everybody stands up, gets in a circle. Plug in key expressions and have the whole class repeat them when the music stops on a person. That person must answer. Fun for a warmer or class-finisher.

Hot Seat: Old favorite. Put a picture, vocabulary word, or key expression on the board (or ppt). In groups or individually have somebody face the board and the class must try and get them to guess the expression or vocabulary word.

Kaboom: From eatyourkimchi. Print out strips of paper with blanks in the key expression. Include “kaboom” strips. Mix them all together into a hat or bag and in groups, students will pull out a piece of paper. If they finish the expression, they earn a point (additional point of they can finish the sentence or carry on the conversation). If it has “kaboom” they lose all their points, or they can choose another team to lose their points.

Volleyball: Divide class into two halves. Have them pass a paper ball back and forth. When they throw it, they must ask a target expression question. The person who catches it on the opposite team must answer correctly. If it’s correct, they earn a point. If not, the other team earns the point.

Run to board: Divide the class into groups. Give each person a number in each group. Ask a question to the whole class and then call out a number. That number from each group must run to the board and write the answer. Usually a lot of fun, but can sometimes get hectic.

Kimbap English: Create 4 rows. Students will have to ask the target expressions to their partner, and then they answer. After a minute or so, rotate one line so that everybody gets a new partner. Repeat.

Number Randomizer: Give everybody in the class a number, then randomize (in your head, or online, or make one- I just used very simple PPT animations to have numbers pop up). The student must ask the expression to the next person, then that person must ask a question to the next number, etc.  Not super fun, but gets everybody going.

Pass the Ball: Pass a ball (or crunched up construction paper) around the room asking target expressions. Have them pass the ball to different students asking expressions before they throw. If the class starts to edge on the way of wanting to hurt others by throwing the ball hard or catching people off guard, just have them pass it back to you every time and then you choose a new student.


Okay, I’ll think of some more later. I hope you guys can add some more general games and activities that work for different expressions here!

[AC_in_Korea]

Like the number randomizer:

I bought wooden chopsticks, and put numbers from 1 - 30 on them. I also included my name, my coteacher's name, and I coloured some of the chopsticks different colours. So I have a box that has about 50 chopsticks in it.

The students in my classes all have numbers already, so when practicing dialogues, I choose a chopstick.  I ask the question, and the student whose nmber I chose must answer.  Then that student comes and picks a chopstick and does the dialogue with that student.  If a student chooses a chopstick with a coloured end, they get a candy.

You can use these tools in various ways, and it's great to have on hand.

[GreenFloyd]

Wow, awesome. Thanks Anita! Some of the best teaching tools and methods are often the simplest. I'm picking up wooden chopsticks tonight!

In addition to giving candy, I recently started a lotto system where I give lotto tickets out for participation and winning games. Every few weeks I'll do a drawing for candy.

[awaygookindarok]

Like the number randomizer:

I bought wooden chopsticks, and put numbers from 1 - 30 on them. I also included my name, my coteacher's name, and I coloured some of the chopsticks different colours. So I have a box that has about 50 chopsticks in it.

The students in my classes all have numbers already, so when practicing dialogues, I choose a chopstick.  I ask the question, and the student whose nmber I chose must answer.  Then that student comes and picks a chopstick and does the dialogue with that student.  If a student chooses a chopstick with a coloured end, they get a candy.

You can use these tools in various ways, and it's great to have on hand.

This is AWESOME. I am so going to do this.

[SBracken]

I made 'english tokens' myself- colored cardboard cut up with silly scissors, and then slapped on some stickers I brought from home (they just say things like 'terrific' and 'way 2 go'). kids get one for volunteering or winning a game, and they can trade them in two at a time for a go in my 'bag of wonders', as i call it- candies, chocolates, pencils, erasers. They love it, and strangely enough, I think they like the erasers more than the candy and chocolate....

as for games- I often play either 20 questions with my kids or 'teacher yes/no'. the yes/no game I found here on waygook, and it's a simple one where the kids must ask the teacher yes/no questions, 'yes' is 2 points and 'no' is 1.
20 questions can be done more often, since students can be 'teacher', but I like yes/no because it can be as short or long as it needs to be.

(note: my students' level is pretty low, so when we play 20 questions, I take notes for them on the board- I forgot to do it one time and they all freaked out, it really helps.)

[flips]

beginner's communication games by jill hadfield is a great resource, however most games are organized by language function then language structure(s). depending on how creative you are, many are adaptable for various language functions.

simple speaking activities (oxford basics), teaching large multilevel classes (hess), five-minute activities (ur & wright), amongst other books are invaluable as well.

i believe adequate .pdf files for each text can be found on mediafire, for temporary use, however all the aforementioned books can be purchased on http://www.kyobobook.co.kr with the bundles of money your public school has for you.

[Darkeru]

Thanks. I've just been given instructions to teach them 'functions' and was looking for something like this. Can't use them all because there's no room for moving, but it's some ideas that'll work.

[Meg.Kol]

beginner's communication games by jill hadfield is a great resource, however most games are organized by language function then language structure(s). depending on how creative you are, many are adaptable for various language functions.

simple speaking activities (oxford basics), teaching large multilevel classes (hess), five-minute activities (ur & wright), amongst other books are invaluable as well.

i believe adequate .pdf files for each text can be found on mediafire, for temporary use, however all the aforementioned books can be purchased on http://www.kyobobook.co.kr with the bundles of money your public school has for you.

Hi,

You said these books are available via mediafire. I thought the gepik login to mediafire was defunct. Can someone who has these books possibly repost them on this site?  I really enjoyed using Jill Hadfield's beginnner's guide to communication games and would love to try the others.

[dbtm]

Hey guys this is my first contribution to this awesome site.

These are games you are probably all familiar with  but I typed them up all in one place in a nice lesson plan format. Print this off and keep it in your class and anytime you need to fill 5-10 minutes at the end of class, these games are great. They are also good as a warm-up.

It would be great if people could add more speaking games to the thread and make it more of a megathread.

[wolverine6]

These are wonderful ideas- I just wanted to add something of my own.

I'm trying something called the "song of the day" or the "movie of the day" as a way to engage students at the beginning of class. I will pass out some lyrics to a song or some script to a movie dialogue, and then play a bit of a music video or a movie clip for a discussion later. I haven't done it yet, but the students seemed excited about this. They're more low-level than most middle-schoolers, so I thought this may be a good way for them to get interested in the topic.

Another one is the password game. Just have the students in two vertical rows, and require them to answer a question (provide a password) before leaving the class. This is a good wrap-up and review for the class.

[jpeterse2]

Is there a comprehensive online source of esl games? 
I think an engaging kids game like pokemon geared toward esl would be excellent.  Or maybe something along the lines of the sims video game or animal crossing, where students can purchase items, create spaces, take care of pets, work a farm, etc.  I think something like this would be good as an ongoing activity.

[satchitananda]

Thank you all for this thread. Especially Flips for the book suggestions. I managed to find a pdf of Jill Hadfield's Beginners' Communication Games and have attached it.

[nescueta]

Thanks so much GreenFloyd, the "Hot Seat" game saved me 10 mins before my class was about to start and I was lacking activities. A good way to come up with words for the students is to play a game before Hot Seat such as Multi-Word, a board game that makes students create simple words with blocks that have 2-3 letters on each.

Just want to thank you again for your suggestions and this thread for existing. Please continue to post ideas!

[halfevilflutterby]

i usually do a warm up song for every class (wheels on the bus, simon says, if you're happy etc {kindergarten}) but then i ask the students what else can we do e.g. after singing wheels on the bus if the can't think of more words(or say random things!!)  but make an action i adapt what they do/say and everone has to say it, so today someone said chicken - so everyone had to flap thier wings (on the bus), then someone hopped so we were frogs on the bus. it builds up after time and the kids find it funny and remember new actions/sentences more.