Recommended level: JHSG1

A Group B Group

Description

Students are in pairs and each pair has a set of small flashcards. On the blackboard are an even amount of flashcards, divided into two groups: A and B. The students decide who will be student A and student B. The cards are shuffled and placed in between the students.

Students take turns opening the flashcards and saying the target English. If the card they opened matches their group (for example if student A opened a card from group A) then they get one point and the card is put off to the side. If the card they opened does not match their group (student A opens a card from group B) then that student doesn’t get a point and the card is put off to the side. This continues until all the cards have been opened. Students count how many points they have, then shuffle the cards for another round!

Teacher’s Deal

Description

Each vocabulary card is given a hidden number card between 1 and 10. The teacher decides a certain number as the ‘goal’ score to reach. Students repeat the teacher until the timer goes off, and whichever card is called last becomes the keyword.

The teacher picks a volunteer and offers them a number between 1 and 9. The student decides whether to take their offer or take the points on the card. The card’s number is then revealed. Whichever option the student chose, those points are added to the class’s total. If the students can meet or exceed the goal score, they win!

Roles

ALT/T: Call the target English until the timer goes off

STS: Listen and repeat, volunteer and take the teacher’s offer or the chosen card

Notes

If you have multiple classes in the same grade doing the same lesson, the goal score could be the previous class’s final score.

Janken Bingo

Description

Students make pairs and share a sheet. One student is a “O” the other is the “X”. The ALT/HRT/JTE sets the timer and the class repeats the target English. When the timer beeps, students play janken. The winner goes first and places their shape on their BINGO sheet. The loser goes second and places their shape. Reset the timer and continue playing. The goal is for the students to get three of their shapes in a row. At the end of the game, see how many BINGOs students could get. 

Notes

  • This game needs a demonstration. 
  • If you can orchestrate the demonstration to show blocking your partner, the students (in my experience) get a little more excited. 
  • In the past I’ve made the board too small. A bigger sized board is better because it gives the students space to spread out a little and have a real chance at making a BINGO or blocking their partner. 
  • Common questions after the demonstration include asking if diagonal and overlap counts as BINGO. 
  • If you made the board bigger, you could play in groups. 

Similar Games

Make 20

Description

Students are each given a worksheet and write a number in each space (I did 1~15 in my lesson). 

Students then make pairs and exchange the target English. Students can choose if they write their friend’s answer down or not. If they choose to write it, they cannot erase it. Once both students have done the question and answer, students make a new pair and exchange the target English.  Again, students can choose to write down their friend’s number or not. 

The goal is to get exactly 20 items. So if their friend’s number will make them go over 20, they cannot write the number down. Once they get exactly 20 items, they score one point. They start from 0 and try to collect 20 again!