An ESL game (Phonics Level or just after Alphabet)
After Kindergarten and Introductory Phonetics, small children are often put into a Beginners English class using books like Let's Go 1. Often they are not ready for Lets Go 1, but need to....
1. practice use of phonics through games
2. practice alphabet letter writing and
3. build up a basic vocabulary of small words.
I like to use my Small Words Game. The Small Words Game gets them excited about English. It motivates the kids as they already know a large number of small words from regular school and the mass media.
I often divide the class into two teams (they like competition) or each child keeps his/her score on the board beside their name.
You will find in the table below some of the small words they write in columns across the board for all to see. The children come up with them not the teacher. Teacher may have to start the game by giving some examples.
Note that there are only two English words with a single letter: a and I.
Get the idea? Children like this very much. They are not intimidated by small words (easy to spell) and I accept abbreviations like CD, BBQ, TV, Ok, SOS, TNT, UN, USA, and UK. In Korea I also accept short English names of pop-music groups as the kids know these from television: SES, HOT, UN, NRG etc. and TV stations like MBC, KBS.
This game can cover two or three classes and it is good to post a large table/graphics of short word on the class wall in big writing for all to see and use in the following weeks. Kids can make the enlarged words with markers and paper as a crafts project and post them on the huge wall-mounted table. This is preferable to the teacher doing it. Avoid using too many shapes and colors when making the words/letters as Montessori has shown this confuses children.
Once we have done the Small Words Game I like to get kids using these words in the Spelling Circle Game http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/lessons/index.pl?read=854. Spelling Circle Game is a strong way to reinforce the new vocabulary as words are reused/relearned/approached in a different way. Children will play the Spelling Circle Game for an hour and will do it in class, if there is space, or out doors. They especially like it as it is kinesthetic and interactive. Students and teacher can also make a set of small words flash cards, another way to build them into memory.
*Q as in Q. and A. LX: Extra Large
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Bigger Bigger Smaller Smaller Game - ESL lesson
An ESL game (10+ years, builds vocabulary).
Also included: Taste Game, Materials Game, Hotter Colder Game
With students in a circle around a big table or sitting on the floor, point to something small and ask the first student to name it (in English). If they don't understand, then teacher gives an example like a pencil or eraser and asks the student "Something bigger?" or goes to the next student. Children (not the teacher) ask the same question in sequence in the circle. Say "something bigger" (det-der-ro = something, big = kun-ga in Korean) while acting out big and small with your hands and arms. Kids will probably say "sky" or "sun". "Universe" is the upper size limit but older children will also understand imagination (sang-sang).
Then we go smaller "something smaller" (small is cha-gum in Korean) and they begin to exchange hints in Korean and English and thus teach each other smaller and smaller words in English. They often say "ant" and then "baby ant" or "ant egg". With even smaller objects kids need teacher's help so I scrape my tooth with a fingernail (yucky) to show that everybody has bacteria and some kids will later say "baby bacteria" jokingly. Beyond this you have to remind them of virus (gyun in Korean). They already know about big computer viruses. And finally sketch an atom, electron etc. etc and talk about electric machines, which includes their own bodies!
This is a great way to build vocabulary while introducing the phrases:
(Tell me, teach me, give me) something bigger.
(Tell me, teach me, give me) something smaller.
A variation is to make it a Hotter and Colder Game.
Another is to make it a Materials Game and ask for something plastic, metal, wood, stone, cement, copper, iron, water, gas, leather, cloth, glass, meat, etc.
Another variation is make it a Taste Game with real/authentic/concrete examples/foods: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, hot, spice, creamy, oily, fishy, spicy, fruity, meaty, bland etc. and then ask for examples of various foods. This can be slow going unless the kids are 12 years or more. I find it needs to be repeated several times. You will have to bring foods in small plastic containers and tooth picks for tasting. Coordinate this class with other teachers so you can all share the food preparation effort/time.
About The Author
Robin Tim Day is an English teacher with experince in Asia and the Middle East. Robin publishes articles and lessons at the http://www.eslteachersboard.com/ (free access to ESL resumes, jobs and materials). See more articles and lessons by Robin by visiting: http://www.eslteachersboard.com/
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