Word and picture games

Word and picture games (word recognition)

• Matching (1). Put picture flashcards and corresponding word cards face up on the board. Say a word and ask a child to come to the board and find the matching picture and word cards. You can play this as a team game. Divide the class into teams. Ask two children from Team 1 to come to the front. Say a word. One child finds the correct flashcard, the other finds the correct word card. The team gets a point for each correct choice. Continue with Team 2.
• Matching (2). Divide the board into two. Write the same words in random order on each side. Divide the class into two teams. Invite a child from each team to come to the board. Hold up a flashcard. The first child to find the matching word wins a point for their team.
• Pelmanisn. Put picture flashcards and corresponding word cards on the board face down in random order. Ask individual children to come to the board and turn over two cards. The aim is to match a picture card with the correct word card. If the cards don't match, replace them in the same position. If they match, take the cards off the board.

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Bingo

Aim: To revise vocabulary or numbers (comprehension).

Stage of lesson: Any.

Organisation: Whole class.

Preparation:

• Draw a simple grid on a piece of paper with three columns and three rows.
• Copy one for each student in the class.
• Choose a lexical or numeric set, e.g. sports or numbers one to twenty. Make a note of it for yourself.
• Give each student a grid and have them write one word or number from the lexical set in each square. It’s important they do this individually so their grids aren’t the same.

How to play: 

• Read a word or number from the chosen set. Tell students to cross it out if they have it.
• Repeat the process. Cross the words off your list as you say them.
• Tell students to put their hand up and say: Line! when they cross off all the items in a row.
• Tell the students to put their hand up and shout: Bingo! when they cross off all their words. Check the winner’s card against your list to make sure he/she really is the winner!

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How to use L1

As English teachers our objective should be to use the target language as much as possible for many reasons. For instance, speaking in English enables our students to develop their listening skills and is a great motivator. The teacher is the students’ model and point of reference. However, it is sometimes practical to use L1 in order to: 

• give complicated instructions
• give instructions to a weak class, although it’s advisable to always give them in English first
• translate non-target vocabulary which comes up and you want to deal with quickly
• translate key vocabulary to a weak class. Again, always do it in English first
• quickly discipline students who misbehave

Find out more about your students and their opinions when generating interest, e.g. they may well not understand Have you ever met a famous person? Use English, though, wherever possible.

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