We're gunna listen and when you hear the word 'switch'
when you hear me say the word 'switch', you're gunna stand up
switch seats and then sit back down again
okay, are you ready?
Switch... what did she say?
I like red
Hi my name's Jema Perry and welcome to Mooncake
where ESL teaching is made easy.
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ESL games can be a fantastic tool to help get your students. practicing newly taught English.
But one question I often get asked is how to explain these games to students with a low level of English?
But Jema, they don't understand!
So today I want to share some tips that I use with my students when introducing a new game
to help make sure that the instructions are clear.
So without further a-do, lets get started.
Now one mistake that a lot of teachers will make
is to try and explain. the rules and the steps of a games all at once.
Now depending on a students age
even in their native language it can be really challenging to remember and follow different steps.
For example, a 3-4 year old will only be able to follow 1-2 steps at a time
where as a 4-5 year old will be able to remember 3-4 steps at a time.
So in a second language its even more challenging for students
to understand and remember instructions that you're giving them.
So, our first task is to think about the game we want to play and break it down into easy to follow steps.
For example, lets take the game of switch.
which is a simple game where students are seated in seats
and when they hear the word 'switch' they need to stand up and switch seats
with a friend
Only yoou remove one chair, so that one student is left standing.
and that student needs to answer a question.
This game can be split into three simple steps.
The first. is to sit down and listen to your teacher.
The second is to keep listening and be ready
And lastly when you hear the word switch, stand up and switch seats.
You then need to introduce these steps to stuent one by one
rather than all at once.
But to this, we really need to limit the language we're using
to introduce those steps.
If we use too much language or too many words to intoduce each step
students aren't going to be able to follow.
So try to limit each step to four or five words
So you have key words or a key sentence to explain that step of the game
So for example with our game of switch
are three steps could be shortened to, number 1
sit down
number 2, listen carefully.
Number three, stand up, switch, sit down.
Now as I mentioned, you don't want to explain all the steps of a game at once.
Because this can be too much language for them to undertand and. too. many steps for them to remember.
So you want to introduce it step by step and demonstrate each step as you do.
and you can do. this with an assistant teacher or a pupil from the class.
Once students are clear on that first step of the game, you can then introduce that second step.
Again using those key words or key sentence to help them follow along
Once they're comfortable with the second step, you. can then introduce the next step
But as you do, make sure you go back and introduce all. the steps you have already introduced one more time
This helps again with repetition and for students to put all these different steps together.
In terms of translation, you shouldnt ever need to translate the rules of games for students
Unless the game is really complicated
At which point I would really question if that game is really suitable for that class
That said, it's really. important to remember that games are there to be used as a tool to practice language that we've been teaching them.
So if you really can't get the instructions across, at that point I would then ask for some help translating
LMost important thing is that students know how to play so that they can practice that new language.
So there you have it some tips to help. explain games to your class in a clear way that they can understand
If you like this video then make sure you hit that like button and comment with the word 'helpful' in the comments below
If you're looking for some more ESL teaching tips or game ideas, then make sure you check out some of my other videos, right here
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