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LISTEN

Class size: Small group and classroom variations

Level: Ideal for beginners to lower intermediate5

Age: 4 to 12

Materials: None required, some optional ideas for props

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1. How to Play

This game is excellent for practising new vocabulary, or for

revising large amounts of known words.

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A. Small Group Variation:

Stand in a space with the children all around you and close to

you. The children should either be touching you with an

outstretched hand, or you can tie scarves around you and each20

child holds onto the end of a scarf. The younger children love

this kind of prop, but it is optional. Another optional prop

is to stand on a square of coloured paper. The children must

all have one foot on that square.

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The children must stay touching you, or holding the scarf until

you say a specific word. When you say that word you can try

and catch one of the children and they have to escape before

you do.

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As I have said before, with the very young children it can be

necessary never to catch them as it can make them cry.

So for example start by telling the children the magic word, it

could be "summer". You now start to say words such as spring,35

winter, autumn, sun, rain, etc. When you say, summer, the

children must run off and you try and catch one of them. You

do not necessarily have to chase after the children, you can

just try and touch one of them before he or she has let go of

you, without you actually moving from the spot. If you like you40

can make a rule where you are allowed to take one step only.

You can add great variety to this game by changing the way you

say the words. Sometimes you can use a flat monotone for

several words and then suddenly say a word with great45

enthusiasm. This alone can make some children let go of you

even though you did not say the magic word.

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You can also add variety by changing the set up. For example

you may have the children seated around you on the floor. When50

they hear the magic word they must get up and move away to

safety. You can also use ideas such as having the children

balance on one leg while they listen out for the magic word and

then clap and run away when they hear it. If a child

cannot balance, or forgets to clap before running away he or55

she is out.

Instead of having children who are out sit around getting bored

and restless, let them just sit down for one turn and then join

back in again, or have them do a forfeit. There are plenty of60

fun forfeit ideas in my e-book of games.

If you have a strong group member you can let them take your

role in the game.

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B. Classroom Variation:

To use this idea in a classroom situation where you have desks

and chairs plus too many students to play the small group

version you can adapt the game as follows: Use the magic word70

idea as described above but this time the children must clap

when they hear the magic word and the last one to clap is out.

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Or the class sit down on hearing the magic word, and last one

seated is out. Use any action you fancy that suits your

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2. Language ideas to use with this game

This game lends itself to any vocabulary. You may also use

short sentences by way of revision, or in preparation for80

introducing those phrases properly later in the lesson, or in

the next lesson. For example you could have the word train as

the magic word and say, I like buses, I like cars, I like

planes, I like trains! Replace the phrase I like with more or

less anything that you would like to practise. For example if85

you want to teach the past continuous then the magic word can

be reading and you say sentences such as I was driving, I was

walking, I was reading!

If your children are too naughty then use a quiet version of90

the classroom game and have a rule where any noise and the

child is out, or loses a point for his or her team.

I hope you enjoy using this game with your pupils soon.

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Kind regards

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Shelley Vernon

P.S. From Anthony Bennet in South Korea, who has these games100

and the preschool games and stories:

"Your resources are already saving me heaps of

time and lessening the anxiety from having such a hectic and

mixed teaching schedule. I'm teaching 4 kindy, 15 elementary105

and 50 middle school students."

P.P.S. Make the most of these games while they are still such a

bargain. You'll never be short of ideas for fun teaching

again.110

http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/index4.htm for info

Shelley Vernon, Les Anemones, Val d'Isere, Savoie 73150, France

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