KEEP IT REAL

Pictures / Flash Cards
Flash cards can be used for simple vocabulary drills, numbers, or memory games. Paste pictures on flashcards for reviewing and as an art project. Pictures can be used in speaking practice. Show a picture and have learner describe something about it.  Beginners can make simple observations like "two apples" while advanced students can make up a story to go with the picture.

 

BINGO
BINGO boards with themed pictures are a fun way to practice listening. You can build the BINGO boards with any vocabulary you want to review – foods, time, family. For added difficulty, ask student to tell you the name of each item he/she heard before being declared the winner.

 

Charades

Prepare index cards with vocabulary words. Students take turns acting out the words and guessing what is being acted out.

 

Pictionary

Based on the popular board game. Similar to Charades, but students draw instead of acting words out.

 

Fishing

 Make pictures or collect objects and place them in a bucket or large paper bag. The student will “fish” for objects. If he/she can say what it is, he/she gets to keep it. Otherwise, the student has to throw it back.  Other games like those listed here can be found at: http://www.uni.edu/becker/TESOL_ESL2.html#esl

 

Sorting and Categorizing

Have student sort pictures or realia into groups.  Ask him/her to explain why he/she separated things into groups or simply to name the items in the groups.

 

Sequencing
In sequencing activities, the student must put pieces of information into a logical order. Pictures representing parts of a story heard can be used.  For more advanced students, months of the year, strip stories where a story is cut into separate sentences or paragraphs, or instructions (recipe, craft, etc.) cut up by lines are appropriate. You can create the strips with the student also. Have the student speak about the sequence they have created. Be sure to model this activity before asking the student to do it alone!

 

Scavenger Hunt

Hand out a list of items (words or pictures) to be collected or identified. Define the searching range (room, building, neighborhood, etc.).  Search with your student!

 

Audio Diaries

Student keeps a diary, but rather than in a notebook, on a cassette tape.  Start with a short time limit (like 30 seconds) and raise it over time.  The student is allowed to talk about anything.  The tutor can sort responses after the student's recording.  The same tape is used until it is finished.  Students can listen to their own tape from beginning to end. (Recorders can be rented from media services in the CIT.)

 

Conversation
There are many ways to jump-start a conversation with a learner.  Pictures from magazines, picture cards, photographs from the learner’s home can stimulate language.  Conversations about pictures can be simple -- counting, naming, identifying colors, or complex -- comparing, answering questions, telling stories. 

 

Oral Drills
Narrowly focused fragments of language can be drilled to internalize common phrases such as “how are you,” and “I’m fine, thanks.”  Design drills that are meaningful and practical.  You can use picture cards as cues for the drills.

 

Computer Games

A fun website to play reading games (most useful with children) is www.starfall.com. You can go to a public library near the student’s home and play many of the games offered on the website. Another site for more advanced or older students: www.eslpartyland.com/quiz-center/quiz.htm