One of the real challenges of teaching mostly low level ESL students is developing lessons plans that are to be honest at elementary school level but entertaining for adult students. There are a few lessons that I use that have went over well in the last few semesters. I would say that the modified Guess Who game I do with my students is one of their favourites.
We have a unit in our text that deals with describing people. It includes describing a persons appearance, occupation and nationality. Pretty dry stuff, right? I was trying to think of a lesson to liven up my classroom a bit. I remembered playing Guess Who with my sister when I was growing up and so I decided to modify it into a combination of the original game and 21 questions. It isn't a complicated game at all. Basically, I created a power point slide show. I conceal different celebrity pictures and give the students a varying number of questions depending on time. Then, the students try and guess who the person might be. By dividing the class into teams the competition revs up a bit. Another element that keeps it entertaining is choosing challenging celebrities to guess and picking funny pictures of them.
Before they begin we review be verb questions such as "Are you male or female?", " Are you tall or short?", and "Are you from Canada?". Then we get started. I usually make the last slide myself. Luckily, I have learned how to use Photoshop a little so, I have been able to spice up some of photos so that they are more humorous for the students.
By the end of the game students usually have increased their vocabulary of several adjectives used to describe peoples appearances and have a better understanding of be verb questions. They have also increased their vocabulary about jobs and nationalities. This lesson is appropriate for all age levels and abilities. All a teacher needs to do is modify the pictures to suit the audience. This lesson is not overly complicated but the students seem enjoy the game.
This sounds like a great lesson. I love that you teach with humor, and use your photo editing skills to enhance the lesson. I'm going to share this one with my wife for her Spanish classes. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteSweet lesson plan idea Chris, I think it would be especially effective on the first day of classes as an icebreaker. I’ve done similar “guess who” types of games with solid results on the first day as well. Dividing the class to create some competition is always a great way to “wake up the zombies”! Making funny pictures of the celebrities used in your presentation is an excellent idea, and one that I may recycle. The fact that your student’s vocabulary is being heightened with new adjectives to describe people and verb questions is icing on the cake for the lesson.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awesome. I'm all about using Game Shows, humor, and competition in the classroom. Like you say, you have to execute the lesson plan so the better you make it, then the better the class will be for both you and the kids.
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