ELT World Discussion

[Justin Trullinger]

Depends a lot on what you mean by "games."

It's an awfully big category...and I think that students and I often use the word differently.

THis may be why I never use the word "game" to describe a classroom activity. To many ears, it sounds frivolous, pointless, and time-wasting.

A lot of activities I use coulld be called games, though- and I've never seen students object to them.

If it has a clear point, and obviously challenges their language abilities...it may be a game, but it's still work, too.

Never had it be a problem.


Best,
Justin
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[Justin Trullinger]

Depends a lot on what you mean by "games."

It's an awfully big category...and I think that students and I often use the word differently.

THis may be why I never use the word "game" to describe a classroom activity. To many ears, it sounds frivolous, pointless, and time-wasting.

A lot of activities I use coulld be called games, though- and I've never seen students object to them.

If it has a clear point, and obviously challenges their language abilities...it may be a game, but it's still work, too.

Never had it be a problem.


Best,
Justin

PS- after our candy coversation yesterday, but before I could ask my teacher/student what they thought of it, I got a surprise delivery of a cake to the staffroom. Was this a bribe?
_________________
The time is now.
The place is here.
You've got to get mad!

[dmb]

[golightly]

[dmb]

maybe I was pissed when I read the article and that's why I liked it!

Do you guys still use warmers. Do you consider them as games?

[Sherri]

I rarely use "warmers" and like Justin, I may have some (not that many) game-like activities but I don't call them games. I kind of hate games. When I am a student, I don't like playing them so that might have something to do with it.

I recently observed a teacher that had some game that she has her class frequently play and it was very popular. Something about dividing into teams and then running to the board to do something quicker than the other team. To me it seemed pointless and a massive waste of time. But the students obviously liked it, and I guess it got them out of their seats and moving.

Every teacher has his/her own style, and every class has its own personality.

[MO39]

[dmb]

[Sherri]

I think I would have been more forgiving if it were a running dictation. If I recall, she gave out a word, and the students had to use it in a sentence -- written out. I didn't like it because first, the sentences were lame. Example: "caution." Sentence: "Caution is good." Second, there appeared to be no means to deal with bad grammar, or spelling.

Just an example of a game at its worst. I know there are better and quite good ones.

Warmers are also good in the right situation, it is just that I work in a place where all the students live in housing close to the college in an intensive program, so it is not usually necessary.

[golightly]

I use warmers.


We set light to the worst student in the class.

It has a marvellous effect on concentration levels....
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[Glenski]

A "warmer" (warm-up activity) is usually considered essential to ease students into a lesson. I suppose it could consist of just about anything:

1) introducing the grammar and then eliciting some responses to see how well they already know it

2) showing a video clip with or without sound to give them some inspiration or to spark background knowledge of a topic

3) demonstrating some kind of realia item

4) having students chat for a minute or two (whether on a prescribed topic or nothing at all)

5) free reading

6) free writing

7) review last lesson's vocabulary

quiz on something from last week

Etc.

[furiousmilksheikali]

A warmer to get students attention: