The Pedagogy of Partying: Bringing Party Games to the ESL Classroom
Helen Nam & Emily Wong & Meg Parker
U.C. Irvine, Division of Continuing Education
The Hosts Object
of the games
Play 4 games
Party favors
The Object of the Games: Dilemma
Wright, Betteridge, and Buckby (2006) claim that the test of a great language game is whether learners would play the game outside of the classroom, but many tried-and-true ESL games don’t pass muster.
The Object of the Games: Solution
They create a sense of flow, and this feeling of “energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment” is associated with a decrease in self-consciousness and an increase in intrinsic motivation—essential ingredients
for language learning (Csíkszentmihályi, 1990).
Form groups of 4
What are some games that are useful but lack in flow?
Time to Party!
The Game of Things
Language Purpose
Students have the opportunity to:
1) review vocabulary definitions
2) use synonyms
3) use a kinesthetic way to define words
Object of the game & How to win• Object: Students will take turns describing vocabulary
words to their partners in 3 stages.• Stage 1: Use as many words necessary to describe the
vocabulary word.
• Stage 2: Use one word to describe the vocabulary word.
• Stage 3: Act out the vocabulary word
•How to win: The team that correctly guesses the most number of words after playing 3 stages will win.
Materials1) Stack of word cards for each group
2) A paper bag or fish bowl for each group (optional)
Teacher Preparation
A list of vocabulary words. Print one word on each slip of paper. Each group of 4 will have the same stack of cards, so print accordingly.
Recommended amount: For a 4-person group, prepare at least 20 vocabulary cards.
1. In your group of four, pair up. Number
yourselves off: A1, A2, B1, and B2.
2. The A’s are a team and the B’s are a team.
Rules – Round 1 – Define Words
1) Put the stack of cards in the center.
2) Team A will start first. When the teacher says, “Go!” A1 will have 30 seconds to describe as many words as possible without skipping words. A2 will be guessing.
4) Team B will watch silently and make sure there’s no cheating.
5) When the teacher says, “Stop!” Team A will count up the number of successful guesses and write it down.
6) After A1 is finished, the order is as follows: B1, A2, and finally B2.
Let’s Review!migrate
monster
literally
architecture
vehicle
spectacular
cure
naturally
convert
tension
pursuit
eager
ultimate
magnificent
destination
spoiled
isolated
rank
prohibit
diverseReading Explorer 3, Unit 5 – National Geographic Learning/Cengage Learning
Let’s play!
A1! You have 30 seconds to describe as many words
possible to A2!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.
B1! It’s your turn to describe to B2!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.
A2! It’s your turn to describe to A1!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.
B2! It’s your turn to describe to B1!
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Rules – Round 2 – One WordSame rules as round 1 but instead of saying as many words as you want, you are only allowed to say ONE word to represent the vocabulary word.
Shuffle your
cards!
A1! You have 30 seconds to describe as many words
possible!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.B1! It’s your turn!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack. A2! It’s your turn!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.B2! It’s your turn!
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Rules – Round 3 – Act it outSame as round 1 and 2 except this time, you can’t talk. You must act out the word.
Shuffle your
cards!
A1! You have 30 seconds to act out as many words
possible!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.B1! It’s your turn!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack. A2! It’s your turn!
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Do not put the old cards back in the stack.B2! It’s your turn!
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Tips for Fishbowl
•Increase participation by having small groups instead of big groups
•Don’t have to do all rounds – still enjoyable!
•Can switch acting with drawing (or other ways to give hints)
Paper Plate Game
Language Purpose
Students have the opportunity to:
1) show their understanding of prepositions of location
2) show their understanding of vocabulary words
3) demonstrate artistic talent (or lack of)
4) negotiate with partner about completed products
Object of the game & How to win• Object: Students will listen to a description and draw the
picture on a plate that’s on their head.
•How to win: The student who earns the most points according to a drawing rubric will win.
Materials
1) Paper Plates 2) Pencil or pen
(No coating is better)
Teacher Preparation1) Prepare a picture scene
2) Write at least 5-6 sentences to describe the picture
3) Prepare a paper plate for each student
4) Before the game starts, review important vocabulary words
Easter Egg
Easter Egg Basket
Easter Bunny
Worm
Rule 1) Listen and Draw—on your head!
DO NOT LOOK AT
YOUR PLATE
WHILE DRAWING!
TRY YOUR BEST!
Let’s play!
Rule 2) Exchange your plate with your neighbor
Check your partner’s plate and give points• 1 point if the grass line is at the bottom of the plate.
• 1 point if the grass line is totally horizontal.
• 1 point for every egg that is touching the tree.
• 1 point if the basket is under the tree.
• 1 point for every egg that is IN the basket-–not on or next to the basket.
• 1 point if the bunny is to the right of the basket.
• 1 point if the worm is under the rabbit.
• 1 point if the sun is above the rabbit (and NOT touching the rabbit!).
Did your drawing look like this?
Extension for Paper Plate Game
•Add a voting component! Try a gallery walk!
•Hang all the plate art on the wall.
•Give students 2 different colored post-its.
Tips for Paper Plate Game
•Students vote on their favorite pieces of art.
Most Realistic Drawing = _________ color
Most “Creative” Drawing = ________ color
Tips for Paper Plate Game
Never Have I Ever
ESL Modification:“Never have I ever…” statement form
“Have you ever…?” question form
Language Purpose:
To practice the present perfect tense and simple past
in a meaningful way.
Students will get to share about their
past experiences and learn more than
a few unexpected facts about their
classmates!
The Object of the Game:
To lie without getting caught and catch other’s
lying in order to get rid of cards.
How to Win!
The person with the least number
of cards wins!
Materials:
(1) Worksheet with “Have you ever…?”
questions
(2) “I have” cards
Teacher Preparation:
(1) Create a worksheet with “Have you ever…?”
questions. Try to include questions that would elicit
answers in both the affirmative and negative.
(2) Prepare enough “I have” cards for each student, the
same number of cards as questions on the worksheet.
(3) Before the game starts, review when to use the present
perfect vs. the present simple.
Rules, Step 1:
Individually, fill out the worksheet with the “Have
you ever…?” questions.
Filling out the worksheet will
keep the students honest.
It’s important to complete this step before
explaining the rest of the game.
So….
Before I explain more, complete the orange
worksheet. The extra one will be used later.
Be honest and don’t share your
answers with anyone.
Step 2:
In groups of 4, take turns asking a question using
the extra “Have you ever…?” worksheet.
The questioner asks one question. Everyone
answers “I have…,” whether or not it is true, and
places an orange “I have” card in the
center in the discard pile.
Step 3:
The questioner leads a short discussion probing for details
to try to figure out who might be lying. Everyone should
participate in asking and answering questions.
WH Words:
Who
What
Where
When
Why
How
Step 4:
The questioner must call “BS” on one person.
If the questioner is correct, the liar takes all the cards
from the discard pile.
If the questioner is incorrect, he/she takes all the cards.
BS!
Have you ever eaten an insect?
Majed, what type of insect did you eat?
After a few minutes of discussion.
Majed, I call BS on you. I don’t believe you’ve eaten an
insect.
Scenario 1:You’re right.
I haven’t.
Majed, I call BS on you. I don’t believe you’ve eaten an
insect.
Scenario 2:You’re wrong.
I have eaten an insect!
Remember, the object of the game is
to get rid of all your cards.
3. The person who can whistle at the highest pitch can begin as the questioner.
4. Then move
clockwise.
1. Make sure each person in your group has
8 orange cards.
2. Also place the extra worksheet in the center.
Let’s play!
Follow up with the whole class:
✓ Share who won in each group
✓ Share surprising/funny answers
The Game of Things
Language Purpose:Students can practice modals of possibility and certainty while making guesses.
Also good as a:
- warm-up activity
- fluency exercise in a speaking/listening class
* especially fun after the students have gotten to
know each other.
Object of the Game:To guess who wrote which answer in your group.
How to Win:
Each correct guess is worth
one point. The person with
the most points wins.
Materials:(1) Deck of topic cards
(2) Blank slips of paper to
write answers
(1/8 of a sheet)
Teacher Preparation:
(1) For each group of 4, prepare topic cards. Topics don’t
have to start with “Things you…”
(2) Prepare enough slips of paper for writing answers
Per group of 4: (Number of topics) x 3
Examples:
- Things you do to relieve stress
- Favorite cartoon character
- What dogs are saying when they bark
Rules, Step 1:One person, the guesser, chooses a topic from the deck of topic cards, reads the topic, and then turns around.
I’m not looking.
Step 2: The rest of the group members write their answers on separate slips of paper.
They must write with(1) the pencils provided
(2) the hand they don’t normally write with. (This is so answers cannot be identified by handwriting.)
Step 3:All the answers are folded and mixed up.
Step 4:The guesser turns back around, reads all the answers aloud, and guesses who wrote which response.
1. Make sure the blue topic cards are face down
in a pile in the center.
2. Each person gets 3 slips of blank white paper
and a pencil.
3. The winner from the last game guesses first.
4. Then move
clockwise.
Let’s play!
Follow up with the whole class:
Have a guessing time with the entire class
• Each group can come to the front of the class and
choose the topic that produced the best answers
• One person in a group can read all the answers
and the class can guess who said what
Party FavorsPlease take
home!
1) Our handout
with games
and rules
2) The baggie
with materials
What are your
takeaways?
Share in your
groups what
you found
most
helpful/useful.