Word Bag is a fun game which helps with semantic fields and vocabulary in general. It’s quick to set up and ideal to keep the class occupied for 10 minutes at the end of a lesson and it is very good for all ages and levels of students.
Running the Game
To start, divide the class into teams. Make sure that you have evenly balanced teams and…
Hidden Relations
Hidden Relations is a way to get your class into groups using a more extended vocabulary activity.
Preparation
Suppose you want to divide your class into 5 groups of 3 students each. You need to prepare 5 sets of cards and each set will consist of 3 cards. On those cards write related words.
For example, for a low intermediate level class, you could prepare 5…
Vocabulary Poker – vocabulary activity
Vocabulary Poker is a great game for practicing vocabulary and semantic fields. It’s easy to play and great fun for the students.
Although it can be played by beginners, it’s probably best for intermediate and advanced students.
NB in some countries it may be culturally inappropriate to use a term like “poker” with its gambling connotations. If this is the case simply rename it to Vocabulary…
Hangman – vocabulary activity
Hangman is a traditional, simple game which is useful as a five minute filler for practicing vocabulary. Variations of the game and played in many different countries so one advantage is that some students will already know the game in their own language (see below).
Playing the Game
Choose a word that the students need to practice. It should be the right level for the class. The…
My Grandmother Went to Market – vocabulary activity
My Grandmother went to Market is a quick and simple traditional game which can be used in the TEFL classroom to practice various semantic fields. It is useful at the end of the class for a five minute filler to practice vocabulary learned earlier.
Once the class are familiar with it you can extend it and vary the gameplay to make it more complex and more engaging…
Kim’s Game – tefl activity
Kim’s Game is a simple (and classic) game which can be played to help memorize a group of objects. As such it’s a good game to help students learn vocabulary, especially objects within a certain semantic field.
Note that in general this works better with concrete nouns.
Preparation
First off, collect together a group of items in the same semantic field, for example kitchen utensils, office…
