GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR EXTRA-LARGE CLASSES

1
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR EXTRA-LARGE CLASSES
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
2
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
I. Introduction

• Extra-large classes of 60-90 students
• Learners of different language abilities and
  backgrounds
• Heavy curriculum and lack of time
• Students not appropriately motivated
• Traditional / popular games for small classes
  not applicable

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
3
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
I. Introduction
Requirements for games and activities
Time- saving Easy to prepare Must involve
as many students as possible Applicable to
different task types and levels
Cost-efficient Flexible
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
4
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
I. Introduction
General information
Class size all sizes Difficulty level all
levels Preparation handouts, textbook or
slide show
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
5
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
1. Games and activities for individuals

• 1.1. The answer is
• Applicable task types Binary-tasks such as
  Yes/No, True/False, Right/Wrong, etc.
• - Purpose to check students comprehension or
  learning on reading, vocabulary or grammar

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
6
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.1. The answer is
a. Procedure
1/ Raise your left hand if your answer is
Yes/Right/True
2/ Raise you right hand if your answer is
No/Wrong/False
3/ Stand up if you give an incorrect, too slow or
no answer.
4/ Sit down if you can give a correct answer
afterwards.
5/ Those who still stand after all or stand most
times will get a penalty.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
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4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.1. The answer is
b. Sample questions TRUE or FALSE?
1/ A cash point is the same as an automatic
teller machine. ? TRUE. 2/ In a free market,
many customers compete to supply one product or
service. 3/ The final sound in the word laughs
is pronounced /s/. ? TRUE. 4/ Hedgehog is the
name of an animal. ? TRUE. 5/ The sentence
House owners suffer more pain as mortgage rates
go up at 0.5 from 4.5 to 5 is grammatically
right. ? FALSE. (at ? by)
? FALSE. (customers ? suppliers)
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
8
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.1. The answer is
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Effective in checking individual and overall
  performance of the whole class.
• Fun and time-saving

• Weaknesses
• Students can copy their friends answers
• Students only pay attention to the last question

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
9
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.1. The answer is
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Ask any random student to explain his/her
  answer.
• Notice who has to stand most times gets the
  penalty

• Variations
• Yes/ No/ Not Given tasks
• True / False / Not Given tasks
• Yes/ No/ Not known
• Right/ Wrong/ Not sure

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
10
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
1. Games and activities for individuals

• 1.2. Whos the millionaire?
• Applicable task types Multiple-choice, matching,
  missing title/information, etc.
• - Purpose to check students overall progress or
  learning

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
11
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.2. Whos the millionaire?
a. Procedure
1/ Raise one, two, three, four or more fingers
corresponding to the answers A, B, C, D or E,
etc.
2/ For questions with two right answers, raise
both hands, each indicating one answer.
3/ Slow and wrong answerers have to stand up, and
right answerers can sit down.
4/ Those who have stood up most times or given
the wrong answer for the last question will get
punished.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
12
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.2. Whos the millionaire?
b. Sample questions

• 1/ Choose the best answer
• 1. The company has an annual __of nearly 2m.
• spend B. money
• C. turnover D. cash
• 2. Raymond and Howell proposed job cuts because
  of the decline in sales ______.
• figures B. actions
• C. employers D. information

v
v
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
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4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.2. Whos the millionaire?
1/ Match a terminology in A with a suitable
definition in B
A B
1. Population a. a one-page document summarizing ones qualifications, achievements, and skills
2. Unemployment rate b. the value of a countrys money compared with other currencies
3. Exchange rate c. the total size of an economy including the total income from foreign countries
4. Curriculum vitae d. the number of people with no job
5. Gross National Product e. the number of people live in a country
1e
2d
3b
4a
5c
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
14
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.2. Whos the millionaire?
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Effective in checking individual and overall
  performance of the whole class.
• Fun and time-saving
• Simple, flexible and useful in different task
  types

• Weaknesses
• Students can copy their friends answers
• Students only pay attention to the last question

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
15
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.2. Whos the millionaire?
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Ask any certain student to explain the answer.
• Call for answers in random order of the questions

• Variations
• Matching incomplete halves of sentences (ten
  questions or less)
• Finding the right title or heading for
  paragraphs
• Where in the text should each sentence goes in

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
16
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
1. Games and activities for individuals

• 1.3. Chain reaction
• Applicable task types gap-filling, crosswords,
  sentence completing or exercises with different
  question items.
• - Purpose to check students abilities and
  concentration

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
17
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.3. Chain reaction
a. Procedure
1/ A student gives an answer first, and if it is
correct, s/he can pick the next answerer.
2/ If the answer is incorrect, the speaker will
have to raise one hand up.
3/ One student may be appointed several times.
4/ Idle, lazy or weaker students should be
appointed to be the next answerer.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
18
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.3. Chain reaction
b. Sample questions
1/ Give correct forms to the words in brackets 1.
We hope the discussions with our creditors will
have a ........ outcome. 2. Our company
produces a great .. of toys 3. Doubts have
been expressed as to the ....... of the
business 4. He lacks .. experience in
business 5. What kind of services do
you need from them?
satisfactory
(SATISFY)
variety
(VARY)
profitability
(PROFIT)
practical
(PRACTICE)
financial
(FINANCE)
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
19
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.3. Chain reaction
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• All learners are highly focused and involved in
  learning.
• Students can not copy others answers so they
  must be more active and independent.

• Weaknesses
• Students may tell their friends in advance not
  to appoint them.
• Students can ask for help or prompts from nearby
  friends.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
20
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
1.3. Chain reaction
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Ask the appointed student to explain his/her
  answer.
• Whoever gives a hint to an answerer gets a
  penalty.

• Variations
• Students can answer in any questions first, but
  must not repeat an already done one.
• The appointer chooses the next question to be
  answered.
• For cloze paragraphs A student reads aloud the
  text then stop anywhere after one gap. The
  appointed has to continue EXACTLY from the next
  word.
• The class is divided into two groups and one
  must appoint the other groups members to go on.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
21
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
2. Games and activities for groupwork

• 2.1. Whos the quickest?
• Applicable task types Controlled-writing tasks
  such as sentence completing, building or
  rewriting, etc.
• - Purpose to check students potential and
  co-operation

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
22
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.1. Whos the quickest?
a. Procedure
1/ Divide the class into two groups.
2/ Compete against each other in completing the
tasks the most quickly and accurately.
3/ Appoint the rival group members to write their
answers on the board
4/ Other students shout suggestions to help their
groups members or distract their opponents
5/ The group with more marks wins the game
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
23
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
b. Sample questions
2.1. Whos the quickest?
1/ Rewrite sentences 1. The importer
receives goods. The payment may not be made by
him. ? After .... 2.
They reported that the accumulated reserve was
not used for reinvestment. ? The accumulated
reserve .... 3. This is the
first time the cost of opportunity has been taken
into account. ? The cost of opportunity
.......................... 4.
Commercial banks have to deposit part of their
reserves at the central bank. ? It is
..................................................
..................................................
........ 2/ Build sentences 5. 1997/ Barbara /
become/ project manager/ British
Airways. 6.
firm/ be/ take over/ French/ corporation/ last
month. 7.
Please / contact me / if / there/ be / question /
you / would like / ask.
8. I / be/ grateful/ if/ you /could/
send / quote/ and/ latest brochure.

receiving goods, the importer may make the
payment for them.
was reported not to be used for reinvestment.
has never been taken into account before.
necessary for commercial banks to deposit part of
their reserves at
the central bank.
In 1997, Barbara became the project manager
in/at/of British Airways.
The firm was taken over by a French corporation
last month.
Please contact me if there are any questions you
would like to ask.
I would be grateful if you could send me the
quote and latest brochure.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
24
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.1. Whos the quickest?
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Students must always be ready and do their best.
• It helps create team spirit and co-operation
  ability.
• The weaker students are often appointed the most
  frequently and thus learn and benefit most.

• Weaknesses
• The students may get overexcited, and produce
  too much noise.
• Lazy learners may borrow their friends notes to
  bring to the board.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
25
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.1. Whos the quickest?
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Students must not bring anything to the board
  but to memorize the answers.

• Variations
• Relay races only one member per group writing
  on the board at one time.
• Question answering, paragraph writing or story
  reporting practice
• Games with several rounds, each with a different
  exercise

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
26
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
2. Games and activities for groupwork

• 2.2. The walking dictionary
• Applicable task types vocabulary check-up,
  synonyms/antonyms finding, sentence-building,
  etc.
• - Purpose to check students vocabulary and
  memory

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
27
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.2. The walking dictionary
a. Procedure
1/ Divide the class into two groups.
2/ Each group sends to the board as many
voluntary members as they like to write answers.
3/ Students appoint the rival group members to
write their answers on the board if required.
4/ Students can point out their opponents
mistakes to earn more marks.
5/ The group with more marks wins the game.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
28
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.2. The walking dictionary
b. Sample questions
1/ In three minutes, write as many words relating
to the topic environment as possible.
2/ Write as many pairs of antonyms as possible in
five minutes. For example big small.
3/ Write as many phrases/ collocations containing
one of the following words go, look, get,
etc.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
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4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.2. The walking dictionary
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Students can show the best of their abilities
  and be as original and creative as they can.
• Students become more confident and active in
  learning.
• It is useful for classes with mixed levels and
  abilities.

• Weaknesses
• The board after the game would look like a real
  mess.
• There would be lazy students who just sit and
  make no contribution or learning at all.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
30
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.2. The walking dictionary
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Make idle students comment on the answers and
  give their group bonus or minus marks.

• Variations
• Game with two rounds
• Round 1 both groups send their members to the
  board to write their answers.
• Round 2 Group A writes the meaning for group
  Bs words and vice versa

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
31
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
II. Games and activities
2. Games and activities for groupwork

• 2.3. Class projects
• Applicable task types Listening, speaking,
  reading and writing tasks, especially those with
  many question items or requirements.
• - Purpose to check students listening and/or
  reading skills

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
32
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.3. Class projects
a. Procedure
1/ Divide the class into several groups.
2/ Each group is given a piece of paper to write
their answers, every of them must be written by a
different group member.
3/ The quickest group to finish their project
will get bonus marks
4/ The group that has most marks wins the game
and will be rewarded.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
33
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.3. Class projects
b. Sample questions
1/ In 30 minutes, write a brief profile of a
multinational company.
2/ Go to the website of VOA or BBC, listen to a
news announcement, note down the main points and
report them to the class.
3/ In one hour, prepare a brief report on an
international organization such as the IMF, WHO,
WB, etc.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
34
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.3. Class projects
c. Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Flexible task types and adaptable to different
  class sizes and levels.
• Students work harder, learn better through peer
  correction and the teachers workload is
  lessened.
• It helps sharpen students team work skills and
  enhance their team spirit.

• Weaknesses
• Much argument over the possible mistakes and
  correction.
• The group division should be done very carefully.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
35
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
2.3. Class projects
d. Solutions and variations

• Solutions
• Make idle students present the answers of their
  groups or give comments on other groups work.

• Variations
• All groups pass their papers to other groups to
  be marked.
• A group can point out their rivals mistakes and
  correct them, and the group with least mistakes
  will win the game.

Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
36
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
III. Conclusion
The above presented games and activities
Can be easily-adapted and suitable to different
class sizes, difficulty levels and task types
Cost almost no money to prepare and require very
little equipment
Can be used with any textbooks or teaching
materials and for any teachers without much
initial training.
Have their own strengths and weaknesses so it
would be wise to use them together in different
contexts.
Learning from peers is better than from teachers,
but in order to learn, students must be awake and
involved first.
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH
37
4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TESOL Games and
activities for extra-large classes
THANKS FOR YOUR LISTENING !
Presenter TRAN LE NGHI TRAN, M.A BANKING ACADEMY
PHU YEN BRANCH