The Language Teacher
October 2002
It's No Secret How to Keep Them Talking!
Carolyn Obara
Metropolitan College, Akishima, Tokyo
QUICK GUIDE
Key Words: Vocabulary, quiz, free conversation
Learner English Level: Beginner to advanced
Learner Maturity Level: Junior high school and above
Preparation Time: None
Activity Time: 10-20 min
Materials: Small prizes (optional)
Although games in the language classroom are rejected by some instructors as frivolous, many educators consider them an indispensable tool for effectively practicing language structures. Even the more rigidly academic instructors are often surprised at the effectiveness of simple games such as Find Someone Who. The following suggestion turns free conversation into a game with prizes and is a fun way of generating enthusiasm, while keeping students on task and in the target language.
In an old television show featuring Groucho Marx, contestants would be interviewed and if they happened to say a certain pre-determined secret word during the time limit, a buzzer would sound and a rubber duck would fall from the ceiling revealing the word. They would then win a small prize such as $50. The basic principles of this idea can be applied quite effectively in a language conversation class of 20-25 students and works best in free conversation periods based on previously studied topics.
Step 1: Most basic conversation text books cover subjects such as personal information, occupations, and free time. The students do pair and group work on a topic for part of two class periods and in the third class they are expected to have a free group conversation about the topic.
Step 2: Divide the class into conversational groups of three to five students and select some students to act as listeners. The listeners for the first topic can be chosen because their English is good, while students who have already won a prize become listeners for later sessions.
Step 3: Take the listeners aside and tell them the secret word. Then, assign one student to each conversation group and instruct them not to enter into the conversation. Their job is to listen for the secret word and announce to the class when it has been used. They should not reveal the word, however, so that conversations may continue.
Step 4: The teacher can walk around the room listening in on one or two conversations simultaneously. When conversations or enthusiasm start to flag, the teacher announces the word and gives prizes to the winners.
The secret word should not be one of the listed vocabulary words for the topic so has not been overtly studied. Rather, it should be a word that could naturally come up in any casual conversation about the topic and should be known by most students.
I usually have a bag of small prizes such as candy or items bought at the ¥100 shop, from which winners can choose. At special holiday times such as Halloween and Christmas, it is also fun if prizes are seasonally related. I've never had more than two winners on any given day and there may be none at all.
This activity keeps students on task and using English. If they divert from the topic or speak Japanese, they know they have no hope of winning. Some students don't seem to care about the prizes, but love to be the one who says the secret word. The presence of listeners, who are not language police, reduces stress and pressure on the students. The only real problem seems to be that listeners are often desperate to join the conversation but are forbidden to do so!
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