Quick Guide
- Keywords: Student interaction, vocabulary building, sharing opinions
- Learner English level: Pre-intermediate and above
- Learner maturity: Middle school and above
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Activity time: 30 minutes
- Materials: Handout (Appendix A), noun cards (Appendix B), adjective cards (Appendix C)
This activity has students practice sharing opinions in a fun, competitive setting. In groups, one student—the Judge—selects a noun card and asks the other group members—the contestants—for their opinions. Each contestant uses one adjective from their three adjective cards to describe the noun and provides a reason for this description. The judge selects a winner whose opinion best matches their own. Limiting the number of adjectives encourages students to create amusing sentences, reduces anxiety about mistakes, and increases engagement.
Preparation
Step 1: Prepare a handout with example dialogues and print one copy for each student (see Appendix A).
Step 2: Prepare one set of Game Cards for each group of 4–6 students. Each set of game cards includes one set of noun cards (Appendix B) and one set of adjective cards (Appendix C).
Procedure
Step 1: Tell the class, “Today’s dialogue is about sharing opinions on different topics.”
Step 2: Write the following on the board:
Question: What do you think of (noun)?
Answer: I think it is/they are (adjective) because (reason).
Step 3: Select three adjective cards and write them on the board (e.g., “guilty,” “tall,” “strict”).
Step 4: Select a noun card (e.g., cockroaches) and write it on the board (e.g., “What do you think of cockroaches?”).
Step 5: Elicit students’ opinions on which of the three adjectives best describes the noun, and why (e.g., “I think they are guilty because they spread germs”).
Step 6: Distribute the handout (Appendix A). Read the example dialogues aloud and ask students to repeat them together.
Step 7: Tell the class, “Today we will play ‘Judge That Noun!’ to practice sharing opinions.”
Step 8: Conduct a demonstration. Invite four students to the front. Tell them, “I am the judge, and you are the contestants.” Give each contestant three adjective cards.
Step 9: Choose a noun card and ask each student, “What do you think of (noun)?” Instruct students to select the adjective card they think best describes the noun and share their opinion using the template on the board.
Step 10: Choose the winner—the student whose opinion best matches your own—and explain your decision (e.g., “I agree with Sayaka that dogs are smart because they can learn cool tricks”). Then, give the noun card to that student.
Step 11: Instruct the contestants to return their adjective cards and shuffle the deck.
Step 12: Divide the class into groups of 4–6 students and give each group a set of game cards.
Step 13: Have each group choose the judge and contestants. Explain that after each round, the player to the left of the judge becomes the new judge.
Step 14: Tell the class, “Today we will play for 15 minutes. The student with the most noun cards at the end wins.”
Step 15: Start a fifteen-minute timer (display it if possible) and check each group’s winner when time is up.
Step 16: Conclude with a brief sharing session in which students share their opinions with the class.
Variations
Modify the criteria for selecting the winner (e.g., “funniest,” “silliest,” “worst match”).
Conclusion
Language learners are often hesitant to share their opinions in class due to lack of confidence, shyness, or fear of mistakes. This activity addresses this by providing structured, creative, and engaging wordplay. It also encourages contribution, reducing the likelihood that reserved students will refrain from participating.
Appendices
The appendices are available below:
