Tip of the Month

Here is one game you can do with your students when you want to revise vocabulary.

Definition Game

Time: 15 – 30 minutes

1. Prepare a set of cards with vocabulary that students have recently learned. Copy these so you have enough sets for each team.
2. Divide the class into teams of 4 - 5 students and give each team a set of cards. They should be placed face down. Each team sits in a circle (around a desk).
3. One student in each team picks up a card, but does not show it to the rest of the team. The student defines or gives a synonym of the word so that the rest of the team guess the word, e.g.: It is the opposite of happy. She/he can give some context, e.g.: Everyone was crying because the film was very … (Answer: sad) Monitor to ensure that the definitions students give are correct.
4. If the other students guess the word, the first student puts the card down and the next student picks up the next card. The procedure is repeated. If, however, the student cannot define the word or expression or the other team members cannot guess it, then the student puts the card back at the bottom of the pack and picks up a second card. If this second attempt is also unsuccessful, the second student picks up a card.
5. The first team to define all their cards successfully is the winner.