Speaking: describe and identify

this game is designed for speaking activity, it allows students to use descriptive language and vocabulary determined by teacher' choice of words or picture

preparation: write a single word on a number os small cards or pieces of paper, one per learner, plus few extra. the words are going to be described by the learners well enough for other learners to identify what has been described.

procedure
1. demonstrate the idea of this game by describing something and asking the class to identify what you have described. the subject and language you use should be appropriate to the learners' level of proficiency and the language you want to practise with them

2. after all the students understand, ask one of the more confident learners to take one of the word cards at random from your hand. he or she must describe the meaning of the word on the card so well that others can identify what it is.

3. give each learner a card and instruct them to prepare a written description of the word on the card. this task is ideal for homework.

examples
cat: it's an animal. it has four legs and a tail. it says miaow. it eats mice.

4. ask some or all of the learners to read out their desriptions to the whole class

                                                       source: games for language learning, Andrew Wright et al

Posted in: speaking