[First published Nov. 14, 2014] Thirty-three pairs of eyes were fixed on me. Every one of my students leaned forward to hear the next words that fell from my lips. Their pens were poised over their papers, ready to spring into action. The expressions on their faces showed that they were absolutely riveted. Everyone was alert and paying full attention. The air was electric. I cleared my throat and held up a slip of paper. They leaned closer.
"Under the 'B'...... "
Yes, I've learned that there is nothing like a game of bingo to gain the full, undivided attention of a classroom of Chinese students. Many had never heard of the game before. Thanks to an online custom bingo-card generator, I can create bingo sheets with words. My favorite is abbreviation bingo...
"Under the 'B'...... "
Yes, I've learned that there is nothing like a game of bingo to gain the full, undivided attention of a classroom of Chinese students. Many had never heard of the game before. Thanks to an online custom bingo-card generator, I can create bingo sheets with words. My favorite is abbreviation bingo...
In the weeks leading up to the bingo game, I teach abbreviations and acronyms. I pull up my Power Point and review a few common abbreviations every lesson. This also makes for a handy filler activity if your lesson plan has ended five minutes before the bell sounds.
The bingo sheet contains the abbreviations and acronyms, but the caller calls out the word or phrase for the abbreviation or acronym, that is (i.e.) the clue is "President of the United States" and the students look for "POTUS" on their bingo sheets. Or the caller says "Under the 'I', what you call a married lady," and the students shout "Mrs!" and search their bingo sheets. (Yes, I include "Ms" in the game as well.) Since the students respond verbally to the clue, I know that they are learning and fixing the correct answer in their memory.
To encourage speaking, I walk around the classroom with the jar with the slips of paper holding the clues and students take turns being the one to call out the next clue. For prizes, I give away notebooks and pens, (which I can get for less than a yuan apiece) as too many of my students arrive in class without either.
I've also used a simple weather words bingo (rain, rainy, summer, winter) in English Corner, likewise to intense excitement and enjoyment. And even though they are in their late teens, they also liked the Bingo song ("There was a farmer had a dog").
The bingo sheet contains the abbreviations and acronyms, but the caller calls out the word or phrase for the abbreviation or acronym, that is (i.e.) the clue is "President of the United States" and the students look for "POTUS" on their bingo sheets. Or the caller says "Under the 'I', what you call a married lady," and the students shout "Mrs!" and search their bingo sheets. (Yes, I include "Ms" in the game as well.) Since the students respond verbally to the clue, I know that they are learning and fixing the correct answer in their memory.
To encourage speaking, I walk around the classroom with the jar with the slips of paper holding the clues and students take turns being the one to call out the next clue. For prizes, I give away notebooks and pens, (which I can get for less than a yuan apiece) as too many of my students arrive in class without either.
I've also used a simple weather words bingo (rain, rainy, summer, winter) in English Corner, likewise to intense excitement and enjoyment. And even though they are in their late teens, they also liked the Bingo song ("There was a farmer had a dog").
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