| An ESL game (Phonics Level or just after | | | | ------------------------------------- |
| Alphabet)After Kindergarten and Introductory | | | | Bigger Bigger Smaller Smaller Game - ESL lessonAn |
| Phonetics, small children are often put into a | | | | ESL game (10+ years, builds vocabulary).Also included: |
| Beginners English class using books like Let's Go 1. | | | | Taste Game, Materials Game, Hotter Colder |
| Often they are not ready for Lets Go 1, but need | | | | GameWith students in a circle around a big table or |
| to....1. practice use of phonics through games2. | | | | sitting on the floor, point to something small and ask |
| practice alphabet letter writing and3. build up a basic | | | | the first student to name it (in English). If they don't |
| vocabulary of small words.I like to use my Small | | | | understand, then teacher gives an example like a |
| Words Game. The Small Words Game gets them | | | | pencil or eraser and asks the student "Something |
| excited about English. It motivates the kids as they | | | | bigger?" or goes to the next student. Children (not |
| already know a large number of small words from | | | | the teacher) ask the same question in sequence in |
| regular school and the mass media.I often divide the | | | | the circle. Say "something bigger" (det-der-ro = |
| class into two teams (they like competition) or each | | | | something, big = kun-ga in Korean) while acting out |
| child keeps his/her score on the board beside their | | | | big and small with your hands and arms. Kids will |
| name.You will find in the table below some of the | | | | probably say "sky" or "sun". "Universe" is the upper |
| small words they write in columns across the board | | | | size limit but older children will also understand |
| for all to see. The children come up with them not | | | | imagination (sang-sang).Then we go smaller |
| the teacher. Teacher may have to start the game | | | | "something smaller" (small is cha-gum in Korean) and |
| by giving some examples.Note that there are only | | | | they begin to exchange hints in Korean and English |
| two English words with a single letter: a and I.Get the | | | | and thus teach each other smaller and smaller words |
| idea? Children like this very much. They are not | | | | in English. They often say "ant" and then "baby ant" |
| intimidated by small words (easy to spell) and I | | | | or "ant egg". With even smaller objects kids need |
| accept abbreviations like CD, BBQ, TV, Ok, SOS, | | | | teacher's help so I scrape my tooth with a fingernail |
| TNT, UN, USA, and UK. In Korea I also accept short | | | | (yucky) to show that everybody has bacteria and |
| English names of pop-music groups as the kids know | | | | some kids will later say "baby bacteria" jokingly. |
| these from television: SES, HOT, UN, NRG etc. and | | | | Beyond this you have to remind them of virus (gyun |
| TV stations like MBC, KBS.This game can cover two | | | | in Korean). They already know about big computer |
| or three classes and it is good to post a large table | | | | viruses. And finally sketch an atom, electron etc. etc |
| graphics of short word on the class wall in big writing | | | | and talk about electric machines, which includes their |
| for all to see and use in the following weeks. Kids can | | | | own bodies!This is a great way to build vocabulary |
| make the enlarged words with markers and paper as | | | | while introducing the phrases:(Tell me, teach me, give |
| a crafts project and post them on the huge | | | | me) something bigger.(Tell me, teach me, give me) |
| wall-mounted table. This is preferable to the teacher | | | | something smaller.A variation is to make it a Hotter |
| doing it. Avoid using too many shapes and colors | | | | and Colder Game.Another is to make it a Materials |
| when making the words/letters as Montessori has | | | | Game and ask for something plastic, metal, wood, |
| shown this confuses children.Once we have done the | | | | stone, cement, copper, iron, water, gas, leather, |
| Small Words Game I like to get kids using these | | | | cloth, glass, meat, etc.Another variation is make it a |
| words in the Spelling Circle Game Spelling Circle Game | | | | Taste Game with real/authentic/concrete examples |
| is a strong way to reinforce the new vocabulary as | | | | foods: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, hot, spice, creamy, |
| words are reused/relearned/approached in a different | | | | oily, fishy, spicy, fruity, meaty, bland etc. and then |
| way. Children will play the Spelling Circle Game for an | | | | ask for examples of various foods. This can be slow |
| hour and will do it in class, if there is space, or out | | | | going unless the kids are 12 years or more. I find it |
| doors. They especially like it as it is kinesthetic and | | | | needs to be repeated several times. You will have to |
| interactive. Students and teacher can also make a | | | | bring foods in small plastic containers and tooth picks |
| set of small words flash cards, another way to build | | | | for tasting. Coordinate this class with other teachers |
| them into memory.*Q as in Q. and A. LX: Extra Large | | | | so you can all share the food preparation effort/time. |
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