6 Absolutely Essential ESL Games for Vocabulary Review Well, it is that time again. You have finished your unit on (insert topic here) complete with vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing activities, but you are not entirely done. The test is coming in just a few days, and your students need some review. When vocabulary is on that agenda, try one of these fun games to review the words your students have recently learned! Try These Fun ESL Vocabulary Review Games and Activities 1 Charades Charades is a fun and lively game for your ESL class to play when reviewing vocabulary. Your students will be energized and enthusiastic when their acting skills are put to the test for their classmates. It is easy to have a charade vocabulary review ready for your class at almost any time and on a moment’s notice with minimal advance preparation. The easiest way to be ready at any time is to keep a collection of vocabulary cards for the words your class has studied. When you are ready to play, divide your class into two teams. Individuals will take turns acting out one of the words from the cards that you have prepared. They will choose this card randomly on their turns and will have 2 minutes to get their team to guess the word without using books or notes. The actor cannot use any sounds but must communicate only through actions. The rest of the team should shout out any answers that come to mind. If the team is able to guess the word within the designated time, they score a point. If after two minutes the team has not guessed the word correctly, the other team gets one chance to guess the word. If they are correct, they score a point and then continue with their turn. Continue playing until you run out of time or you run out of words. The team with the higher score at the end of the game wins. 2 Pictionary Pictionary is a similar and just as entertaining game to play for vocabulary review. The rules are similar to those of charades except that instead of acting out the word, the clue giver is permitted only to draw on the white board in front of the class. He cannot use any symbols, numbers or letters in his drawing. Again, give each person two minutes to try to get his team to guess the word. If he is unsuccessful, give the other team a chance to guess. Score the game the same way that you would score charades and announce the winning team at the end of the game. 3 Claymation How creative are your students? How daring are they? If you think they would have fun with this activity, modify the same general idea that you used in charades and Pictionary with clay or play dough. Again, the rules are generally the same but in this version your students will not be acting or drawing. They will be molding clay to communicate the target word to their teams. Follow the same general rules, but this time you may want to give each person three to five minutes before turning it over to the opposite team for their guess. Scoring is done the same. 4 All of the Above If you want to energize your students even further, add a little element of chance to the festivities. Using a six-sided die, have your students roll to see whether they will give a charade, draw a picture or form their clues out of clay. For rolls of one or four, the student will give a charade. For rolls of two or five the student will draw his clues. For rolls of three or six, your students will use clay to give their clues. In all cases, no letters, symbols or numbers are allowed when giving clues. The element of surprise will make the review even more exciting and entertaining for everyone! 5 Bingo Bingo can be another good game for vocabulary review though perhaps not as lively. Give your students a blank bingo boards and ask them to put the review words into the squares randomly. You should have some strategy for choosing the words to call and then which your students will mark on the cards. You may want to choose words randomly from a list. You may, instead, write the words on cards and choose them randomly from the deck or simply put small slips of paper into a hat to draw randomly. Whatever method you think will work best for you, once you have chosen the word do not read it. Instead, give the definition of the word to your class. Each person must then determine if he has the word that corresponds to the definition on his bingo board. When anyone gets five squares in a row, he should shout, “Bingo!” Warn your students not to clear their boards until you have checked the winner’s words to make sure they did not have an incorrect answer. Give the winner of each round a prize or allow him to call the words for the next round though you may need to supply the definitions. 6 Memory A memory style card game can be another effective way for reviewing vocabulary, but you or your class will need to do some advanced preparation before you play. You will need a set of cards for the vocabulary you want to review. For each word, one card should have the target vocabulary word and another card should have the definition of the word. The players should then shuffle the deck and lay all the cards in a grid pattern face down on a large playing surface. Each person turns over two cards each turn trying to find a match. If the cards do not match, he turns them over again and the next person takes a turn. If they do match, he keeps the cards and gets an additional turn. The player with the highest number of cards at the end of the game wins. You can modify this game to practice matching words with their synonyms or their antonyms, too. For each, instead of using the definition card to match the vocabulary card, use a card with either a synonym or an antonym printed on it. Play continues the same as above. Just be sure you keep the sets of cards separated so you are ready to play at any time. Vocabulary is a part of every ESL class, but that does not mean it has to be boring. These games are both fun and educational and are never boring. The next time you have vocabulary to review, change things up with a game and help your students see that fun can be effective learning, too! Want more tips like this? How to Teach Vocabulary Like a Pro: 65 Top Cheat Sheets Every Vocabulary Teacher Should Have! YES, show me sample pages › 30-day money back guarantee 100% secure Enjoyed this article and learned something? Click the buttons below to share it!

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You are hereEFL/ESL Vocabulary Games

EFL/ESL Vocabulary Games

EFL/ESL games to practice vocabulary words

Team Spelling

Instructions

Put the class into teams.
The teacher shows a team a photograph or drawing and the team must each write down one letter of that word (without showing their teammates), depending on their position. The leftmost student writes down the first letter, the next student the second letter, etc.
e.g. the teacher shows a group of five students a picture of an apple.
The leftmost student writes down "a", the next student "p", the next student "p", the next "l" and the rightmost student "e".
Give them a short timelimit (ten to twenty seconds depending on their English level) and then have them all reveal the letters they wrote. Award one point if the word is correctly spelled, then move on to the next group.

Variations

As preparing a lot of words all the same length (e.g. you have teams of 5 students each: it can be hard to think of lots of 5-letter words without going outside the students' knowledge of vocabulary) you can have words `wrap around`:
If you give a six letter word to a team of five students then the first student has to write down both the first and last letters.
Sitting the students in a ring can help them get the idea.

Notes

Making the vocabulary relevant to a current event is of course best (Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Valentines', etc).

• 1 comment

The Hot Seat

Instructions

1. Break class into 4 or less teams
2. Place a 'hot seat' in front of the class and facing away from the board
3. Each team selects a leader
4. One team is up at a time and their leader sits in the hot seat
5. Write ten words on the board so the leader can't see them
6. Number the words 1-10
7. Each team member is assigned a word or words on the board
8. Some team members may have more than one word
9. Team members take turns communicating their word to the leader without
   saying the word with no spelling, writing, or drawing allowed
10. Team members can say 'pass' if their word is too difficult
11. Each team has 1 minute to get as many words as possible
12. The team with the most points at the end wins

Variations

• Use simple words like animals or days of the week for weaker students
• Use the word 'pass' as one of the words on the board to challenge strong students

Notes

This game can be challenging to explain so preparing directions in the student's native language can be helpful.
 
A big thanks to Steve for this EFL/ESL game!

• 30 comments

Stand and Spell

Instructions

1. Make list of words for students to spell
2. Write students' names on the board
3. Give each student one letter to be and write it next to their names
4. Call out a word to be spelled
5. Students stand next to each other to spell the word

Variations

• Give each student a large alphabet card to hold above their head
• Have one student be the leader who places students in the right position
• Make teams for bigger classes
• Give groups a time limit to spell the word

Notes

If one student's letter comes up more than once in a word, they can move and this makes the game more fun. Use the variation and make the 'quiet' student the leader to help include them in class.
 
A big thanks to Troy for this EFL/ESL game!

• 3 comments

Spin the Coin

Instructions

1. Lay out an arbitrary number of flashcards in a circle
   formation, making sure the edges of the flashcards are touching (i.e.
   no “holes” in the circle: taping the cards down helps)
2. Give each player some marker pieces (colored chips work well)
3. Prepare a 'coin' from cardboard, etc. with a line on each side, from the center of the coin to the edge
4. Spin the coin in the middle of the circle and have the first student slam their hand down on the coin
5. The
   line on the coin serves as a pointer and the student says the
   vocabulary word or grammar structure on the card the line points to
6. If they are right, they place one of their markers on the card
7. The first student to get rid of all of their markers wins

Variations

• Use pictures for less advanced students
• Have special flashcards such as 'place your marker on any available card' or 'remove 1 marker from a card'
• Only allow one marker on each card

Notes

If you are using only a few flashcards, make the number of markers be equal to the number of flashcards.
A big thanks to David for this EFL/ESL game!

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Spell from a Bag

Instructions

1. Divide the class into groups of 2-4 students
2. Assign everyone a vocabulary word
3. Have each student write their word out with each letter on a separate small sheet of paper
4. Place all the letters in a bag
5. Students take turns taking one letter out of the bag at a time
6. If the letter is one found in their word, they keep it and give the bag to the next student
7. If the letter they select is not one of the letters in their word, they put it back in the bag and give it to the next student
8. For
   example, say S1 has CAT as their word, S2 has DOG, and S3 has COW. If
   S1 draws C from the bag (even if it is not the C that they wrote), they
   keep it and give the bag to S2. S2 draws a W, puts it back in the bag,
   and gives it to S3, etc.
9. The first student to spell their word wins

Variations

• Use letter blocks instead of having students write their letters on paper
• Use sentences with some similar words for more advanced students

Notes

This is a good way to review vocabulary as each students will most likely learn the words they have to spell.
 
A big thanks to David for this EFL/ESL game!

• 6 comments

Nim

Instructions

1. Prepare sets of at least 12 flashcards for each group
2. Lay out a number of flashcards in several rows
3. Any number of rows is possible
4. I like to use at least 12 cards in a 3x4 format
5. Players take turns saying and removing any number of cards from a single row
6. The player who has to take the last card loses

Variations

• Play with the alphabet where the student who says “Z” loses
• Play with numbers where a number is set ahead of time to be the last number
• Have the loser perform a silly task

Notes

A big thanks to David for this EFL/ESL game!

• 1 comment

Minesweep

Instructions

1. Place a number of flashcards face down
2. Set one of the flashcards to be a whammy card
3. Students take turns flipping over and one card at a time and say the word/sentence
4. Whoever turns over the whammy card must perform a silly task
5. After someone pulls the whammy card, shuffle the cards and start again

Variations

• Make the whammy card be a “safe” card, where everyone but the student who turned over the card has to perform the silly task
• Have players get one point for each card the say/answer correctly
• Play this game with regular playing cards to practice numbers, with one face card as the whammy
• Combine
  playing cards with a list, using numbers 1-6 or so and having a
  numbered list on the side with six vocabulary words/grammar structures
  • If a student turns over a 3, they say the item that is third on the list
• Use grammar structures and/or questions for more advanced students

Notes

If you use flashcards, make sure that you can’t see through the back!
 
A big thanks to David for this EFL/ESL game!

• 1 comment

Fly Swatter

Instructions

1. Write vocabulary words scattered across the board
2. Place two chairs in front of the board with a fly swatter on each chair
3. Divide class into two equal teams
4. Have one student from each team sit in the chairs with their backs to the board
5. Say one of the vocabulary words on the board
6. Students stand and find the word on the board
7. Students get one swat and the first student to hit the word with their fly swatter gets one point for their team
8. If neither students hits the right word, the next students are up and no points are awarded.
9. Repeat until everyone has had at least one turn

Variations

Use pictures for young students who haven't learned the alphabet

Notes

This game can be used with any level student who needs to practice vocabulary and is an exciting way to warm up the class. Students will often get loud so don't let teammates shout the answer or location of the word.
 
A big thanks to Ted for this EFL/ESL game!

• 2 comments

Crazy Face

Instructions

1. Give each student a piece of paper with the outline of a head on it
2. Have each student pick their favorite color marker
3. Give students one thing to draw, such as 'nose'
4. Have students pass their paper to the person next to them when finished
5. Give students another part of the face to draw, such as 'hair'.
6. When done, have students give a name to their face and show them to the class

Variations

• Have students draw a whole body
• Have students draw a house to learn house words
• Have students draw a zoo to learn animal words
• Use different themes for different vocabulary

Notes

Make sure there is plenty of room on the paper for kids to draw. They often find it helpful if there is one thing already done, such as the outline of a head, to help them get started.
Encourage creativity and let them draw any style they want, like and elephants nose instead of a person's nose. The kids will crack up at drawings they they get and you can be really creative by having them draw things like sideburns, jewelery, etc.
 
A big thanks to Ted for this EFL/ESL game!

• 2 comments

Colored Ballons

Instructions

1. Blow up balloons of different colors
2. Send 4 or 5 balloons into class
3. Balloons cannot touch the ground
4. Students call out color of balloon every they hit one

Variations

• Have balloon colors represent different vocabulary words
• Have balloon colors represent sentences for more advanced classes

Notes

This game can be used with any size class but works better with larger classes. Just make sure the door is closed because the young kids go crazy. Also, be careful of them jumping out of their chairs to hit balloons.
 
A big thanks to Ted for this EFL/ESL game!

• 9 comments

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Good song from UK for increase your English trough song

Let It Go....

The snow glows white

on the mountain tonight,

not a footprint to be seen.

A kingdom of isolation and it looks

like I’m the queen.

The wind is howling like this

swirling storm inside.

Couldn’t keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see.

Be the good girl you always have to be.

Conceal don’t feel, don’t let them know.

Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go!

Can’t hold it back anymore.

Let it go, let it go!

Turn away and slam the door.

I don’t care what they’re going to say.

Let the storm rage on.

The cold never bothered me anyway.

It’s funny how some distance,

makes everything seem small.

And the fears that once controlled me,

can’t get to me at all

It’s time to see what I can do,

to test the limits and break through.

No right, no wrong, no rules for me.

I’m free!

Let it go, let it go.

I am one with the wind and sky.

Let it go, let it go.

You’ll never see me cry.

Here I stand, and here I’ll stay.

Let the storm rage on.

My power flurries through the air

into the ground.

My soul is spiraling in

frozen fractals all around

And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast

I’m never going back; the past is in the past!

Let it go, let it go.

And I’ll rise like the break of dawn.

Let it go, let it go

That perfect girl is gone

Here I stand, in the light of day.

Let the storm rage on!

The cold never bothered me anyway.

Lesson Plan

Name                      : Oxtapianus Tawarik

Level                      : 1st Grade

Semester                : 1st semester

Material                  :  Introduction yourself, greeting,  and leave taking.

Time Allocation     :  3 X 30 mnt

A.    The Target Of  Indicator and skill.

In this indicator student be able to introduce them self, and identify the kind of  greeting and leave taking. And This material to improve student skill at least like below :  

1.      Speaking.

2.      Listening.

3.      Vocabulary.

B.     The Goal that student will reach.

Student can difference Kind of greeting and leave taking and how to response them.

Also student must introduction themself in English.     

C.     Media that I use for teaching 1st grade junior high school.

1.      Video (All in one) including Introduction yourself, greeting,  and leave taking.    

2.      Simple conversation text  (Introduction yourself)

3.      Game Puzzle made by paper wrote by hand. ( greeting and Leave taking)

 

D.    Running Step of Teaching.

1.       Opening Teacher Introduce him self to te student,

Greeting to student.  and ask them how far they  larning english in they   school. (10 mnt)

2.      Asking the students’ name one by one  to make condition more comfortable in learning process knowing each other.  Older the student to introduction themself  by useing english and if they have difficult to find the word in English Language then Teacher will tell them. (10 mnt)

3.      Shows the video to student and asks them to watch together with them teacher, then  Teacher ask them to identify or  what they has  learn from  video. And teacher must explain from video. (20 mnt)

4.      Older student to make pairs with his friend’s then give  the simple conversation text so let them to practicing in front of teacher,

Then teacher will fix them pronounciation. Note: Let them to free to introduce them self by his own word not only focus on the material.(20 mnt)

5.      Give the random puzzle to the student. So let them to organize the word puzzle, this puzzle consist of greeting and leave taking and how to response them. (20 mnt)

6.      Closing, Fun-fun

Give the futher information about what they learn next meeting (10 mnt)