0.3 - Define it!

Summary

A simple vocabulary review game for TKT glossary terms. It can also be used with any lexical set.

Instructions

1. Hand out one card to each trainee. Ask trainees to select three terms from the glossary that they think it would be useful for the class to revise. Have them write one term in each of the three boxes in the row marked My words.

2. Collect all the cards. Divide the group into pairs and have the trainees sit either opposite each other, a short distance apart or back to back.

3. Explain that each person has three terms they need to define to their partner, and three terms they must try to guess. This can be done in any order. When defining the words, the trainees may not:

1. say the word or any part of the word

2. spell the word or give first letters

3. use L1 (if this is not English)

4. Hand out one card to each person. Try to avoid duplicated terms within the same pair and try to avoid giving a pair their own cards. Allow trainees some silent, thinking time to look at their terms and think about how to describe them.

5. Start the game. Monitor and listen. Avoid intervening but note down the following:

1. any deviation from the rules

2. good clue-giving strategies and examples

3. difficulties or inaccuracies in defining certain terms.

When all pairs have finished, conduct feedback based on what you noted down. Have trainees make notes in the Feedback for myself section about any terms they’d forgotten, found difficult to guess, define or find examples for. Ask trainees to share their own reflections.

6. Repeat the game if appropriate.

Variation

Prepare the cards in advance, choosing words that you think the trainees need to revise, or focusing on a particular part of the glossary.