Although Simon Says is typically a game for younger kids, when applied to second language learning, it becomes challenging enough for teenagers. To play Simon Says, have one student stand at the front of the class and direct the students. The student will be responsible for coming up with action verbs in the required language. The other students will have to listen carefully so they do not do the wrong action. Anyone who does the wrong action is “out” of the game and the last person standing gets to be the new “Simon.” This is a good game for language learning because it helps students practice their action verbs, verbal skills and listening skills.
Even adults love a good game of Bingo. Instead of numbers, create your own language cards for your students. Use words, phrases or verbs and place them on the cards in place of numbers. The teacher is the Bingo caller and is responsible for reading the words in the students' primary language. The students will have to translate the words so they know if they have a match. Make sure you reward “Bingo” with prizes to make the game worth it.
Who Am I? is a game in which each student must come up with a celebrity, popular character or well-known person and write it on a piece of paper. They must then tape their paper to the back of another student, until each student has a second identity. The students must then practicing their communications and questioning skills to find out their hidden identity, using yes or no questions. This game is a lot of fun and is great for practicing verbal skills in a second language.
In the game Guess the Verb, one student is selected to come to the front of the room and choose a verb. The job of the other students is to ask the student questions about the verb so that they might guess what it is. For example, they would ask questions like, “Is the verb something you do every day?” This game helps students develop questioning skills and learn verbs as well as promotes verbal communication.