Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Assalamualaikum and very good evening to my fellow readers. In this post, I have decided that I am going to select Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? as my game of choice to be done in the training session. I have selected this game because it resembles the modern day games which looks complicated but it is actually a very simple game. But first, let me tell you a little bit about this game.

This version of the game is actually based on the real game with a very simple instruction. If you answered the questions correctly, you will win the game and get your prize. Hence the name of the game. The original game consists of trivial questions which can be very random. However, in my version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, the game is consist of questions regarding the English language which includes Grammar, Vocabulary, Sentence structure and many more. Much like the original game, the participants will have lifelines like 50:50 answer hint, asking a friend and asking the audience. 

I choose this game to be my game of choice because this game has that modern touch that most of today's students are. They are very much hooked up with computers and what not, with this game to have the involvement of technology, the students might just be interested in playing the game. Other than that, this game is flexible and can be played in many ways. It can be played by one student at a time or many students (groups) at one time. With the game allowing the participants to have lifelines, it promotes critical thinking in decisions making and also the spirit of teamwork whenever the contestant asks for the audience or their friends for help in playing the game. 

With this post, I have also provided with the lesson plan of the game. The game has also adapted the theme of environment which is prescribed for each game. 

Title: Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (Environment Edition)

Skills	Vocabulary, Grammar
Control	Guided
Level	Intermediate, Advanced
Time	30 minutes
Materials	Slides, Colored Cards, Chance Cards

Preparation:

·         The teacher must prepare slides for the questions with multiple choice answers.

·         Colored cards are prepared as four sets for each group. Each color represents an answer.

o   Red: A

o   Blue: B

o   Green: C

o   Yellow: D

·         Chance Cards are prepared three sets for each group

o   50:50 chance card

o   A phone a friend

o   Asking the audience

Procedure:

·         The game is divided into two stages

o   First stage involves four groups

o   Second stage involves two of the best groups in the first stage

·         First Stage

Students are divided into four groups. Each group is going to be represented by one of their members. The teacher will then show the students the question using the slides and the answers are colored the same as the colored cards. Before answering the question, each representative will be allowed to discuss with their group members in 20 seconds. After the discussion time is up, each group must come up with an answer. In this stage, only two chance cards will be allowed (50:50 chance card and Phone a friend card). As for the number questions, the first stage will consist of 10 sets of questions. To prevent the groups from copying other group’s answer, the representatives are only allowed to raise their colored answer card at the same time. Each point is given to groups that can answer most of the questions correctly. Two of the best groups with highest scores will proceed to the second stage.

·         Second Stage

Second stage is almost the same as the first stage. However, each group will be given just 15 seconds to answer each question. The third chance card (Ask the audience) will be allowed in this stage. A total of 10 sets of questions are to be prepared by the teacher. The group with the highest marks will be the winner.

·         Chance Card Rules

o   50:50 Chance Card

This card is used by each group to remove two of the incorrect answers from the table. This is valid only for groups that given the teacher their 50:50 chance card. The teacher will whisper the two options to the group so that the other groups don’t know it.

  

o   Phone a friend Chance Card

This chance card is only applicable before the representative answer the question. This is to allow the representative discuss the answer choice again with one of their group member. The discussion will only last in 20 seconds.

o   Asking the audience Chance Card

This card is only valid in the second stage of the game. When this card is used, the audience can shout out their answer to the representative. In this stage, the audiences would be the group that lost in the first stage. The audience will be allowed to shout the answer in 10 seconds.

·         Questions

The questions that are provided by the teacher will revolve around grammar and vocabulary. These questions include error analysis, synonym, antonym, and also spelling check. These questions will also include the elements of environment.

Variation:

Other than playing it as a group, this game can also be played individually. Same rules applied but the time permitted for the participants to answer is either extended or unlimited. Other than that, the chance card is also available in every level of the game.

Reference:

Adapted from the original game from medway.gov at this web address:

http://www.medway.gov.uk/docs/games_and_activities_for_primary_languages-2.doc

Snakes and Ladders

Assalamualaikum and Hello everyone,

For the training session, I have decided to choose snakes and ladders game. These days, snakes and ladders game has been considered as a worldwide classic. The game is a simple race competition based on absolute luck and it is really popular among young children in many countries. One of the reasons I choose this game is because it is easy to make from basic materials and it can also be adapted to suit many learning situation. Besides that, as our target students are primary schools students, I think snakes and ladders game is really suitable for their age. Snake and ladder game is also an interactive game and using an interactive game for children is a great way to capture their attention while practicing skills. In addition, students will also learn social skills as they play games with others, this help to build relationships among them. Using this game will also teach the students about competition, winning and losing gracefully. Since snakes and ladders is really popular all around the world, it cannot be doubt that the students will have fun while learning and this hopefully will encourage them to participate in the lesson.

I have also included the lesson plan for the snakes and ladders game that I have adapted to suits the environment theme. The lesson plan is as below;

Objective:

To enhance students' way of answering question

Skills:
Speaking

Level:
Intermediate


Duration:
30 minutes


Materials
Snake and Ladder board, Dice, Buttons


Preparation:

You need to prepare 6 snakes and ladders board that contains questions on environment and nature, dices and also different colours of buttons

Procedure:

Group work. You can divide the students into five to six groups. Each group will sit in a circle. To decide who get to start first, each student will roll one die to see who gets the highest number and whoever rolls the highest number gets to take the first turn. After the first students takes a turn, the person sitting next to the student’s left will take a turn. Play continues in a circle going left. To play the game, each student needs to throw a dice and move to the number thrown accordingly. If the student counters lands on a square that contains a question, he/her needs to answer it. If the student cannot answer the questions, he/she will miss one turn. If the student land on at the bottom of a ladder, they climb up to the top whereas if they land on the head of ta snake they need to move down the bottom of the tail. Besides that, if the students land on a square that written ‘Rest one round’, he/she will miss one round. The winner of the game is the one who lands first one the ‘Finish’ square. Teacher checks answer with students by going through all the questions on the board. Snakes and Ladder board

Name Six

Greetings everyone!  I choose the game Name Six. Enjoy!

Objectives:

1.      To enable the students to apply their vocabulary skills.

2.      To enable the students to have wider vocabulary.

Skills: Vocabulary

Preparation: Arrange the players in the circle. Prepare a funnier stuffed animal.

Level: Intermediate

Duration:30 minutes

Materials: 

1. stuffed animal
2. whiteboard
3. marker

Procedure:

Demonstration - (10 minutes)

1.      Students are arranged in the circle.

2.      Facilitator ask the students about their knowledge such as "can you name the animals that living in a water" and so forth. When the students giving their answer, the facilitator write it on the whiteboard.

3.      Facilitator explains the instructions to all groups.

4.      Facilitator show demonstrations to all groups.

Playing the Game - (20 minutes)

1.      Arrange the players in a circle.

2.      Choose one person randomly to stand outside the circle while give someone in the circle a stuffed animal, the funnier the animal the better. The person outside the circle should ask the person holding the animal to name six of things he stated.

3.      The person then starts moving the animal around the circle and the other players pass it around. For example, “name six things that can be recycle”. 

4.      The person sitting in the circle begins naming six animals and at the same time, the stuffed animal is being passed around the circle. If the player cannot name 6 things that can be recycle by the time the stuffed animal reaches him, he has lost and it's his turn to stand outside the group and stunt the other students.

5.      Player must name six of the objects before the animal gets back to him or her. The winner is chosen by the players who are didn’t stand outside the circle

Debriefing - (5 minutes)

Facilitator then asks for students' feedback about the game - Name Six that they have played.

Notes: The questions and sentences that are asked and constructed in this game are regarding the environment and nature.

Rules:

Students have to listen to their friends' answer to consider it right or wrong while passing the stuffed animal.

Comments:

This activity depends on the students’ ability to think and recap on their vocabulary and knowledge quickly. It is suitable to be used in learning because it helps students to recap their vocabulary skills and adding some new vocabulary or words that they might not know before. This game is most suitable to be used inside of the classroom but requires a quick movement from the students. Teachers need to ensure the safety of the students if it is conducted inside the classroom. This game can help the students to experience teaching techniques that are refreshing, fun and competitive.

Prepared by: Nur Haizatul Akma Binti Zainudin

Battle Ship

Battle Ship

Objectives:

1. To enhance students' thinking skills through drill practice.

2. To expand students' vocabulary skill.

Skills:

1. Speaking

2. Listening

Level:

Intermediate / Advanced

Duration:

30 minutes

Material:

None

Preparation:

You can divide the students into groups of four or five. The students are then asked to come up with the name for their ships. The theme of the ship name is nature and environment so they must come up with a name related to environment such as Flower Power or Water Bender.

The students must then choose the Captain and the Shooter for each ship. The captain's duty is to memorize his ship's name, so he can reply if somebody calls his ship's name. The shooter's duty is to memorize the names of the other ships, so he can shoot them by calling their ship's name.

Procedure:

Demonstration (5 minutes)

1. The students are divided into groups of four or five.

2. One or two facilitators are assigned to demonstrate for each group.

3. The facilitators explain the rules of the game and show example to the students.

4. The facilitator practice with the students.

Playing the Game (20 minutes)

1. The groups are arranged in a circle, the ships' crews must line up behind their captains. The shooter is the last crew member in line.

2. The teacher must decide a lexical area of vocabulary that will be used in the game.

3. Every student (except the shooters) must find their own words.

4. For example, the vocabulary chose is green fruits, the students need to think of the different types of fruit that are green in colour such as apple, watermelon and honeydew.

5. They can’t repeat the same answer that has been used by the other groups.

6. The game begins by the teacher calling a ship’s name. The captain of the ship must reply with a word from the lexical area given, for example he says "apple" followed by his crews behind him one by one, until it is the shooter turns and he calls out the name of another ship and the captain of the ship called must reply and his crews must do the same thing.

7. If the captain is late to reply (more than 2 seconds) or his crew cannot say the word or a word repeated or the shooter shoots the wrong ship (his own ship or the ship that has already been sunk) the ship is sunk, and the crew members can join the crew of another ship.

8. The teacher will then change the lexical area for the next round. It is better for the teacher to prepare a few lexical areas in advance before the game begins.

9. In the last round, there will be two big groups battling to be the winner.

Debriefing (5 minutes)

1. The students are asked to recall the lexical area that have been used for the games.

2. The students are asked if they can come up with other lexical area including some examples.

Rule:

Students from the other teams must wait for their turn before they can say their answers.

Comments:

This game is suitable to enhance students' motor skills and vocabulary. Students will practice to be alert and give fast response to the game. It is suitable for leisure activity to get the mood started before a lesson. Since it involves students to be separated in different groups, teachers can probably have it done in a spacious place rather than the classroom. It does not involve a lot of preparation as no tool is needed to be used in the game. However, the teacher is recommended to be prepared with different lexical area in case it is too easy for the students and the game ends too early. If it is too hard, the teacher can change the lexical area into something that is more suitable for the students' level.

Prepared by: Nur Afieda binti Taib

Spin Zone Sentence

Assalamualaikum and Hello everyone,

Spin Zone Sentence

Objectives: 
1) To enable the students to apply their sentence structure skills
2) To enable the students to have fast response with the correct answers to the questions given to them
Skills: 
Reading and Writing

Level: 
Intermediate/Advanced

Duration:
30 minutes

Materials:
1) Cut up sentences on A4 papers or manila cards
2) Table
3) A set of questions based on green environment

Preparation:

You can either use A4 papers or manila cards that have been cut into smaller (2 to 4 pieces).  Write up sentences from the grammar and vocabulary area on the cut up papers or cards. Prepare a list answer scheme that contains the correct order of the sentences.

Procedure:

Demonstration - (5 minutes)
1) Students are divided into groups with five to seven members each.
2) Each group is assigned with a facilitator.
3) Facilitator explains the instructions to all groups.
5) Facilitator show demonstrations to all groups. 

Playing the Game - (20 minutes)

1) The students are arranged in their own lines, standing behind a line or marker next to the facilitator.
2) Students are required to do elephant spin for five or seven times.
3) After completing the spin, students need to answer a question that is given by the assigned facilitators.
4) When the question is successfully answered, the students need to run to the table and arrange the cut up words into correct order of sentences.
5) The students will take turn with one another.
6) The next student according to teams need to complete the elephant spin and the question as well before running to the table to arrange the next sentence.
7) The student who has completed the task has to queue up again behind their teammates.
8) Each group needs to complete as many sentences as they can within 20 minutes by taking turns.
9) The group that has the most correct order of the sentences is the winner of the game.

Debriefing - (5 minutes)

1) Facilitator then asks for students' feedback about the game - Spin Zone Sentence that they have played. 

Notes: The questions and sentences that are asked and constructed in this game are regarding the environment.

Rules:
1) Students have to wait for the other member to complete the task before starting their turn.

Comments:
This activity depends on the students’ ability to think and arrange the sentences quickly. It is suitable to be used in learning how to construct basic sentences and test the students' understanding in the sentence structure. This game is most suitable to be used outside of the classroom as it requires lots of movement and running from the students. Teachers need to ensure the safety of the students if it is conducted inside the classroom. This game can help the students to experience teaching techniques that are refreshing, fun and competitive.

Prepared by: Intan Farhanan Bt. Che Mansor 

SLAE3652 Sem 1 2015-2016

For 10 marks, you need to post 5 entries of more than 100 words per entry. Each entry should gain at least one full-sentence comment from your friends.

Here are the topics you must cover:

1. Choosing the game for the training session. (Deadline: 17 Nov. 2015)
2. What do I learn from the training session. (Deadline: 01 Dec.  2015)
3. My responsibilities for the language camp. (Deadline: 01 Dec. Nov 2015)
4. One day before the language camp.(Deadline: 12 Dec 2015)
5. My reflection of the language camp. (Deadline: 15 Dec 2015)

Assignments

Online Entries (10%) 
Write 10 journal entries of your experience conducting the English Language Camp. Each entry should contain more than 100 words. Post the entries to the class weblog, gameplan.blogspot.com.

Document (20%)
You lecturer will demonstrate some language games that can be fun to be played in English classes. Working backward, you will be assigned to write the lesson plan for one of the games demonstrated by your lecturer. Your lesson plan should follow the standard lesson plan format.

Game 1 (20%)
Find a game which is suitable to be executed in a language camp. Your game should last 30 minutes. Prepare all the materials needed and train your fellow classmates to conduct the game. 

Game 2 (30%) 
As a group, organize a one-day English Language Camp for school children. The camp should last 8 hours. Form a committee and divide tasks among group members as appropriate to make sure you have a successful camp.

 Final (20%)

BLOGGING

Objective: At the end of the activity, students should have:

            - completed the blog post entry for 10 weeks.

            - given comments to other posts.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Language : Writing skill

Skills : How to write a blog entry and to comment on others’ post

Control : Guided

Level : Beginner and Intermediate

Time : 10 weeks

Materials : Laptops, internet connection and blogging platform

Introduction

What is a blog?

A blog is a frequently updated online personal journal or diary. It is a place to express yourself to the world and also a place to share your thoughts and your passions. Blog is a short form for the word weblog and the two words are used interchangeably.

What is blogging?

Blogging is an activity of running and managing a blog. Some people use blog for business, education and some for personal purpose. Blogging can improve your writing skills because as you update your blog you also practice your writing skills.

Preparation

You might want to learn more about blogging. Visit http://startbloggingonline.com/ for more information regarding blogging.

How to Start A Blog Community

1.      Choose a class representative to create the class weblog. Use blogger.com free blog service for this purpose.

2.      He/she will be the admin of the blog. If you are not familiar on how to make a blog, you can refer to http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Blog for more information.

3.      The admin of the blog will invite other students via email to participate as authors for the blog.

4.      The link of the class blog will be given to the lecturer for monitoring purpose

Procedure

General Instructions

1.      You need to write an entry in the class weblog every week for 10 weeks.

2.      Each entry should consist of at least 100 words.

3.      For each weblog entry, you may write about:

a)      your expectations on what you are going to learn in the next class,

b)      your reflections on what you have learnt in class, or

c)      how you spend your weekends.

Things to Remind

1.      Students are forbidden from plagiarizing other students’ work or from other source of information.

2.      Students are advised not to use proper name in their writing to ensure privacy.  

3.      Students are encouraged to use appropriate language in their writing to avoid misunderstanding.

4.      Students are advised to reread their writings before submitting.

Variation 1

a)      Interact with other writers by giving comments and feedbacks on others’ entry.

Variation 2

a)      The best author is awarded to a particular student who receives the most comments from other students.

b)      The best article is awarded to the entry that receives the most comments and feedbacks from other students.

Resources

1.      Tips and tricks for blogging  : http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/100-tips-tricks-professional-bloggers-use-list

2.      What is blog?  : http://blogbasics.com/what-is-a-blog/

3.      Create your own blog : https://www.blogger.com/

4.      Blog in education  :  http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2009/04/blogs-in-education.html

Prepared by:

Mohamad Khairul Anuar b. Abu Bakar

Wan Muhammad b. Wan Abdul Samad