9 Absolutely Essential ESL Games for Vocabulary Review
Try These 7 Best Ways to Review Vocabulary
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1
Weave a Web
Use an idea web to review any themed vocabulary your students have studied. Start with your theme in the center of the board (e.g. sports, school, etc.). Then add spokes off that topic for each word your students offer (e.g. soccer, baseball, etc.). You may even want to add spokes off those words for further related vocabulary (e.g. goal, goalie, score, etc.).
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2
Put Your Cards on the Table
Have students create their own set of vocabulary flash cards. Using a metal ring and small cards or cardstock, students write each vocabulary word with its definition on a card. Then, they punch a hole in the corner of their card and attach it to their ring. Students can carry these convenient sets of words with them and review them in any free moment they have.
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3
Join the Chorus
Have your students respond to questions or repeat what you say in chorus. First, give them the correct pronunciation of a word and then listen as everyone repeats it in unison. Then ask a question and see if your class can answer it together.
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4
Fill Everyone In
Fill in the blank activities are a classic and effective way of teaching and reviewing vocabulary. Give your students independent sentences, paragraphs or phrases with key vocabulary omitted and have them fill in the blanks. You can also have your students write their own fill in the blank activities for their classmates.
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5
Get Your Point Across
Use an original crossword puzzle to review vocabulary with your students. Clues can be word definitions, fill in the blank sentences, synonyms or antonyms. Then, students fill in the puzzle with the target vocabulary words.
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6
Get Together
Pair work can be a great means of vocabulary review for your students. Have one person read a sentence or definition and quiz his partner. Then have students switch roles. As students play the role of teacher, they will also be learning themselves.
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7
Keeping Order
To review a conversational pattern which includes new vocabulary, give groups of students a list of the phrases that should be used in the dialogue. Students must then put those phrases in the correct order so that the conversation makes sense. If you like, have students copy the correct conversation into their vocabulary notebooks.
