5 Amazing ESL Activities With Flashcards
Learning English is often a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be boring or something to trudge through. By making English lessons fun and engaging, the students will be more motivated to learn the subject matter. Some ways that the teacher can make learning fun include playing games and turning activities into contests with positive reinforcements like prizes or additional game time.
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Flashcards are wonderful educational tools in the classroom. Learning with flashcards can be a fun and interactive educational experience for both children and adults. Using flashcards develops and improves the retention of information and improves the connection of synapses. Most teachers find that learning with flashcards is quick, direct, and hassle-free. Their diverse and colorful designs attract children and adults alike. The images printed on the cards and the manners in which they are used ("flashing of cards") stimulates the mind to quickly look for references to identify the flashed images. This is why flashcards are ideal to use as educational games.
So, here are my top 5 flashcard activities that I find the most effective and my students adore:
1. Memory matching.
This game can be played with a group of two and more students. It’s not only a fun activity for kids it also helps to develop memorization skills. To play this game, the teacher has to print two copies of each flashcard, cut them out so they are the same size and mix them up. Lay them face down in rows to begin the game. Students should take turns trying to find a match.
Also Read: The Most Important Skill in TEFL Teaching
2. Charades
This game will good in the group and it is suitable for people of different ages. To play this game the teacher simply shows the student a flashcard and has them start acting out what it is. The first individual that guesses which flashcard is being acted will receive a point. This is a good activity to encourage students and make the lesson funny and interesting. My students love it. Remember to make reward the student or team that shows the best result.
3. Slap it!
This game is really funny, young students will love it. In this game, flashcards are laid on the table face up, then, once you call a specific word, students competing against each other slap the right card. The first student to clap gets a point.
Also Read: Do I need a TEFL certifiate to teach abroad?
4. Telephone
This is a good game for listening and memory. The teacher sticks some flashcards on the wall and has students stand in a line. Choose a word to whisper it to the first student. That student then whispers it to the next student and so on. The child at the end of the line must run and bring the teacher the correct flashcard.
5. Musical flashcards
This game is my favorite, children love it. They are not only learning but also moving around, burning off some energy. This game is great for revision. The teacher has to scatter lots of flashcards down on the floor, then play some music and children dance around, make sure you have enough space in the classroom. As the music stops each student has to grab the card and in turn say the word says have. To make it more complicated, the teacher can ask students to make a sentence with a word.
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
Flashcards are wonderful teaching tools. They offer fun, interactive learning for all levels of education for all subject types. Flashcards can help with memory skills, mathematical skills, advanced discussion work, interaction via games, speaking and listening skills of all ages.
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