Reading comprehension skills such as skimming and vocabulary-building remain the same for all levels and can be practiced with images and texts that meet the learner's reading level. Reading can be exhausting for English as a Second Language, or ESL, students because they tend to look up most words in the dictionary or rely too much on translating to their first language. Vocabulary and scavenger hunting games can help students rely less on translating every word and can increase their reading speeds.
Vocabulary Matching Game
Step 1
Cut a stack of 3" by 5" index cards in half with scissors to create two decks of palm-sized playing cards. Make sure the index cards are all the same color, advises "A guide for Using the Black Pearl," from Teacher Created Resources.
Step 2
Count out a stack of cards for the number of vocabulary words your students are studying. Write one vocabulary word on one side of each card. For a larger class, you can create multiple stacks of the same words so that students can work together in groups of three or four.
Step 3
Count out another set of cards for the vocabulary word definitions. Write one definition on one side of each card. Half of the cards will contain vocabulary words and the other half their definitions.
Step 4
Shuffle the cards or have a student shuffle them, and place them face down on a table. Spread them out on the table so that they are easily accessible to all the players.
Step 5
Have students take turns matching the correct definition with the correct vocabulary word. The student with the most matching pairs wins the game.
Scavenger Hunts with Images and Text
Step 1
This exercise was adapted from Naomi Buote's "Newspaper Treasure Hunt" as it appears on Dave's ESL Cafe. Choose an advertisement, movie clip, cartoon, photograph or painting that seems to tell a story. An image that includes several different actions or characters usually works best.
Step 2
Give the students a list of items to skim for in the image or clip, and review the list with the class. You can make the list more difficult by asking students what is missing from the image or clip.
Step 3
Project the image or play the clip. Photocopies of an image work just as well, and some textbooks contain line drawings that are easily copied and equally effective.
Step 4
The game can end when the first student completes the task, or you can add steps to increase difficulty. For instance, the finished scavenger hunt can then lead to clues to complete a hangman puzzle and reveal a mystery word or phrase of the day.
Step 5
When students are ready, transfer the scavenger hunt game to skimming and scanning newspaper articles. Use News for You for beginning and intermediate readers, advises "Basic Reading Power."
Tips and Warnings
- Index cards can also be adapted to other vocabulary card games, such as "Go Fish!" A movie clip from a film such as Albert Lamorisse's original "The Red Balloon" allows for more viewer interpretation because the story is told without dialogue.
Things You'll Need
- 3"x5" index cards
- scissors
- old magazines to cut up
- pens and pencils
References
- "A Guide for Using The Black Pearl"; Teacher Created Resources; 2007
- "Basic Reading Power"; Beatrice Mikulecky and Linda Jeffries; 2004
- Dave's ESL Cafe
