This is a longer activity that requires slightly more planning than the others. Teams will complete a set of tasks and challenges as a race. Choose a mixture of fun challenges and serious tasks to turn this activity into a fun diagnostic test to determine students’ English levels.
Materials needed: Worksheet containing a list of tasks and challenges (one per team). Tasks can be both language-related and practical.
How to play:
- Put students into teams. This activity is ideal for students with different skills and abilities, so try to ensure teams are mixed-ability.
- Tell students that they are going to race to complete a series of tasks that they will find on their worksheet. The fastest team to complete all tasks correctly wins. Some tasks can be completed by one student.
- Explain that students don’t need to complete the tasks in order. Point out that you will monitor them closely to ensure there is no cheating.
- Remind students that they must use English at all times. You can choose to penalize students by having them repeat or do an extra task if they use L1.
Tips: If you think students might try to cheat, before you set the teams nominate students to be team monitors (one per team). They will have the worksheet and make sure that the team fulfills each task. Alternatively, if students have mobile phones or tablets, have them take pictures and videos of their team members completing the task.
