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Keyword Karuta
EIGO NOTO: 1-6 SUBMITTED BY: Amy Yosh BORROWED FROM / INSPIRED BY: Original DATE ADDED: Mar 16, 2010 EDITED BY: Mooloo
 Ò Ó  è é 15-20 min. If you're going to give this activity a low-rating, please post a useful comment to help make it better. SearchENActivity  |
Brief Outline
This activity is meant to help students hear the difference between real vs. katakana English.
Materials Needed
- Flashcards of the vocabulary from pages 36-37 (not included)
Detailed Explanation
- Introduce the vocabulary from the pages in whatever way you like. I prefer flashcards and ask the students what each of the words are in Japanese, and then I pronounce the words in English. I then say the words in katakana English so the students see the side-by-side difference. The other option is to get your HRT to do the katakana part. It's a great team-teaching strategy.
- Put students into pairs or groups of four. Any more than four is too chaotic. Each group has one eraser placed between the students. All students play the game with their hands placed on their heads.
- Explain that the ALT will pick a keyword from the new vocabulary. When the ALT says the keyword, the students must try to grab the eraser before the others in their pair/group. However, before the keyword is said, the ALT will call out other target vocabulary and the students should repeat after the ALT until the keyword is spoken, which is when they grab the eraser. Let's say the keyword is 'milk', the process would go like this:
- ALT: TV
- Students: TV
- ALT: cake
- Students: cake
- ALT: Milk
- Students: <try to be the first to grab the eraser>
- After doing a few rounds, change the rules a bit. If the ALT says the katakana English for the keyword, then the students are not to grab the eraser. Make sure to emphasis the Katakana-ness of the words when you do!
Variations
- You can make this activity last longer by getting winners to change pairs/groups.
Teaching Suggestions
- Students usually start this game sitting on the floor/desk, so when a student makes a mistake (ie: grabs the eraser at the wrong time) I usually make them stand up.
- This game can also be easily adapted for other target vocabulary.
Tips/Cautions
- Make sure not to change your tone of voice when you say the keyword. I discovered that some students weren't really paying attention to what I was saying, but rather the tone of my voice.