In the past few weeks this site has featured a number of ideas on how to revise vocabulary. Here is one to add to that list: The Hot Seat. It is a game which students enjoy as it is the right mix of frustration and victory. It is a tightrope we are walking but the victory is that much greater when you succeed.
The Basics
Level: B1-C2 (Intermediate, Upper-intermediate, Advanced)
Focus: Revising vocabulary, listening, speaking
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: Vocabulary list, a large screen or large sheets of paper, seat facing the classroom (teacher position)
Aim
Students revise their vocabulary. This can be done either before a test or after you have set some vocabulary revision homework.
The task
A Hot Seat is a situation in which you put a student in front of a class, where they perform an act or share their knowledge in one way or another. In this case however, the student in the Hot Seat is the one who needs to figure things out.
- Prepare a slideshow or a set of papers with one word of the vocabulary list on each slide.
- Put one volunteer in front of the room with their back towards the screen or the paper signs.
- Instruct the class that they will have to allow the Hot Seat student to guess the vocabulary item by using descriptions, synonyms, antonyms and any other ways they might think of. They are, however, not to use the word itself, nor are they allowed to use parts of it.
- If the student in the Hot Seat guesses correctly a point is awarded.
- Repeat with another vocabulary item for as long as you want.
Additional ideas
If you want to add an element of competition you could put two or even three students in front of the room and divide the class into two or three competitive groups. The group that has the first correct guess wins the point.
If you want the students to have their spelling on point you could give them a piece of paper to write their answers on. They will only get the point if their spelling is correct.
If you want to discourage using the native language you could subtract points for each word or instruction used in the native language.
If you want to sit back and relax you could ask one student to select and hold up the vocabulary item to the class and another to be the ‘referee’. 😉
Over to you: There are many other ways in which Hot Seat could work in a classroom. Have you made use of it in the past? If so, how?
Have fun teaching! ^_^
Love,
Astrid
Exciting English 