Introduction

I have chosen this game because it combines the assets of acting and language learning. The main task is to perform animals while observing other students and guessing their animal. Unlike its execution in class, the preparation of this game is fairly easy.

Target group and Time

Children probably start imitating animals from early ages on. However, this game poses two additional challenges: Participants have to understand the instructions in a foreign language and use their body and voice to creatively realise the instruction in class. Thus, students need a minimum A1 or A2 knowledge of the English language and a certain degree of zoological expertise. The game approximately lasts 10 minutes.

Learning objectives

The most important learning objective is to coordinate one’s own action while being aware of the other actors and their performances. Linguistically, students should be able to name the other animals and to provide evidence for their observations by using simple causal clauses.

Instructions to set up the activity

In a first step, participants are given small snippets with an animal name on each one. Ideally, there are always pairs of the same animal, which makes the guesswork in the end a bit easier. Secondly, the instructor announces specific actions like ‚moving‘, ‚eating‘, ‚sleeping‘, ‚making a typical sound‘. According to each instruction students then have to perform their animals. After the last round, all participants form a circle again and try to find out everyone’s animal.

Letting it run

If there is enough time, the instructor can invent further actions or distribute new snippets for a new game.