Review is, in my opinion, an important but often unsupported aspect of the language learning process. Unfortunately, many textbooks that I use do not provide enough opportunities for review. In my classes, I want to provide an enjoyable way to review information and to facilitate interaction among students. To achieve that, I created an educational activity which is a version of Shinkeisujiyaku, a Japanese game that many students are familiar with. This activity reviews information that students have studied, helps with remembering new vocabulary, and gives students practice with asking and asking questions.
I have used this activity in many content-based English language classes. The particular example below was developed for use in a culture-content based class which focused on the United States of America. The activity can be used with just about any educational content in large or small classes.
Students are separated into two teams of two students, and one additional student serves as a judge for the two pairs. The two teams receive one piece of paper with directions and a table. The student who works as a judge receives another piece of paper which only that student may read. The directions may seem difficult for foreign teachers who are unfamiliar with Shinkeisujiyaku. However, Japanese students usually get the idea quickly, especially if the teacher plays the part of a judge with some students while the others listen and watch. Remember to make sure that students do not listen and write notes. Tell students to do their best to remember what they hear. The goal is for one pair to match more questions with answers than the other pair. If my explanation is confusing, please read the directions that they students receive.
Creating this activity for the first time, took a long time. However, I can use the format again and again. The activity was created with Microsoft Word. Each time that I recreate the board game for different content, all I have to do is type over the questions and answers and save the file under a different name. Doing so makes adapting the material for other content into a speedy process.
The two pairs receive this:
Question and Answer Game
Directions: This game is similar to the Japanese card game called "Shinkeisuijyaku." Play this in a group of five, two pairs (pair A and pair B) and one judge. Match the questions with answers. One pair reads a question aloud and also guesses the letter of the answer. The judge reads the answer aloud and tells students if it is a match or not. Students must remember what the judge says. If the answer and question match, the students write "PAIR__ A" or "PAIR__B" under the question and under the letter of the answer. Students who correctly match a question and answer get another turn. If they make a mistake, it becomes the turn of the other pair. The pair with the most matches is the winning pair.
Example dialog:
PAIR A: We choose question one. “Who was the first president of the U.S.?” We think Answer W is the answer.
Judge (Incorrect guess): Answer W is “Hamburgers are popular.” This is not a match.
Judge (Correct guess): Answer W is “George Washington.” This is a correct match.
| 1. Who was the first president of the U.S.A? PAIR______ | 2. Where did most of the slaves in America come from? PAIR______ | 3. Who was the president before Bush? PAIR______ | 4. Where did hamburgers originally come from? PAIR______ | 5. How many wars did the U.S. and Britain fight against each other? PAIR______ |
| 6. How many stars are on the American flag? PAIR______ | 7. What is the name of a holiday in November? PAIR______ | 8. What are the two largest cities in America? PAIR______ | 9. How many islands are in Hawaii? PAIR______ | 10. Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America? PAIR______ |
| 11. When were American women allowed to vote? PAIR______ | 12. What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize? PAIR______ | 13. What is a truly American art form? PAIR______ | 14. Where was Coca Cola first sold? PAIR______ | 15. What became popular in America and changed world culture in the 1950s? PAIR______ |
| 16. What is Las Vegas famous for? PAIR______ | 17. How old was your teacher when he learned to drive? PAIR______ | 18. What U.S. city is the home of jazz? PAIR______ | 19. Where did hip hop music start? PAIR______ | 20. When were women first allowed to vote? PAIR______ |
Answer A
Answer B
Answer C
Answer D
Answer E
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
Answer F
Answer G
Answer H
Answer I
Answer J
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
Answer K
Answer L
Answer M
Answer N
Answer O
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
Answer P
Answer Q
Answer R
Answer S
Answer T
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
The judge receives this:
Answer Sheet for Judge
Directions for the judge: Listen to the students’ choice of questions and answers. Read the chosen answer aloud. If the answer is on the same line of this page as the question, the answer is a match. Tell the students if the question and answer are a match or not a match.
| Answer | Question # | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Answer M He was George Washington. |
1 | Who was the first president of the U.S.A.? |
| Answer Q Most of the slaves came from Africa. |
2 | Where did most of the slaves in America come from? |
| Answer D Bill Clinton |
3 | Who was president before George Bush? |
| Answer R The German town of Hamburg. |
4 | Where did hamburgers originally come from? |
| Answer F America fought two wars against Britian |
5 | How many wars did the U.S. and Britian fight against each other? |
| Answer B There are fifty stars. |
6 | How many stars are on the American flag? |
| Answer P Thanksgiving. |
7 | What is the name of a holiday in November? |
| Answer A New York and Los Angeles. |
8 | What are the two largest cities in America? |
| Answer O 8 large islands and 124 very small ones. |
9 | How many islands are in Hawaii? |
| Answer S France gave it to America. |
10 | Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America? |
| Answer L They were allowed to vote in 1919. |
11 | When were American women allowed to vote? |
| Answer J It symbolizes liberty. |
12 | What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize? |
| Answer H Jazz is an American art form. |
13 | What is a truly American art form? |
| Answer G It was sold in drugstores. |
14 | Where Coca Cola was first sold? |
| Answer I Television became popular. |
15 | What became popular in America and changed world culture in the 1950s? |
| Answer N Gambling, shows, and quick marriages. |
16 | What is Las Vegas famous for? |
| Answer K He was sixteen years old. |
17 | How old was your teacher when he learned to drive? |
| Answer E The home of jazz is St. Louis |
18 | What U.S. city is the home of jazz? |
| Answer T It started in New York City. |
19 | Where did hip hop music start? |
| Answer C Women could vote in 1920. |
20 | When were women first allowed to vote? |
