Category Archives: Listening

I have to start by saying sorry (not sorry) that once you introduce this activity to your students they will ask to do it all the time.

This activity is all about students listening intently and reacting to what they hear.

No prep involved.  Just grab an object, like a ball, and you’re ready to go.

I call this activity Sauter or Saltar.  Jump in the target language that you teach.

Pick a topic category.  Any category.  Any proficiency level.  Here are some possible topic categories:

• colors
• animals
• seasons
• time
• family
• days
• months
• adjectives
• family
• masculin nouns
• feminine nouns
• singular nouns
• plural nouns
• present tense
• past tense
• future tense
• imperfect tense
• details about a story
• information about an article

Here’s how it works:

• The entire class stands in a circle.  If there is not enough room in the classroom, maybe take a trip outside.
• Tell students the topic they are listening for.
• The teacher tosses the ball to any student and says a word, phrase or sentence.
  • If the word, phrase or sentence is on the chosen topic,  the 2 students next to the student who catches the ball jump.  The one who jumps first stays in.  The other sits down and is out. There are often ties. [example:category is “days” and teacher says “Monday”]
  • If the word, phrase or sentence is NOT on the topi, the 2 students next to the student who catches the ball DON’T jump.  If they jump they sit and are out. [example:category is “days” and teacher says “July”]

• Continue tossing the ball to random students around the circle.
• The same rules apply.  Keep in mind that…
  • If the word, phrase or sentence is on the topic the 2 closest students still standing to the left and right of the student who catches the ball jump.  The one who jumps first stays in.  The other sits down an is out. [example:category is “past tense” and you say “I went to the store.”]
  • If the word, phrase or sentence is NOT on the topic, the 2 closest students still standing to the left and right of the student who catches the ball DON’T jump.  If they jump they sit and are out. [example:category is “past tense” and you say “I go to the store.”]

• When there are only two students remaining the ball is not tossed.
• The teacher says a list of words, phrases or sentences that may or not be on topic.
• The first of the two remaining students to jump when they hear the word, phrase or sentence that fits the category wins the game.

Once you have played this a few times and students have the hang of it you can choose students to be the one to give the prompts in the middle of the circle.  It may be the winner from the previous round.

This activity works well as a class starter, closer or as a brain break at any time.  It’s also useful for quickly reviewing vocabulary themes before diving into a discussion or follow-up activity.