Digital Play

By kylemawer 　http://digitalplay.info/blog/2010/01/a-split-screen-communication-activity/

One learner watches a video of the game being completed and relays the information to their partner who plays the game.

Level: Intermediate+

Topic: Kitchen vocabulary

Speaking Focus: Describing things in a kitchen

Time: 30 minutes

Game: The Great Kitchen Escape

The Great kitchen escape game is a great ‘ecape the room’ game which comes with a video walkthrough on youtube.

Key Language:kettle, cupboard, mixer, beater, radio, dial, batteries, fridge,  freezer, power cord, bowl, parrot, feather, tickle, dog collar, sink, fill up, switch on, plug it in, pour, knife, hammer, drill

Preparation

In the computer room decide which computers will have the video and which the game.  This can either be side by side or one side of the room the game and the other side the video walkthrough.

There is also some key vocabulary that will either have to be pre-taught or dealt with reactively when the playing activity is in progress.

Playing

Tell  learners that they will do this activity in pairs.  One  watches the video (they can use pause when they want and rewind) and relays how to complete the game to their partner . The learner playing the game can ask their partner, who is watching the video, any questions they like about the instructions he is giving (in English of course) This may be to clarify, repeat or make sure they have understood. After a few minutes the learner watching the video swaps places with their partner playing the game.

Post playing

For homework learners watch the video and write the walkthrough using the key language items.

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