QUESTION:  My exam prep students are reluctant to participate in class discussions.  Also, writing B2 – C2 level compositions is extremely challenging for most of them.  I know that they are familiar with appropriate vocabulary items on specific exam topics, but when they are asked to express themselves they find it difficult to recall the right words and expressions.

To give your students a relaxed opportunity in class to discuss a variety of exam topics and, thus, recall and practice ‘dormant’ vocabulary items, get them in groups playing The Topic Board Game”.

PREPARATION: 

Design your own game boards, choosing topics which your learners have already covered in class.  (See sample provided and check out the website: http://www.astro.cornell.edu/~brs/make_games.html)     You can design three or four distinct game boards for a class of 12 learners, so that the learners can play the game repeatedly, using different game boards each time they play.

Most course material for B2 – C2 exam preparation classes is centered around a topic syllabus.  In the list below, you have a sampling of the most frequent topics which candidates will be asked to read, listen and/or write/speak about:

B2 TOPICS (Source: PALSO Exam Handbook)

Events                                              Places                                   Society

Home                                                 Buildings                                Religion

Household                                         Towns                                                Government

Family                                                 Travel                                     Entertainment

Relations                                            Greece                                   Ceremonies

Shopping                                          Europe                                   Celebrations

Food/Drink                                         World                                     Sports

School                                                Universe                                Fashion

Hobbies                                                                                            Employment

Holidays                                                                                             Crime

Natural World                                                          Technology

Animals                                                                      Mass media

Weather                                                                     Medicine

Accidents                                                                   Transport

Safety                                                                                    Communication

Disasters                                                                    Space

Environment                                                              Health

In addition, to give the game variety in opportunities for skills practice, prepare two sets of cards. 

Set 1 “Speaking cards” give simple instructions requesting that Players say something about the topic written in the square they have landed on.  The Player who lands on a square with an exclamation (“!”) point on it will choose a card from Set 1 and will be required to perform the task written on it.   Examples:  “Make up a title to fit the topic.”, “Think up an introductory sentence.” Express an opinion on this topic.”and“Mention three sub-topics or elements of this topic.”

Set 2 “Question Cards” give beginning words of questions, requesting that the Players articulate a question about the topic and address it to fellow players.  Set 2 cards are chosen by those who land on a square with a question mark on it (“?”).   Examples:  “What kind of . . .?”, “How much/many . . . ?”, “When . . .?” and “Why . . . ?”.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Divide the class into groups of 3 to 4. Provide each group with a game board, Set 1 and Set 2 cards (5-10 cards in each set), and a die.  Make sure each player has a marker. 

All players will start off from the same square and move their markers in the same direction.  Among themselves they can decide who goes first.  The roll of the die will indicate which square and, hence, which topic each player will speak about.

NOTE:  A warm up to this game: 

Having divided the class into groups and before setting up their game boards, pass out Topic Cards to each group.  Ask the students to brainstorm and record as many words as they can, related to the topic on their Topic Card.  Set a time limit of 2’.  Each group reports back to all.  This procedure can be repeated twice with different Topic Cards used in each round.

Topic Board Game