JALT 2004 Presentation

To say it was 9:30 on a Sunday morning, you were fantastic!! And as promised, here's the run down of what we did....

• Warm Up

Getting everyone awake, using hand gestures for volume control and making sure everyone stands up promptly when the teacher asks during the subsequent games!

• What's your name song.

Did you notice how everyone started smiling when we'd done the song? Click the link for the teaching guide and to download the mp3 of the song.
Key points are to teach the acapella ( without music ) version first, then to do the recording.
"First name" in Japanese is "Shita no namae".
For more "cooler" kids, do a competition to see who can sing the loudest, the kids or the teacher ( or split the kids into two groups).
Ask the kids if they can do it four times, which leads to Genki English rule number one: "Dekiru, dekiru, dekiru to omoeba, dekiru!" - If you think you can do it, you can!

• Mingle Game

Great for making groups. Getting the kids to ask a question that has a number for an answer, e.g. "How old are you?", "What time is it?" etc.
Genki English rule number two: "Makeru no imi wa mou ikkai!" - Losing just means "try again!"
As with the subsequent games, did you notice what I was doing while you were all playing the game? I was drinking water and preparing the next activity!!

• Online Phonics Quizzes

Great as a homework assignment, or if you have lessons in a computer lab. Especially good if there are no native speakers around. You saw how addictive it is and parents love it!
Kids can also access it from the kids page of Genki English, go to www.GenkiEnglish.com and select "Kids Page"

• Harry Potter Game

The number one game at the moment, but maybe not for a room that size with so many people!!
Try the "What are you doing?" theme to prep it.
Give the kids the choice of either being "Voldemort" or "Dementors".
You can also do a Christmas version, where the Voldemort transforms the Harry Potters into Christmas objects!

• Soldiers and Ninjas

Great review game.
Either have the kids ask set questions or random questions.

• Silent Night music scores

This is on the Christmas Ideas page.
Great for older kids as a bit of trivia.

• School Pet Exchange

Once the kids have leant some English, let them use it! Leading into this type of international understanding project is what it's all about. Great for 6th graders.

• I like pink fish

I didn't get time to do this, but it's a great game.
You can use also use it with "I'm going to..." + country names.
Or even "I'm going to..." + country names. + to + play sports.

• I'm in Kameoka City ( near Kyoto) on Saturday 27th November

If you'd like to see more, I have a kids show and 2 hour teachers workshop ( in Japanese) next week near Kyoto - please pop along!

Or if you would like me to come to your elementary school for a kids show and workshop for the Japanese teachers, then if you can pay my travel expenses from Shikoku I can come along for free!

• Making English as cool as the Playstation!

This is what it's all about, getting the kids to realise that English is as cool as the Playstation - and it can be! Always make sure you choose your target English for the lesson, and then dress it up in as much fun as possible!! You're the role model to make the kids want to do more!

So thanks for today, and the next time you're in front of your kids remember to ...




Be genki!

Richard