Language Activities
What type of language activities can be used to practise any language? How can the language learning materials can be used for varieties of language activities?
LEARNING
Language Activities
Teacher first introduces these words showing objects and then helps the children practice them by using flashcards and blackboard sketches. It is not necessary for the children to read the words or learn the spellings of these words. It is enough if they are able to use the words in listening and speaking activities.
Listen to the words and identify the objects or pictures - Teacher calls out the words and children point to the objects or pictures or hold up flashcards
Look at the objects or pictures and name them - Teacher shows objects or pictures and children give their names
Children are able to ask each other for specific things and get them - e.g. Give me a pen.
Language Games
The Teacher takes a bag big enough to hold all these objects. She picks up each object and puts them in the back. For example, the teacher says, ‘This is a pen. I am putting the pen in the bag’. Then the teacher says, ‘I am going to hold one item in my hand’. She puts her hand in the bag and holds one item in such a way that the children cannot see what it is. Then the teacher asks, ‘What is in my hand?’ Children guess by asking one word questions. Example: a pen? a book? Etc. Teacher answers by saying, ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The child who gets the right answer comes and holds the bag and the other children guess. In this way the game continues.
In the next stage, the teacher teaches the question form, ‘Is it a pen?’ and the short answers, ‘Yes, it is’ and ‘No, it isn’t’ and the game is played again.
In the first stage children learnt the vocabulary and in the second stage they learn the question pattern and short answers using the same vocabulary.
This game can be played in the children’s first language and then repeated in other languages. For example, in Tamil Nadu the game may be played first in Tamil, then in Hindi or Sanskrit and then in English. In Gujarat, the game may be first played in Gujarati and then in Hindi, Sanskrit or English.
If the language periods are combined, the teachers of different languages can plan a class together to participate in language activities and games.
For example, the Tamil teacher can show each object or picture and let the children give the words for them. The children might have already learnt these words at home. If any of the words are new, the teacher can tell the word and ask them to repeat it. Then she will take a bag and say, ‘இந்த பேனாவை பைலே போடறேன்.’ etc. and put all the things in the bag. Then she will hold one of the objects and say, ‘என் கைல என்ன இருக்கு?’ Children will guess by asking one word questions, ‘பேனாவா? புத்தகமா? Etc. The teacher will reply, ‘ஆமாம்’ / ‘இல்லை’. Then one of the children will take the bag.
When the same game is played in English, these Tamil children will not have any difficulty, the language need not be translated and they will understand what they are expected to do. If the children enjoy the games, they will play these games in their free time and even at home.