Vocabulary

AI IN THE CLASSROOM: TWEE

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Twee Walkthrough

I’ve just come back from the annual TESOL Spain convention in Burgos brimming with ideas! It really is a fantastic event and all credit to the organisers and dedicated volunteers who made it possible.

Unsurprisingly, AI – and its applications in the classroom – was one of the major themes this year. I am a good litmus test for any kind of AI activity. If I can do it, anyone can! This is an idea taken from Catherine Morley’s Keynote session on Saturday, 16th March. I’m sure plenty of you are already using it, but in case you’re not (like me) thank you to Catherine for introducing me to it.

The Twee platform can help you generate a text on the topic and level of your choice, including target vocabulary and follow-up activities to exploit the text for meaning and language.

  1. Go to Twee and create a free account – it’s very simple.
  2. Once you’ve logged in, you see a menu – some options are free, some are ‘Pro’.

3. Choose the option ‘Create a Text on Any Topic with Your Vocabulary:

4. In the following section, you can choose the Topic, Target Vocabulary, CEFR Level, Genre and Length Range. I chose the following:

    • TOPIC: Tourism
    • TARGET VOCABULARY: overcrowded, strain on resources, protests from locals, cruise ships, infrastructure, income, economic importance
    • LEVEL: B2
    • GENRE: Argumentative article
    • LENGTH RANGE: 250-350

    5. Then click on ‘Do the magic’ and wait for the text to be generated

      Here is the text that it generated:

      You have the option of shortening the text if it is too long (button at end of text) and copying it to the clipboard (top-right corner) in case you want to use it later

      1. Once you’ve generated your text, you can ask Twee to create comprehension questions – using the option ‘ABCD questions’ from the menu below.

      This created seven multiple-choice comprehsnion questions for the text above at B2 level. Here are a couple of examples:

      7. Exploiting the text for language. Twee also offers you various follow-up activities. Here’s a sample of the options available for the target vocabulary in the text:

        Here’s a sample (not complete) from the word-definition matching activity using the target vocabulary

        8. Once you’ve created your text and activities, you can assign it to your students (especially good for online classes). In the top menu, use the ‘Assign’ option to create a link which you can send to students. They don’t have to create an account to use the platform!

        9. You can see students’ results in ‘My Lessons’ on the main Twee page

        *Twee is quick, intuitive and easy to use, but – as with any content created by AI – the result may not be immediately perfect. The teacher will need to fact-check and review the text and activities for the usual issues: bias, fact-checking, correct references etc.

        Then you’ll need to check/adapt the activities to make them appropriate for your students.

        Richard Osman’s House of (ELT) Games, part 4: General Knowledge Quizzes

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        General Knowledge Quizzes

        Introduction

        It’s been a while! No excuses – but here’s my latest celebration of my love of TV Quiz show Richard Osman’s House of Games.

        Who doesn’t love a good trivia quiz? Even better if we can give it a language twist (revision of lexical fields or past tenses). Here are two games adapted from the ROHoG format. For those of you who don’t know, this is a popular teatime quiz show broadcast five evenings a week on BBC2, in which four guests compete in four games per episode. The final game is always the same, but all the other games are different, and many of them are just calling out to be adapted to ELT classrooms.

        The host himself has gone from strength to strength recently, meeting his new wife on the show, and seeing his series of detective novels top bestseller lists worldwide. He’s still fronting his eponymous show, now into its 6th season and past its 100th episode, although I don’t know how much longer we’ll have the pleasure of his company. The show maintains some of its classic game formats, but has also added some new ones – including my current favourite ‘There’s no ‘I’ in Osman’, included here.

        I’ve prepared a couple of powerpoint presentations as examples, but the questions could just as easily be written on a whiteboard or read out loud. Feel free to use my examples (please credit me!), but obviously if you want to create your own, it requires a little internet research.


        These games can be played by individuals. If you want to play as teams, groups of 3-4 work best, with one individual representing the team in each round. You decide if the ‘reps’ can consult their teams – depending on liveliness and noise levels!

        Summary

        These are both individual or team quizzes, based on general knowledge topics, and/or vocabulary knowledge.

        There’s no ‘I’ in Osman – players try to name as many examples of a given category as possible, without using the ‘forbidden’ letter.

        Blast from the past – tense – players answer a trivia question, but have to convert it into the past tense. Exercising both general and language knowledge at the same time – quite cognitively challenging.

        Materials

        A pdf with instructions for both games can be downloaded, as well as an example of each game, which I’ve left in an editable format, so you can adapt and add to them as you please. Hope you – and your students – enjoy them and let me know how it goes!

        quizzes-teachers-instructionsDownload
        theres-no-i-in-osmanDownload
        blast-from-the-past-tenseDownload

        Links

        If you want to see how the games are played on the show, you’ll find There’s no ‘I’ in Osman at minute 16’51 here

        and Blast from the Past – Tense at minute 2’47 in this episode

        Richard Osman’s House of (ELT) Games, part 3: Classroom Whiteboards

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        Games for classroom whiteboards

        Introduction

        This is the third in an occasional series sharing the potential (I hope) of the games in the BBC2 quiz show ‘Richard Osman’s House of Games‘ for EFL classes. In this instalment I share two games which make use of the main classroom whiteboard. In a physical classroom, you need access to a whiteboard or screen and a projector. I’ve only ever played these games with F2F groups, but it should be possible to adapt these to a videoconferencing format using the whiteboard and stickers functions available in platforms such as Zoom. 

        As usual, I’ve uploaded an example of each game in an editable ppt format. This means the games can be used as they are, or can be downloaded and adapted to fit the vocabulary and themes that you are presenting or recycling.

        Summary

        Both activities are ‘pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey’ style games, which involve associating vocabulary and cultural knowledge with images. While the basic premise is very simple, this format allows different variations which can expand the language use beyond a simple test of what students know.

        Put your finger on it is a game where students identify the correct option from an image projected on the screen.

        Where is Kazakhstan? is a geography-based general knowledge game, played in teams.

        I’ve provided instructions for both games on one downloadable document and a link to an example of each game in ppt format. I’ve chosen vocabulary and lexical sets that correspond to the context I was teaching, but you can use the ppt as a template to adapt to your own teaching situation and the needs of your learners.

        Materials

        Whiteboard games: Teacher’s instructionsDownload
        Put your finger on it pptDownload
        Where is Kazakhstan? pptDownload

        Richard Osman’s House of (ELT) Games, part 2: Vocabulary Games

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        Vocabulary Games

        Introduction

        Here’s the second instalment in a series of games based on Richard Osman’s House of Games. In the last post I shared my (slightly obsessive) fondness for this BBC2 quiz show. It turns out I’m not the only one. Here are three more games, all based around recycling previously-presented vocabulary. They can be played individually, or in pairs/teams, with mini-whiteboards, or in live online classes using the chat box or whiteboard to collect answers.

        As before, I’ve uploaded the example games in ppt format, so they can be used as they are, or as a template to adapt to vocabulary for your own groups. Given the current situation, the format (I hope) is adaptable to both F2F and live online classes. Let me know what you think!

        Summary

        The three games in this post require a little preparation, basically identifying the vocabulary to be recycled in each case and adapting the ppt template accordingly. I do recommend you make a note of the answers beforehand, or even better, add slides to the game to show the answers while playing. Some of the games, e.g. Games House Of can catch you out (as I found to my cost) if you’re not prepared.

        This Round is in Code is a very simple game, which can be played individually or in pairs or groups. The code is easy to understand, but the answers are not at all obvious!

        Games House Of is a challenging game, which involves reproducing lexical chunks in alphabetical order, so only works with sequences of two or more words.

        Size Matters is a fun game format, where learners aim to produce the longest (correct!) possible word from a given group . In the original programme, the questions were based on general knowledge, but this has been adapted to be used with lexical sets.

        I’ve provided instructions for all three games on one downloadable document below and an example of each game in ppt format, which can be used as an editable template to customise for your own teaching situation and learners.

        Materials

        Word games – Teacher’s instructionsDownload
        This Round is in CodeDownload
        Games House OfDownload
        Size MattersDownload

        Richard Osman’s House of (ELT) Games, part 1: Tablets or mini-whiteboards

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        RoHOG graphic

        Games for tablets or mini-whiteboards

        Introduction

        Like many English teachers, I’m a big fan of word games. I’m also a big fan of the British TV producer and presenter Richard Osman. The Quiz show ‘Richard Osman’s House of Games’ (ROHoG) has been running on BBC 2 for a couple of years. The basic format is that four media personalities take part in a series of games based around language, logic and/or general knowledge. Most of the games are very simple and accessible and I’d been wondering for a long time if it was possible to translate them to the language classroom.

        *Update: Fellow fan @eltplanning uses the ROHoG classic ‘Answer Smash’ in class and has blogged about it here.

        Then the Coronavirus crisis occurred and my extra-curricular activities were put on hold. After making the move online with my year-long F2F courses, I was then faced with a new challenge: a summer intensive course from scratch taught via Zoom. To break up the routine of daily online classes,  I set out to do at least one different game every day to recycle and use vocabulary presented throughout the course. I’d already tried adapting some of the games in my F2F classes and this gave me the opportunity to see if any of the games worked well in an online context. Huge thanks to my group for being such willing and motivated guinea pigs. This is the first in (I hope) a series of posts to share teacher- and learner-friendly ROHoG game formats which worked in both contexts.

        Summary

        Games for tablets or mini whiteboards.

        Here are three games adapted from the ROHoG format which can be used with tablets or mini whiteboards. A blank piece of white paper inside a clear plastic pocket is an easy way to make your own mini whiteboard. If you’re teaching an online class via videoconferencing, the students can hold their boards or pockets up to the camera to play. Give your students advance notice so they can bring or make the mini-whiteboard for the following class.

        NB: If using mini-whiteboards, students will also need a tissue or cloth to clean it after each round. Students often have a packet of tissues on them, but if you’re playing in a F2F class, have some extra, just in case.

        You Spell Terrible is a game played in pairs which tests both vocabulary knowledge and spelling of ‘problematic’ words.

        The Rich List is an individual game, loosely based on the ‘Scattegories‘ board game, where the teacher gets to play too.

        Size Matters is a game where learners compete to find the longest possible word within a given category.

        I’ve provided instructions for all three games on one downloadable document and, for each game, a link to an example game in ppt format. I’ve chosen vocabulary and lexical sets that correspond to the context I was teaching, but you can use the ppt as a template to adapt to your own teaching situation and the needs of your learners.

        Materials

        Teacher’s notes

        You Spell Terrible – example game

        The Rich List – example game

        Size Matters – example game

        TED Talks – Greta Thunberg (2018): The disarming case to act right now on climate change

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        Thunberg

        Video worksheet

        Introduction

        Worksheet based on short TED talk by Greta Thunberg, just as she was coming to prominence as a teenage climate activist.

        Summary

        Climate change is an extremely topical subject, for good reason. This worksheet is based on a TED Talk by the teenage climate activist, Greta Thunberg when she was just 16. The ppt below can be used to brainstorm learners’ prior knowledge about the speaker. As she speaks very clear, articulate ELF (English as a Lingua Franca), this worksheet could work from B1+ (with subtitles). From C1+, try listening without subtitles first and then checking with the subtitles on the second listening.

        Materials

        Greta Thunberg intro

        Greta Thunberg TED

        Greta Thunberg TED KEY

        Link to video

         

        Discussion worksheet: Millennials

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        Millennials
        Image credit: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/312408

         

        Speaking worksheet

        Introduction

        Worksheet inspired by the updated version of the song ‘Ironic’ (for millennials) by Alanis Morissette, shown on the Late Late Show with James Corden in 2015.

        Summary

        Discussion worksheet on the theme of millennials, focussing on vocabulary of personality traits and new technology. Learners listen to an updated version of the 90s classic ‘Ironic’ by Alanis Morissette, updated for Gen Y, and discuss their reactions. I used this to supplement unit 11 of Headway Advanced (on the subject of new technology), but it could also work at lower levels for discussion of personality, generation (gaps), etc.

        I’ve uploaded both the ppt and pdf version here. The ppt version includes the song and has more animations, but it is a heavier file. You can adapt it if you want, but please remember to credit me if you do!

        Materials

        Ironic – for millennials – teacher

        Ironic – for millennials (ppt)

        Ironic – for millennials 

        Link to video: Ironic (for millennials)

        Link to video: Tracey Ullman ‘Woke’

        NB: Adult themes, bad language!

         

         

        Advert worksheet: We are what we do…

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        Natwest

        Video worksheet

        Introduction

        To round off the year, and kick off the new one: An activity based on a short (1 min,) advert by NatWest Bank, entitled ‘We are what we do’. Aimed at marketing this bank as an ethical company, the advert portrays images of social issues and uses lexical opposites (or near-opposites) to illustrate its theme.

        Summary

        I’ve used this worksheet with levels from A2-C1, as the images are very clear and powerful, and the vocabulary is relatively simple. Students brainstorm opposites of adjectives and nouns related to social problems, then watch to check their answers. Works well to supplement classes based around vocabulary of personality, or as a springboard for discussion on social issues. Personally, I’m going to use it in my first classes of 2019 to introduce the topic of new year’s resolutions.

        The link below takes you to the vídeo with subtitles, which I use with lower levels. There are versions online without subtitles, which are easy to find.

        Materials

        Video worksheet We are what we do – student

        Video worksheet We are what we do – teacher

        Link to video