Oral Language Games for the Classroom

Story Relay:

Divide the class into small groups. One student starts telling a story, and after one minute, the next person continues. This goes on until the story is complete. If you are working on a certain topic or vocabulary then you can write them on the board and tell the class that they must include them. This could also work for senior classes with simple Irish stories.

Rhyming Race :

Have students form a circle. One student says a word aloud, and the next student has to quickly say a word that rhymes with it. Continue until someone can’t think of a rhyme. This is a nice one for junior/senior infants and first class.

Would you Rather:

This promotes critical thinking and language expression, and can be used with any class from infants up to 6th class. Ask students a series of “Would you rather?” questions (e.g., “Would you rather fly or be invisible?”). Students respond, and they should explain why they chose their answer. This encourages the use of descriptive language and reasoning.

Describe the Picture:

Show a picture to the class (it could be of a busy scene, a nature landscape, etc.). Have students take turns describing what they see using detailed language. Encourage the use of adjectives, prepositions, and full sentences. Here’s a few ideas for junior classes:https://ie.pinterest.com/browne1309/oral-language-pictures/

Puppet Show:

Give students puppets or allow them to create their own out of socks or paper bags. In pairs, they will improvise a short dialogue between the characters. Students practice speaking clearly and with expression as their puppets interact and the class can watch the performance of each group. This ties in nicely with drama too, and art!

Opinions/ Debates/Persuasive Writing:

Ask students a fun question (e.g., “What’s the best season of the year?”). Each student has to state their opinion and defend it using at least one reason. They should listen to others and respect differing opinions. This encourages speaking skills and respect for different viewpoints.

New Reporter:

Have students create a news story about a topic of their choice (real or imaginative), such as a new animal discovered or a local event. Each student will present their story as if they were a news anchor. Encourage students to practice speaking clearly, loudly and expressively.

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