Krashen tells us to not only use interesting input, but to use COMPELLING input. One of the best ways to use compelling input is to talk about the students themselves. Students also like doing activities when they are perceived to be games. This activity is a game, but it involves writing sentences, listening, comprehending, evaluating, adding, and subtracting! It is called the BETTING GAME.
The object of the betting game is for students to get a lot of input. You will need to provide the sentences for your students to guess if they are true or false. Ask questions about the kids in the room – that will make it more interesting to them. For example,
Michael likes bananas.
You would write that sentence in the target language for your students. Michael should be one of the students in your class. He should not indicate his answer until after all the students have indicated on their sheet if they think it is true or false about Michael and how many points of their jackpot they have wagered that they are correct (like Jeopardy!). Do not allow students to wager their whole jackpot. Once everyone has indicated his or her answers, then you should ask Michael, in the target language, whether he likes bananas. Of course, your students are going to go wild either way at this point. Help students understand what to do next – which is to add or subtract their wagered points from their jackpots. Use as much target language as possible. Go around the room assisting and making sure each student has done it correctly before moving to the second question. Say things in the target language like , “I see that Anne has 35 points now!”
As you are making your questions, decide if you want to focus on one structure at a time or if you want to review previously learned structures. In the beginning, you might do the game all about likes. Later in the semester, you might include things people want, things they have, or things they do. You could even make it all about YOU, the teacher, as a way to introduce yourself to the class! There are a lot of variations that you can do with this game.
I would cap the number of questions at 10. It becomes a little tedious at that point. Decide what, if anything, you want to do for the winners because of course, they will ask.
I have included links from my Teachers Pay Teachers store if you would like to use my form for playing and get sample questions as well. You are certainly welcome to make your own or have students draw it on a sheet of paper. If you have any questions, feel free to comment!