Гра для навчання читанню Бінго

I would like to write some words about the game called “Bingo”. It is a well-known code-control card one. Some years ago I bought it in a book shop. It was made to practise shapes and colours. We played this game with young children but I think it can be used for different level groups with some necessary changes made by the teacher. “Bingo” can be very helpful while learning and practicing vocabulary, I also used it for practising reading skills with my firstformers . As for materials: cards with 9 words printed on them, small papers with 1 printed word on, coloured circles to close the words on the card.

            Playing this game children practise reading vowels in open and closed positions. We usually start working with 1 vowel and in time add more. Before the game I ask students to read the words on the blackboard or printed ones on the flashcards after me, then children read the words one by one. The teacher has to be attentive and correct kids if they make mistakes. I give children 1 or 2 cards with 9 words on each and 9(18) coloured circles; the small papers with single words are in the middle upside down (we usually put some desks together to make one big table and kids sit around it). Students take a small paper, read a word aloud one by one and close the word if they have it on their card with a circle. The winner is a child who closes all the words on his card(s) first and says “Bingo!” If you have enough time to play this game twice or more, you can ask 1 child to read all the words on small papers aloud and then change a person (this way we can realize individual approach : some children are shy, the others are very quick). At the end of the game the teacher can ask some kids to read the words on his card(s), maybe the winner will be the first one. As for the problems, YL can sometimes be inattentive and they can miss the words- “This  word wasn´t read!”- to avoid this the teacher should try to be a very active supervisor and help some students or just say “Be attentive!” with a sly smile. It really helps if a teacher puts ticks next to the read words on the blackboard.

Мy learners like Bingo game, they often ask for it again. I am happy because they show good results in reading. I try to use different variants of this game quite often because it is simple to understand, enjoyable and motivating. Bingo helps make drilling, repeating reading rules not boring and tiring. I hope, in future children will consider reading to be a wonderful pastime.

This game could be adapted for different levels and language points. As for teens, we played Bingo while speaking about films and books. Children can do a lot of pre-work themselves. Before playing the game I asked students to choose about 10 words (a mystery, a romance) and explain their meaning trying to make it shorter (a biography- a story of a person´s  life written by somebody else). Then you can choose the best ones and so we have 9 words on each card and explanations of their meaning on small papers. As an extention, we can discuss favourite genres of books afterwards. I think, playing Bingo learners have good language practice, I will use it again.