Game Cards: Hobbies & Pastimes

Students love playing games in their free time, be it video, mobile or tabletop games, but numerous studies have also shown the importance and positive impact games can have on learning. By incorporating games in your classroom you can help your learners develop a positive relationship with the language and English lessons. While working with games, the teacher’s role changes from an instructor to a guide. This helps you to reduce teacher talking time and make the students the centre of the lesson.

My favourite hobby (Present Simple)

• Ask students what they like to do in their free time and write what they say on the board. If they don’t know how to say something, you can have them say it in their mother language, while you write the English version on the board.
• Go over vocabulary in the cards and check pronunciation by having students repeat after you.
• Students can play this game in pairs, trios, or small groups.
• Have students take an image or word card and walk around the classroom trying to find their match. They should ask, My favourite hobby is (coin collecting). Do you like (coin collecting)?
• If their classmate has the matching card, they answer, Yes, I do. I like (coin collecting), too.
• If their classmate doesn’t have the matching card, they reply using the card they have: No, I don’t. I prefer (baking).
  

                A to B: My favourite hobby is playing the guitar. Do you like playing the guitar?

                B: No, I don’t. I prefer meditation.

                A to C: My favourite hobby is playing the guitar. Do you like playing the guitar?

               C: Yes, I do. I like playing the guitar, too.

• Play as many rounds as possible and correct possible mistakes at the end, anonymously if possible (I heard someone say...) .
• Do a follow-up round where students personalise the vocabulary and talk about their actual favourite hobbies.

When working with games, let loose your creativity to build a motivating environment in your classroom. Remember that emotions are an important part of the learning process. Enjoy this material with your class and let us how you liked it.