Game 3 by Klára

Cultural debate

Adapted from:

Hungarian video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlxcdd6Mbjg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shf2OavJ5HM

 

Preliminaries

Number of players: 8-15

Age/ Proficiency Level: B2-C1

Preparation Time: ~5 minutes

Play Time: 40 minutes

 

Preparation

Preparation at home:

·       Decide on the topic. My topic is Digital technology

·       Write questions/statements.

o   It is okay if I use my phone right before sleeping.

o   Android vs Apple

o   Elderly people should use smartphones and computers.

o   There should be time limitation for using gadgets for children under 11.

o   Is technology going to save the world. . . or kill it?

o   Is technology making people dumber. . . or smarter?

o   I would buy a phone second hand.

o   Social media has ruined society.

o   What's better: traditional or online education?

o   TikTok is a useful social media platform.

o   Digital friends can be as true friends as “in person” friends.

o   Cell phones should be banned in school.

o   All kids over 8 should have a mobile phone.

o   Has social media benefitted or harmed people’s social lives?

o   etc.

In class preparation:

Set the classroom for the game. Put chairs on the one side of the classroom and the desks on the other side. Students should be able to sit on the desks and the chairs.

 

Object of the game

This game is good for improving speaking skills, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity and think through problems from other people’s perspective.

 

Roles

All students are participants.

The teacher is the leader of the activity. The teacher will ask the questions.

 

Rules of Play

The teacher asks the question or read the statement and specifies which side is the agree and disagree.

Then students have to pick a side then share their ideas about the topic.

Students can change sides if someone convinces them that the other side is more reasonable.

 

Alternative version: where students pick side before hearing the question. Then they should argue for that side.

Scoring

There is no typical good answer for the questions. The aim of the game is to speak. I would prefer not to score students during the activity.