Well, this game is sort of like that—only it is for practicing listening skills in a fun and exciting way.

Directions
Students work in groups of four. Put the following 4 objects on a table or chair: I’ve used common objects: a coin, a book, a pen, a ball.

Each student will represent a number, 1-4. Students will hear instructions. For example, “Number 2, pick up the book.” “Number 2, hand the coin to Number 4.” “Number 3, don’t pass the pen to Number 1.”

The directions on the audio speed up as it plays. The object is for students to follow the directions perfectly. At the end of the audio, we see whose got what. If something doesn’t work out, let the students start again from the beginning.

Easy Level, Game 1
There are two versions so far. One is the Easy Level. Even beginning students can follow the instructions with some pre-listening help. The verbs used: get, get rid of, give, hand, pick up, put, take, trade.

Advanced Level, Game 1
There is more variety in the instructions here, and they come fast. Verbs used: give, hand, pass, pick up, take.

Playing Alone
Yeah. You can practice your listening skills on your own. In this case you do all the actions. Create four squares, by using, for instance, four pieces of paper. Number them. Now move the objects to the proper places yourself. (see the picture to the right).

I’d be glad to hear some comments if anybody plays this game.

You can download this MS Word Doc for the answers and instructions.
“Whose Got What?” Answers and Instructions

It’s ________
It’s ________
the old man is ________
he ________in bed
and ________ his head
and ________ _________ in the morning

Students fill in the blanks.

Next use this as a pattern for students to write their own versions. Choose a subject like “She” or “He” or “We” and start from there. Example

She’s crying
She’s whining
the little girl’s upset
Her best friend said
She wet the bed
and it wasn’t true one bit.

Below is an mp3 of the song and a karaoke version to which students can sing their own words.

In a cave there lived a spider.
He liked to drink warm apple cider.
He liked to think about his life.
He wondered if he’d ever have a wife.
Lonely spider.

In the river
there lived a croc.
He liked to lie (3X)
upon a big flat rock.
He dreamed of going for a walk,
But he had no shoes
and he only had one sock.

This songs just 20 seconds long. For kids, I play it a few times, providing a bit more scaffolding at each stage to help their listening comprehension. I might play the song once with no visual aids, asking them to write down anything at all they hear. After the first listing, I’ll give them time to consult each other. Next, I might provide a model on the board: certain words, a gap-fill, or the structure, like this

In
there
He
upon
He
but
and…

Can’t go wrong with such a short sill song! Wish my language teachers (Latin, Russian, Swedish, German, Polish, Chinese, Spanish, Romanian, French) had given me little listening tasks. Just once.

You’ll also found a slower version: it’s just 24 seconds but easier to understand.

In Audio One (36 seconds), 27 words are missing. Yeah, that’s a lot! But they are little words, just one or two letters each. Read the text before listening and try to fill them in.

(1) ____ first was interested (2) ____ Russia when (3) ____ was 4 years old, after reading… I had just learned (4) ____ read. And (5) ____ started reading (6) ____ magazine about Russia. After becoming interested (7) ____ the country (8) ____ course (9) ____ read more. Classical literature. History. Russian classical music. Figure skating. Ballet. And when (10)____ was 21 or 22—I don’t remember—I had (11) ____ opportunity (12) ____ come (13) ____ Russia (14) ____ (15) ____ tourist for about three weeks. (16) ____ soon (17) ____ (18) ____ came into Russia, (19) ____ soon (20) ____ (21) ____ stepped out (22) ____ the plane (23) ____ the airport (24) ____ decided that (25) ____ wanted (26) ____ stay (27) ____ Russia.

Audio Two. (1:04). Develop your own listening activity.

Buryat: a person of one of several Asian nationalities in Russia.

So when I returned to the US after that trip I began looking for work [in Russia] and there was an agency. I think that it’s closed now. But there used to be an agency in Chitinskaya Oblact [in Eastern Russia]

that were looking for native speakers. Through this agency I found a school and they were willing to take me. I was willing to go. So that’s how I ended up there. I was a small village of about one thousand three hundred people. There were two Russian families; everyone else was Buryat. So I worked in a school for three years. I taught second through 11th grades. I enjoyed it very much but village life was very difficult so I decided I needed to move to a city, especially since I almost ruined my health completely.

Audio Three. (1:04). Develop your own listening activity.

I came to Birobidzhan because somebody mentioned it to me just in passing, and it was interesting because I’d also always been interested in Israel, and I thought I could hit two birds with one stone. So basically I telephoned the department of education, said that I would like to move here, could I find a job? They gave me the number of the Institute. I spoke to the dean. He said “Please come and we’ll sign a contract.” So, I came to Birodbidzhan and I like it. It’s very clean, quiet, calm, organized. It’s a nice city. And yes I do plan to stay here. In Russia permanently and

probably in Birobidzhan for quite some time. It’s possible to get permanent residence status. Personally, I would prefer to change my citizenship because I see no reason… I see no reason to keep my American citizenship if I plan to live the rest of my life in Russia. However I have… I’ve been told by different people, by Russian people, by my parents, that I would be very stupid to give up my American citizenship, so I don’t know. Personally, I would like to get Russian citizenship.

Complete Text, Audio 1: I first was interested in Russia when I was 4 years old, after reading… I had just learned to read. And I started reading a magazine about Russia. After becoming interested in the country of course I read more. Classical literature. History. Russian classical music. Figure skating. Ballet. And when I was 21 or 22—I don’t remember—I had an opportunity to come to Russia as a tourist for about three weeks. As soon as I came into Russia, as soon as I stepped out of the plane in the airport I decided that I wanted to stay in Russia.

 Командировкa в Польшу

Моего мужа (1) __________ в командировку в Польшу. Он (2) __________ со своим сотрудником до самой границы и на границе у него (3) __________ паспорт. (4) __________, что в паспорте нет печати. Ему (5) __________ вернуться. Сколько это километров? Километров 400 назад (6) __________ печать в паспорте и (7) __________ в Польшу обратно. А если бы это (8) __________ Ямайка?
ответы: (1) послали  (2) доехал (3) (4) Оказалось (5) пришлось  (6) получить (7) отправиться (8) была