Simple Past - Games
 

Hi,

I am teaching a class with students in their late forties who are absolute beginners and have severe problems understanding the simple past - are there any games that might be of help?

Thanks!!

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

There are a bunch of possible games but where are the problems:
- formulation of -ed enings ?
- irregular verbs ?
- making questions with 'did' ?
- the past tense of 'be' ?
- the negative with 'didn't' ?

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

the past tense of be

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

was
were

just two words...

not hard

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

I used this idea with my university students. They generally have a short attention span, and aren't the most studious of sorts. Anyway...

The lesson focused on the past tense, and I didn't want to give them a boring list to memorize. Yet I wanted to begin with a worksheet as a reference tool, practice through it, and then build on it.

I first made a crossword puzzle through Discovery Channel's Puzzlemaer (www.puzzlemaker.com), using 15 words in the past tense. These were words that would resonate with the students, and which we would use later in the lesson.

Next I dictated the fifteen words in the present tense. Students had to write the words, then compare spelling with a partner. They then searched for the words, which they had to conjugate. Again, answers were checked with a partner.

Lastly, after going through pronunciation drills and substitution drills, students interviewed 3 people in the class about their last weekend. Most of the words were used, but students were free to add information according to their ability level.

I liked how I was able to get several skills into one long activity, as well as keep hold of most everyone's attention for the full lesson.

Hope this idea proves useful!

Chris Cotter
www.headsupenglish.com

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

Chris - great idea! Thanks for sharing that tip... The crossword maker on that website is great, too - certainly reduces lesson prep time which is always a good thing!

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

Check out this page for interactive games for past tenses.
You can also board games to help you practice. Here are past tense board games.
This website is great because there are templates which you can easily edit to create your own exercises to teach almost any kind of grammar point. Enjoy! It's 100% FREE

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

great page ,,thanks...

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

The crossword idea is really great. I also like to play Tic Tac Toe to test their memories and get them to use the verb form in a sentence.

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

Get some pictures from movies/cartoons/comics etc (depending on what the students will like/understand etc in the middle of something happening. Get the students to describe what is happening in the present tense, and then say what has happened in the past tense

I use movies and for the first few I will use ones that they pretty much definitely will have seen and remember to get them used to the idea (first one is Jack and Rose standing on the Titanic and students have to say things like 'The boat left England. Rose was unhappy etc) and then move onto more bizarre and offbeat ones to have a bit of fun with

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

For low levels, use a lot of visuals such as pictures and keep the lesson focused so you don't overwhelm them. :)

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

Movies, visual aids and having bilingual dictionaries with pictures will help. Make them create their own bilingual dictionaries -it will help them feel more ownership and understand quicker.

Re: Simple Past - Games
 

Tic Tac Toe, Bingo, Past simple tennis. Check out this page for more ideas: English Commander
You can customize the games to use the past simple