Directions: In an effort to get to know one another a little bit better, and to build a dynamic classroom culture where we talk to multiple people in English, the first activity that we will have in this class is an introductory scavenger hunt.
A scavenger hunt is a type of game wherein participants have a list of items that they have to scavenge to find (search for and collect). Instead of looking for hidden objects, however, today we’re looking for information from our classmates. This will serve two purposes:
1. Everyone will have multiple short conversations with as many classmates as possible ( 2. Everyone will get to practice speaking in English and using grammar that can sometimes be tricky (Question formation, and reported speech).
These multiple short conversations will take place in breakout rooms. You will be randomly assigned to a breakout room with some of your classmates, where you will ask each other the questions suggested below. You will have about eight minutes to do this. When the eight minutes are up, everyone will go back to the main room and share some of the information they gleaned.
I’m going to be popping into the breakout rooms and listening to your conversations, and will answer any questions you may have in the process.
The list of items that you need to find are written below as statements. However, in order to find out this information you’ll need to turn these statements into questions. Here’s an example:
Statement: Find someone who prefers comedies to dramas when it comes to films, books, or television.
Possible question structures:
- Which do you prefer in stories, comedies or dramas?
- Do you prefer comedies or movies?
- When it comes to films, books, or television, do you prefer comedies or dramas?
- Which do you prefer in stories, comedies or dramas?
Once you have your answer, you should feel free to ask a follow up question. This may include finding the title of your classmates’ favorite work of art, or entertainment, or asking why or how (many). Feel free to allow your curiosity to determine your own follow up questions. Make sure you take notes of your classmate’s answers, as you will need these when you report back to class!
Find classmates who:
1. Prefer going to cultural and historical landmarks when they visit a new city (museums, plays, important buildings and statues) over going to more residential and/or “local’” corners.
2. Prefer sweet food to savory food
3. Likes to stay up late
4. Likes to wake up early
5. Has a pet
6. Has a sibling (brother or sister)
7. Prefers exercising, playing sports, and being outside to staying inside and watching a movie, reading a book, playing video games or going online.
8. Prefers spending a quiet night with friends and/or family to going out
9. Has studied English for less than five years
10. Has studied English for more than ten years
11. Prefers life in the country to life in the city
12. Has academic interests that include subjects like science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
13. Has academic interests that include subjects like foreign languages, literature, history, philosophy, or the arts (humanities)
14. Has academic interests that include subjects like sociology, economics, political science, or anthropology (social science)
15. Has academic interests that include subjects like business, management, advertising, or marketing
16. Follows the news closely and loves talking about current events and popular culture
17. Has a vivid imagination and can easily busy their mind by daydreaming, at a moment’s notice