Icebreakers help us create a sense of community which is essential when we are going to collaborate with people. In the classroom, especially in a foreign language class where students need to try to get their mouths to pronounce unfamiliar words and sounds, people need to know that they are in an environment where it is safe to take risks and make mistakes. Using icebreakers at the beginning of a semester facilitates the process of getting to know one another; this one is a favorite in face-to-face classes.
This icebreaker is a game of BINGO. It’s important to take a few moments before playing to make sure that everyone knows the rules of the game and understands how to play because not all of our students are from the United States and some might not be familiar with it. Ask the class for a volunteer who can explain what the object of the game is and how you get a BINGO by having 5 answers vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
It is easy to customize the BINGO with questions that relate to a specific discipline or instead use general questions that simply help students to get to know one another, as in the example below.
Remember: When giving the instructions to students, emphasize that the game is an excuse to meet people; everyone is to get up and move about the classroom. When they approach a classmate, each student should introduce him/herself and then ask the classmate a question. If the person responds positively, the asker should record his/her name and answer a question for that person in return. Again, it’s more about getting to know classmates than about winning the fabulous prize for getting a Bingo! Also, for that reason, students can only use each classmate’s name for one square.
Demonstrate: Do a few practice examples – either you can approach students and model the interaction you desire or you can ask students to model one or two examples.
Play: Then, have your students begin the game. They should approach a classmate, introduce themselves, ask a question, and if the person responds in the affirmative, write the person’s name and a detail or two in the appropriate box. If someone gets four in a row, the student should say BINGO and then call back their answers as this step will allow students another opportunity to hear classmates’ names and learn a little bit about them. If you have small prizes (pencils, bookmarks or candy, for example) to award to the winners, it adds to the fun.
BINGO Board:
|
Has studied at another college besides GCC |
Has a child | Has taken public transportation | Has visited another country | Plays a musical instrument |
|
Plays on a sports team |
Was born outside the United States |
Exercises every day |
Works while attending college |
Has friends or relatives who speak another language |
|
Takes more than three classes |
Has visited both Niagara Falls USA and NF Canada |
* |
Commutes more than 30 minutes to study at GCC |
Has the same major as you |
|
Is the first in his/her family to attend college |
Wears glasses to read |
Has attended a concert during the past year |
Speaks a language other than English |
Has a pet |
| Likes pizza | Has studied at GCC for more than 1 year | Has taken classes in another community college | Has completed an internship |
Takes classes at more than one GCC campus center |
Use this as a template to create your own board – edit away!
Download yours here: BINGO Board – Find Someone Who
Submitted by:
Jeanne Mullaney
Professor, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Community College of Rhode Island
jmullaney@ccri.edu
Edited By:
Judith Littlejohn, Genesee Community College, 8/19/2018
Image of three people interacting is “Conversation at Wikimania 2014” by Ragesoss, CCBY, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conversation_at_Wikimania_2010_4.jpg
This Teaching Tip is part of a series. Faculty and staff of SUNY Genesee Community College are encouraged to join the TLC Organization for more professional development opportunities. To request enrollment or suggest a topic, email tlc@genesee.edu
August 19, 2018, Judith M Littlejohn
Beyond another Paper 
