English Warm Up Games for ALTs
What is a warm-up game?
Japanese students don’t always have lots of genki energy and a love for English, especially early in the morning! Students often need a jolt of engagement to get them ready for the next 50 minutes.
A warm-up game helps with that. It’s a way for students to wake up and get in the mindset for a lesson. A warm-up game is a simple, fast-paced activity that will excite your students and get them ready to learn.
Why are warm-up games important?
Warm-up games are important as they set the course of the lesson. They are an important tool for ALTs to control the flow of the class. Warm-up games let ALTs introduce their lessons as fun and engaging from the start of the class.
Easy warm-up games for ALTs in Japan
Listed below are some examples of warm-up games that will give your lessons a strong start and motivate even the sleepiest students:
1. Vocabulary Karuta: A classroom classic
• Divide your class into small groups.
• Each group receives a set of vocabulary cards.
• Have the class ask you a question such as “What month is it?”
• Respond with “It’s April!” or a similar vocabulary answer.
• The first student in the group to snatch the “April” card gets a point. Continue until all cards are gone
2. Telephone: A fun activity that uses listening and speaking skills
• Have the first and last student row-wise play janken
• The winner receives the message from the ALT
• Students pass the message down the rows until the last student
• Ask the last student repeat the message and compare it to the original message
3. Criss-Cross: A good review format for vocabulary or grammar points
• Ask all the students to stand up.
• Ask a question.
• The first student to raise their hand and correctly answer the question can choose whether they and their row sit down horizontally or vertically.
• That student and their row can sit down.
• Repeat until all are seated.
4. Name Ten: A great way to get students thinking in EnglishDivide the class into pairs or groups
• Have each pair or group use a sheet of paper and a pencil
• ALT will say a category and set a timer
• Each group will write as many English words as they know for that category
• The group with the highest number of words will win the round, if the words are correct
5. Fly Swatter Game: A very fun activity that burns up energy and gets students fired up for the class!
• Bring a set of cards with short descriptions and fly swatters for the number of groups you will divide the class into.
• Stick the cards on the board and give all the students a couple of minutes to read them
• One person from each group will come to the front to represent their group.
• Show these students a picture and they have to swat the best-fitting description.
You can start with a general hint and make it more obvious as the round progresses. It is up to the students if they want to risk and swat their guess before the answer is obvious.
• Each round rotates members from each group.
Warm-up games are a great segway into a lesson and can set the tone for the rest of your lesson. Use warm-up activities for review, introduction or just to get into the English mindset!
These activities aren’t limited to the start of your class. Feel free to adapt these games whenever you need an activity.
Want more advice on teaching English in Japan? Read our other blogs here.
