Drilling games and activities have deep roots in language teaching, stemming from behaviorist methods like audiolingualism, which emphasized forming correct language habits. While language teaching has evolved, drilling remains an activity teachers choose to do in their classrooms for various reasons:
- It provides intensive controlled practice.
- It enables immediate feedback from the teacher.
- It provides a safe environment for learners to experiment with producing the language.
- It directs students’ attention to accurate pronunciation and form.
- It helps memorize language structures and patterns, enhancing fluency.
And then the list continues….
In this guide, you’ll find a collection of drilling games and activities to boost engagement and enjoyment in your lessons. Let’s dive in!
1) Musical Drilling
Incorporate songs and chants with repetitive structures so that students can practice language points while enjoying music. Choose songs or chants with clear lyrics and catchy melodies, making them engaging for students of all ages and language levels.
2) Substitution Drilling Game
Start with a sentence that students repeat. Then, introduce a substitution, prompting students to modify the sentence accordingly. For instance:
T: “I always make my bed.”
Class: “I always make my bed.”
T: “Usually.”
Class: “I usually make my bed”
3) Multiple substitution drill
The teacher reads a sentence, and the students repeat it. The teacher then calls out two or more words the students must use in the sentence.
4) Error Correction Drilling Activity
Present sentences with errors for students to identify and correct. Watch my class, and I do this activity!
5) Swap!
Learners are given flashcards. They walk around the classroom and swap their pictures, but as they swap, they have to say the word of the image they have. When the teacher says STOP, they put the flashcards on their heads. The first student to do this gets a point.
6) Ball drill
Learners stand in a circle. The teacher points to a picture and asks a question, for example, ‘What is she doing?’ Then, the teacher throws the ball at student A, who has to reply, ‘She is reading a book.’ The teacher changes the picture, and student A throws the ball to student B, asking, ‘What are they doing?’ and so on.
7) Storytelling Circle
In this exercise, students sit in a circle and take turns adding to a collective story. This encourages students to think quickly and creatively and helps them practice speaking in a cohesive and engaging manner.
8) Disappearing Text
Write a dialogue on the board and ask students to read it. Then, gradually remove or cover some words. Students must read the text again, this time making an effort to remember the words that are no longer in the text. Continue the drill until the board is empty.
9) Concentric Circles
Students make two circles, one inside circle and one outside circle. Each student on the inside circle faces a student in the outside circle. The teacher poses a question, and students discuss it for two minutes. When time is up, the students on the outside circle move to the right and so they change partners and discuss the same question. Looking for speaking activities? CLICK HERE!
10) Transformation Drill
Challenge students to transform sentences from one form to another, such as direct to indirect speech or active to passive voice.
In conclusion, drilling remains an effective method in language teaching because it provides intensive practice, immediate feedback, and a safe space for experimentation. With these 10 drilling games and activities, you can inject fun and engagement into your lessons while helping students improve their accuracy and fluency when using the language.
Paula.
