I start using this game with very young children, phonics level, but it works best with 10+ children. Kids learn a few nouns and short sentences with the appropriate body language. It may not be original but I thought it up in about 2001 and have used it occasionally to stimulate bored adults too. Here's how it goes...

1. Write the title of the game on the board and say "New Game!". Most kids in Korea know these words, especially "hint and game" (see English Words Used in the Korean Language, eslteachersboard.com, lessons/games section).

2. Teacher thinks of an object but does not tell the class (mystery, a challenge).

3. Teacher sketches a small portion of the mystery object and says to the first child.."What is it?"

4. The child often does not understand teacher so try using the native language or simplify, say "What?".

5. At this point other children will be whispering, trying to help the student. Then I try the word "Guess!". Some small children know this word, some don't.

6. Next, write this short expression on the board and say it "Teacher give a hint!" or "Shetch a hint!" Tell the students to REPEAT the sentence (Dara ha-sa-yo in Korean).

7. Then give the class another hint, sketch another portion of the mystery object.

8. If the object is simple and familiar, a pig's face or a house, the kids will know it and will shout out the answer or raise their hands. Raising hands is preferable as classes can get far too excited about the game. Insist on it. Ignore the kids who shout.

9. Kids often give the answer in the native language. Don't accept this. Say "English? English?" and wait for the answer. The child with the first correct answer in English is the winner. Make a big fuss over the winner, raising and shaking the hand, patting the back vigorously (kids love this) and saying "The Winner!". You can also ask the class to "Clap!" (pok-su in Korean). Then finish the sketch and and label it in English. The winning child is given the chalk or marker and asked to take the role of sketcher or teacher. This is only possible if the teacher has demonstrated the game several times and stands to the side coaching the child with correct commands. Often children will grunt or tap the board rather than use the English.

10. All these small sentence are whole language and very useful.

11. One small problem. Often a child in the class will hum and haw or dally and delay and everybody becomes impatient. Kids do this because they were not watching teacher carefully or just did not catch on. A few children do this to get more attention. Don't spend too much time on any one child. The game will die. You can pass on to the next child (in many games) without hurting a child's feelings by doing a slow count-down like in a TV gameshow or boxing match..."One, two, three...OUT!" and make a buzzer sound like "EEEEE-ooooo" with your thumbs pointed down. Everybody finds this funny and joins in the count-down if you coach them to join in. Then teacher moves on to the next child in the class.

12. Sketch & Hint is similar to Hangman Game but has very little English written on the board (Just the commands). It is mostly a speaking and listening game. That is its power. Some children are v. poor at sketching on the board and nobody can guess what they have drawn. Teacher has to coach them to make the drawing bigger or just ask for the answer "Ok, what is it?" and then move on to another child.

This game is so much fun that children don't realize it is a lesson and don't want to leave when the bell rings.

Copyright Robin Tim Day