Cultural dominoes
Overview
Purpose
Acquisition of cultural knowledge
Learning outcome
Students demonstrate their knowledge of aspects of Japanese language and culture.
Skills used
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
Type
Class activity
Related units in Hai! kit
- Unit 1 Konnichi wa
- Unit 2 Sayoo nara
- Unit 3 Denwa bangoo wa nan desu ka
- Unit 4 Mite kudasai
- Unit 5 Dare desu ka
- Unit 6 Hanbaagaa ga suki desu ka
- Unit 7 Kuriketto o shimasu ka
- Unit 8 Petto wa
- Unit 9 Doo shimashita ka
- Unit 10 Kazoku wan an nin desu ka
Instructions
To carry out this activity successfully, you need to ensure that most, if not all, of the cultural knowledge has been discussed beforehand (in some form or other) by the class. One opportunity is in the introductory unit of Hai!, in which students research and present projects on Japanese culture.
Materials
To download the template for the 30 cultural domino cards, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
- Cultural dominoes template for 'Cultural dominoes' activity (Word, 27KB)
- Cultural dominoes template for 'Cultural dominoes' activity (PDF, 11KB).
You need enough domino cards to give the students one each from the set. If you have fewer than 30 in your class, you can give some students more than one card. If you have more than 30 students, alter the final card and make up additional ones. Some students may like to take responsibility for this task.
Steps
- A student shuffles the cards and gives one to each student in the class.
- One student starts the game by going to the front of the room and reading the information on the bottom half of their card.
- The student with the answer to that question on the top of their card responds by reading aloud the answer and going to stand beside the first student at the front of the room.
- The person who has just joined the line then reads aloud the information on the bottom half of their card, and so on.
- The activity continues until all of the cards have been used and all the students are standing in a circle. The student who had the first card should have the answer to the final question.
Tips
- When photocopying the template, enlarge to A3 size to make the cards easier to read.
- To make the cards last longer, laminate the sheets before cutting up.
- Use the dominoes in the first lesson to ascertain the existing cultural knowledge of the students.
- When playing, set a time limit to avoid students getting bored.
Variations
- Add to the deck of cards throughout the year as the students learn more about Japan and its culture, history, and geography. Play this game often so students keep revising their knowledge.
- This activity could be adapted and used as a method of revising vocabulary. A possible question to start the revision could be 'Who has the third month of the year?'.
- Make two smaller sets of cards so there is less down time for students.
- Make new cards that compare New Zealand and Japan, using topics like:
- the highest mountain in each country
- what happens at New Year
- how to say 'hello'.
Further learning
- Students could use the Internet or the school library to research one of the topics on the cards.
- Students could research 'eating out in Japan' and do role plays using tips from Unit 20 Piza o kudasai.
Language to use
- Ii desu
That's good - Yoku dekimashita
Well done - Moo ichido
Once more - Kiite kudasai
Please listen - Yamemashoo
Let's stop - Sugoi
Great!