Crosswords are a popular and versatile activity that can be used in many different ways in the EFL classroom. They can help students practice vocabulary, spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills. In this blog post, I will share some tips and ideas on how to use crosswords effectively and creatively in your EFL lessons.
Tips for using crosswords in the EFL classroom
- Choose crosswords that are appropriate for your students’ level and interests. You can find many free online crossword generators that allow you to customize the difficulty, size, and theme of the puzzles such as Instant Online Puzzle Maker. Alternatively, you can create your own crosswords using a word list or a text that you want to review with your students. For example, you can use a word list from a textbook chapter or a text from a magazine article.
- Provide clear instructions and examples before giving out the crosswords. Explain how to fill in the blanks, how to check the answers, and what to do if they get stuck. You can also model how to use clues, synonyms, antonyms, word families, or other strategies to solve the puzzles. For example, you can show them how to use the first letter of a word or the number of letters as clues.
- Vary the way you use crosswords in your lessons. You can use them as a warm-up, a review, a filler, a homework assignment, or a test. You can also use them as a basis for other activities, such as discussions, presentations, writing tasks, or games. For example, you can have students discuss the words or topics from the crosswords in groups or pairs, present their solutions or findings to the class, write sentences or paragraphs using the words from the crosswords, or play bingo or memory games with the crosswords.
- Encourage collaboration and interaction among your students. You can have them work in pairs or groups to complete the crosswords, or have them compete against each other in teams or individually. You can also have them create their own crosswords for their classmates to solve, or exchange crosswords with other classes or schools. For example, you can have students design their own clues and grids for their crosswords using online tools or paper and pencil, and then swap them with another pair or group for solving.
- Give feedback and follow-up on the crosswords. You can check the answers together as a class, or have students self-check or peer-check their work. You can also elicit corrections, explanations, examples, or sentences using the words from the crosswords. You can also ask students to reflect on what they learned, what they enjoyed, or what they found challenging about the crosswords. For example, you can have students write a short summary of what they learned from the crosswords on a sticky note and stick it on a board.
Ideas for using crosswords creatively in the EFL classroom
- Use crosswords to introduce or review a topic or theme. For example, you can use a crossword about animals to introduce a unit on wildlife, or a crossword about hobbies to review vocabulary related to leisure activities. You can also ask students to research more information about the words or topics from the crosswords and share it with the class.
- Use crosswords to practice grammar points or language functions. For example, you can use a crossword with verb tenses to practice conjugation, or a crossword with question words to practice forming questions. You can also ask students to write sentences using the words from the crosswords in different tenses or forms.
- Use crosswords to develop reading skills or comprehension. For example, you can use a crossword based on a short story or a news article to check students’ understanding of the main ideas, details, characters, or vocabulary. You can also ask students to write their own summaries of the story or article using the words from the crosswords.
- Use crosswords to stimulate creativity or critical thinking. For example, you can use a crossword with incomplete clues or words to challenge students to fill in the gaps, or a crossword with multiple possible answers to encourage students to think of different options. You can also ask students to create their own stories or scenarios using the words from the crosswords.
- Use crosswords to have fun and motivate your students. For example, you can use a crossword with jokes, riddles, trivia, or fun facts to make your students laugh and learn something new. You can also use a crossword with hidden messages or surprises to reward your students for their efforts.
Crosswords are a simple but effective way to enhance your EFL teaching and learning. They can be adapted to any level, topic, or objective, and they can provide variety and engagement for your students. Try using some of these tips and ideas in your next lesson and see how your students respond!
Have you used crosswords in class before? How did it go? Please share your ideas with us in the comments.
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