Looking for a creative and engaging way to teach advanced vocabulary to your English learners? Here’s a twist—combine learning with a classic party game! If you want to incorporate some fun into your English lessons while keeping things educational, this Beer Pong Vocabulary Game is the perfect tool for teaching B2 to C1 verbs in a way that sticks.
Level Up Your English Class: Introducing a Fun Beer Pong Vocabulary Game!
Below, you’ll find everything you need to set up this game in your classroom, along with the vocabulary and activities designed to enhance your students’ language skills.
The Set-Up: How It Works
- Two Teams, One Goal:
Divide your class into two teams. Each team takes turns trying to toss a ping-pong ball into the opposing team’s cups. You can design the rules of the game as you wish. Either it ends after a set number of hits or a cup is taken away from a team after each unsuccessful attempt – the game is over after the last cup. A mixture is also possible. The corresponding learning activity can be rolled for the opponents by the team that scored. This can be done by assigning a number to the activity or by using a digital or physical die that can be labeled. - The Cup Challenge:
When a team misses a shot, it’s not just about losing the chance to score a point—it’s a learning opportunity! The team must complete a short vocabulary task that focuses on the 10 advanced English verbs:
- advocate for
- elaborate on
- implement
- emerge (from)
- constitute
- commence
- encompass
- complement
- convey
- assemble
Six Game Tasks to Incorporate:
- Verb Swap:
Provide a sentence using a simpler verb and challenge the team to swap it out with the correct B2 or C1 verb.
Example: “The committee decided to begin the project.”
(Swap: “The committee decided to commence the project.”)
Fun Twist: Add a time limit of 30 seconds. If they can’t complete the swap in time, they lose a cup! - Quick Dialogue:
Present a situational prompt that students must respond to using one of the advanced verbs.
Example: “You’re discussing a new initiative. How do you ask someone to give more details?”
(Use: Elaborate on)
Fun Twist: Incorporate a “random word” they must include in their response. If they can’t, they lose a cup. - Verb Puzzle:
Have students fill in gaps in a definition using one of the target verbs.
Example: “To publicly support or recommend a cause is to __.”
(Use: Advocate for)
Fun Twist: Set a 60-second timer for each puzzle. If they don’t finish in time, they lose a cup. - Speed Synonyms:
Give a quickfire round of synonyms for the team to name the correct advanced verb.
Example: “To form or make up something.”
(Answer: Constitute)
Fun Twist: Introduce a “reverse synonym” challenge where they must give antonyms instead. If they fail, they lose a cup. - Define & Mimic:
Students must define one of the target verbs and then act it out without using words. The opposing team guesses the verb.
Example: “To gather people or things together in one place.” (Act out: Assemble)
Fun Twist: Limit them to only three gestures. If they go beyond, they lose a cup. - Sentence Relay:
Each team creates a sentence using one of the target verbs, but they must do it relay-style. One member starts the sentence, and as soon as they finish, the next member must continue using the same verb in a new context.
Example: “To improve the project, we must implement new strategies, which will…”
Fun Twist: Set a 45-second timer for the entire sentence to be completed. If they can’t finish, they lose a cup.
The Vocabulary: B2 to C1 Verbs
- Advocate for:
To publicly support or recommend a cause or policy. - Elaborate on:
To give more details about something. - Implement:
To put into action or execute a plan or policy. - Emerge from:
To come out from a particular situation or state. - Constitute:
To form or make up something. - Commence:
To begin or start something. - Encompass:
To include a range of things or ideas. - Complement:
To complete or add to something in a way that improves it. - Convey:
To communicate or express something. - Assemble:
To gather people or things together in one place.
Why It Works:
The combination of physical activity with cognitive tasks keeps students engaged and motivated. The added challenge of completing tasks within a time limit ensures no downtime, and the variety of tasks helps reinforce the vocabulary in multiple contexts. This kind of active learning encourages collaboration and deeper retention of language skills.
Integrating the Activity into Lesson Planning:
- Vocabulary Review: Use this game as a fun way to review vocabulary from previous lessons before introducing new content.
- Thematic Units: Combine the game with thematic units (e.g., environmental issues, social justice) where students must not only use the verbs but also discuss their relevance in real-world contexts.
- Group Projects: After the game, have students work in their teams to create a short presentation or role-play using the verbs in a specific scenario, encouraging creativity and collaboration.
- Reflection and Feedback: Follow the game with a reflective session where students discuss how they used the verbs in their sentences and what they learned from each activity.
- Cross-Curricular Connections: Link the verbs to subjects like history or science, where students can discuss and use the vocabulary in different contexts, enhancing their understanding of both the language and the content.
Let’s Play!
So, are you ready to introduce this fun, interactive way to practice advanced vocabulary in your classroom? Download the full game materials below and try it out! Whether your students are hitting cups or missing shots, they’ll be learning—and loving every minute of it.
Get Your Beer Pong Vocabulary Game Materials here!