Play in class

NT2 games for adults

Playing games with adults in NT2 class is a good idea for many reasons. For example, several studies have shown that playing games has a positive effect on language acquisition. For example, using games for vocabulary acquisition would help with deeper word processing and enhance comprehension and retention.

The use of games in second language learning was also found to have a positive impact on student motivation and engagement. An important finding, as motivation and engagement are two crucial factors for successful language learning.

Another advantage is that it allows learners to practice different language skills at the same time, such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. Moreover, NT2 games often provide learners with immediate feedback; a correct or incorrect expression is quickly spotted.

Targeted exposure

But beware, not all games are suitable for adult NT2 learners. Whereas with a group of children almost any game will always work well, for adults the game format must be carefully considered. It can quickly become childish. It is important to choose games that offer the student rich, engaging and purposeful exposure to Dutch. The games should also have a clear purpose and connect to ongoing tasks and themes. 

Successfully playing NT2 games

Want to do more with NT2 games in class? Then it is important that you take game playing seriously. Make sure your team does, too. Have a conversation with each other about the usefulness and link goals to each game. On your own or with your colleagues, create a card index/folder with all game ideas including associated goals and ways to differentiate.

The more available, the easier it will be to integrate games into your lessons. Another tip is to pay attention to your classroom setting and adapt it to the game. Don't need a table? Then remove the tables. It literally ensures that there are no barriers between the participants and thus you support the game in the best way possible. The final tip is to explicitly include game play in your curriculum and lesson plan. To get you started, we have already listed five games.

5 NT2 games for the NT2 lesson

1. Flying reporters

With this NT2 game you can practice reading, listening and speaking in your group. With this game you can differentiate according to level and easily connect the game to the theme you are working on.

The game goes as follows: divide the group in two. One journalist sits in each group and the rest are reporters. The journalist sits at a desk. The reporters are ready to report to the journalist, who will write a story about it from behind his/her desk.

On the corridor hang a text, for example from the topic you are currently working on or a piece from a newspaper. Set the timer to 5 minutes. The first reporter starts and runs to the text in the corridor.

He reads the first line, memorizes it and runs back to the journalist to report. The journalist writes down the sentence and shouts “yes” when the next reporter may leave. That one goes to read the second sentence and report. Groups A and B compete against each other. At the end of the 5 minutes, you compare together which group was able to convey the most sentences of the text correctly.

2. Quartet

A classic way to increase vocabulary and initiate communication among yourselves is with quartet. Quartetting also works well for ingraining paragraph usage. A very good quartet for beginner groups is the NT2 Word and Picture Quartet Game.

The game contains clear illustrations and categories such as 'vegetables', 'professions' and 'seasons', all word groups that also occur from 0 > A2. Quartets is often a good fit for beginning groups or for lower-level groups.

3. Code Cracker

This NT2 game works well as a conclusion to a theme. The game is called Code Cracker. Make groups of at least 4-5 students.

The first group begins by picking one person to crack the code. That student sits with their back to the board. A word is written on the board by the teacher, for example kitchen. The teammates may now name all kinds of words related to kitchen.

Note that they may not use the word kitchen itself, even in compound words such as kitchen knife or kitchen cabinet. The codebreaker gets one minute to guess the word. When all groups have been a few times, it is time to go over the score sheet together and announce the winning group. 

4. NT2 Language Game

A fun way to practice grammar, conjugating verbs and applying correct word order is with the NT2 Language Game.

The game works like this: there are three stacks of cards with verbs; regular, irregular and separable verbs. And there are six dice. These indicate how a sentence should be constructed. There are dice for such things as subject, tense, conjunctions and sentence type. The player draws a card with the verb to walk and rolls the dice
I - PERSON FORM - QUESTION SENTENCE - PRESENT TENSE.

NT2 games for adults

Playing games with adults in NT2 class is a good idea for many reasons. For example, several studies have shown that playing games has a positive effect on language acquisition. For example, using games for vocabulary acquisition would help with deeper word processing and enhance comprehension and retention.

The use of games in second language learning was also found to have a positive impact on student motivation and engagement. An important finding, as motivation and engagement are two crucial factors for successful language learning.

Another advantage is that it allows learners to practice different language skills at the same time, such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. Moreover, NT2 games often provide learners with immediate feedback; a correct or incorrect expression is quickly spotted.

Targeted exposure

But beware, not all games are suitable for adult NT2 learners. Whereas with a group of children almost any game will always work well, for adults the game format must be carefully considered. It can quickly become childish. It is important to choose games that offer the student rich, engaging and purposeful exposure to Dutch. The games should also have a clear purpose and connect to ongoing tasks and themes. 

Successfully playing NT2 games

Want to do more with NT2 games in class? Then it is important that you take game playing seriously. Make sure your team does, too. Have a conversation with each other about the usefulness and link goals to each game. On your own or with your colleagues, create a card index/folder with all game ideas including associated goals and ways to differentiate.

The more available, the easier it will be to integrate games into your lessons. Another tip is to pay attention to your classroom setting and adapt it to the game. Don't need a table? Then remove the tables. It literally ensures that there are no barriers between the participants and thus you support the game in the best way possible. The final tip is to explicitly include game play in your curriculum and lesson plan. To get you started, we have already listed five games.

5 NT2 games for the NT2 lesson

1. Flying reporters

With this NT2 game you can practice reading, listening and speaking in your group. With this game you can differentiate according to level and easily connect the game to the theme you are working on.

The game goes as follows: divide the group in two. One journalist sits in each group and the rest are reporters. The journalist sits at a desk. The reporters are ready to report to the journalist, who will write a story about it from behind his/her desk.

On the corridor hang a text, for example from the topic you are currently working on or a piece from a newspaper. Set the timer to 5 minutes. The first reporter starts and runs to the text in the corridor.

He reads the first line, memorizes it and runs back to the journalist to report. The journalist writes down the sentence and shouts “yes” when the next reporter may leave. That one goes to read the second sentence and report. Groups A and B compete against each other. At the end of the 5 minutes, you compare together which group was able to convey the most sentences of the text correctly.

2. Quartet

A classic way to increase vocabulary and initiate communication among yourselves is with quartet. Quartetting also works well for ingraining paragraph usage. A very good quartet for beginner groups is the NT2 Word and Picture Quartet Game.

The game contains clear illustrations and categories such as 'vegetables', 'professions' and 'seasons', all word groups that also occur from 0 > A2. Quartets is often a good fit for beginning groups or for lower-level groups.

3. Code Cracker

This NT2 game works well as a conclusion to a theme. The game is called Code Cracker. Make groups of at least 4-5 students.

The first group begins by picking one person to crack the code. That student sits with their back to the board. A word is written on the board by the teacher, for example kitchen. The teammates may now name all kinds of words related to kitchen.

Note that they may not use the word kitchen itself, even in compound words such as kitchen knife or kitchen cabinet. The codebreaker gets one minute to guess the word. When all groups have been a few times, it is time to go over the score sheet together and announce the winning group. 

4. NT2 Language Game

A fun way to practice grammar, conjugating verbs and applying correct word order is with the NT2 Language Game.

The game works like this: there are three stacks of cards with verbs; regular, irregular and separable verbs. And there are six dice. These indicate how a sentence should be constructed. There are dice for such things as subject, tense, conjunctions and sentence type. The player draws a card with the verb to walk and rolls the dice
I - PERSON FORM - QUESTION SENTENCE - PRESENT TENSE.

With these the student has to make a question sentence, for example Am I walking home? You can differentiate well with this game, for example by using only the regular verbs or only the dice for subject and tense.

5. Speaking Cards

The Speaking Cards are specially designed to make it easier, better and more fun for beginning language learners to speak Dutch.

Function and features of the Talking Cards

• Conversation opener: the cards inspire to talk about topics that match the participant's basic vocabulary.
• Language offerings: new words and short sentences are offered thematically
• Sound system: the cards focus on Dutch sounds and elicit feedback on language production
• Pictos: the words, sentences and themes are supported by functional illustrations
• Forms of work: suggestions are given on the back of each card on how to use it

With these the student has to make a question sentence, for example Am I walking home? You can differentiate well with this game, for example by using only the regular verbs or only the dice for subject and tense.

5. Speaking Cards

The Speaking Cards are specially designed to make it easier, better and more fun for beginning language learners to speak Dutch.

Function and features of the Talking Cards

• Conversation opener: the cards inspire to talk about topics that match the participant's basic vocabulary.
• Language offerings: new words and short sentences are offered thematically
• Sound system: the cards focus on Dutch sounds and elicit feedback on language production
• Pictos: the words, sentences and themes are supported by functional illustrations
• Forms of work: suggestions are given on the back of each card on how to use it