Contents
=> The “D word” PowerPoint game
=> City Reports - a writing, research, discussion activity
=> Olympiad in Moscow: “Just Train Your Brain”
=> In the Next Issues

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“PowerPoint Games in the Classroom”
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What’s PowerPoint?
PowerPoint is a program designed by Microsoft for making slide presentations. In fact, if you ever attended on of Kevin’s Russian-American cultural lectures, that was PowerPoint. Often it’s used as a high-tech OHP (overhead projector).

But I think PowerPoint can be used to really involve learners. My friends and I in California like games. We use PowerPoint to create them, and play them on a TV screen. I’ve even tried these games in ESL classes. Students loved them.

Technical Requirements
I understand that in Russia not every teacher has access to a computer (with PowerPoint on it) and a computer projector. But, in three to five years, many or most universities will be making these available to their teachers. In Saudi Arabia, where I recently visited, many classrooms had computers and projectors.

But, hey, you can show a PP presentation on your computer too. So if you give private lessons, or work occasionally with small groups 2-4 students showing a presentation on a small computer screen is feasible.

So I’ve designed a super simple game, available for free download from my web site. Go here, then click on “D Games.” More games will follow in the future.

“D words”
A picture will appear on the screen, and there will be a corresponding “D” word in English. The first team, or first student, to shout out the word gets one point. Or ask students to keep quiet; in this case they will write each “D” word that they see. The student who gets the most images is the winner. When the game is a comptetion it’s a lot of fun.

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City Reports - a writing, research, discussion activity
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The web site Tales From a Small Planet has something called Real Post Reports. Americans who have lived in some foreign city answer lots of questions about that city. You’ll find Real Post Reports of Jeddah, Singapore, Kampala, Rio–just about anywhere. Of the Russian cities, there are Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Peter, and Vladivostok.

The latest of 3 Real Post Reports on Vladivostok was written by Kevin. So if you want to know what he thinks of the city, its environs, and its people, check it out.

These Real Post Reports are also make for good classroom material. Here’s an activity to do.

Step 1
Ask your students the questions below about a city they are familiar with (and which has a Real Post Report). They may write the answers or discuss them in groups.

1. What are the security concerns? (Is it safe?)
2. What fast food and decent restaurants are available? Cost?
3. What’s the pollution Index? (Is the city clean, environmentally friendly?)
4. What interesting or fun things are there to do in the area?
5. Are local trains, busses, taxis safe? Affordable?
6. What is the dress code at work and in public?
7. What is the weather like?

Step 2
Next, ask your students how they think that a visiting foreigner will answer the same questions. Give them time to discuss and write their answers.

Step 2
Finally, print or project some of the real answers, written by foreigners, from the Real Post Report. Teachers might bring to class just a few excerpts if students don’t have access to the web.

The comparisons should make for more lively follow-up conversation.

Don’t Panic!
When you visit Tales from A Small Planet you usually will go first to their “Plea Page.” Here they ask for money to help support the site. Just click “Continue reading Tales From a Small Planet” at the bottom of the page, then find the link to Real Posts. It’s a good site; they are just trying to support themselves.

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Olympiad in Moscow: “Just Train Your Brain”
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Starting November 10th, the Just English web site presents the 3rd All-Russia Distance Olympiad on English history. Find out more at http://www.just-english.ru/olamp01.htm

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In the Next Issue
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Lots more issues coming in October and November, because we’ve lagged behind over the summer. Among the topics:

Halloween stuff (about October 25)
Letter Ladders - the magic word game where you can turn a cat into a dog
Little Lists - an easy discussion activity; more PowerPoint games
More PowerPoint Games

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Copyright 2005 Kevin McCaughey