9/25/2017 iteslj.

org - Bad Fruit: A Shoppers' Nightmare (Games & Activities for the ESL/EFL Classroom)

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Bad Fruit: A Shoppers' Nightmare

Level: Easy to Medium

This is an oral communication activity appropriate for EFL learners in elementary/primary school. (It's
optimal for grades 3-6). This game is designed for practicing "shopping" dialogues and vocabulary.

Materials: "produce" and play money.

Object of Game: To accumulate as many products as possible.

Students are divided into clerks and shoppers.

The clerks set up "stands" to allow easy access for all shoppers (e.g. around the outsides of the room
with their backs to the wall).

The shoppers are given a set amount of money* (e.g. dollars, euros, pounds, etc.) and begin at a stand
where there is an open space.

Students shop, trying to accumulate as many items as possible (each item is 1 unit of currency).

Periodically, the instructor will say "stop" (a bell or other device may be needed to attract attention in
some cultural and classroom contexts) and call out a name of one of the products. Students with that
product must then put ALL their products in a basket at the front of the room. The remaining students
continue shopping. Students who had to dump their products must begin again from scratch (with
fewer units of currency).

The student with the most products at the end wins.

Students then switch roles.

*It is recommended giving students as much money as possible since students who run out can no longer
participate.

Alternative play for more advanced students: Clerks set the price of items. Shoppers have the option of
negotiating the price. There are two winners in this version: The shopper who accumulates the most products
and the clerk who makes the most money.
Submitted by: Mike Yough

Copyright (C) 2005 by The Internet TESL Journal

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