Teacher notes · Classroom Games
Spotlight: the whiteboard game that drills pronunciation without telling students they're drilling pronunciation
- Prepare your word list ahead of time. Six to ten words that share the pronunciation problem you're targeting. Don't improvise mid-game or you'll pick words that don't pattern together.
- Conduct the shout like you're conducting a choir. Hand up, hand down sharply, they shout on the drop. If you don't control the timing they shout at different speeds and the student at the front hears mush.
- When a student gets it wrong, write both versions on the board without comment. "Light" next to "right." Let them see the gap, then let the class shout again. Your silence is what makes them focus.
- If one word is breaking everyone, pause and drill it separately for 30 seconds. Whole class repeats after you five times, then return to the game with a fresh word. Don't let one difficult word stall the game for three minutes.
- The student at the front should repeat immediately after the shout, not after thinking for five seconds. If they hesitate, it means they're translating or guessing. Tell them before the game starts: "Repeat what you heard right away, even if you're not sure."