Hammers is a straightforward yet highly effective game for checking comprehension among beginner ESL students. It's particularly useful when working with young children who might be understanding the content but are hesitant to express it vocally. The beauty of this game is in its simplicity and its ability to reveal how much a student has absorbed.

Game Essentials:

To play Hammers, you'll need some plastic toy hammers, which are usually available at toy stores or online platforms like Amazon. If you can't get hold of these, hands can serve as a good substitute. You'll also need some topic-related items. In this demonstration, we're utilizing LEEP Cards designed to teach the alphabet. Although this game primarily benefits low-level students, it can be adjusted for any age. A typical game session can last between 5 to 10 minutes.

How the Game Works:

Once you've introduced the vocabulary to the students (assuming they've already been exposed to the phonetic sounds of the letters being taught), give a toy hammer to a couple of students. Ask them to raise the hammers high. Then, pronounce the phonic sound related to a letter, for instance, “ah-ah-apple”. The goal is for the students to quickly identify and tap the corresponding card with their hammer. The first one to get it right earns a point. The game continues in this manner.

The Benefits of Hammers:

Hammers isn't just easy to execute; it's highly adaptable. While this example uses the phonetic alphabet, it can be adjusted for any topic or language target. Regardless of age, whether you're teaching young children or adults, you can adapt the game by using level-appropriate cards and increasing the number of cards on the table.

However, a word of caution before diving into the game: always emphasize the "No Hitting!" rule. It's essential to lay out this ground rule clearly before distributing the toy hammers. Overlooking this vital instruction might land you in a tricky situation, as students might get carried away with the thrill of wielding a hammer. Making this rule clear from the outset ensures a fun and safe game environment for everyone.