Gokiburi means "cockroach", but if you use the Japanese word
as you get a reaction from just the sound it. This is the main game that
featured in our NHK TV documentary.
First of all introduce some new conversation piece, for
example "My name is.....", "How are
you?" or anything you like really.
1. Draw on the board an "evolution scale"
2. Everybody starts at the bottom of the scale, i.e. a Gokiburi. Gokiburi crawl about on the floor, hence the
kids have to do the same.
3. The kids form into pairs of 2 gokiburi.
4. They practice today's conversation piece.
For example,
"Hello. How are you?"
"I'm OK/Hot/Hungry/Tired etc. How are you?"
"I'm OK/Hot/Hungry/Tired etc."
5. When they've finished their conversation they "Janken". The best way to do this is in English, try the "Rock, paper, scissors" song from CD vol. IV
6. The winner then moves up one step on the
"Evolution Scale" (i.e. gokiburi
become snakes, snakes become rabbits etc.).
The loser moves down on place (e.g. Peacocks
become rabbits, monkeys become penguins etc.)
Of course Gokiburi can't fall any lower!
7. They then find a partner that is the same
animal as they have become. (i.e. a monkey
does the conversation with another monkey,
a rabbit with a rabbit etc. but a snake with,
say, a rabbit is not allowed!)
8. With their new partner they repeat steps
4,5 and 6 until they reach "Human".
"Humans" have to practice the conversation
and the janken with the teacher. If they
win they then become "god", have
won the game and can sit down!!
The kids play this game in Japanese in kindergarten so
are familiar with it. It allows the teacher to practice
individually with the kids and for the kids to get lots
of practice with their friends. The only thing to watch
out for is cheating - make sure they do the conversation
and not just the janken! Also if they speak Japanese then
demote them down one step!
Also, let the kids choose their own animals to evolve into, hence the "not-quite-correct"
evolution scale above.
@
Here's a video of the game in action. You can see how chaotic it can become,
and also how you have to make sure the kids understand the rules and the
English well, otherwise it just descends into a noise fest!
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