It's a complex game, but once the students understand the rules, it is always well received. In addition to this, they are having an authentic speaking and listening experience. Rather than focused on just words, they are receiving language in context. All students are focused on the game and are being tricked into learning.
I choose not to do this in the primary school because it's "violent", but it thoroughly appeals to my secondary students as evidenced by the pop culture they consume!
I have played it both in Chinese and in Indonesian. This year, I have purposely incorporated into my Year 7 Indonesian program, as it is an excellent way to teach story telling to students.
If you don't have cards, you get the students to close their eyes, and say; "Saya sekarang pilih polisi..." then tap them on the head, etc.
Prior Knowledge
Self & Family
Friends; describing words, hobbies, a few places where they do the hobbies, eg. beach
School
Story characters: Tokoh Cerita - physical and
Pre-learning Activities
2. Depending on level of students, I also may get the students to write ad-lib story scenarios. They fill in the blanks on a scaffolded paragraph. Attached at bottom of post. Students with high ability are allowed to freestyle or add anything extra they like.
Vocabulary/The Narrator Script in Indonesian
Tidurlah orang desa.
Bangunlah penjahat.
Kamu akan membunuh siapa?
Terima kasih, tidurlah.
Dokter, bangunlah.
Kamu akan menyelamatkan siapa?
Terima kasih, tidurlah.
Polisi, bangunlah.
Siapa penjahat/leyak?
Terima kasih, tidurlah.
Sudah pagi, selamat pagi semuanya!
Orang desa bangun!
An example of a story I tell to reveal who the killer is:
Pada suatu malam, orang ini berjalan kaki ke sekolah. Dia bermain bola basket dengan teman dia . Tiba tiba, ada bola basket terjatuh di atas kepala orang ini dan orang ini mati. Orang ini bernama ... (pause dramatically and make eye contact with every student. Watch them draw their breaths!) .... Bob! Aduh, kasihan Bob! Bob sudah mati (or meningggal dunia depending on how polite you are)...
With new words the students haven't learned but add to the story, I act it out and the students easily can deduce what that word is.
My stories can get very silly and sometimes I take the opinions of my students on board, for example one of them wanted an oranghutan to come out the works and eat them all, but it ensures 100% engagement and the students practice listening for gist skills.
To ensure we also get even more language practice, since my classes are small, I have the students go around in a circle and require all students to give their opinion on who they think the killer is.
Me: Menurut pendapat Anda, siapa penjahat? Bagaimana pendapat Anda? - Year 9 and up (According to your opinion, who is the evil person? / What's your opinion?)
Siapa penjahat? Year 7 - 8. (Who is the evil person?)
The first time we play I simply teach them; "Saya pikir penjahat adalah..." (I think the evil person is....)
The following time, I also encourage the students to say "Saya setuju/tidak setuju, karena..."
Hopefully with further scaffolding, I will also ask; "Mengapa?"
Dia kelihatan gugup. (S/He looks nervous.)
Dia kelihatan takut. (S/He looks scared.)
Dia kelihatan senang. (S/He looks happy.)
The other great thing is the students don't necessarily need to have a detailed understand of the grammar in the language, and mistakes are not an issue. It can be played over any of the years as long as you have a big enough class, and can vary the language difficulty as required.
Something else you can add, as they progressively become better at the game is. Those who are accused stand up, and they need to defend themselves, to do this they can make up a scenario about where they were.
For example, "Saya bukan mafia, karena saya di rumah ibu saya."
"Saya bukan mafia, karena saya berenang di pantai."
At the end, ask the student who has finally been accused "Apakah kamu penjahat? Ya atau tidak?"
OTher tips
- I have my script with me to play, because I often get distracted and confused as it's complex!
- I also keep a running tab on a mini whiteboard in my hand so that I know who has died, who is the police officer etc.
Resources
A Powerpoint to introduce the concept, and have a bit of a "buy in".
My Mafia Ad-libs; use whatever knowledge the students have and provide structure.
Before they play, they create the different scenarios, and I collect the scenarios. They really enjoy waiting to see whose story pops up. Sometimes after they "die", I get the students to read their own scenario out.
mafia_ad-libs_year_8_version.docx |
ad_lib_descriptions_1.docx |
ad_lib_descriptions_2.docx |
mafia_game_vocab.docx |
leyak_mafia_game.pptx |