By: I Nengah Merdekawati, EBPP English Teacher
Getting students engaged when learning English can be a rewarding experience, especially when using creative and interactive methods. In my 7th-grade class, I recently taught vocabulary of classroom objects through a fun and cooperative learning activity.
I started by giving students a matching activity: worksheets with pictures of classroom items and their corresponding words, which they hadn’t learned before. Their task was to connect the two by drawing lines. The activity immediately captured their attention, and they eagerly traced the lines. At the end, they enjoyed checking their answers with their peers. They naturally learned from their mistakes and quickly corrected them.
Next, I introduced simple phrases such as “What is it?” and “It’s a ...” — very basic but meaningful expressions that students practiced in groups, taking turns. After initial hesitation, they gradually gained confidence, using them correctly to ask and answer questions with the new vocabulary. This activity not only helped them learn but also encouraged interaction and teamwork.
To make it even more exciting, I turned it into a friendly competition: students earned points for each correct answer, and at the end, the student with the highest score was the winner. The students enjoyed this so much that many said they wanted to do similar activities in future lessons!
This simple yet engaging method not only taught vocabulary but also fostered teamwork, communication, and confidence. Interactive and participatory teaching can transform lessons into an unforgettable experience, sparking both joy and a love for learning.
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