Around the World: A Basketball-Inspired Language Game

Around the World is a versatile, basketball-inspired board game designed to facilitate language acquisition through active, ludic engagement. Primarily targeted at elementary school students with A1 to A2 proficiency levels, the game functions as a flexible pedagogical tool that instructors can customize to meet specific learning objectives, such as vocabulary building, grammar practice, or icebreaker activities. By integrating the unpredictability of rock-paper-scissors with a structured board-based progression, the game encourages sustained interaction and meaningful communication in the classroom.

The game mechanics require two to four players to navigate a circular board, with movement determined by winning a round of rock-paper-scissors. Upon landing on a space, the player must answer a language-based prompt or question to maintain their position. This structure supports various teaching methodologies, including Presentation-Practice-Production, Total Physical Response, and Communicative Language Teaching. While the game is primarily designed for speaking and listening, it can be adapted for writing tasks by modifying the board prompts.

Field applications in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, demonstrate that the game effectively fosters student engagement through active participation and enthusiasm. Although the game is highly adaptable, its long-term replayability is contingent upon the instructor’s ability to frequently update the board content. As a component of game-based learning, the tool provides a template-like framework that allows educators to align classroom activities with diverse curricula, making it a practical addition to a language teacher's instructional toolkit.