Teambuilding in English Language Camps

By Lara Ravitch

Challenges

Teambuilding is important, but it can be difficult at an English language camp. What are some challenges? Some teambuilding activities may use too much language for novice learners. Other activities may require speed. This may provoke anxiety when learners must speak a new language quickly. In addition, some activities may use strange materials. Unusual materials, such as a lampshade or giant rubber band can raise interest, but they can make vocabulary a problem. Finally, children may get so excited about the activity that they forget to use English. This article will explain how to choose a good teambuilding activity and how to prepare students for the language needs.

How to Choose a Teambuilding Activity

Which teambuilding activity is appropriate for your group? It depends on your campers!

Multi-level groups

If you are doing team building outside of language class, you may have a group with different language levels. To make sure everyone is comfortable, choose a game that does not use much language. If you have novice learners in your group, choose a game that uses fewer than three words. You can even create a rule that campers cannot speak or can only use certain words. Remember, your main goal is to build a team. They should try to avoid their native language, but if they only use a little English, that’s ok!

Language classes

If you want to do team building with your language class, make sure to pick an activity that is not too advanced. The main goal of teambuilding games is to build the team, not to practice English, so the language should be easy. If you have an advanced group, pick an activity that uses intermediate-level language. If you have a novice group, pick an activity that uses fewer than three words. Is it acceptable to do a teambuilding activity where the teambuilding task is language-focused? Yes, but it should add other skills. This activity should be a chance for everyone to help, not only the most advanced language students.

Language Support for Teambuilding Activities

Before you do a teambuilding activity, think about the language the campers will need. Think about both vocabulary related to the materials you are using and communication they need to have with each other in order to accomplish the task. If they only need a few words, you can teach them at the beginning of the activity and then get started. If they need more vocabulary or longer chunks of language, you may need to teach them a lesson or two before you do the activity. With older students, you can explain the activity to them and then ask them what language they think they will need to do the activity. Then, you can build your lesson around their selections. They will be very motivated to learn the language when they have chosen it themselves!

As they do the activity, repeat the language they need and remind them of it when you think they need to use it. If you hear them speak their native language, give them the words they need in English. If the group starts using their native language and stops using English entirely, stop the activity. Ask them why they are using their native language. If they still need to learn more language, teach it to them. If they are too excited about the task, add language use into the task. Tell them that if they use their native language, they will have to begin the task from the beginning.

Example

The activity described below is an example of a teambuilding game.

Group description: Mixed levels, including some lower-level learners but no absolute beginners.

Activity: The human knot

In this activity, the campers stand in a circle. They reach across the circle with their right hand and grab the right hand of another camper. Then, they reach across the circle with their left hand and grab the left hand of a different camper. Now, they are a human knot! Their task is to untangle themselves without letting go of their partners’ hands.

Language comprehension needs: In order to explain how to play the game, the teacher can demonstrate, and more advanced learners can show less proficient learners. It is not necessary to teach the language for “stand in a circle and grab the hand of someone on the other side.”

Language production needs: To untangle themselves, they will need to step over and under other people’s hands. They will need a short lesson to make sure everyone knows the following language:

Lift your hands up.

Put your hands down.

Go over our/their hands.

Go under our/their hands.

Go this way.

Go back.

Turn around.

Conclusion

Team-building is an important part of camp, and it can be done in English! It can even be done in English with very low-level learners and with mixed groups. Pick the right activities and teach necessary language ahead of time, and your campers can be successful!

https://youtu.be/fSNIyX_i5p0

https://www.momjunction.com/articles/camping-games-and-activities-for-teens_00399677/#gref

https://campfire.org/blog/article/11-tips-for-better-conflict-resolution/

http://www.bwccampsandretreats.com/VolTrainingI_files/Module1Train_Section6_Conflict.pdf