Word shake

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-with-english/wordshake

Area : Vocabulary
Rate : ★★★★
Target : Middle school students




Wordshake is a great game that can be played with all friends. It’s a very simple concept. Sixteen letters are chosen randomly and the player has to try and make as many words as possible in three minutes.

To make a word, a player simply has to click on each square in the correct order, and press submit.

Short words are worth one point, but if you can make a longer word you score more.


Children love puzzles, and the fact that this one has a time limit adds to the fun. What I like about this game is that it can involve more than one person. You can play it with your students, or against your students. Each day you could try and see who gets the highest score or the most words.

The fact that the letters are chosen randomly means that every combination will be different, so there is always a new challenge.

Wordshake is also a good way of seeing how many words your child knows, and how well they are able to spell, without making it feel like you’re testing them.

Give it a try, but be careful. It can be very addictive!


1) Learner fit :
Vocabulary words don't fit the learners. But students can see the need for learning the vocabulary words during the game. However vocabulary words can't be controled for learner's level.
2) Explicit vocabulary teaching :
Actually this game is not for learning new. But the aim of the game is clear and explicit.
3) Interaction with the computer :
Of course, the activity provide opportunities for interaction with the computer in a way that focuses students' attention on unfamiliar vocabulary. But the computer doesn't provide students with helping understanding the vocabulary that they do not know.
4) Interaction with other learners :
The activities guide learners to work with classmates and contribute to online discussions based on vocabulary. They can do it together or compete with each other.
5) Two types of evaluation :
The game itself is quizzes. So the computer will provide feedback to learners about their responses.
6) Strategy development :
The activities promote a good vocabulary learning strategy, "confirming by games". But it can't promote good reading strategy. But it will help learners continue to learn vocabulary on the Internet.

How to use?
It will be gorgeous as in class activity. You and your students can play it together! How about competing with other students? Open the competition by word shake! Let them study words natually. If you give them good feedbacks, their vocabulary ability will grow and grow!