Table of Contents
Introduction
The World Cup is one of the world’s most exciting and widely watched sporting events, making it an ideal topic for engaging English language learners.
The global nature of the tournament, combined with the passion it inspires, provides a wealth of opportunities for interactive and meaningful language learning.
In this article, you’ll find a variety of activities and ideas that can help students improve their English skills while exploring the excitement of the World Cup.
These World Cup activities are designed to be both educational and fun, catering to different language levels and interests.
Language Points to Target When Introducing World Cup Activities
When introducing the topic of the World Cup to English language learners, several key language points can be effectively targeted. These points not only enhance students’ understanding of the subject but also help them develop specific language skills. Here are some of the primary language points you can focus on:
- Vocabulary Development
- Sports-related Vocabulary: Introduce and reinforce key football-related terms such as “goalkeeper,” “penalty,” “offside,” “striker,” “defender,” “corner kick,” “trophy,” “group stage,” “knockout round,” etc.
- Country and Nationality Vocabulary: Use the World Cup’s international aspect to teach country names, nationalities, and related adjectives (e.g., Brazil/Brazilian, France/French, Argentina/Argentinian).
- Descriptive Adjectives: Focus on adjectives used to describe players, teams, and matches, such as “skilled,” “competitive,” “aggressive,” “strategic,” “underdog,” “favorite,” “dominant,” etc.
- Grammar and Sentence Structure
- Comparatives and Superlatives: Use comparisons between teams, players, and past World Cup events to practice comparatives and superlatives (e.g., “Brazil is more successful than Argentina in terms of World Cup wins,” “The 2014 World Cup final was the most exciting match”).
- Future Tense for Predictions: Encourage students to use the future tense when making predictions about upcoming matches or the overall tournament (e.g., “Germany will win the next match,” “I think Spain will reach the final”).
- Passive Voice: Teach the passive voice through the context of sports reporting and event outcomes (e.g., “The goal was scored by Ronaldo,” “The match was held in Rio de Janeiro”).
- Speaking and Pronunciation
- Pronunciation Practice: Focus on the correct pronunciation of players’ names, country names, and specific football terminology, which can sometimes be challenging for learners.
- Debates and Discussions: Use the World Cup as a topic for debates or discussions, helping students practice their speaking skills, express opinions, and engage in arguments (e.g., “Which team has the best chance of winning the World Cup?” “Should VAR be used more extensively?”).
- Listening Skills
- Listening Comprehension: Use interviews, commentaries, or match highlights as listening exercises to improve comprehension skills. Students can listen for specific details, summarize content, or answer comprehension questions.
- Authentic Materials: Introduce authentic materials such as podcasts, interviews with players and coaches, or sports news reports related to the World Cup. These can be used to practice listening for gist, detail, or specific information.
- Writing Skills
- Descriptive Writing: Assign tasks that involve writing descriptions of players, teams, or match events, helping students practice descriptive language and detail-oriented writing.
- Essay Writing: Encourage students to write opinion essays or reports on various World Cup topics, such as the impact of hosting the World Cup on a country, or the role of technology in modern football.
- Cultural Awareness and Idiomatic Expressions
- Cultural Exploration: Use the World Cup to explore different cultures and their connections to football, fostering cultural awareness and teaching related vocabulary and expressions.
- Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: Introduce sports-related idioms and phrasal verbs commonly used in English, such as “kick off,” “blow the whistle,” “a level playing field,” “get a kick out of,” and “moving the goalposts.”
12 World Cup Activities and Ideas
- Present Your Favorite Player
- Create a biography of your favorite football player, including stats, career highlights, and personal achievements.
- Conduct a video interview (real or imagined) where you ask your favorite player questions about their career and the upcoming World Cup.
- Develop a timeline of their career milestones.
- Explore Your Favorite Teams
- Make a list of three of your favorite teams participating in the World Cup.
- Prepare fact sheets about these teams, covering their previous World Cup participations, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Research and present information about the countries these teams represent, including cultural and historical facts.
- Footballers’ Wages vs. Global Incomes
- Research the wages of top footballers and compare them with average incomes in underdeveloped countries.
- Write an essay or create a presentation discussing the economic disparities and what they reflect about global inequalities.
- Plan the Next World Cup
- Imagine you are on the organizing committee for the next World Cup. Plan the event, considering factors such as budget, public transportation, accommodations, stadium locations, and safety concerns.
- Present your plan to the class, justifying your choices and predicting the potential challenges.
- Predict the Winner
- Analyze the teams participating in the current World Cup and make predictions about which team will win.
- Write an argumentative essay or hold a debate discussing the reasons behind your prediction.
- Create the Next World Cup Anthem
- Write lyrics and compose music for what you think should be the next World Cup official song.
- Create a music video that includes shots of the host country, its culture, past World Cup moments, and fan reactions.
- Produce a World Cup Documentary
- Develop a short documentary video that highlights key aspects of the host country, including its culture, famous landmarks, and World Cup history.
- Include interviews with locals and fans to capture the excitement and spirit of the event.
- Football and Respect
- Watch a video on the theme of football and respect.
- Discuss your impressions with the class, focusing on the importance of respect in sports and how it can be promoted during the World Cup.
- World Cup Vocabulary Challenge
- Create a list of World Cup-related vocabulary words and organize a classroom challenge where students have to use these words in sentences, dialogues, or short stories.
- Include terms like “offside,” “penalty kick,” “goalkeeper,” “group stage,” and “knockout round.”
- World Cup News Report
- Assign students to research and write a news report about a significant event or match from the current or past World Cups.
- Students can present their reports in class, practicing their speaking and presentation skills.
- Cultural Exploration: Host Countries
- Assign students to research past World Cup host countries, exploring their cultures, traditions, and contributions to football.
- Create a multimedia presentation that showcases the unique aspects of these countries.
- World Cup Quiz
- Organize a quiz competition where students answer questions about World Cup history, famous players, and memorable moments.
- Use this activity to reinforce knowledge and encourage friendly competition among students.
Conclusion
The World Cup is not only a global sporting event but also a unique opportunity to bring the world into the classroom. Incorporating these activities and ideas into your lessons can help your students improve their English skills while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
When students research their favorite players, plan the next World Cup, or create a new anthem, this offers them a dynamic and engaging way to learn English.