Speaking calendar/Scrabble Day
April 13th · Cultural Insight

Scrabble Day

The war of the vowels. More than a board game, Scrabble is a celebration of the flexibility and the limits of the English language. This lesson explores whether knowing words is a sign of intelligence or just a sign of a good memory, and if gaming is the best way to teach a language.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Why is vocabulary the ultimate symbol of social class and education?
  2. Is luck (getting the right tiles) or skill more important in Scrabble? What does this say about life?
  3. Should we allow slang and internet words in Scrabble, or must we protect pure English?
  4. How do games like Scrabble change the way you see words in your daily life?
  5. If you had to win a game of Scrabble to save your life, what is the master word you would want to use?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Lexicographer

The Task: Select 7 random letters (e.g., A, B, T, L, E, S, Z). Create the longest word possible and write a 3-sentence story using only that word.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is a large vocabulary a tool of power or a tool of communication?