I love talking with other language teachers, and something that often comes up in our discussions is: "I would like to use books and reading, but it is often complicated to read in class, and some people don't want to/don't have time to read at home...". It's true, but in reality, reading in a FLE class is possible even when you are short on time!
A great way to read in class is through game books! You know, those are the books that ask the reader to think, make choices, etc. There are several types of game books:
choose your own adventure books
These are the books where, each time, the reader must make a choice among several options, and suddenly builds his own story. There are generally several possible endings to the story depending on the choices!
I love making these kinds of books with my students, especially since you can find them for all levels, even beginners (there are two for example at Zexperts). In a group or in individual lessons, you can understand the text, think about the choices, ask yourself questions, try to anticipate what comes next... It's great fun for the students, and it allows them to read in class while having fun!
“Escape game” books
These are puzzle books, often on a specific theme, where the reader must think and find solutions to advance in the story and generally allow the character to escape from a place!
According to the book, it may be more suitable for intermediate and advanced students, to understand the puzzles well, especially if for example there are word games or linguistic puzzles. In a group, it can also create discussions and debates in French.
Some themes also allow you to work on the cultural aspect, for example there are certainly game books on the theme of Arsène Lupin (especially since the Netflix series which has revived interest, I'm sure it exists!), the history of France, etc!
So, game books are a really nice alternative to reading in class when you can't afford to read a whole book! It's faster, more interactive, and accessible to all levels because there are hundreds of different game books. Of course, it's also great to be able to read excerpts from a novel, or even a whole book when you can.
And you, do you use game books in class? Which are your favorites?
