Latin 201

Rules for Tally

• The object of the game is for each player to get a word point for each round played, plus an extra point to match each word point.
• The real object of the game is to work together to build vocabulary, recognize uses of the words we are working with, and come to the translation feeling confident in the vocabulary.

Procedures

(These sound complicated but we will learn best by playing)

• The game is played in a group of four or five.  It takes place in rounds, during which each player has one or more chances to earn points.
• One player is the lector for the round.  He can’t earn points in that round.  The lector holds the day’s stack of vocabulary cards.
• To begin the round, the lector takes the top vocabulary card from the deck and shows it to the other players.  If a player knows the meaning, he indicates it (hand raised or flasher if we have them).  The lector calls on the player who signals first (as best he can determine). 
• The cards will contain conjugated or declined forms of vocabulary words that have been assigned for study in the last class, either for review or because they are significant in our reading.  To answer correctly, the player must give a specific translation.  Examples are given below.
• If the player gets it nearly right, the lector can tell him/her “close” and give him/her another chance.  If the player misses a second time, then the second player to signal can answer.  If the word keeps being missed, everyone has to have a try at it.  If no one knows the answer, then the Lector tells them.
• If a player answers correctly, he has the chance to earn a second point by giving the complete dictionary form of a noun, adjective or verb, or answering another question that the Lector reads (marked “Bonus” on the Lector’s side of the card).
• After a player has answered correctly, he cannot answer again in that round, effectively sitting it out.  This means that in a five person group, there can only be four words per round (since the Lector isn’t answering).  The last person to go has to take the word offered.  If s/he misses it, s/he doesn’t get a point for that round.
• At this point the round is over.  The lector passes the cards to the player on the left, who then becomes the lector for the next round.
• Play as many rounds as class time allows, usually 3-8 rounds.
• As you go, fill out the tally cards, and hand them to me at the end of the game.

Sample Answers:

Correct answers:

she led, he led, she has led, he has led

Close answers

we led, she leads, etc., she said (because “dixit” is so close), etc.

Scorekeeping: Sample score card

How I use the Tally cards:

There is not any mechanical assessment applied to them.  They help me keep alert to your strengths and weaknesses – for example, you may be a good intuitive reader, but need work on your vocabluary, or you may do well on vocabulary, but have trouble with complex grammar.  Since the students who come in to 201 come from so many different backgrounds, I don’t expect you to all be at the same level.  Tally cards, which I file and consult at the end of the semester, allow me to see if you have improved in this one area of study or not.  If a student has shown improvement, or remained consistently good, or fallen off with a change in material, time of year, or whatever, the tally cards give me one more way to assess his/her participation in the learning process.