ETA Christina Stoll and her 10th- and 11th-grade students kicked off the new semester by playing an American Culture Jeopardy game in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The categories included Musicians, Cities, Presidents, Sports, and Random Facts. Students excelled at answering questions about basketball players and state capitals (where the hint often pointed to that city’s basketball team), showing how sports can lead to international connections. They also learned some new facts about American culture from the game, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s role in World War II and that Stevie Wonder is a blind musician.

In a language sense, students practiced reading comprehension in a timed environment and answered clues using interrogative sentences. After the game, students discussed any questions they may have missed with Christina, allowing them to learn about American history and culture directly from an American. This was a great way to get students excited about learning English this semester.

Christina Stoll is currently teaching at SMAN 2 Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan.