Introduction

Incorporating students’ outside interests into the classroom is a powerful way to make learning both relevant and enjoyable. When popular culture meets language education, the results can be engaging and impactful. A great example is using the global sensation Squid Game as inspiration for interactive ESL/EFL activities.

The global success of Squid Game makes it an ideal pop culture phenomenon to integrate into your ESL/EFL classroom. Its themes, games, and challenges can be adapted to suit various learning objectives, combining fun with education. Here are practical tips for turning Squid Game into an engaging and interactive language-learning experience.

Practical Tips for Using Squid Game in the ESL/EFL Classroom

Start with Vocabulary and Listening Games

Adapt “Red Light, Green Light” into a vocabulary game. Instead of stopping and moving based on the phrase “red light” or “green light,” students respond to vocabulary prompts. For example:

Teacher calls out a word in English, and students must move only if they hear a specific category (e.g., food items or action verbs).

• Incorrect responses result in elimination, fostering attentive listening and comprehension.

Use Problem-Solving for Team Activities

Recreate the “Honeycomb Challenge” as a collaborative grammar or vocabulary puzzle.

• Provide each team with a set of scrambled sentences or a vocabulary word search.
• Teams must “solve” their task within a time limit to stay in the game.
  This encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and peer learning while keeping the activity interactive.

Incorporate Role-Play and Discussion

Leverage the show’s dramatic tension to spark conversations about decision-making and ethics.

• Role-play scenarios: Ask students to imagine they’re contestants in the games and discuss how they would respond to specific challenges.
• Use prompts like: “If you could choose a teammate, what qualities would they need to have?” or “How would you negotiate with others to survive?”
  This approach builds speaking confidence and enhances communication skills.

Gamify Grammar and Vocabulary Reviews

Create a classroom tournament inspired by Squid Game.

• Divide the class into small groups and assign challenges that review previous lessons. For example:
  • Spelling bees
  • Grammar quizzes
  • Sentence construction races
• Eliminate teams after each round, leaving a “winner” at the end. Be sure to keep it light-hearted and inclusive by offering participation rewards.

Design Writing Prompts Around the Show

Encourage students to write short stories or essays inspired by Squid Game.

• Prompts could include:
  • “Describe your strategy for winning a language-based Squid Game.”
  • “Imagine a new game that could be included in Squid Game and explain the rules.”
  • “What lesson did you learn from the show, and how can it apply to real life?”
    Writing exercises help students build creativity, practice sentence structure, and expand their vocabulary.