The New Yorker magazine recently announced a new online word game called Shuffalo.

In it, you’re first provided a few letters and then have to make a word out of them.  Once you’ve completed that puzzle, another letter is added to the collection, and you have to make a word out of all of them.  Then, yet another letter is added, and so on.

It’s not an easy game.

However, it also provides you with the ability to request as many hints as you like, and that’s what makes it great for English Language Learners.

Project the game at the front, and then give everyone, or pairs, a mini-whiteboard.  See who can create the first word.  Then, move to the second one.  If students feel stumped, just click “hint” and get a letter.  Add another letter if students still don’t get it.

I’m adding this info to The Best Ideas For Using Games In The ESL/EFL/ELL Classroom.