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Difference between revisions of “Visual puzzle”

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'''Visual puzzles'''
'''Visual puzzles''' are commonly used in [[TEFL]] to teach grammatical structures such as [[relative clause]]s, or (semi)fixed phrases such as "more or less.”<ref>12 of these visual puzzles depicting lexical items can be found in the book '''''Multiple Intelligences in EFL: Exercises for Secondary and Adult Students''''' by Herbert Puchta and Mario Rinvolucri, Cambridge University Press</ref> The task of deciphering the visual puzzles can be difficult and as the task involves little communication, it is advisable to set short time limits or keep the number of puzzles presented to a minimum.


Visual puzzles are commonly used in TEFL to teach grammatical structures such as relative clauses, or (semi)fixed phrases such as "more or less". The task of deciphering the visual puzzles can be difficult and as the task involves little communication, it is advisable to set short time limits or keep the numberof puzzles presented to a minimum.
[[Image:Egg.jpeg|300px|frame|left|A Mexican, or cowboy, (who is) frying an egg—one of the most renowned visual puzzles]]


One of the most renowned visual puzzle is of a Mexican or cowboy performing an activity and viewed from above, such as the following:
<br clear=all>


[[Image:Frying_an_egg.png|thumb|left|A Mexican, or cowboy, (who is) frying an egg]]
Perhaps the most useful [[language]] point demonstrated in this type of puzzle is the reduced relative clause, in which the [[relative pronoun]] may be omitted, as in above and these examples:


Perhaps the most useful language point demonstrated in this type of puzzle is the reduced relative clause, in which the relative pronoun is omitted. Further examples are as follows:
[[Image:Puzz.jpeg|400px|frame|left|Various visual puzzles]]
#A Mexican (who is) riding a motorbike
#A Mexican couple (who are) kissing
#A giraffe (which is) passing a window
#An elephant (which is) passing a window
#Three Mexicans (who are) rowing a boat
#A koala (which is) hanging onto a tree
#A knife (which is) viewed from its end
#A Mexican (who is) riding a surfboard


*a) A Mexican (who is) frying an egg
<br clear=all>
**b) A Mexican (who is) riding a bike
***c) A Mexican playing (who is) playing the saxophone or trumpet
****d) A giraffe (which is) passing a window
*****e) A Mexican (who is) standing by a pyramid
******f) A Mexican (who is) having a bath
*******g) A Mexican couple (who are) kissing
********h) A koala (which is) hanging onto a tree


[[Image:Assorted_visual_puzzles.jpeg|frame|left|Various visual puzzles]]
However, not all images of this type use the reduced relative clause; the following must use a [[relative pronoun]]:


However, not all images of this type use the reduced relative clause; the following must use a relative pronoun:
[[Image:Spider.jpeg|450px|thumb|left|A spider which has just won the lottery]]
[[Image:Bowtie.jpeg|450px|thumb|left|A man whose bow tie has got stuck in a lift]]
[[Image:T.jpeg|450px|thumb|left|A Mexican whose tie has fallen into his soup]]
[[Image:Cowboy.jpeg|450px|thumb|left|A cowboy who has just survived a gun battle]]


[[Image:Spider.jpeg|thumb|A spider which has just won the lottery]]
<br clear=all>


[[Image:H.gif|thumb|A man whose bow tie has got stuck in a lift]]
[[Idioms]] and (semi)fixed lexical phrases can also be taught and tested through visual puzzles.
[[Image:More.jpeg|frame|left|More or less]]
[[Image:Ov.jpeg|frame|left|Over the top]]
[[Image:French.jpeg|frame|left|French kiss]]
[[Image:One.jpeg|frame|left|One in a million]]


[[Image:T.jpeg|thumb|A man whose tie has fallen into his soup]]
<br clear=all>
 
==Additional exercises==
 
Can you dream up visual puzzles for more idioms or collocations?
*hands down?
*overpaid?
*a piece of cake?
*sitting on top of the world?
*underworked?
*out on a limb?
 
<br clear=all>
 
==References==
<references/>
{{index}}
 
==External links==
 
[http://lessonstream.org/2007/11/09/mexican-doodles/ Mexican doodles at lessonstream] The inspiration for some of these ideas whose author, Jamie Keddie, has agreed to their being shared.
 
[http://www.scientificpsychic.com/graphics/index.html Optical illusions] An interesting page of optical illusions.
 
[[category:visual aids]]
[[category:games]]
[[category:warmers]]
[[category:coolers]]

Latest revision as of 13:13, 22 June 2023

Visual puzzles are commonly used in TEFL to teach grammatical structures such as relative clauses, or (semi)fixed phrases such as "more or less.”[1] The task of deciphering the visual puzzles can be difficult and as the task involves little communication, it is advisable to set short time limits or keep the number of puzzles presented to a minimum.

A Mexican, or cowboy, (who is) frying an egg—one of the most renowned visual puzzles


Perhaps the most useful language point demonstrated in this type of puzzle is the reduced relative clause, in which the relative pronoun may be omitted, as in above and these examples:

Various visual puzzles
  1. A Mexican (who is) riding a motorbike
  2. A Mexican couple (who are) kissing
  3. A giraffe (which is) passing a window
  4. An elephant (which is) passing a window
  5. Three Mexicans (who are) rowing a boat
  6. A koala (which is) hanging onto a tree
  7. A knife (which is) viewed from its end
  8. A Mexican (who is) riding a surfboard


However, not all images of this type use the reduced relative clause; the following must use a relative pronoun:

A spider which has just won the lottery
A man whose bow tie has got stuck in a lift
A Mexican whose tie has fallen into his soup
A cowboy who has just survived a gun battle


Idioms and (semi)fixed lexical phrases can also be taught and tested through visual puzzles.

More or less
Over the top
French kiss
One in a million


Additional exercises[edit | edit source]

Can you dream up visual puzzles for more idioms or collocations?

  • hands down?
  • overpaid?
  • a piece of cake?
  • sitting on top of the world?
  • underworked?
  • out on a limb?


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 12 of these visual puzzles depicting lexical items can be found in the book Multiple Intelligences in EFL: Exercises for Secondary and Adult Students by Herbert Puchta and Mario Rinvolucri, Cambridge University Press

External links[edit | edit source]

Mexican doodles at lessonstream The inspiration for some of these ideas whose author, Jamie Keddie, has agreed to their being shared.

Optical illusions An interesting page of optical illusions.

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