Are you Compatible? (Classroom activity, 20-30 minutes)
This activity is best if you start by asking the students questions about girlfriends and boyfriends. This will grab middle school and university students’ attention right away. You can ask questions like…
When do most Chinese people have their first girl/boyfriend?
What do Chinese parents think about having a girl/boyfriend?
What famous couples do you know from Hollywood?
Words you can teach include…
Compatible
Couple
Marriage
Relationship
Dating
Wedding ceremony
Bachelor party
After the relationship introduction tell students that you will be finding out whom in the classroom is compatible and who is not. You will need to prepare about 20 questions before class. The questions can be anything that elicits a short, recordable answer (e.g. yes/no, a/b/c). Some question examples include…
What is a better age to get married, 25 or 35?
Do you want to have children in the future?
What do you prefer, football or basketball? McDonalds or KFC? Movies or books?
What is a better holiday, mountains or beach?
Have every student take out a piece of paper and write 1-20 as well as their name. You will ask every question aloud and each student will record his or her answer on the paper. After all the questions are finished you will then collect the papers, shuffle them, and choose two. Write the words “Compatible” and “Not Compatible” on the board. For every same answer give the couple a tally for “Compatible” and for every different answer give them a tally for “Not Compatible.” Choose a student volunteer to come up and keep the tally.
In the end you can see who in the classroom is compatible and who is not. This activity ALWAYS holds the attention of every student.