TPR Games: How to Teach English Through Movement (for Shy Chinese Kids)

Many Chinese children understand a lot of English but freeze when asked to say something. Total Physical Response, or TPR, lets them answer with their bodies instead of their voices: you say “jump”, they jump. No pressure, lots of giggles, and their confidence grows every time they get it right.

How to run a TPR game

1. 1

   Pick 5 to 8 action words

   Start with verbs a child can act out in a second: jump, sit, clap, stand up, turn around, touch your nose. Add new words only when the old ones are easy.

2. 2

   Show, then say

   Do the action yourself as you say the word, and invite the child to copy you. Repeat each one three or four times. Do not ask them to say anything yet.

3. 3

   Say it without showing

   Now give the command without moving. If the child acts it out, celebrate. If they hesitate, show it again with a smile. Getting it wrong is part of the game.

4. 4

   Mix and speed up

   Mix the commands in a random order, go faster and slower, and chain two together: “jump and clap”. Silly combinations like “touch your nose and turn around” always get a laugh.

5. 5

   Swap roles

   When the child is confident, let them be the boss of the game and give you the commands. This is often the moment a shy child starts speaking English, because now it is their idea.

6. 6

   Stop while it is still fun

   Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. End on a big success and play again tomorrow, adding one or two new words each time.

Why movement helps shy children

TPR was developed by the psychologist James Asher in the 1960s. The idea is simple: children learn their first language by listening and responding long before they talk, so let them do the same in English. A body that moves remembers words better, and a child who answers with a jump instead of a sentence never has to worry about pronunciation in front of you.

This matters in China. Many children study English at school and in after-school classes, where the focus is often on reading, writing and tests. They may know hundreds of words but have had few chances to use them in a relaxed way, and making a mistake in front of an adult can feel embarrassing. TPR flips that: the child succeeds just by listening.

Five TPR games to try

1. Simon Says

The classic. “Simon says touch your head” means do it; “touch your head” without “Simon says” means stay still. Older children love catching you out when it is their turn to lead.

2. Musical statues with commands

Play music and let everyone dance. When the music stops, call out a command: “freeze like a cat”, “sit down”, “hands up”. It is perfect for burning energy on a rainy afternoon.

3. Run and touch

Put coloured paper, cushions or toys around the room. Call “touch something red”, “run to the big cushion” or “bring me the panda”. This quietly adds colours, sizes and objects to your action words.

4. Action stories

Tell a very short story and act every line together: “We wake up (stretch). We brush our teeth (brush). We see a tiger (scared face). We run away (run on the spot)!” Repeat it for a few days and soon the child will tell the story back to you.

5. Robot and controller

One of you is a robot that only moves on command: “walk forward three steps”, “turn left”, “stop”, “pick up the ball”. It is brilliant for directions and numbers, and is just as fun outside in the park.

Tips for Chinese host kids

• Never force speaking. Listening and doing is real progress. Words come when the child is ready, often all at once.
• Praise effort, not perfection. A big “Great listening!” or a high five means more than correcting a small mistake.
• Use the child’s interests. If they love dinosaurs, add “stomp like a T. rex”. If they love Ultraman or Peppa Pig, borrow those characters.
• Invite the family. Grandparents often look after the children during the day. Ask them to join in, or to play the robot. It is a lovely way to connect across the language gap, and a chance to practise your own Mandarin.
• Mix in Chinese, sometimes. If the child is really stuck, it is fine to say the Chinese word once, then go back to English. You could even ask them to teach you the actions in Mandarin afterwards.

Good to know: if the child is tired after a long school day, keep it short and gentle. Two minutes of “Simon says” before dinner still counts.

Make it part of your day

The best TPR moments are not planned. “Put on your shoes”, “wash your hands”, “find your blue backpack”: every routine with your host kids is a chance to use action words. Pair these with the car games for the school run, and you will be surprised how much English you share without ever sitting down at a table.

When you are ready for more, try making your own picture cards with AI in our guide to English flashcards with DeepSeek and Doubao.