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Quote Beatrix

Kate, seriously, can`t you just ignore those given rules (only this time) and explain them in Italian?
or can you use Italian at least to explain the basic rules of the game?

Well, if the rules are easy enough, as in this case, it's probably better not to explain in L1. If you get into that habbit, then the students get into that habbit. They stop listening to the English explanation and just sit back and wait for the L1 explanation.

It doesn't promote active listening skills.

That said, with large classes, you can save 20 minutes of class time by explaining in L1 at times. My general rule for when to translate or speak L1 is if the rules are too complicated for the students to understand in English or if understaning the rules will take so long the students don't get to do the activity, then it's OK to speak L1.

LaMaestraKate - I should also say, don't give up because the activity failed the first time. The kids should be better at it in the next lesson. Sometimes they just need a little bit of time.

Now, third or fourth time it's still not working, toss it!