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Why English Language Games are essential in a teacher's toolbox

Many people think using English language games in the ESL/TEFL classroom is a trivial time-filler, but teachers experienced in using the right types of games will tell you otherwise.  English games, when used correctly, take the stress out of learning a language and help pupils succeed by learning naturally.

Why People Do not Like Games

According to Lloyd Rieber, author of Seriously Considering Play: Designing Interactive Learning Environments Based on the Blending of Microworlds, Simulations and Games, 'it is somewhat surprising that one of the most fundamental and important concepts of human interaction has received so little attention.'  He goes on to explain how the misconceptions surrounding play foster this attitude.  For example, people view work as respectable and play as easy – even though many of the things we "play" are actually quite difficult (such as chess, sports and music).  This is why many people balk at the thought of pupils playing games in the classroom – it is not respectable or rigorous enough to be useful.

How Pupils Benefit From English Language Games

What people don't realize, however, is that many people have different learning styles.  Henry Gardner explains this through his theory of multiple intelligences.  Most people do not function well under the typical range of intelligence used in schools (including verbal/linguistic and logical/mathematical skills).  As reported in Learning through many kinds of intelligence, by Dee Dickenson, using games can help pupils tap into the different learning styles (or intelligences) such as visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, naturalistic and intrapersonal. When pupils have opportunities to learn using their preferred styles, they often become more successful at learning any subject.

Furthermore, as reported on FamilyEducation.com, 'Probably the most important developmental benefit is that games require children to interact and speak with each other. They have to negotiate rules, take turns and correct and challenge each other.'  This helps your pupils use and improve their thinking, problem solving, listening and speaking skills.

What Pupils Think

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen and Khuat Thi Thu Nga, authors of Learning Vocabulary Through Games: The Effectiveness of Learning Through Games, conducted a study exploring just how successful games are in terms of helping pupils learn vocabulary.  During this study, they gathered pupil reactions to using games in the classroom and found that they were positively received for various reasons.  They 'like the relaxed atmosphere, the competitiveness and the motivation that games brought to the classroom'.  Pupils also reported that they like using their imagination and creativity and that they learned new vocabulary during that games 'but also were forced to recall existing knowledge and put it to use.'

What Types of Games are Best and Why

Sally Flood, in her article All Play and More Work explains how games are beneficial IF the right types of games are used.  She highlights four components of successful games: competitive elements to engaging content, reward and objective relevant content.  If the game is missing one of the first three elements, the pupils might not have the needed motivation to participate.  If you leave out the last element, the game doesn't serve the purpose of helping you promote the lesson at hand. 

When it is Most Effective to Use Games

For advanced pupils, games are great when you or pupils need a break from intense studying. They are also helpful to introduce a new topic or to recall or review a recent lesson.   With intermediate pupils you can games more often and with beginners you can use them most of the time.  It is possible to teach the year's curriculum exclusively using games backed up by one written exercise or activity sheet per lesson so that pupils over the age of 6 have a record of what they have learned and practise writing and spelling. It should hastily be added that instead of an exercise or activity sheet you can also use a writing game instead.

Games are a great component to include in your classroom repertoire of activities because they allow pupils to explore different learning styles and learn the proposed topics at the same time.

Using Technology in the ESL Classroom - even if you are teaching in a hill tribe or yak tent!

Engage them or enrage them is a quote from Mark Presnsky who believes that using technology in today's primary classrooms is essential in order to engage and motivate your pupils.  

This article contains some fantastic ideas about using the internet and technology in class and for homework.  I learned these ideas at a big TEFL conference where I was also speaking.  The lecture was called something like: Technology and the 21st century ESL classroom.  The speaker was from IATEFL Hungary.  

To carry out these ideas you need to be very well equipped with computers at school and possibly at home, and children need digital cameras.  However take heart, because if your school is not kitted out like the Star Trek Enterprise you can stay abreast of developments nonetheless! 

If you look at the activities that I will describe, you'll see they are about human beings communicating with each other, and we've been doing that for a long, long time, and you don't need a computer to do it! 

The use of websites and digital cameras is just the PACKAGING for the activity so that your pupils will think it is cool. You can use all these ideas just as well by adapting them. 

So here is the latest ESL BUZZ:

The buzz in teaching today is all about the "21st century" classroom and integrating technology and producing students who are ready to go into the work place. In order to close the gap between what employers are looking for and what is being taught in school teachers, in addition to English, should teach: 

• Professionalism
• Work ethic
• Critical thinking
• Team work
• Technology
• Leadership
• Creativity
• Cross-cultural understanding
• Self-direction.   

You are probably thinking; "oh boy and I was having trouble with the present tense."

So here are some of the ways to integrate technology into your classroom, which also allow for the development of other attributes on the above list:

1. Making a class blog. 

1. Set up a social network for the classroom.
2. Only the administrator can invite new members so that ensures that only your class is on the network.
3. The administrator can control content to ensure the site stays clean and on purpose.
4. There is a forum section where class members can post topic and comment on things - all in English of course.
5. You may post homework up there so if someone misses class they can log on from home.
6. Post class projects, stories, upload photos, videos, put birthdays up there and create a class blog.

It's straight forward to sign up and you may well be able to get help from your pupils setting this up - someone in your class might love to have that job.

One place where you may do all of the above is www.ning.com

2. Use a quiz site to make quizzes and play online word games and multiple choice. There are excellent vocabulary games on there and the children may work at their own pace.    One such site is www.quizlet.com - a search on the net will yield others.

3. Something we all love - Movies!

Find a site where children can make short video clips by uploading three pictures and choosing the music. These sequences can be about anything, such as my favorite movie, family life, my ideal holiday, my best friend, my favorite band, or whatever topic engages your pupils. If you don't know then ask them!

Such a site as this is: www.animoto.com but you have to pay for that site now.

These clips can be uploaded onto the class blog or social network and shared. You may set homework asking the children to decide which movie gets the oscar and why and so on. Let the children make up bizarre stories based on the clips. The kids may comment on the videos in the forum.

4. Set imaginative homework such as making a short film.

The example shown at the conference by IATEFL Hungary was a truly funny and inspiring video that had been made by a group of four children aged about ten as a project to explain hand symbols.  They had picked hand symbols used for scuba divers.  One filmed, one narrated and two acted out the symbols, fully equipped with diving masks, snorkels and standing behind an aquarium one of them had in their home!

Now that film clearly let the children use their creativity, work together as a team, learn something new and work independently of the teacher. What an ideal way to engage your class.

5. Use a "Wiki".

A wiki is an interactive space for you and your pupils where people can sign in, edit, add text and links and save their contribution. The wiki space is refreshed each time someone edits it so it is constantly changing. It's not like a blog which gets longer and longer, instead you only keep the latest update to your group project.

Ideas for projects could be things like: making a list of what you need to take on a group holiday, who will bring what and then deciding where to go. Discussing and deciding which film the class would choose to go to from a list of three, with links to the trailers. Books: kids with a favourite book or comic do a review of them with a view to convincing the rest of the class to read it too. Put up several reviews and vote on the best. Then see how many of the class actually read it!  Grammar work could go up there and the pupils could mark it.  www.wikispaces.com are offering a free K-12 and adult educational space at the moment if the space is public (i.e. anyone could view it), you pay for private.

6. And now my ideas on how  you can do all of the above from your yak tent or hill tribe village!

I fully realise that many teachers are in remote areas and do not have access to cameras, the internet and so on. So of course you cannot implement these ideas in this way, but you can adapt them. Never fear, we can actually survive and be creative without internet and without techie gadgets! And, (gasp of amazement), many of us made it through school without a mobile phone. 

• Make a big notice board instead of the blog. Kids stick up their comments and pictures on pieces of paper.
• Use the animoto.com idea using three pictures that the children draw or cut out from old magazines or TV magazines.
• Tell the children to prepare short plays to perform in front of the class instead of filming them and showing the class on a screen.

For those of you in countries where you do have access to the web then go ahead and give these ideas a go.  For those of you in tepees, take the spirit of these ideas and apply them creatively.

The true value in these ideas is that they lead pupils to be creative, to work in a team, to be responsible for their own learning, to work independently from the teacher, to express themselves and to feel part of the learning process by actively participating in it.

Teaching Children with ESL Grammar Games

ESL and TEFL teachers often wonder how you can teach grammar through games.  It's easy enough to see how you can teach vocabulary, but grammar seems a little trickier.  However that depends on how you see grammar.   If grammar means learning rules about how to string words together then using games might not be the best answer.  However if grammar means having a good command of English then ESL grammar games are ideal, at least they most certainly are for elementary pupils to lower intermediates.

If you don't want your class to glaze over with dictation, writing exercises and "Jimmy, would you please read paragraph 1," then take heart! You'll find you can teach everything you want with games, and the children remember it better to boot.

The best way to show this is to give an example of an ESL gramar game in action, such as the game below, All Change.

A few teachers have reported not being able to control their class using this language game, and All Change is best for smaller groups, PLUS you need floor space.  If you are teaching 40 children in a class lined with benches then this game is not going to help you AT ALL!  (Aside from the fact that in teaching we often move around and our circumstances change, so you never know when it might come in useful).  It should therefore be mentioned that there are dozens of esl games which are ideal for large classes with no room to move, and which CAN successfully be used to teach elementary grammar.

First, the game itself:

The players stand round in a circle with one player standing in the middle. Each player has a picture of an item, or a word flash card, except for the player in the middle. Call out two of the picture card items or words. The two players holding these cards have to change places without the person in the middle grabbing one of their spots. If the person in the middle manages to slip into the spot in the circle then the one left standing goes in the middle. The new person in the middle hands their flash card to the child taking their place in the circle.

If someone is stuck in the middle for two turns say, "All Change!" When the players hear this they must all change places, which gives the person in the middle a very good chance of joining the circle. Once everyone has had one go ask your class to pass their picture to the right, and take the one handed to them from the left. You can give them another go with the new picture.

Notice that only 2 children move at any one time (aside from when you say "All Change"), which makes it easy to keep control.

Secondly, how the above game can be applied to teaching English:

Firstly, you can use it to reinforce new vocabulary, secondly, for revision, thirdly to help spelling by playing the game with word flashcards instead of pictures, and fourthly, to learn or practise a grammatical structure.

Let us say you want to teach the conditional tense and you start with "I would like". Hand out pictures of food that your pupils already know. Call out "I would like bananas and pie". The pupil with the bananas tries to change places with the pupil holding the pie without the person in the middle taking one of the spots in the circle. Continue until everyone has had a go, repeating the target structure each time. With a class that learns quickly you can also introduce the rest of the declension (he and she would like, etc.). You are now ready to proceed to a speaking game where your pupils use the target structure, as they will have heard it repeatedly by now. You can follow the speaking game up with a writing game, and hey presto your children can understand, say, read and write the new target structure.

Your pupils will take that grammatical structure on board and be able to use it spontaneously because they have heard it so often, it has been so frequently repeated within the game, that they have learned it by heart. Now what better way is there to teach grammar than that? You are teaching grammar by absorption and repetition, which is the way we learn our native tongue, and for children it is by far the best way to go.

Fun ESL Classroom Games and Discipline - an Unhappy Marriage?

ESL and TEFL teachers often do not have the class management training that their primary school colleagues benefit from. Without preparation it can be somewhat of a shock to take on a classroom of energetic children.  This is further exacerbated when teachers start to use ESL classroom games, which can make the children quite excited.

Here are some tips and ideas to help you contain your pupils' enthusiasm to a manageable level.  You can use esl classroom games and keep your pupils under control, but you need a few tricks!
The tips are divided into:

1. Basic ground rules for the ESL classroom
2. Handy tips 
3. Instant attention getters.

1. Basic Ground Rules for the ESL classroom

Have your pupils define the classroom rules in the first lesson, and post them on the classroom wall for reference. Knowing WHY a rule is in place makes it easier to keep. You must establish the rules on day one and stick to them!

Be consistent in applying your rules. If you are arbitrary about how you dish out your rewards or 'consequences', or punishments you will undermine the rules themselves.

Praise good behavior to generate love and self-esteem. Whatever you do, avoid being like so many parents who spend their whole time telling their children, "don't do this", and "don't do that".By focusing on the positive in order to draw more attention to it you apply the universal law of "you attract what you focus on".

If you are working in a school know the law and rules of your institution before you go into the classroom.

2. Handy Tips

There is nothing so sweet as the sound of one's own name. So use an individual's name for praise and avoid using it when ticking someone off.

Create teams and use peer pressure to encourage good behavior. Deduct or reward behavior points to a team's score during a game.

Don't break your own rules by raising your voice to be heard. Instead talk quietly or stop and wait. Your pupils should know that for every minute you are kept waiting they will receive extra homework, or whatever consequence you have designated.

I would ask a naughty student, "Do you want me to speak to your Dad?" By asking them the question you give them the power to choose, whereas if you threaten them with "I'll call your Dad if you don't behave", you take the initiative away and seem tyrannical.

Prevention is better than cure, so try giving boisterous students an important task BEFORE they start to play up. They may respond well to the responsibility.

Hand things out quickly or use a system to have things handed out, such as giving the well-behaved students the task as a reward. Sing a song togetheror do some counting to occupy the class while materials are handed out. There are many other things you can do but there is not the space to list them all here.

Instant Attention Getters

Play a mystery game and, before you start your fun esl game say that during the activity you will be watching out for 3 well-behaved students who will be rewarded.

Start a song the children know and love – they will all join in with you and at the end you’ll have their attention.

Clap out a pattern which they must clap back, or start a rhyme they know with actions.

Use quiet cues such as heads down or lights off. Vary these with other fun quiet cues such as "Give me five".1--on your bottom, legs crossed; 2--hands folded in your lap; 3--face the speaker; 4--eyes and ears open; 5--mouths closed.

You teach this repeatedly in the first lessons and after a few weeks, you only have to say "Give me five:1,2,3,4,5", and they do.

You can also use the Magic 1 2 3 idea. When a child does not comply start counting 1, 2,…The child knows that if you get to 3 there will be some sort of consequence, such as missing out on the next game. If you use this and you reach 3, you must follow through with an appropriate consequence consistently.

To summarise, establish the rules and consequences for good and bad behavior, apply them consistently, set a good example, use peer pressure and points, and use attention grabbing cues such as favorite songs, rhymes with actions and countdowns. You can be firm and fun at the same time, and if you cannot manage your class, you should realize that, although it sounds harsh to say it, you are wasting their time.

5 Top Reasons to Teach Children English with Fun ESL Games

There are many ways to teach ESL/TEFL to children but one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to do it is by using games.  Fun ESL games not only engage the children, but also teach through play – and most of the time the children don’t even know they are learning until it comes time to show their knowled ge. It truly is possible (and almost necessary) to create a classroom where the students not only learn but also enjoy their time there.

Learning is quicker, retention is improved

According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen and Khuat Thi Thu Nga, authors of Learning Vocabulary Through Games: The Effectiveness of Learning Through Games, Interviewed teacher reported that their students seemed tolearn new vocabulary more quickly and retain it better when it was applied in a relaxed and comfortable environment such as while playing ESL games. Since building vocabulary is the basis of learning how to speak, understand and read a language this shows that incorporating esl games into the classroom can do many things to increase your students' success across the board.

Building Interest in Class

As teachers, we all know that some students just don't want to be in our class and even the best students can get bored or lose focus on occasion. Including games is a great way to get out of the rut of language drills, worksheets, boring repetition and individual study.  Fun ESL games are a great way to revive students' interest in the class and often also help them absorb and retain more information than if they are simply studying to pass a test or complete an assignment.

Karen DeBord, an Extension Specialist for Rural Child Care at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University-Blacksburg explains how competition can help students learn more. As long as no one is forced to participate, competition can be positive and encourage player discovery, examination and learning. Creating the right type of games can foster this healthy, beneficial competition in the classroom.

Putting Language in useful and meaningful Context

Let's face it: it is one thing to memorize a bunch of vocabulary words or be able to recite the mechanics of a certain grammar rule, but actually putting these lessons to use is another story.  Games solve for this because they allow you to engage the entire class in activities that require practical use – and they are fun which can translate to "meaningful" if you have the right types of esl games.  When children get this meaningful and contextual practice, the language becomes more vivid in their minds and they are better able to remember what they have learned and used. In addition, the confidence children gain with speaking skills means that they are far more likely to go out into the real world and actually use the language they have learned.  This is achieved through games using meaningful repetition, spontaneous use of the language, and having to think for themselves instead of being constantly spoon-fed.

Giving your pupils a break

Some children find it stressful learning a new language, so using esl games as a vehicle to teach grammar, vocabulary and the four skills can really help shy children come out of their shells and allow any tension to dissipate.  Using the right games allows the teacher a chance to give the students a break from tedium or endless sitting, while maximizing the learning opportunities in the available time.  The children will be so immersed in the activity that they will not even realize how much they are learning.

Creating a student/teacher bond

Finally, as a teacher I'm sure you want to build a bond with your students. Playing games does this in so many ways. You’ll be able to show yourself as a person, not just a teacher, as you cheer on and encourage your students to do well in the game.  Playing fun esl games also creates a positive learning environment that allows children to enjoy themselves and their classmates.  Furthermore, you can get to know your students on a more personal level when you play (or facilitate) a game with them.

Teaching Children One to One: Tips to Make your Lessons Fun

On the ESL forums one often sees teachers asking for ideas on how to make their one to one lessons more fun.  Many teachers are excellent in class but suffer when it comes to teaching children English individually, and that is a shame because teaching one on one can be very rewarding, as well as often being a good source of extra income.

This article is broadly divided into four parts as follows:

1. The importance of making your lessons fun
2. Tips for using one to one games
3. Ideas for short plays
4. Added value ideas to enhance your teaching and reputation

1. The Importance of Making your Lessons Fun

By far the best approach for children for successful and fun one to one teaching is to use games and songs.  In fact if you want to inspire your pupil and have him or her want to come to your lessons instead of being forced to come by mummy, you have to make the lessons fun. One of the tricks is to have a substantial library of games that work for one on one teaching. Another bonus is to have a strong sense of fun and be prepared to join in the games.

If you teach using games children will love your private classes, and their parents will love you for the results you achieve.  A bi-product of this already very successful combination is that by teaching children in a fun way, you establish an important link between enjoyment and learning, which can enhance the rest of that child’s whole life.

2. Tips for Using One to One Games

Here now are some ideas to use games successfully when teaching one to one.  Most games need more than one player, which means that you sometimes need to join in and play the game too.  You could say, "well then I'd just win all the time", and that can be true.  So if you are playing a game that is not just pure luck, and where normally you would win all the time, then you can do things like this:

- Give your pupil a head start of 10 to 30 seconds.

- Make your task harder.

- Double the task you must complete in the same time your pupil completes it once.

- Award your pupil three points to your one.

- Award your pupil 10 bonus points at the start of the game.

- Lose deliberately by being slow (but pretend to hurry), or 'accidentally' drop your pen.

Another way of adding an element of fun to a one to one lesson is to use a stopwatch or timer to add excitement.  This allows your pupils to race against themselves rather than always being in competition or playing against you.

Time your pupil each round of a game and see if they can beat their previous time.  You can also use the stopwatch to give a time limit to an activity, aiming to allow only just enough time so that your pupil is more stimulated than if he or she were simply working methodically through the exercise.

Oven timers that tick and have a bell that goes off after the given time is up are also good.  Your pupil must complete the task before the bell goes off. Substitutes for an over timer could be an alarm clock, a wind up musical box or an egg timer.

Bells that you find on hotel reception desks are also fun.  The students race to tap on the bell when they have their answer.  This is more effective when you have two or more students but is still an added fun element for the younger children even in one to one lessons.

And finally, always be sensitive: be careful that one person does not always lose and only use competition if you see that it enhances the mood rather than causes unnecessary tension or a loss of morale.   With children between the ages of 3 and 6 any form of competition is best avoided.  You can play the game or use the timer as usual, but make sure that you play until the end so everyone wins – not just the person who finishes first, and with the timer idea, it is essential that the child finishes before the time is up – even if you have to indefinitely extend that time.  If a young child does not finish in the required time it really upsets them and they will probably cry – and that is not the aim of the game.  Rather you want the child ALWAYS to succeed, so that he or she feels great about learning English.

3. Ideas for Short Plays

Teaching one to one is immensely rewarding, as progress can be fast.  In addition to games putting on short plays with your student in front of their parents or friends is also a winning activity.   Children absolutely love to be the centre of attention and show off what they have learned.  One can write simple repetitive scripts with basic English, but with a funny twist in them and this will give a great deal of pleasure to the child, who will be happy to rehearse and perform, and for the parents who will be so impressed with your results that they will be sure to keep sending their child to the lessons.

Ideas for short plays include things such as a client and a waiter in a restaurant.  The client calls the waiter, who fails to come to the table and the client has to call for him again and again becoming more and more exasperated.  Eventually the waiter arrives and asks for the order.  The client gives the order and the waiter repeats it back, but incorrectly.  The client gives the order again, and the waiter gets it wrong again, until eventually the waiter gets it right.  The waiter goes off with the order and returns with the food, but there is a bug in it, or a worm, or a giant bogey, urgh!  It's very immature I know, but kids love it!  You can give the child a plastic fly swat as a prop that they have hidden on their knee until this moment.  They then start swatting away on the table and ask for the bill (as they are not going to eat there).  When the waiter goes off with the bill the child sneaks off without paying and the waiter comes back in with the bill, looks for the client, looks under the table, and runs out after the client. 

The secret to making a short play like that work is that you use the same language, exactly, each time, with no variations.  That way you can wrap this play up with complete beginners in a few sessions, rehearsing for 10 minutes during each session.  You don't want to only learn the play but instead first introduce the language in the play using games, then gradually introduce the play, one section at a time.  Each time you see your child you run through the play a couple of times, adding a bit on each time.  Then at the end of each term you can perform it.   I recommend a bare minimum of props because if you use too many props the children will waste rather a lot of time preparing them, because they take all this quite seriously you see!  However if you can have at least a couple of props such as a tray and a tea towel for the waiter and a fly swat for the client that goes a long way in the child's imagination.   If you do not have a tray to hand use something else like an A4 flashcard or piece of stiff card, then on the day of the performance you can always bring in a real tray, or ask the parents to bring one.

4. Added Value Ideas to Enhance your Teaching and Reputation

If you really want to help your protégé as much as possible then lend or recommend films to watch for homework, such as Spiderman, Batman, King Kong, or Cinderella and Walt Disney movies - all in English with NO subtitles.  Your pupils will watch these many times over willingly and will absorb a huge amount of language subconsciously, even if initially they cannot understand the dialogues.

If you are thinking about the cost of buying videos then take heart.  You can find very cheap second hand videos and DVDs on the Internet.  Over time you can build up a library of these for your teaching purposes.  You would want to take a deposit on loan of your material to ensure its return.

You could also build a library of comic books to read for homework.  You would not expect your student to understand all that much initially but the subconscious will be absorbing the language all the time.

The combination of giving fun classes with games, getting results and offering extra services such as a video or comic library, will set you apart from your colleagues and you'll be sure to get lots of recommendations from parents to you for private classes.

In summary then an outstanding one to one teacher uses games to teach English and puts on a show each term for the parents to applaud their child, to see how well they are doing, and to give the child a chance to show off and feel proud.  Games, plays and songs are all things children love.  As an add on to your exceptional teaching skills you can also offer recommendations or the loan of English films or comics for even faster progress.