Open books open minds

Learning through play:Games in the EFL classroom

Why use games in the EFL classroom?

• motivating and fun• people like them • natural part of growing up and learning• provide a context• ensure interaction• promote co-operation• add variation to a lesson

Types of games

• Movement games• Card games• Board games• Drawing games• Guessing games• Miming games• Role-play games• Singing and chanting games• Word games• Team games

Movement game

• Motor skills, balance, spatial awareness & muscle control• Channels children’s energy into activities that help with language learning

Let’s do it!

Card Game

Board game

Drawing game

• Span key functions of the brain (R: creativity, L: verbal skills)• Helpful with shy children• Transfer of information between verbal and visual

Guessing game

• Fun• Motivate Ss to practice Q & A

Let’s do it!

Miming game

Role-play game

Singing game

ABC action song

A B C D E F GCome and sit down with meH I J K L M NClap your hands, stand up againO P Q R S T USing a song for me and youV W X Y ZTurn around and look at me

Word game

Spell ‘fish’ F-I-S-H

Word game

Bag!Girl!

Lollipop!

Team game (Whispers)

• writing games• movement games• games focusing on listening• games involving element of competition• craft activities• board games • guessing games• games requiring speaking

Rousers and Settlers

Rousers • movement games• games involving competition• guessing games• games requiring speaking

Settlers • craft activities• games focusing on listening• writing games• board games

Role of games

• introduce new material• practise recently learned language items• revise, consolidate language• relax or energise a class

You can use games to:

Tips for introducing games in the classroom

• Language focus (What will the students practise?)

• Play different games• Vary the order• Don’t “drag” a game• Plan carefully

(materials, appropriacy, safety)

What can you do to control large classes?

• Whole class games (TPR, e.g. Simon says, line-ups)

• Let Ss manage the games• Divide class into groups• Turn players into teams• Set up different “stations” in the classroom

(e.g. game station, reading station, listening station, etc.)

Which language to use in class?

vs.

starting a game

sustaining a game

ending a game

Language for:

Thank you