| There is nothing that engages children more than | | | | Would you not want, instead, to maximize your time |
| teaching English through play. Indeed a bored class will | | | | using the most effective teaching method, and the one |
| take in less than half of what a teacher says and | | | | which your students enjoy the most. Do you think your |
| retain none of it. Whereas an attentive, interested and | | | | pupils prefer to sit there passively while little Susie |
| involved class, learning through fun English Language | | | | reads stumblingly through paragraph one, or do you |
| games, will take in 100% of the lesson and retain up to | | | | think the class would prefer to be involved in an |
| 80% of it. Using language games in class has got to be | | | | exciting language game where everyone has the |
| one of the most exciting ways to teach children | | | | chance to use the words in paragraph one? Surely the |
| English. | | | | method where the whole class is actively involved in |
| It is well documented that English language games | | | | hearing and using English is going to be the winner as |
| enhance learning and with children are one of the most | | | | far as capturing interest and encouraging language |
| effective classroom tools. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen | | | | retention. |
| and Khuat Thi Thu Nga, authors of Learning | | | | Importantly English language games give students a |
| Vocabulary Through Games: The Effectiveness of | | | | reason to communicate, and a context for speaking |
| Learning Through Games, report that 'The interviewed | | | | practise. Repetition is the mother of skill but constant, |
| teacher reported that their students seemed to learn | | | | meaningless parrot-fashion repetition is not going to go |
| new vocabulary more quickly and retain it better when | | | | down well with your pupils. Therefore the repetition |
| it was applied in a relaxed and comfortable | | | | needed for language to stick can be attractively |
| environment such as while playing games'. Words, as | | | | packaged in a game and pass unnoticed as students |
| we all know, are the very building blocks of language. If | | | | focus on the process of the game itself, all the while |
| a child can rapidly learn and retain significant amounts | | | | using the language in a relaxed and above all fun |
| of new vocabulary using games, then no wonder | | | | environment. |
| teachers are seeking to use English language games | | | | As competition can be a part of English games, but |
| more and more in their classrooms all over the world. | | | | does not need to be, it is one way of enhancing |
| That is why it is shocking to see comments on forums | | | | interest and motivation in class, as Karen deBord |
| where teachers suggesting that teaching with games | | | | points out in the Asian EFL Journal (December 2003). |
| is frivolous or not really productive. This is an outdated | | | | DeBord, an Extension Specialist for Rural Child Care at |
| perception and these teachers would benefit from | | | | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State |
| being shown some of the new language games used | | | | University-Blacksburg, explains how competition can |
| in English classrooms today. These games are | | | | help students learn more. 'As long as no one is forced |
| effective and are guaranteed to obtain better results | | | | to participate, competition can be positive and |
| than traditional teaching methods. | | | | encourage player discovery, examination and learning.' |
| Teachers will also ask 'Can one teach all the time with | | | | Creating the right type of language games can foster |
| English language games, or does one use them for a | | | | this healthy, beneficial competition in the classroom. |
| few minutes at the end of the lesson as a reward?' | | | | Last but by no means least is the bond you will create |
| Now if you think about this question its absurdity may | | | | with your pupils when teaching with ESL games. This is |
| become apparent to you. Why would you deny | | | | surely the most fulfilling part of being a teacher. |
| children the learning experience they prefer? | | | | Disseminating knowledge is a privilege, but to |
| Furthermore, why would you ration out the use of a | | | | disseminate love AND knowledge has got to be even |
| great learning tool to a few minutes at the end? | | | | better. |