| There is nothing that engages children more than | | | | students enjoy the most. Do you think your pupils |
| teaching English through play. Indeed a bored class will | | | | prefer to sit there passively while little Susie reads |
| take in less than half of what a teacher says and | | | | stumblingly through paragraph one, or do you think |
| retain none of it. Whereas an attentive, interested | | | | the class would prefer to be involved in an exciting |
| and involved class, learning through fun English | | | | language game where everyone has the chance to |
| Language games, will take in 100% of the lesson and | | | | use the words in paragraph one? Surely the method |
| retain up to 80% of it. Using language games in class | | | | where the whole class is actively involved in hearing |
| has got to be one of the most exciting ways to | | | | and using English is going to be the winner as far as |
| teach children English.It is well documented that | | | | capturing interest and encouraging language |
| English language games enhance learning and with | | | | retention.Importantly English language games give |
| children are one of the most effective classroom | | | | students a reason to communicate, and a context |
| tools. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen and Khuat Thi Thu | | | | for speaking practise. Repetition is the mother of skill |
| Nga, authors of Learning Vocabulary Through Games: | | | | but constant, meaningless parrot-fashion repetition is |
| The Effectiveness of Learning Through Games, | | | | not going to go down well with your pupils. |
| report that 'The interviewed teacher reported that | | | | Therefore the repetition needed for language to stick |
| their students seemed to learn new vocabulary more | | | | can be attractively packaged in a game and pass |
| quickly and retain it better when it was applied in a | | | | unnoticed as students focus on the process of the |
| relaxed and comfortable environment such as while | | | | game itself, all the while using the language in a |
| playing games'. Words, as we all know, are the very | | | | relaxed and above all fun environment.As competition |
| building blocks of language. If a child can rapidly learn | | | | can be a part of English games, but does not need |
| and retain significant amounts of new vocabulary | | | | to be, it is one way of enhancing interest and |
| using games, then no wonder teachers are seeking | | | | motivation in class, as Karen deBord points out in the |
| to use English language games more and more in | | | | Asian EFL Journal (December 2003). DeBord, an |
| their classrooms all over the world.That is why it is | | | | Extension Specialist for Rural Child Care at Virginia |
| shocking to see comments on forums where | | | | Polytechnic Institute and State University-Blacksburg, |
| teachers suggesting that teaching with games is | | | | explains how competition can help students learn |
| frivolous or not really productive. This is an outdated | | | | more. 'As long as no one is forced to participate, |
| perception and these teachers would benefit from | | | | competition can be positive and encourage player |
| being shown some of the new language games used | | | | discovery, examination and learning.' Creating the right |
| in English classrooms today. These games are | | | | type of language games can foster this healthy, |
| effective and are guaranteed to obtain better results | | | | beneficial competition in the classroom.Last but by no |
| than traditional teaching methods.Teachers will also | | | | means least is the bond you will create with your |
| ask 'Can one teach all the time with English language | | | | pupils when teaching with ESL games. This is surely |
| games, or does one use them for a few minutes at | | | | the most fulfilling part of being a teacher. |
| the end of the lesson as a reward?' Now if you think | | | | Disseminating knowledge is a privilege, but to |
| about this question its absurdity may become | | | | disseminate love AND knowledge has got to be even |
| apparent to you. Why would you deny children the | | | | better.Shelley Vernon has helped 1000s of teachers |
| learning experience they prefer? Furthermore, why | | | | be an inspiration to their pupils and achieve results 2x |
| would you ration out the use of a great learning tool | | | | as fast. Improve the effectiveness of your lessons |
| to a few minutes at the end?Would you not want, | | | | by up to 80%. Receive free English language games |
| instead, to maximize your time using the most | | | | now on Fun ESL games for children website. |
| effective teaching method, and the one which your | | | | |