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