Agency Approved TEFL

Games in the classroom Games are fun and exciting and enjoyed by all whether you?re an adult or a child. There are many different types of games that are targeted towards different types of audiences and purposes. I used to be a gymnastics coach for many years teaching young children at a recreational level. I always started the class with a game, usually one that involved some sort of running or a lot of movement to get them all warmed up. It was also a way to get the children excited and ?in the mood? for their gymnastics class. Sometimes I would even incorporate games during the lesson that allowed them to work on specific skills yet enjoying themselves at the same time. Playing games in the classroom is very similar. It is still a lesson, but a lesson in learning English rather than learning gymnastics. Using games in the classroom helps motivate students and gives it that extra bit of ?fun? during the lesson even though they are still learning at the same time. As mentioned above, there are many different types of games and this is the same for games used in the classroom. Different games are used for different topics such as revision, learning new vocabulary and practising the language. Even board games played with friends and families can be used within the classroom. However a lot of thought and even research is required to select the right game for the right purpose of the lesson. For example, the game Hangman can be used to teach new vocabulary or revise vocabulary learnt in the previous lesson. You want the students to be able to enjoy themselves but also understand the purpose of the game and what it is they will be learning or practising. I read an article on the Internet about a school using the Nintendo Wii in the classroom for educational purposes. technology nowadays is such a big part of our lives. Children grow up using the Internet and playing video games of all sorts. Back when I was a child, video games wasn?t a big deal; we always played in the park and the Internet didn?t even exist! This school used the Wii to attract the interests of the children and taught them how it can also be used as a learning tool. students played games such as bowling and baseball to learn and improve on their mathematical skills. Other games and online channels were used for lessons on the weather and geography. If a gaming console works for your classroom then why not use it and sometimes you just have to experiment to see what the outcome will be. However the game must be carefully chosen to give it the best possible learning outcome expected. There are many more reasons for the use of games in the classroom other than motivation and ?having fun?. Games create a more relaxed atmosphere allowing for all students to participate, especially those that are more reserved or shy. It encourages students to communicate and cooperate with each other and therefore increases their practice of language skills. Games are also a great evaluative tool for both the students and the teacher. It provides feedback to how much the student has learnt and what needs more practice. The teacher then has some indication as to what areas of language needs more work and what areas are understood. Games also allow students to prepare themselves for the real world. Playing games such as creating scenes or role-plays and putting the real world into perspective gives the students the extra confidence to practice their English in real situations. Using games in the classroom is a great teaching device for English learners. It creates a challenging, fun and less threatening learning environment that motivate students and allows them to practice and learn English. It is an invaluable tool that all teachers cannot live without. References: Humanising Language Teaching Magazine for teachers and teacher trainers http://www.hltmag.co.uk/apr11/mart02.htm Wii Love Learning: Using Gaming technology to Engage students | Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-wii-gaming-technology-classroom Ten of the Very Best Reasons for using classroom games http://www.thegamegroup.com/article1.htm