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Top Tips for Playing Games During the ESL Class - TEFL Blog
Federico Riva
Teaching Ideas
Learning foreign languages is a very exciting and very responsible deal. A significant role in teaching foreign languages, in particular, English, belongs to games in the classroom. Games enhance students' mental activity, helps them consolidate material of the lesson, therefore it's a very important activity. The developing value of the game we can find in itself, because where is a game - there is emotion. Where is emotion, there are attention improvisation and imagination.
How to Implement Games?
Teacher's Part
Examples of Games
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ivan S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions... [Read more]
Games as a Teaching Method for Adult ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
When we start to learn new things as children, we tend to do that with the help of games. That is why in many classrooms of young learners, we find games to be a highly popular medium amongst educators. It is a way of absorbing and processing a piece of information in a fun and educational way. But when we grow up, we somehow forget the necessity of games in the classroom.
Ice Breaker
Ways to Include Games into Your Lesson
What Games to Choose?
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anna B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
When it comes to learning a second language, children immerse themselves in... [Read more]
Why Playing Games in Class is Important? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
All humans are raised with an innate love for games. Since we were all children, playing games was our pastime activity. When comes to teaching either young learners or adults, in-class games are the foundation stone of learning.
Business English
The Effect of Games
Strategy
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Pavlina M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Teaching Business English (BE) to clients/adults must be a fun procedure. There are many reasons why a teacher must use games when teaching English in class regardless of students' age or occupation.
To begin with, students can learn with... [Read more]
The Practical Value of Games in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Education and teaching are always changing. Thus, teachers are constantly thinking of new ideas and techniques they can implement in their classroom and teaching plan to more effectively educate their students. Presently, the notion of games within the classroom is widely popular among teachers. One may think that this relationship between games and learning is ironic, as most individuals classify games as a hindrance to education. However, through its engaging attributes, the tendency to boost class morale and motivation, and overall improvement within student's creativity, games in the classroom that inspire education are very effective when teaching.
Engagement Power
Attention-Grabbing Power
Revision Applicability
Ice Breaker
Do you want to teach... [Read more]
Games in the Classroom ▷ Infographic - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
There are many games that can be used in the TEFL classroom, from simple games that only require a pen and a whiteboard to more elaborate board games. There are some games that have been specifically designed to be used in English language classes, while other, everyday games that we usually play for fun can also be adapted to be used with your students. You can even create your own games!
There are many misconceptions about using games in the classroom. Some people believe that studying should be serious and that there is no place for this kind of “entertainment” in the classroom. Others believe that games are only for children and that adults are not interested in playing when they should be studying. Neither of these assertions is true, research and experience has shown that... [Read more]
Time Expressions Board Game - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun board game to practice time expressions and prepositions of time. Your students talk in pairs about the topics on the sheet. Each student places their counter on one of the "start" squares and then move forward by one square at a time talking about the topic using the appropriate time expressions.
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Helpful and Fun Outdoor ESL Activities - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
What outdoor activities can help to teach English? I would like to say that there are plenty of outdoor activities that are effective to teach English. However, many teachers prefer indoor activities rather than outdoor, as they think that it might distract the students. Nonetheless, outdoor activities can increase their motivation for learning. Also, it helps to decrease their stress level, as they do not have to stay in the classroom as usual.
Freewriting time
Flashcard game
'Stand up if you've ever' game
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sarosh Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
The teacher... [Read more]
7 Great Games for Your ESL Conversation Class - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Teaching speaking skills is an important part of an ESL class. Sometimes, entire conversation classes are established that focus solely on speaking. Here are 7 great games for your ESL conversation class.
1. Mystery Party Guest
2. Choose Your Victim
3. Ice-breaker Jenga
4. 20 Questions
5. Apples to Apples
6. Get to Know You Bingo
7. Create A Game
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Write down the names and key points about five celebrities and assign them to the same amount of students in your classroom. One by one, a student enters a "party" with another student playing the host. The host must then find out the identity of each guest by having a conversation with everyone.
Have your students stand in a circle. Choose a specific... [Read more]
The Role of Games in The Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The use of games in the class can activate the atmosphere of learning, reduce learning pressure, and stimulate learning interest more. Independent and selective learning is good for developing students' multiple intelligenceand promoting the formation of good feelings. There are five benefits of games in the classroom.
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Creating positive atmosphere
Stimulating interest in learning
Positive attitude
Good feelings
Intelligence
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
The first is reducing students' learning pressure. Students are... [Read more]
The Lowdown on Teaching English Abroad With a Family - TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
TEFL Information
If you do a quick online search for teaching English abroad, it would be easy to assume that it is only an option for young, single people. However, this is far from the truth, as there are countless thousands of people of all ages who are currently teaching abroad with their families. Many parents see it as a great opportunity to provide their children with an international education that is far removed from the one-dimensional option that most of us experience in our home country. Although moving abroad to teach English as a family is a great option for many people, there are obviously several things to consider before jumping on a plane.
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Safety concerns
I have a non-teaching partner
Money concerns
Other considerations
The main... [Read more]
10+ Activities for Teaching English Winter Camp - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Having to organize and hold a winter camp is a daunting task, especially for new teachers who haven't done it before. For these kinds of English camps, teachers typically create up to 10 lesson plans for the duration of the camp. Winter camps can last anywhere between one week to a month or even longer. The main goal of an English camp is to have a fun and memorable time with the students while practicing their English.
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It's all About Fun… and Props!
Making Sock Snowmen!
Making Christmas or New Year's Cards
Have Handouts Ready
Powerpoint/Computer Games
Board Games
When Your School Doesn't Have a Budget or Supplies
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video... [Read more]
Problems of First Lessons and How to Overcome Them - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
Challenges are inevitable especially if you want to be successful at what you do and teaching EFL is not devoid of them. In fact, teaching English as a Foreign Language can be very much exciting but also very challenging as it comes with lots of problems. Among these problems are what to do for the first lessons and how to get students motivated for the EFL course. These problems like many others have solutions and this essay seeks to highlight the problems and provide some practical solutions to them.
First impressions are the most lasting
Overcoming this issue
Getting your students motivated
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Belinda S.
What to... [Read more]
TEFL Bali - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL Indonesia ▷ ITTT course
With world-class surfing and diving, a large number of cultural, historical, and archaeological attractions, and an enormous range of accommodations, Bali is one of the world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards.
Get TEFL Accredited in Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces, and barren volcanic hillsides all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual, and unique culture stakes a serious claim to be paradise on earth.
Bali is known for tourist hotspots that cater to surfer dudes, budget-backpackers as well as high end luxury travellers. But there is a side to Bali that many do not experience- and the road less travelled... [Read more]
What's The Time? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun board game for your students to practice the time.
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The Point of Using Games in a TEFL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teaching language to children is a rather delicate and complex process that requires a careful approach and patience from the teacher. To make this process more vivid and interesting for children, it is necessary to remember the existence of such an important and very useful tool as games.
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Basis
Motivation
Approach to games
Teaching point
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Aleksei K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
In my opinion, games act like some kind of a magic wand which forms the foundation of trust between the teacher and the child, helps to build a... [Read more]
Use a Word Board Game - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun board game where the students have to make a sentence with the word they land on.
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[Read more]
The Difference Between Teaching English to High School Students and University Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Teaching English to high-school students and teaching English to university students are uniquely different and require different skills and teaching methods. High school students are in a period of development known as adolescence. One of the leading developmental psychologists, Erik Erikson, defines adolescence as a period of struggle between identity versus role confusion (Hutchison, 2013). During adolescence, high schoolers are going through many physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes (Hutchison, 2013). They are struggling to define who they are in this world not about their parents. They want to make their own choices in life based on their reasoning. A high schooler may choose on their own to learn English as a foreign language, but... [Read more]
11 Fun ESL Activities for Young Learners - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
When teaching young learners, it's important not to spend too much time on any one activity as they can soon lose interest. It is also a good idea to have activities that give younger learners the chance to move about and use the boundless energy they have at that age. Below we present a list of short activities suitable for young and very young learners of English.
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What's the Time Mr. Wolf?
Telephone
Basketball
Volleyball
Bingo
Can you …?
I Spy
Odd One Out
Stand Up Please
Mastermind
Blindfold Obstacle Course
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This is a good activity for practicing time with small classes. Clear a space in the center of... [Read more]
Board Game - Xmas Challenge - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Here's a Christmas board game focusing on sentence building, either spoken or written. To practice speaking, let students say sentences (make sure to correct pronunciation when needed); to practice writing, let them write sentences (adapt the game to your students' level).
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Say 4 Things You Do... Worksheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
This is a fun ESL board game to practice your students' speaking skills.
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
[Read more]
Candy Cane Word Search - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun word game puzzle to play with your EFL students during the Christmas holiday season.
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
[Read more]
The Importance of Games in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
"Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn." O. Fred Donaldson (Pulitzer nominated author, and renowned play researcher).
Traditional Approach
Two Styles of Teaching
Effects of Game Play
What Games to Use?
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kristel-Ann I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
In a traditional school, students are expected to study the lesson from the book and from what the teacher discussed. It is a straight discussion without activities, and evaluation is through worksheets. They could only play games after school hours. Nowadays, schools... [Read more]
Christmas Movie Emoji Game - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Can your students guess these Christmas movies just by looking at emojis? Find out with this fun Christmas Movie Emoji Game. Answer key provided below.
1. A Christmas Story
2. Nightmare Before Christmas
3. Polar Express
4. Arthur Christmas
5. It's a Wonderful Life
6. Home Alone
7. Miracle on 34th Street
8. White Christmas
9. A Christmas Carol
10. Elf
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6 Striking Benefits of Games in the ESL Class - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Games are one of the most important components in the classroom. They include activities that have goals and rules at the same fun time. There are lots of benefits to playing games in the classroom. Students can practice important skills by playing an educational game in a small group or with a partner. Whole class games are great means to review skills for a test or at the end of the unit. When students need a brain break or during an inside recess, action games work perfectly. Games can be given for homework to provide fun, engaging and differentiated practice. Games can be played in all subjects and at all grade levels. Games are fun as well as beneficial. Here are important benefits that we should use games in the classroom:
1. Games are motivating... [Read more]
A-Z Lower Case Alphabet Board Game - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This a fun and simple game like Snakes and Ladders for students to play with young ESL students to practice upper case letters of the alphabet.
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5 Important Reasons to Use Games in The Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
"Learning is not a game, although you learn by playing"
1. Useful Method
2. Students' Needs
3. Rapport Between Students
4. Way of Evaluation
5. Encouragement
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When we teach it is not only a matter of writing on the board and expecting the students to absorb all the information and knowledge we have, it's a matter of thinking and sharing what we know with the students. The best way of doing this is by connecting with them through games.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juan G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
As a teacher, I believe that games bring you a methodology for teaching... [Read more]
Have/has got - Battleship - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Here's a fun game to help your students practice or revise the usage of "have/has got" structure. Students draw the ships on their boards and then they start 'shooting' trying to guess where the partner's ships are.
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[Read more]
Summer Holiday Board Game - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
This is a fun conversation board game to speak about summer holidays with your ESL students.
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
[Read more]
Getting Student Placement Right - The Best Desk Arrangements for EFL Students - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
As a teacher of English as a foreign language, or any subject really, you have to consider the seating arrangement in your classroom. Studies have shown that seating arrangements where the teacher can see the faces of all of the students at all times increase student engagement and are therefore beneficial for their learning. Considering this, here are the best desk arrangements for EFL students that you should try out in your classroom!
Single Rows
U-Shape
Double Rows
Clusters
More things to consider regarding desk placement:
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Setting up the students' desks in single rows is great for teacher demonstrations and independent table work. While this arrangement is very formal and... [Read more]
The Best Ice Breaker Games Every EFL Teacher Should Know - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
hi guys hey linda here from itt with another live session this week i'm so happy to be here again hope to see many of you guys today thanks so much for joining if you're listening to this as a podcast episode thank you so much for the download we recently just hit 3500 podcast downloads which is super exciting thank you so much for your support and um yeah today's topic i'm really excited about because it's something a little bit different than what i'm usually talking about and today i'm going to share with you the the best icebreaker games that every efl teacher should know so yeah i'm gonna be showing you guys what fun games you can play in your classes i know that some of you are already teaching and you probably know some of these games or you know versions of these games so feel... [Read more]