Using Games to Make Language Learning Interesting, Innovative, and Fun

Games are Useful in Language Learninggameso TPR and physical movement gameso
We can successfully use games in the languageInter-active gameso Strategy gameso Online and
learning classroom to teach and practicecomputer games
numerous skills including:o Vocabularyo SpellingoCreate Good Language Learners
Grammar and structureo Idioms and expressionsoBy using a wide variety of language learning
Pronunciationo Listening and speakinggames in the EFL or ESL classroom the teacher is
Factors Affecting Choice of Gamesable to promote a number of qualities which
What kinds of games we can use will depend onpositively contribute to a lowered affective filter
their intended purpose. Whether it's to introduce aand improved language acquisition. You should
topic, practice a particular skill or aspect, orinclude games among your strategies to promote
reinforce previous learning topics games help bythese qualities that make for a good language
providing much-valued practice while effectivelylearner (Rubin, 1975)o Willing and accurate
lowering the affective filter of the studentsguessingo Language related Risk-takingo
(Krashen and Terrell, 1993). Other factors whichUninhibited communicationo Spontaneous language
can impact our choice of games are:o Thepracticeo Self-monitoring of speecho Attention to
number of studentso The size of the classroomolanguage meaning
Classroom environmental aspectso Length ofWhere and How
timeo Materials, realia or aids availableWhere you can get an ongoing variety of
Kinds of Gamespre-produced games, how to use them creatively
We can vary the kinds of games considerably toin the EFL or ESL classroom and techniques for
help our students to make learning interesting,creating your own games customized to meet
innovative and more fun. Useful andthe needs of your students will be discussed in
commonly-practiced games available for almost allfuture postings.
teaching and learning venues consist of:o Board