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

Games are Useful in Language Learning

We can successfully use games in the language learning classroom to teach and practice numerous skills including:

• Vocabulary

• Spelling

• Grammar and structure

• Idioms and expressions

• Pronunciation

• Listening and speaking

Factors Affecting Choice of Games

What kinds of games we can use will depend on their intended purpose. Whether it's to introduce a topic, practice a particular skill or aspect, or reinforce previous learning topics games help by providing much-valued practice while effectively lowering the affective filter of the students (Krashen and Terrell, 1993). Other factors which can impact our choice of games are:

• The number of students

• The size of the classroom

• Classroom environmental aspects

• Length of time

• Materials, realia or aids available

Kinds of Games

We can vary the kinds of games considerably to help our students to make learning interesting, innovative and more fun. Useful and commonly-practiced games available for almost all teaching and learning venues consist of:

• Board games

• TPR and physical movement games

• Inter-active games

• Strategy games

• Online and computer games

Create Good Language Learners

By using a wide variety of language learning games in the EFL or ESL classroom the teacher is able to promote a number of qualities which positively contribute to a lowered affective filter and improved language acquisition. You should include games among your strategies to promote these qualities that make for a good language learner (Rubin, 1975)

• Willing and accurate guessing

• Language related Risk-taking

• Uninhibited communication

• Spontaneous language practice

• Self-monitoring of speech

• Attention to language meaning

Where and How

Where you can get an ongoing variety of pre-produced games, how to use them creatively in the EFL or ESL classroom and techniques for creating your own games customized to meet the needs of your students will be discussed in future postings.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is a bi-lingual copywriter, expert author and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. He lives in Colombia and teaches at a university in Cali. Want lots more free tips, help and information on learning English or another foreign language? Go now to: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/

11 Alternative Garden Games

Tired of the same ol', same ol' when it come to entertaining your garden party guests? Weary of boring badminton and jarts? Croquet not your style? Then you're in the right spot! Here are games sure to make your next party the hit of the gardening social season!

Icebreakers

Game #1: The Gnat Slap Equipment required: A garden of any size. As your guests arrive, invite them for the obligatory 'stroll through the garden'. Tell them they are welcome to slap the gnats but only those gnats annoying another guest; never are they permitted to slap gnats hovering around their own eyes, nose, ears or mouth. The winner is the last guest standing. A great icebreaker! Game #2: The 3-Legged Butterfly Chase Equipment required: Rope or wire to bind legs. This is lots of fun. Tightly bind two guests' legs together to make a three-legged contestant. Then tell them you'll unbind them only after they've captured a butterfly. Tip: For a longer lasting game, declare the quarry to be a hummingbird. Game #3: Competitive Weed Pulling Equipment required: Weeds of any kind. This is a great game to reward the hard working guest. Entrants don't eat until the entire garden is cleaned of weeds. Winner: The person with the most weeds eats first and most, and so on down the line. This game teaches the rewards of the Puritan work ethic. Game #4: The Wasp Dodge Equipment required: More wire for binding, an in-ground wasp nest or two (Yellow Jackets are the best!), a small amount of kerosene. With hands tightly wired behind their backs, have your players stand in a circle around a wasp nest entrance. Irritate the wasps by sprinkling a little kerosene over the hole and oh, boy! Stand back! Entrants are judged on style, grace, self-defensive acrobatic movements and number of stings.

Games to Play While the Frozen Turkey Cooks on the Charcoal Grill

Game #5: Watch the Lawn Go Dormant Equipment required: A dry turf. This is for those guests that had a poor showing in the other games. The winner is the person still awake when the lawn is actually declared dormant. Game #6: Bobbing for Aquatic Insects Equipment required: A stagnant water source such as a neglected pool, pond or bucket. Kids love this one! The winner is whoever come up with the largest water strider. Incentive for the competitively spirited: Anyone bobbing to the bottom retrieving the hapless mouse that slipped in about a month ago qualifies for the National Bobb-Off! Game #7: Slug Races Equipment required: A slug for each guest. We suggest two events: The 4" sprint and the 2-foot marathon. Guests may mark their slugs in any way they wish. Tip 1: Use an air-horn to signify the start of the races. Slugs are hard of hearing. Tip 2: Entrants in the "Watch the Lawn Go Dormant" game can play this game simultaneously. Game #8: Hornet's Nest Pinata Equipment required: 1 large hornet's nest, a stick long enough to reach the nest, a blindfold. This game really livens things up after the slower pace of the slug races and helps work off dinner. Game #9: Blindfolded Lawn Mowing Equipment required: A power mower and the blindfold from the Hornet's Nest Pinata game if it isn't too bloody. Everyone loves this sport! One by one guests are blindfolded and told to mow the grass. The winner is the contestant who runs over the fewest trees, shrubs, flowers, pets and other guests. Lotsa laughs! Time Saving tip: Dial 911 before the game begins. Games for After Dark
Tip! The Wizardry series, however, was one of the greatest experiences PC game players had in the relatively short history of PC games.

Game #10: Firefly Shooting Equipment required: A BB gun for everyone. After a fun day of activities and food, gather everyone in the center of the garden in a large circle to try their hand at nailing a few fireflies. The winner, and don't expect one, is anyone who actually knocks a lightening bug out of the sky. Time Saving tip: Dial 911 before the game begins. Game #11: Feed the Mosquitos Equipment required: Go figure. Play this last game while lingering over "good-byes" in the garden.

When Tom Schneider isn't trying to find new guests to invite to his garden parties, he and his wife Deb are busy with their on-line machine embroidery design business, WindstarEmbroidery.com