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anxiety. In the easy, relaxed atmosphere engaging ESL classroom games and activities
which is created by using games, students you can use to spice up your lessons:
remember things faster and better. ● Throw and catch
♦Games increase learners’ achievement. Stand in a circle. Throw a ball (a ball of paper
Games can involve all the basic language will do) from one person to another in the
skills (listening, speaking, reading and circle. As you throw it, shout out an adverb.
writing) and a number of skills are often When you catch it, you have got five seconds
involved in the same game. Games can to use the adverb in a sentence. The class
motivate learners, promote learners‘ decides if your sentence is correct. If it isn‘t,
interaction and improve learners‘ acquisition. you are out of the game. The last student left
As a result, games can increase learners‘ standing is the winner, e.g. A( throwing)-
achievement, which means that learners‘ test Fluently! B( after catching) – He speaks
results, ability of communication, knowledge fluently. B (throwing) – Greedily! C (after
of vocabulary or other language skills can catching) –He ate his dinner greedily, etc.
improve. ●Adjectives
C. Riedle emphasises the advantage Stand in a circle. Take turns to throw a ball to
of games in improving learners‘ each other and follow this sequence: 1) say an
achievements: „„We are teaching a new adjective; 2) say an associated noun; 3) make
generation of students, which requires a sentence with the adjective and noun, and so
unconventional teaching strategies to be put on, e.g. A ( throwing) – Green, B( catching) –
into practice in the classroom. And when Tree, C ( catching) – The trees are very green
schools use games, student benefits speak for in the summer, D ( catching) – Hot…
themselves – a greater desire to learn and Variation: Students only have to say
higher test scores.‘‘ adjectives, but they must begin with the last
In brief, games prove to be a useful letter of the previous adjective, e.g., green,
tool in language teaching. Games not only new, wonderful, lovely, ….
motivate learners and create a friendly ●A to Z
atmosphere, they are aimed at developing all Work in groups of six or seven. Choose one
language skills. Consequently, games can of these categories (animals, food,
motivate, promote learners‘ interaction, nationalities, adjectives, rooms and furniture,
improve their acquisition and increase their clothes, verbs) and take turns to name a
achievement. member of the category starting with the letter
There are hundreds, probably a and working through the alphabet, e.g.
thousands of games you can play with your animals- ant, butterfly, cat, ….. If you can‘t
students. Here are some examples of fun and think of one you are out of the game. The last
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