TEFL Scarborough Maine

In today's classroom students are more distracted than ever before. With cell phones, texting, video games, and a world of other instant gratification tools, the students of today need a continuous stream of stimulating entertainment. There is a constant struggle between teachers and students to maintain an interest in learning. Playing games in the classroom can assist in this struggle. What is a game? Is a questionnaire a game? A game by definition can be an amusement or pastime or a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators. A questionnaire by itself may not be a game, however with a little imagination just about anything can be turned into a game. Games in the classroom have advantages and disadvantages. Some of the main advantages include; they keep students interested and make the class fun. They can turn an intimidating classroom into a fun place where students can enjoy learning in a relaxed environment. Games have a unique way of breaking down barriers and are a great way to tie fun with learning. When using games effectively they become quite efficient because it's done in a natural setting opposed to lecturing or strictly coursework which can become dull and uninteresting. Games can be used to teach lessons and are a great way to establish report, consequently setting the tone for the rest of the course. Not only are games a great tool that can be used for all class sizes but they also provide the opportunity to pair the weak with the strong, which allows the teacher to observe the students english levels. Without games in the classroom teaching and learning may become dry and ineffective. They play a key role and can have a direct impact on communication skills. When Stacy Jackson an esl teacher in Guangzhou, china was asked why she uses games in her 1st grade classroom her response was… “If the teacher is having fun then chances are the students are as well.” “If the students seem bored with a lesson, then it might be a good time to shake it up and play a quick game. It's important for the teacher to have fun as well as the students because usually the students will mirror the teacher's attitude towards learning the material.” Some of the disadvantages of games in the classroom are as follows. Chaos! If the teacher does not have a firm handle on his or her class the students may treat the classroom like the playground. Whereas nearly anything can be turned into a game, not all material can be learned effectively by using a game as the primary teaching method of choice. Another thing to keep in mind is that parents may become concerned that their children are having too much fun and not having enough study time. Overall if games are applied incorrectly or overused learning could become hindered with a lot of time wasted. Here are some basic games and how they are applied to esl commonly used in today's classrooms. Pronunciation and Phonology - Tongue Twisters and Drills Speaking and Writing – Drilling, Prompting, Free role play, guided role play, Information gap, Twister, Clue, Snakes, connect 4, Mime, Jeopardy, and Crosswords Grammar and Vocabulary, Hangman, Pictionary, 20 questions, Pass the ball, Tick Tac Toe, Picture stories, Crosswords, Word searches, Matching exercises, Drilling, and Bingo Conditionals and Reported speech – Role play, and Media Interviews Tenses – In 5 years, going to, and role play Reading and Listening – Making comparisons Introduction Games – Tell us about, Pass the ball In conclusion, games in the classroom are important because studies have shown that in today's world, many students would choose video games over a trip to the park. Some might argue that games offer more fun than substance, however if teachers find balance between fun and functional learning, the students attention will be captured and they will more likely leave the classroom with an overall positive attitude towards their learning experience.