Reading Skill

Teaching Grammar with Games in the ESL Classroom

     You may remember when you were in school the dreaded grammar lessons of sitting in a desk writing, correcting and rewriting sentences to learn proper grammar usage.  Well, while some people may still teach grammar in this method, there is a movement towards teaching grammar with games.  Just imagine your class when you announce that it's time for a grammar lesson and instead of moans and whining, you get smiles and excitement.  It is possible and believe it or not, teaching grammar with games will still be as effective, if not more effective, as just teaching them through repetitive writing and rewriting.

Research gives excellent reasons to teach grammar with games

     Arif Saricoban and Esen Metin, authors of "Songs, Verse and Games for Teaching Grammar" explain how and why games work for teaching grammar in an ESL classroom.  They say, "Games and problem-solving activities...have a purpose beyond the production of correct speech, and are examples of the most preferable communicative activities."  They go on to explain that grammar games help children not only gain knowledge but be able to apply and use that learning.

Additionally, games have the advantage of allowing the students to "practice and internalize vocabulary, grammar and structures extensively."  They can do this through repeated exposure to the target grammar and because students are often more motivated to play games than they are to do deskwork.  Plus, during the game, the students are focused on the activity and end up absorbing the grammar subconsciously.

While games are motivating for the students, probably the best reason, according to Saricoban and Metin, to use games is that "the use of such activities both increases the cooperation and competition in the classroom."  Indeed games can be used to add excitement through competition or to create bonding between the students, and between the students and teacher.

Aydan Ersoz, author of "Six Games for the ESL/EFL Classroom" also explains more reasons why games do work for teaching grammar.  Learning a language requires constant effort and that can be tiring, but Ersoz outlines two good reasons why games should be included in the classroom:

* Games that are amusing and challenging are highly motivating.
* Games allow meaningful use of the language in context.

The Value of Intrinsic Motivation

     The theory of intrinsic motivation may also give some insight as to why teaching grammar through games actually works.  Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal factors that encourage us to do something.  Most young learners will not internally decide that they want to learn grammar.  They don't yet understand the concepts of why it's important to know proper grammar, so these external factors won't affect them much either.  Instead, intrinsic motivation can encourage them to play games.  If these games are good then they will be learning while they are playing. 

     Joel Bacha, author of "Play and Affect in Language Learning", explains how this theory works.  Exposure to challenges and stimulation piques the children's natural curiosity and, in turn, promotes learning through the activity's required skills.  This is because activities that get the students to move around activate their mental capacities and stimulate neural networks, thus promoting learning and retention.  Bacha's article goes on to point out that some studies are even beginning to show that intrinsic motivation can promote long-term language retention.

What kinds of games work best?

      When you are looking for games to use in your classroom, don't just pick something to be a "time filler" that does not have any linguistic purpose.  These games may entertain the students, but when you don't have much time with them each day as it is, you want your game to do double duty to get the most out of the time you spend playing games.

Lin Hong, author of "Using Games in Teaching English to Young Learners", explains that not all games are going to work to teach the students language skills.  If the game is simply for fun and not linked to educational goals it may not be the best use of your time.  It is possible to have a fun game that is educationally sound, however.  To find out if the game is educationally sound, think about these questions posed by Hong:

• Which skills do the games practice?
• What type of game is it and what is its purpose?
• Does the difficulty level of the game mesh with the students' ability level?
• Does the game require maximum involvement by the students?
• Do the students like it?  Do you like it?

      Today I read a journal about Teaching grammar with game in the ESL classroom. Grammar is very important for English teacher. When we teach grammar we should use many activities for teaching student such as game, song , role play. Fun game that we use to teach grammar can motivate student to study because it makes good atmosphere for them.

      

      Arif Saricoban and Esen Metin, authors of "Songs, Verse and Games for Teaching Grammar" explain how and why games work for teaching grammar in an ESL classroom.  They say, "Games and problem-solving activities...have a purpose beyond the production of correct speech, and are examples of the most preferable communicative activities."  They go on to explain that grammar games help children not only gain knowledge but be able to apply and use that learning.

      Additionally, games have the advantage of allowing the students to "practice and internalize vocabulary, grammar and structures extensively."  They can do this through repeated exposure to the target grammar and because students are often more motivated to play games than they are to do desk work.  Plus, during the game, the students are focused on the activity and end up absorbing the grammar subconsciously.
Indeed games can be used to add excitement through competition or to create bonding between the students, and between the students and teacher.