Positive Aspects of Using Games in the Classroom

Learning any language requires a great deal of effort. Playing games help students to make and sustain the effort of learning a particular language. Educational Games feel more like a form of entertainment than a method of learning. Because games include rules, definitive objectives, measurable goals, and competition, they deliver an interactive experience that promotes a sense of achievement for all of the participants/students. Games provide language practice in various ways –speaking, writing, understanding, listening and reading. They encourage students to interact and communicate with each other as well as with the teachers.

This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shrutee V. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.

Benefits

Besides, games allow dynamism, fun, relaxed and a healthy competitive environment. We can use games in our classrooms provided we use them for the reason that is enhancing education and learning. Playing games just for the sake of it or just as fillers activities will make no sense. Whether you decide to use games to reinforce grammar or vocabulary you need to plan when to play, how to play and what types of games are adapted to your teaching objectives. Few of the games which are very commonly used in engage phase to let the students talk and converse are hangman, bingo, monopoly and many more.

Also Read: Where are the best places to teach English abroad?

The importance of games when learning English are:

• A game adds a new diversion from the normal activities of the class. This allows students to feel better in their learning environment.
• Games lower down students’ anxiety and stress level; thereby improving and well absorption of language takes place. It has been proven that students remember things easier and faster when they learn in a relaxed environment. Games help to create such an atmosphere. Learning with games is no longer seen as a painful exercise but rather as a pleasant one.
• Games are pretty entertaining and motivating, which helps in breaking down the ice between the teacher and their students.
• Games also help in energize the classroom. They allow rebalancing of positive energy. Games will be very useful especially if they can break the monotonous routine.
• Games are the best way to make students revise language elements that they have already practiced and have been exposed to.
• Students benefit from the immediate feedback that takes place during game playing. Instead of having to wait for days or even weeks for assignment grades, students get instantaneous results about whether or not they made good decisions.
• Digital literacy is also present in gaming for a lifetime of technology which is a very important skill nowadays.

Also Read: The Lowdown on Teaching English Abroad With a Family

Results

Games can enhance a student’s physical development, concentration, memory, motor skills, and create awareness. The sounds, the actions, the movement, the energy, the laughter, winning or losing will benefit your students in some shape or form.

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In conclusion, teachers should value games because they help encourage and sustain fluency. It also helps students see the English language as fun and not just a difficult subject that they are having problems learning and that can seem at times a little overwhelming.

So one should not overlook the importance of games and activities and be creative!

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