Benefits of Games
Submitted by G. Uuganchimeg
Most
language teachers cannot imagine teaching without games. Games help focus attention on specific
grammar points, vocabulary and language functions. They can be used to practice and to
communicate and then, later, for review.
Both slow and fast learners can participate. Games ensure maximum student participation. Finally, they are useful for improving all
four skill areas: speaking, listening,
reading, and writing.
Playing Games for Greater Learning
Submitted by R. Natsagbayar
Everyone
likes to play, especially children. Why
not learn by playing? Every Mongolian
child knows this game and has played it.
It can very useful for studying English.
This game is “Dye.”
One
student is the leader, one is the wolf, and the others are the “dye.” The leader gives a colored circle to each
person- red, yellow, blue, etc. The wolf
knocks on the door.
Leader: Who is there?
Wolf: I am a wolf.
Leader: What do you need?
Wolf: I need a dye.
Leader: Which color?
Wolf: Red.
Leader: How much?
Wolf: 50 (The wolf can say any number.)
The
leader claps on the wolf’s palm. The
leader says 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. At
this time, the student with the red color runs away and the wolf must chase
him. If he is caught by the wolf, he
becomes the wolf’s baby. If he is not
caught, he comes back home and may play again.
To
modify this game, half the students stand side by side in one line. The other half stand side by side in another
line but facing the first line. The two
lines should be some distance apart. One
line receives the colored dye. The other
line has signs on which the colors are written.
When the wolf calls the color, the child with that dye runs to the child
who has the word correct sign. If the
wolf does not catch him, he can return home and play again. If the wolf catches him, he becomes the
wolf’s baby.
The
teacher can use this game in many different ways. For example, I used it for the topics of
clothes, animals, and numbers. The rules
can be changed a little if necessary to suit the topic.
Students
are never bored when they learn by playing games.