Games as Teaching Tools for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

1. Games as Teaching Tools for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Using simulations and games are two of the most effective techniques for practicing second language It allows learners to : 1- practice forms 2- experiment with new structures

2. It is very effective with all ages, not only children who enjoy games. • It deals with the sense of achievement the learner feels when he or she wins the prize!.

3. Background of the Student Teachers • They are those who are working toward a Bachelor of Education in teaching English as a second language (ESL).When they graduate They will be teachers in schools; • 1- 10 % are fluent in English • 2- 15% are good but have grammatical and performance errors . • 3- 50% can communicate but not in complex concepts . • 4- others have problems icommunication.

4. Background of the Learners of English • In this article learners mean: • Those who will be thought English from 12 years old to adults . Most of them come from homes where English is not spoken at all .

5. Games Introduced to Student Teachers They are four types of games : • 1-card games • 2-board games • 3-simulation games • 4-party-type games • Card games, board games and party games are effective with all levels ; elementary , intermediate and advanced . But simulation is suitable for intermediate and advanced . (Gaudart, 1976, 1997 )

6. There are five steps teachers should do when they are dealing with games: • 1-teach some structures, which the learners will need during the game. • 2-Intoduce the game, explain rules and the game. • 3- learners play, teachers monitor and record problems. • 4- debrief the learners. • 5- prepare more games to help the learners overcome the problems.

7. Examples of Card Games • 1-HAPPY FAMILIES • Card are passed, each player has to guess a member of a family he\she wants .each student has a number. When the number is called the student answer. There is practice of phone calls . The winner is the one who has collected the most cards (sets of families ) not the one who finish first . • *messages can be used with higher level.

8. 2-LINKING GAME • Each card has two pictures . Students take turns to link pictures by relating them to each other , making sentences or continuing a story (according to the teacher ). If a student fail to link his/her card to one of the pictures , he\she takes card from those in the center of the table .

9. Example of Board Games • THE TRAIN Railway track is divided into squares some are blanked and some have punishment or reward and some have one of three letters (A,O,T) .In the middle of the board there are three stacks of cards marked with (A,O,T). When a player land on (A,O,T) he\she draws a card. • How it is played ? • Elementary : name an animal, object or means of transportation • Advanced : a player describe the picture other guess what is the picture is if the answer is correct he will move toward two spaces and the one who is describing will stay in the same place but he will move back two spaces if no one can guess or guess wrong.

10. Example of Simulation • Learners are divided into groups . Teacher will tell them that a millionaire volunteers a mount of money for a project or more. Each group choose a project and decide how much it need and how much for other groups . They should report and describe his project to the others .They tell the other groups about their allocations and budgets. Bargaining, exchanging and giving money an so on are involved . Finally, teacher tell them that a phone call has been received from the millionaire . They should divide the money to the satisfaction of the groups within 5 minutes or they will lose the money.

11. Example of Other Games • TREASURE HUNT • it help learners to practice reading in following directions and understanding descriptions in an interesting and Enjoyable way. • Students are given some directions to places when they reach the place they refer to descriptions of objects and writing answers .The group who has more correct answers will win • The difficulties is depending on the level.

12. The Teacher Education Course • using games in teaching EFL is introduced to the students through a course titled “Using Drama Techniques in the Teaching of English,” • The student also study mime and role-play as teaching tools in language teaching. • Through demonstrations and hands-on experience of various games the ideas become clear to them.

13. Concerns That Student Teachers Have • 1- the first concern is “noise”. Because of the big number of the school might view noise as lack of control on the part of the teacher. • Solutions • 1-take the learners out of the classroom(canteen, school hall, or the school field) • 2-inform the teachers of the near classes that the class is going to play games and it is going to be noisy.

14. 2-Another concern is the lack of space and the unfortunate situation. It is also can be solve with taking them out of the classroom. • 3- the third concern is the time which the teacher takes to construct multiple copies of card and board games, but now photocopying is very helpful .

15. Finally , Games allow learners to fully use the language that they have learned, participating in the communicative process throughout the game. With practice comes progress, with progress comes motivation, and with motivation comes more learning. By: Najd Al-Saudiri