GAMES FOR LANGUAGE CLASS Vol. 1

Learning a new language can sometimes be very frustrating. Why? Because sometimes it is very difficult to understand the structure or vocabulary, or sometimes we do not have enough chance to practice it. Sometimes we feel there is no friend to practice with. And there are many other things which may cause that kind of feeling.

If learning a language can be done in a very relaxing and fun way, it will help a lot to understand the language more easily.

In the classroom context, a teacher should pay attention to the above-mentioned problems that learners may have. One way to overcome learning obstacles is by adopting various teaching techniques, or using language games as part of the classroom activities. This could be effective in giving students a new learning experience, by learning the new language in a fun and relaxing way.

However, a teacher needs to be selective when choosing language games. A teacher should be able to select which games are suitable or communicative enough to present a certain language point or topic.

The following are some examples of games which are useful for classroom activities. However, the effectiveness of these games can also depend on the creativeness of the teacher, since some adaptation to the classroom situation and materials is generally needed.

All examples in the following games refer to English classroom activities, however, they can also be applied in other foreign language classes.

DOG AND BONE

Students sit in two rows facing each other. A ball or something similar is placed between the two rows. Each student is then given a number or word, corresponding to a student on the opposite side. When the teacher mentions a number or word, for example "5" or "apple", the students who have that attribute try to grab the ball placed in between the lines, and then get back to their seats without being touched by the opposing players.

ALPHABET CARDS

This is a vocabulary / warm up game that will help the students to think in English. This activity can also be used to help the students recall vocabulary they have learned.

Materials
A pack of alphabet cards. Teachers can also make these cards themselves and then write a big-enough letter of alphabet on each card.

How to Play
1. Put students into groups.
2. Mix up the alphabet cards.
3. Write the category that will be played on the whiteboard, one category at a time.
4. Show the students one card at a time.
5. Considering the category written on the whiteboard, students must compete to shout out a word that begins with that letter.

Example
If the category is "Present Tense Verbs" and the teacher shows the students the letter "B", they can shout out BREAK or BEAT to win the card, but if they shout out BROKEN or BANANA, then they get no card.
Whoever responds first with the correct answer wins the card for their team. Whichever team has the most cards at the end wins the round.

WORD CHAINS

Objectives
This game is intended to stimulate students to use English and identify word classification and refresh their surface vocabulary.

Procedure
1. Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5.
2. Three or four groups compete in front of the class by writing on the whiteboard.
3. Each member of the group holds a piece of their whiteboard marker.
4. The teacher gives the first word.
5. Students, based on the last letter of the given word compete to write as many new words as they can.
6. The group that writes the most words wins the game.

Example
The word given is ELEPHANT of which the last letter is T. So, the students may write a word such as TEACHER, and then continue writing another word starting with the letter R, and so on.

Tips
Time should be limited, and it is better to classify the words to be played such as nouns, adjectives, professions, past verbs, adverbs, etc.

COLLECTING INFORMATION

Objective
To get the students used to thinking in English using some English question patterns.

Procedure
1. Students are given a piece of card containing a self identity.
2. The cards should be distributed randomly.
3. The teacher tells the students that they have been separated because of a volcanic eruption or other natural disasters. Then they have to find the rest of their family members to get together again.
4. Students have to try to find their family members based on the information on the card they have been given.

AIR-WRITE

One person writes letters, words, numbers, shapes, etc. in the air and others guess what it is. This can be done in pairs, as a group, or along a chain.
This can also be played as back-write that is, writing the letters/word/...on the back of another student and they guess what it is.

CHAIN STORY

Objectives
To stimulate students to construct sentences by writing and to get the students to express their imagination in the target language.

Procedure
1. Divide the class into groups. Make sure the groups are not too big to keep the game running effectively and efficiently.
2. Each group is given a piece of paper. On that paper the teacher writes one sentence that functions as the first sentence of a story.
3. Tell the students that they are supposed to continue the sentence on the paper and compose a story.
4. The first member of the group writes one sentence or two. Then he/she passes the paper to the second member. The second member writes another sentence to continue the previous sentences, and the passes the paper to the third member, and so on until they make up a version of their own story.
5. Finally, each group makes a presentation of their group story to the whole class.


adopted from Serba-serbi Pengajaran Bahasa Buku Pertama, EF Press, June 2009.
IMRON ZARKASYI