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I think using games to teach is fantastic, if you are using games in your class for the right reasons that is. Using games in your classroom just to pass the time or even games that aren’t relevant to to the content you are teaching. There are a lot if advantages of using games as well as some disadvantages. There are a lot of games you can use. Just by doing a quick search on the internet, you will find an endless number games and explaining how to use. You can always change or adapt for you students , as well as for the content you will be teaching. Remember when using a game, make sure you are using the right game at the right moment. As there are different types if games. For example there are games you can use or warm ups, study and activate. And a warm up game might not be the right game for an activate stage. Before implementing a game always try the game yourself with some of your colleagues. This way you will have an idea as to what will work and what to avoid. Also you wont be wasting any time in class by trying to figure out how to use it. Correct game for the level of students. This mean that you need to make sure that the game you are using won’t be difficult for the students to understand as well as playing it. For the younger learners a simple and exciting game will work best, where as for adults it wont work and you will need a game that is more advance, maybe not as full of energy but still interesting. Don’t think adults will enjoy jumping around as much as a say a 5 year old.Games in the classroom. Why we use games Games are fun and of course students are children and children love games. So with them even knowing (because the are having so much fun), they will producing the language thus practicing it and having fun at the same time. Fun Learning. How to choose a game -A game must be more than just fun. -A game should involve "friendly" competition. -A game should keep all of the students involved and interested. -A game should encourage students to focus on the use of language rather than on the language itself. -A game should give students a chance to learn, practice, or review specific language material. Advantages -Not expensive. There are games you will only need a board and a marker. Wont need to buy anything extra -Great motivation. This helps a lot to get a quite class to interact more and also keeps the interest of your students -Games provide language practice. In the various skills- speaking, writing, listening and reading. -Its a break from the normal class. If you would only be teaching every class without games, your class would become rather boring and it would be the same routine over and over. Disadvantages -Class control. If you don’t plan it correctly or it is a big class, you might struggle to control the class or even lose control. -Big class . If it is a big class, it will be difficult for each student to have a try and will take up a lot of your teaching time. I would suggest a group game for a big class. -Noisy. If they are having fun and are excited students tend to get a bit loud.
