GAMES

Games are a great tool to use in the classroom. When used correctly they heighten and strengthen your lesson and give students realistic practice in using the target language. I use games to enforce understanding and memorization of vocabulary, strengthen grammar and spelling, initiate conversation or create a class dialogue and more. Add to that the fact that games are a ton of fun, I think that any ESL teacher could benefit from adding a few games to their lesson plan. Even uptight, grammar-focused students who think games are a waste of time can find benefit in many of the following games:

+Rapid Fire Questions - Students need to answer simple questions within a predetermined amount of time or they're out. Students can be called randomly, called according to the seating chart, or a ball can be thrown from student to student.

+Bingo - Substitute the numbers for words and use cloze sentences as the clues. It's a great way to review vocabulary at the end of a unit or before a test.

+Tap the Board - Review vocabulary by writing the vocabulary on the board and lining students up in two lines in front of the board. Describe one of the words and have students tap the corresponding word on the board.

+True of False - Read true-false statements as students stand and listen. Students answer by pointing thumbs up for true or thumbs down for false. Those who answered incorrectly, sit down and the winners are those who can stay standing throughout the ten statements.

+Tic-Tac-Toe - Make a standard tic-tac-toe board and fill it in with the numbers one to nine. Write nine questions relevant to the topic studied. Have teams choose the question and see which team can get three in a row following the basic rules of the game tic-tac-toe.

+Touch the Wall - Assign the walls as true statements and false statements and ask true-false statements or yes-no questions. Students answer by running to touch the correct wall.

+Telephone - Have students sit single file in two lines arranged from the back of the room to the front board. Whisper a message to the two students in the back and have students pass the message to the person in front of them until it reaches the two students in front of the class. The two students in the front then write the message on the board.