Following on from my last post, one of the other ways that games can be useful in a classroom setting is in getting students to communicate in English using natural, functional phrases.
"Pass the dice please."
"Take a card, please."
"Here you are."
"Thanks."
"It's my turn."
"Hurry up, it's your turn!"
"Ooops, sorry!"
"Kenji, do you have a dinosaur card?"
"Yes, sure."
"No, sorry."
Teachers can encourage the use of these kinds of expressions in almost any game played, even in something as simple as a picture card memory game.
With young learners the best way to encourage the use of this language is to model it yourself first, and reinforce it during the game as needed.
You can also use games to encourage students to respond to the action taking place in a game, using expressions such as these:
"Oh, no!"
"Yay!"
"Phew!"
"That's good!"
"Uh-oh!"
"Wow, a 6, you're lucky!"
"A 1! Bad luck!"
Games are an excellent way to invite intensive use of functional language in the classroom.
Successfully communicating in this way is rewarding for both students and teachers, and it can be a good way to finish a lesson on a positive note.
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