Esl Classroom Games

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Game On – Using Icebreaker Games in the ESL Classroom We must up our game as ESL teachers in the 21st century – both figuratively and literally. I use games to engage students and promote learning in my classroom for a wide range of learning objectives. Below is a short list of icebreaker games that I regularly use in my classroom, and I will discuss the learning target(s) that each game aims to facilitate and deliver as well as the context in which the game is used. Since I work with high school age and adult students, the games are geared for English Language Learners in these age groups. As learning communities become more globalized and data give more information on how people learn, one major challenge I find with gamifying...  [Read more]

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Games as a Game-Changer in an ESL Classroom There are many benefits to using games in the classroom, including the creation of an engaging learning experience for students, a positive learning environment, and the potential for students to practice real-life situations with instant feedback. Also, gamification of learning can use students’ natural inclination for socialization, achievement, and award. Thus, games can be a great tool for teaching English as a foreign language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tassyn M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Reasons to use games Games should be used with a direct purpose and should be monitored...  [Read more]

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Flashcard Games for ESL Classrooms Most of the teachers in my school would say that the purpose of flashcards is to simply introduce grammar points, concepts, review vocabulary; and most likely, they would mention the joylessness of flashcards when teaching unmotivated students. In truth, flashcards are known for being one of the most boring ways to study. Nevertheless, there are reasons why teachers still choose flashcards for conducting lessons. Russian people say: “Repetition is a mother of learning.” I can not argue with the Russians. Indeed, repetition is crucial, but it often changes the mood of the classroom to "boring." Normally, it happens when the activities with flashcards are poorly organized, or when there are no...  [Read more]

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Organizing Games in the ESL Classroom Social, political and economic transformations in all areas of our society have led to significant changes in education as well. The status of a foreign language as a teaching subject has also changed. The state and society began to feel the need for people who practically speak a foreign language. In this regard, the foreign language within the secondary school has firmly taken the place of compulsory study, the teaching of which begins with the second grade for all students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anna O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Reasons to Implement Games Teaching a foreign language at the...  [Read more]

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Playing Games in an ESL Classroom "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning" – Diane Ackerman. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Danila E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I could not agree more with the quote above as playing games in the classroom has many advantages:The main thing needed for a successful process of learning is, of course, motivation. And playing games certainly increases students' interest and their willingness to participate in the class. Game Rules However, every teacher must ensure the group's understanding of the game rules and processes before starting the actual game. Incomplete...  [Read more]

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Features of ESL Games in the Classroom A lot of activities can be settled and performed in a classroom to teach a non-native language. From tasks until routine exercises, a wide range of dynamics might be applied for a teacher. But games have different and unique features for a lesson, and its matter and characteristics need to be debated for developing consistent teaching of content. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fábio A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. What is a Game? First of all, it must keep in mind the concept of a game, which could be described as a structured form of play, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes as an...  [Read more]

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Most Useful Games in The ESL Classroom Nowadays there is a wide variety of how to teach English. Every teacher uses his or her unique methodologies and techniques to make lessons more informative and entertaining. One of the approaches could be using educational games in the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kristina S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Games in the classroom are a great tool for teachers as they can be adapted to different ages and levels. Within this essay, I would like to clarify why using games in the classroom for young learners is extremely useful and educational. There is no doubt that children have their own...  [Read more]

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Games in The ESL Classroom: ✅ Common Misconceptions Let's think about a definition of the word 'game' and try to find it in dictionaries or encyclopedias. We will see that apart from amusement value, a game is considered to be a valuable educational tool. Undoubtedly different games are used mainly to entertain and bring fun, and only the secondary aim can be perceived as having teaching or educational significance. Whether students can or cannot understand the teacher's hidden purpose in applying games during a lesson, the process will bring fun, relaxation, and interaction. At the same time, the result will be meaningful and long-lasting. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Games and Their Role in the ESL Classroom “As an ESL teacher, you may feel that your students aren't paying attention, or participating in class even though you have the perfect lesson plan.” This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching Tool The thought of playing or using games as a teaching tool inside the classroom may sound intriguing, whether you’re a student, a parent of a student, a tutor, a friend of a student or someone just interested in gaining more insight into either learning or teaching English as a second language. You might be wondering how beneficial and productive games or fun...  [Read more]

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Importance of Games Usage in the ESL Classroom Why are games important? Why do we play games? How do people play games in the class? These are the questions people usually ask. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jessie l. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Normally their concern is what they can learn from the games? In my opinion, playing games in the classroom is not only for fun but also for practicing and reviewing what you have learned. In my class I have always enjoyed playing games, I have used many different games as well. Students learn through the process of playing the game. Students may be able to understand a new concept or idea. At...  [Read more]

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Games are an Integral Part of ESL Classrooms Learning an unfamiliar language is no easy feat and with the globalization of the English language, more and more people are faced with the task of learning English to better their lives. It is no secret that English is one of the more difficult languages to learn given its many peculiarities and the lack of clues to pronunciation. This makes learning English not only more complicated but often frustrating for students who have difficulties understanding certain concepts. This is where games can have a huge impact. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Randi B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Motivation...  [Read more]

Tue, 21 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Games in an ESL Classroom: Are They Really That Important? Did you say games in a classroom? Is that even possible? Many people around the world cannot imagine or accept that education can be fun too. However, it is very important to motivate, entertain and vary the class activities in order to avoid class boredom. Entertainment in class is also important because it helps to establish rapport in the class (it creates a relaxed, fun and motivated environment) and it works as an evaluation tool (gives us information about the student's’ knowledge). One particularly telling definition of games was explained by Diane Ackerman, a famous American poet and essayist, who stated that “Play is our brain's favorite way of...  [Read more]

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Games Help Students to Learn in an ESL Classroom Games play an essential role in students' language acquisition regardless of other numerous sources they can be exposed to. Other sources include pictures, stories, poems, flashcards, videos and so on and so forth. Flashcards, for example, serve the purpose of a visual stimulus and aim to help visual learners in particular. The visual learning style often refers to a way of learning in which a person acquires language when information is associated with images. What about other learning styles? This essay aims to emphasize the importance of games in the classroom context and how beneficial they are for language acquisition. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The 3 Most Popular ESL Games That Work in Every Classroom Games and fun activities are a vital part of teaching English as a foreign language. Whether you’re teaching adults or children, games will liven up your lesson and ensure that your students will leave the classroom wanting more. Games can be used to warm up the class before your lesson begins, during the lesson to give students a break when you’re tackling a tough subject, or at the end of class when you have a few minutes left to kill. There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of games that you can play with your students. EFL games are used to test vocabulary, practice conversing, learn tenses - the list is endless. Also read: The 5 Best TEFL...  [Read more]

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Games in the Classroom Create Valuable Lessons Most everyone has a favorite game that they play over and over again. Games go further than just a simple competitive interaction between two people or teams. In a way, games teach the average person how to navigate life with two outcomes; either the joy of winning or the disappointment of losing. Although it is not necessarily bad to lose it is an inevitable outcome for each person who participates. The idea is to learn from the failure to gain experience in which you can strategize a new way to achieve victory. The act of winning is simply the reward for playing the game as it is expected to be played. The main concept of games is competition and how we as human beings are...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles Games and Their Role in the ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Games are very useful for language learning. Our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on how to use games in the classroom. How Can Teachers Effectively Manage Their Classrooms? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post is devoted to the problem of effective classroom management. Our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts. The Importance of Classroom Management for Effective Language Learning | ITTT | TEFL Blog ...  [Read more]

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Implement Games in a Young Learner Classroom Children are creative. Bringing games into an English language classroom to incite young learners’ attention and creativity is vital to keeping them motivated and entertained. Several games promote English grammar, memorization, and sentence building. These games can be reproductions of current popular games or manufactured by a teacher. Whichever method is chosen by the teacher there are still simple rules to follow. The game must be explained clearly and concisely, so the students have a full understanding of the game. An example round with the students is an effective way to ensure complete understanding. They can be a useful warmer activity to get students engaged in the...  [Read more]

Games in the Classroom   What are ESL games? ESL games are games that can be used in the classroom to practice certain language points and encourage active and creative communication between your students. There are many different games created specifically for use in the English language classroom that can be found online or in any number of resource books. But we are not limited only to those games designed for the class. The majority of games that we played as children or still play as adults can be adapted and used in lessons. Whether games are co-operative or competitive, they provide students with a goal and in the English classroom this goal can only be reached by using the English they have learnt. Common Misconceptions about games in the classroom. "Games are fun but...  [Read more]

Wed, 15 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Effectiveness of Using Games to Educate Over the span of time, many educators from around the world have been using different techniques to encourage and productively teach students about any topic at hand. Oftentimes, various games or activities are incorporated, along with academic courses, to create more fun and encouraging the atmosphere for students to effectively acquire more knowledge from. Over the years, the format for classroom games has changed drastically, and now there are many more options that incorporate the use of technology and interactivity. Although this can be very challenging, and time-consuming, interactive games tend to motivate, collaborate, and encourage student participation in the learning process....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles What Makes ESL Kindergarten so Challenging for Teachers? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on why teaching English to kindergarten students can be complicated. The Secrets of Organizing Any ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this article, our recent TEFL graduate provides us with several strategies to organize an ESL classroom for effective work. Features of ESL Games in the Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles The Skills and Mindset of an Effective Teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on effective strategies implemented in the teaching job. Traditional Point of View on The Teaching Job | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on the traditional point of view on the teaching job. Practical TEFL Experience in a Non-Profit Organization | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta...  [Read more]

Mon, 24 May 2021 Shirin Sophy Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Five Fun and Adaptable Games for ESL Classes Today's pedagogical approaches put considerable emphasis upon the importance of providing students with the opportunity to have a joyful educational experience through adding enough and well-located variety to the lessons. One practical way to do so is designing and adding aimful games to your plan in order to inject positive energy into your lessons, improve the mood of your class and make your lessons stick in students' long-term memory. Since not only young learners but also grownups enjoy playing fun games while taking English lessons, teachers, therefore, are always trying to come up with games that serve this purpose. So here are some ESL game ideas that you can adapt...  [Read more]

Tue, 05 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Use Games in Your ESL Lessons? Trying to make your class fun and exciting for young learners can be quite difficult at times. The best way to get around teaching young learners is to add games in each lesson. Kids can learn a foreign language without really trying, they soak up the new language like a sponge. It is up to the teacher to be the facilitator in the learning process and make it happen. To be effective in the classroom you have to be able to engage with your young students. By making your lessons lively and interesting you can achieve just that. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Edgar R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Reasons to...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore ITTT TEFL Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home. Read my articles Games in the Classroom: What are EFL games? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas EFL classroom games are an important part of any English language course. Used correctly they can enhance any lesson for the students and the teacher. 4 Activities for Teaching Future Tenses in the ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas These 4 activities for teaching future tenses in the ESL classroom will help you create fun lessons your students will most certainly enjoy and benefit from. The Most Common Problems Students in Vietnam Face When...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles Games in The ESL Classroom: ✅ Common Misconceptions | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their personal experience of teaching EFL students of various ages with the help of games. ✅ Read this article to learn the key-points. ESL Teacher and Their Role in a TEFL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their personal...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles 5 ESL Classroom Halloween Decor Ideas | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our TEFL experts share five Halloween decor ideas for your ESL classroom. Get inspired and create incredible atmosphere of this fun holiday. 7 Easy Ways to Make Money Online as an English Teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Budget and Salary TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This blog post was written by an ITTT TEFL expert who shares 7 ideas on how to make...  [Read more]

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas ESL Games as The Best Tool to Stimulate English Learning Process As teachers, one of our biggest goals while teaching English to a class or individual is to keep them engaged and motivated during the lesson while also making them feel comfortable and confident as they learn. There are three critical ways in which playing games in the classroom can help effectively promote speaking English. By playing "warming" games, students can become more comfortable around teachers and students, making them more likely to participate during lessons. They can also keep students motivated and play a significant role during the "Engage" and "Activate" phase of the ESA approach. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles The Importance and Application of Created Materials in ESL Teaching | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This blog post was written by a recent ITTT TEFL graduate who considers the problem of ESL teaching materials. ✅ Read this article to find out how to create and implement teaching materials in TEFL teaching. 7 Principles of Effective ESL Classroom Management | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This blog post was written...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Christmas Board Game This Christmas board game is the perfect game to play in your ESL classroom to practice the present simple and present continuous tense.   Create a sentence, affirmative, negative, or a question, with the prompts in either present simple or present continuous tense, depending on the time word. Then answer the question with your own ideas. If a person isn't specified, use anyone you'd like.   Are you interested in teaching English as a foreign language? ​Get your TESOL certificate with ITTT. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Top-5 Kid's Favorite Flashcard Activities This paper will answer the question, "What are five flashcard activities for teaching English to young learners?" Young learners are defined as students attending elementary school, aged between six and twelve. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tristan K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. 1. Pass the card This activity is a great warmer and an effective way to introduce or review vocabulary. This activity works well with both small and large groups. Students sit in a circle with the teacher. The target language is elicited and chorally drilled. The teacher then shows one...  [Read more]