Speaking Games

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences When an English speaker is traveling in the Philippines, it is not uncommon for a friendly conversation with a local to end with the local stating they have a nosebleed and escape from the conversation. In Filipino culture, nosebleeds indicate that the brain is too stressed. Although Filipinos pride themselves in being fluent in English, many are not as confident to speak it when the time requires. BACKGROUND: Too Anxious to Speak INTRODUCTION: Work VS Play MOTIVATION SETTING CONFIDENCE CONCLUSION Are you ready to teach English in an ESL or EFL classroom? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Terence L. This phenomenon of foreign language speaking anxiety is not limited to just the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences 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 learning in the ESL classroom is making the games that I use more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 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. Reasons to use games Ready-to-use games Games in grammar and vocabulary teaching Pitfalls of using games Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tassyn M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

1. Introduction to ESL Teaching Games for Kids 2. Benefits of Using Games in ESL Classes 3. Types of ESL Teaching Games for Kids 4. Tips for Implementing ESL Games Effectively Incorporating games into ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for kids can make learning fun and engaging. Games provide an interactive way for children to practice and enhance their language skills in a stress-free environment. Whether you are a new teacher looking for fresh ideas or an experienced educator wanting to spice up your lessons, using games can benefit both you and your students. There are numerous advantages to utilizing games in ESL classes for kids. Firstly, games help create a positive and enjoyable learning atmosphere, which can increase student motivation and participation. Additionally,...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Teaching speaking skills is an important part of an ESL class. Sometimes, entire conversation classes are established that focus solely on speaking. Here are 7 great games for your ESL conversation class. 1. Mystery Party Guest 2. Choose Your Victim 3. Ice-breaker Jenga 4. 20 Questions 5. Apples to Apples 6. Get to Know You Bingo 7. Create A Game Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Write down the names and key points about five celebrities and assign them to the same amount of students in your classroom. One by one, a student enters a "party" with another student playing the host. The host must then find out the identity of each guest by having a conversation with everyone. Have your students stand in a circle. Choose a specific...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a fun ESL board game to practice your students' speaking skills.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This board game is a great speaking practice on some past simple irregular verbs.   Students take turns asking and answering questions about actions which happened in the past. They can practice some prepositions of time as well for more advanced students.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas 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. Common misconceptions about games in the classroom How to use games in the classroom Good resources for games to use in the EFL classroom Listen to this blog post Get creative and have fun while teaching English abroad! Related Articles: 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...  [Read more]

Estefany Garduño TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas When you hear about English lessons, the first thing that comes into your mind is probably lessons taken from a book, answer lesson sheets, and talking in pairs applying a small group of vocabulary, and that's all. Let's change the game by giving a higher immersion of English to your ESL students without going to an English-speaking country to obtain more vocabulary, pronunciation, and speaking practice. What is an English Immersion Experience? How could I start? Select a topic according to your students' English level Include as receptive as productive skills. Build confidence in students Time to expand during the immersion experience Immersion Experience Class Example Final Thoughts Are you ready to teach English as...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Games are a useful tool for teachers of EFL students because they help with motivation, engagement, and graceful failure (Plass 260-261). I will present a successful example of a teacher using games in an adult grammar class from Indonesia. Second, since I plan to teach online EFL students, I will present free digital games online teachers can use in their virtual classrooms. Advantages of the Theory The First Research Popular Games Access to Materials My Choice Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christopher C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Many professional articles have been written showing...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information In the teaching of productive skills and the teaching of receptive skills activities will usually involve some form of game and our consideration here will be the use of games in the classroom. Watch the video about this topic A game is an activity that; Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! We can start with a definition of what we actually mean by a game and basically this has three components. 1) Has rules2) Should have (for its use in the classroom) a teaching point 3) Should include an element of fun So that will be our working definition for a game that we are going to use in the classroom. There are many different types of games and they range...  [Read more]

In the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), incorporating games and activities is a popular and effective method to engage students and enhance their language learning experience. Games and activities can range from simple word puzzles to more complex role-playing scenarios, all designed to make the learning process more interactive and enjoyable for students. By integrating these fun elements into lessons, teachers can create a dynamic and stimulating environment that motivates students to actively participate and practice their language skills. There are numerous benefits to using games and activities in TEFL teaching. Firstly, games make learning enjoyable and can help alleviate the stress and pressure often associated with language learning. They provide a break from...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 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 constantly competing whether we realize it or not. As we go about our day to day...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What if you could send your students for a real-life treasure hunt without changing your location. What if you could have them have a conversation with "Queen Elizabeth". What if I told you all this would be possible one day, with us changing the games we play in class from analog to digital. in this essay I will show some advantages of integrating digital games as a solid part of any teacher's daily routine for teaching English to students of any age, background or disability and hopefully establish that updating our traditional methods with the surrounding technology can lead to a more successful and effective teaching experience both for the teacher and the student alike. Using games and technology GBL So how can a video game help a teacher?...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Educational games are methodical tools for achieving a learning goal. A successful learning game should combine motivating player's life and interesting learning content. Games should not just be practical gaps fillers in the learning process but also serve to impart certain knowledge and to consolidate skills through exercises. Benefits of Games Games Goals How to Use Games Effectively When can we use educational games to take benefit from them in English classes? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Toufik Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Games have a lot of advantages, such as they address...  [Read more]

  The Importance of Play in Teaching Engaging Students Through Games Benefits of Incorporating Play Implementing Play in ESL Lessons Creating a Playful Learning Environment Using Technology for Interactive Play Adapting Games for Language Learning Encouraging Collaboration Through Play Assessing Learning Through Play Conclusion: Play as a Powerful Teaching Tool Integrating play into teaching English as a foreign language can significantly enhance students' learning experiences. Play allows students to engage with the language in a fun and interactive way, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective. By incorporating play into lessons, teachers can create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment that motivates students to actively participate and practice their...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Here's a Christmas board game focusing on sentence building, either spoken or written. To practice speaking, let students say sentences (make sure to correct pronunciation when needed); to practice writing, let them write sentences (adapt the game to your students' level).   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

There are many games that can be used in the TEFL classroom, from simple games that only require a pen and a whiteboard to more elaborate board games. There are some games that have been specifically designed to be used in English language classes, while other, everyday games that we usually play for fun can also be adapted to be used with your students. You can even create your own games! There are many misconceptions about using games in the classroom. Some people believe that studying should be serious and that there is no place for this kind of “entertainment” in the classroom. Others believe that games are only for children and that adults are not interested in playing when they should be studying. Neither of these assertions is true, research and experience has shown...  [Read more]

  The Benefits of Interactive Group Projects Engaging ESL Students Through Games Incorporating Technology in Group Activities Creating a Positive Learning Environment Enhancing Communication Skills Through Collaboration Tailoring Activities to Different Learning Styles Promoting Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Fostering Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity Assessing Student Progress in Group Settings Resources for Implementing Interactive Group Projects Interactive group projects offer numerous benefits for ESL students. They provide opportunities for collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. By working together, students can enhance their language skills while also developing important soft skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. ITTT is a leading provider of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As a new teacher, grammar was initially very difficult for me to teach. It was difficult to demonstrate grammar patterns succinctly. Luckily, the school that I work for has provided help by having an established curriculum. The key to teaching grammar, however, has been teaching variable inputs in otherwise unchanging structures as part of student-centered games. Strategies on how to teach positive patterns How to teach negative patterns? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stephen W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If I were to teach the pattern, "What does Billy like?/ He likes _____", then I...  [Read more]

  The Power of Gamification in Education Benefits of Using Games in the Classroom Incorporating Technology for Interactive Learning Building Language Skills Through Educational Games Creating a Positive Classroom Environment with Games Enhancing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills Fostering Collaboration and Communication Through Games Tailoring Games to Different Learning Styles Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Game-Based Learning Resources for Finding Educational Games Incorporating games into the classroom can significantly enhance the learning experience for students. By leveraging elements of gamification, teachers can make lessons more engaging and interactive, leading to better retention of information. ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training) recognizes the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Games are seen as time wasted. According to my, it is a pointless prejudice. Because some people suppose playing games in the classroom can only be as computer games; on the contrary, fun in the school is more instructive for students' self-improvement. Meanwhile, the research has shown that the classroom games affect students positively, such as having more motivation, having a controlled competitive environment, strategy simulator, peer positive, less stress, enhanced memory, class cooperation, and new knowledge. We will see how games are essential in our education. Motivation Methodology Benefits Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have been teaching English to young learners in China for almost a year and I tried to make my lessons with and without flashcards. And I can say for sure, that it's really hard to teach children (3-12 years old) if you don't have prepared flashcards for your classes, but only an interactive whiteboard and some stuff to play games. There are some following advantages of using flashcards to teach children: The games I use in my classroom are as follows: 1. Flashcard raise 2. Basketball with flashcards 3. What's missing 4. Hit the FC 5. Find flashcards Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kelly P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas There are many famous games used by TEFL teachers that students know like the back of their hand. If you want to change up your online lessons and bring even more fun in your teaching, check out these seven non-trivial online ESL games to help you in every stage of the TEFL class. Listen to this blog post: 1. Connect The Dots 2. Simon Says 3. Online Word Chain 4. Catchphrase 5. I Went to The Market and Bought 6. Don't Say Yes or No 7. Would You Rather? Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! For this activity, you will need to prepare a digital image and share it with a student during the online class. You...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning" – Diane Ackerman. Game Rules Adaptability to Age Differences Other Groups Types Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! 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....  [Read more]

  Engaging Vocabulary Games for ESL Students The Benefits of Using Interactive Games Incorporating Technology in Vocabulary Building Creating a Fun and Interactive Learning Environment Enhancing Retention through Game-Based Learning Adapting Games for Different Learning Styles The Role of Interactive Games in ESL Curriculum Encouraging Collaboration and Communication Skills Monitoring Progress and Assessing Learning Outcomes Resources for Finding Interactive Vocabulary Games Interactive games offer a dynamic approach to teaching vocabulary to ESL students. By incorporating games such as word puzzles, vocabulary bingo, and flashcard matching, teachers can make learning engaging and enjoyable for learners of all levels. ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training) provides resources...  [Read more]

Sara Stojanovic is an English teacher from Serbia who is passionate about imparting her knowledge to learners of all ages and assisting them in mastering their command of the English language. Sara enjoys reading, journaling, and spending time with her friends in her free time. Sara Stojanovic TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Explore Gardner's 8 intelligences and tailor your teaching methods to tap into students' unique strengths for effective learning. Sara Stojanovic TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Unlock the power of language education! Explore effective techniques for teaching reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Sara Stojanovic TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Dive into Krashen's Hypotheses for Second...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a fun two-part speaking activity about happiness. First, have a class discussion with the question of part one and then have students discuss the quotes of part two in pairs.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a great speaking activity to develop fluency at Christmas time. Students take turns choosing a question to ask another student in their group.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This board game aims to put more fun (and competition) into writing. With the prompts given on each square, players or teams try to make sentences and get to the finish line first.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]