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Teaching foreign languages in general education, particularly English, is one of the necessary components. Knowing foreign languages contributes to the general education of students, and develops their cognitive abilities, speech and thinking. To make language learning lessons interesting, I often use game methods, such as the method of role-playing games.
The game activates the mental activity of students. With the help of games, children learn social functions and develop norms of behaviour. So, let’s say, if the game is used as an educational exercise during the initial consolidation, it can take 20-25 minutes of the lesson. Later, the same game can be played for 3-5 minutes, serving as a unique repetition of the already covered material, as well as a break during the lesson. A series of grammar games, for example, can be effective in introducing new material.
Role-playing is based on interpersonal relationships, which are carried out in the process of communication. This method creates the need for communication, stimulates interest in participating in communication in a foreign language and, in this respect, performs a motivational and encouraging function. Role-playing can be attributed to educational games, as it largely determines the choice of language tools, promotes the development of speech skills and abilities and allows modelling students’ communication in various speech situations.
My purpose in writing this article is to share my experience with my colleagues.
◄ For example, in the 5th grade, while passing the “Tale of the Three Bears”, I suggested to my students to act out the tale. How happy and surprised I was when, two days later, my students brought to school the figures they had made with their own hands. Here is a picture and video link:
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◄ In the 4th grade, when students are learning the present tense and the present continuous tense, I use the following game method: I take coloured papers, divide them into equal pieces and write sentences on them (with the indicated tenses). I put the papers in the cups. Then I suggest that each student randomly pick one of the cards, read the sentence written on it, determine the tense and explain how they understood which tense it is. It turns out that we play and learn at the same time.
Here are pictures:
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◄ In the 3rd grade, so that the students could easily learn the hours, I made these cards myself:
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◄ As part of English Language Day (celebrated in April), I usually organise game quizzes.
Here is one of those game quiz presentations:
◄ In the 8th grade, so that students can easily learn the synonyms of words, I made heart-shaped cards. I suggest the students find synonyms of the words written on the pink cards among the words in the green cards and memorise those pairs within 3 minutes.
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About the author
Hasmik Asiryan is an English teacher who works in a secondary school in Yerevan, Armenia. She has been teaching at the school for about seven years. She loves her students and her work very much. She believes that the students of a good teacher can surpass their teacher.
She has been appointed as Scientix Ambassador from 24 May 2023 until 31 December 2024.
Tags: educational games, English, English as a Foreign Language, gamification, innovative teaching, language learning, quiz, role playing
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