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Games for Teaching English to Young Learners

For young learners, games mean the world to them which means that there is nothing more fun than playing game as their characteristics which are energetic (Harmer:2001).

a.  Board Race
This game is suitable for young learners especially for elementary school students. This game is usually used as warming up to know the students’ vocabulary mastery. In this game, teacher divide learners into two groups. They are to categorize let say wild and tame animals. Then, they write the words on the board alternately.    Moreover it can be used to know the grammar mastery of the learners. Teacher prepares sentences with different colors and breaks the sentences into several words. They  are to arrange the sentence correctly. This game is loved by students because they have to draw the word they find. This game is also used to know the learners vocabulary mastery.
b.  Pictionary
This game is loved by students because they have to draw the word they find. This game is also used to know the learners vocabulary mastery.
Here are the steps to do pictionary game : Before the class starts, prepare several words written on a card and put them in bag or fishbowl; then split the class into two teams. Then, draw line down in the middle of the board; Give each team a pen or marker and ask them to choose one word from the bag; let the the learner from each team to draw the word as a picture on the board and encourage their teammates to guess the word.
c.  Treasure Hunt
This game can be used to teach listening, reading and writing. Here are the steps to play with treasure hunt. Teacher prepares the text and the questions. Then put the answers somewhere that students have to find; learners  are divided into two or three groups; each team are given the text and questions; then ask them to find the answers and stick the answers on the paper. This game can also be used to evaluate the students’ writing ability by using jumbled paragraphs or words. Then they have to find the paragaraphs and arrange the paragraphs into correct order.
d.     Creative Chair
This game is used to teach speaking. The steps of this game are, as follows.
Ask the students to place their chairs in a circle. Give one sheet paper and a pen or pencil and color pencils to each student. Use as many different colours as possible.  Ask them to write their  names on the back of their piece of paper. Then,  tell them to sit on their chairs and to draw anything they like on the piece of paper; tell the students that when they hear music, they have to start dancing around the chairs; when the music stops, the children should stop and stand behind the nearest chair and  draw another picture on the paper on the chair they are standing behind.

GAMES AND ICEBREAKERS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Games are vital element  for teaching English as a foreign language whether your students are young learners or adults since learning foreign language is hard task. Thus, teachers need to sustain the learners’ motivation and interest. To do so, games help them encourage their motivation and interest.  From games, learners learn by imitating and doing. Furthermore, games enhance their social attitude which allow them to share, to help each others and to work in group. Besides, games also provide language practice in various skills namely listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Therefore, teachers must be aware of the games used. Provide the games that are not only fun but also motivating. Here are several kinds of classroom games for language teaching and learning.

THE CRITERIA OF JOYFUL TRAINING

What actually makes the difference between trainers who are good, and those who are either mediocre or poor? It is easy to differentiate between the abilities of different trainers when you are a participant on a training course, but how do you make sure that you are in the good to excellent category when you are the trainer, being judged by the participants?   

   a. Enthusiasm

   The most important ingredient that separates good trainers from others is enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic is the key element to being an effective trainer and to running successful training courses. All the other things that are going to be covered in this chapter are necessary, but without enthusiasm, you will never be viewed as a good trainer.

    b. Confidence

  Being enthusiastic will help you to appear confident. If you are confident, the participants will be confident to learn. Participants want to feel that they are in a safe and relaxed environment. The trainer can create this by appearing to be confident.

c. Control

If you are enthusiastic and confident (or at least appear to be) you will be able to keep the group on track much more easily. Any group of participants need to feel that the trainer is in control of both the group processes, and the material that is being taught, to be able to learn comfortably.

d. Being relaxed

So you are enthusiastic, confident, and in control. The next area to think about is appearing relaxed. Who said this was easy? The last thing participants want is a nervous, edgy, trainer, or one who over compensates, and who appears to be arrogant and full of their own self-importance. Part of being confident is appearing to be relaxed.

e.  Sense of humor

You appear to be confident, to be in control, but also to be relaxed and enthusiastic – What about having a sense of humor? Using your sense of humor, and making things fun, helps participants to learn.

f. Knowing the subject

A good trainer knows the subject, and knows it well. It is not advisable to stand up in front of a group if you don't know much about the subject area that you are supposed to be covering. If you have “winged it” on occasion, maybe at a meeting or somewhere else, you will know that it doesn't make you feel relaxed and confident.

g. Good communication skill

You need to be able to get the subject across and to portray yourself well. Communicating divides into two broad areas, transmitting (talking) and receiving (listening).

REFERENCE:

      Leong, S. 2010. How to Develop A Talent For Training. Massachusetts: Global Management Enterprise.