Learning log outside the classroom 16

Teaching Grammar with Fun Learning Games

Arif Saricoban and Esen Metin

          "Games and problem-solving activities, which are task-based and have a purpose beyond the production of correct speech, are the examples of the most preferable communicative activities."

"practice and internalise vocabulary, grammar and structures extensively."

They can do this because students are often more motivated to play games than they are to do desk work. Plus, during the game, the students are focused on the activity and end up absorbing the language subconsciously. One can also add that fun learning games usually contain repetition, which allows the language to stick.

Saricoban and Metin,

          "the use of such activities both increases the cooperation and competition in the classroom."

Aydan Ersoz

          explains more reasons why games do work for teaching grammar. Learning a language requires constant effort and that can be tiring. Ersoz says games can counter this as because:

* Games that are amusing and challenging are highly motivating.
* Games allow meaningful use of the language in context.

Children are more motivated to learn grammar with games

The theory of intrinsic motivation also gives some insight as to why teaching grammar through games actually works. Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal factors that encourage us to do something. Most young learners will not internally decide that they want to learn grammar. They don't yet understand the concepts of why it's important to know proper grammar, so these external factors won't affect them much either. Instead, intrinsic motivation can lead encourage them to play games. If these games are good then they will be learning while they are playing.

What Kinds of Games Work Best?

When you are looking for games to use in your classroom, don't just pick something to be a "time filler" which does not have a definite linguistic outcome. These games may entertain the students, but when you don't have much time with them each day as it is, you want your game to do double duty to get the most out of the time you spend playing games.

 Reflect 

Teaching English grammar doesn’t difficult or painful. We can teach English grammar using fun learning games. Researchers have also begun to look at how and why these new methods work. There are four reasons to teach grammar with games.

First, Arif Saricoban and Esen Metin explain "Games and problem-solving activities, which are task-based and have a purpose beyond the production of correct speech, are the examples of the most preferable communicative activities." and grammar games help children not only gain knowledge but be able to apply and use that learning.

Second, Games help students to "practice and internalize vocabulary, grammar and structures extensively." They have more motivated to play games than they are to do desk work. They will focus on the activity and learn languages subconsciously.

Third, Using games will increases the cooperation and competition in the classroom. It can add excitement through competition or games which create bonding among students and teacher.

The last, Aydan Ersoz, says games can counter this as because games that are amusing and challenging are highly motivating and games allow meaningful use of the language in context.

In conclude, Intrinsic motivation can lead encourage them to play games. If these games are good then they will be learning while they are playing. I agree with this article because there are 4 reasons to teach grammar can help students have more motivated to play game. Then they will learn the language subconsciously. So English grammar isn’t hard for teacher and student. Funny game is activity that increases the cooperation and competition in the classroom. It creates bounding among students and teacher Using some movement is crucial because movement helps activate the students' mental capacities and stimulate neural networks, thus promoting learning and retention. 

Reference: http://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Fgotefl%2FwRuxHztW3Vq0urpwo3GOJwYOIZjOvB7hTeRPL0Nb4BgLJVAVsBnB3vZLhMab%2FTeaching_Grammar_with_Fun_Lear.doc&ei=a6vGUYWQH8mprAfzj4HYDg&usg=AFQjCNF5E8Y8VCcrCaadTt3i-DxbNth_Yg&sig2=pGooOt7kzZRkeonI7jxdtw&bvm=bv.48293060,d.bmk