Learning a new language is usually a complex and time-consuming process. But this process can be made easy, interesting, and exciting through the game. Gamification is a popular and modern educational approach. What games are best to use during classes with children and adults, and how do they affect the development of language skills, you will learn from the article.
What is The Best Way to Learn a New Language?
Methods of learning a new language depend on age and intellectual features. However, there are several effective universal ways. First, you need to start studying the alphabet, sound system, and basic vocabulary. Secondly, the studied material should be constantly in active use or periodically repeated. Thirdly, everyone likes games, so much of the exercise should have a game format.
In addition, learning without the help of a teacher can turn into a boring and long-lasting waste of time. The site UpskillsTutor will help you find a qualified tutor and avoid many learning difficulties.
After all, only a private tutor can fully give their students the time and attention, and at the same time form a strong motivation. The tutor professionally inspects the student's knowledge and interests before selecting an appropriate system of tasks and strategies for teaching by games. This is an inexhaustible source of constructive advice.
Teaching Strategies to Make Your Language Class More Fun
How to teach so that knowledge remains in memory for a long time, and does not disappear the next day? It is necessary to be able to interest students and select material according to their age, interests, and development. Here are the key strategies for a quality lesson:
- alternation of tasks for different activities, grammatical and lexical topics;
- the use of game technologies, including active moving classroom games, board games, intellectual riddles, communication between students, improvisational scenes, creative tasks, online quizzes, etc.;
- periodic linguistic competitions and tournaments with the active involvement of all students of the class;
- use of bright visual material, including handouts;
- involving children in creating their games and inventing creative tasks.
The List of the Best Games to Learn Foreign Language with Kids
Rory's Story Cubes
It’s a board game that enjoys crazy popularity in the world. The game material is only 9 cubes, which contain different images. Players should make stories by linking images and cubes into a coherent, meaningful story. The game is well suited for the development of thinking, creative fantasy, and imagination of both children and adults.
Freeze
It’s a funny activity for young learners. We ask a child to run around the classroom, but at the moment when we say "freeze", he/she should stand still in some pose. Our task is to thaw it, guessing in the role of whom he/she has frozen. For example: "Are you a cat? – Yes, I am / No, I am not". It is great to play this game with a fun children's company.
Simon says
It is an elementary, fun, and moving game that teaches children to navigate and perform foreign language instructions. After the phrase "Simon says" the lead of the game gives the players a task, such as "clap your hands" or "jump on one leg". The game helps children understand vocabulary, including the names of body parts.
Alias
This board game is a hit in the explanation of words. In this game, participants need to divide into teams and explain words to each other at a given time. The main rule is at least two players in one team. It's incredibly fun, gambling, and exciting. The first team chooses a player who will explain words on the speed. Within a minute, the player should explain the words to his/her team, and the team, accordingly, must guess as many words as possible.
Read more: The Most Beautiful Quotes of the Spanish Language!
Crocodile
This is a fun team game that develops imagination, ingenuity, and artistry. First, you need to break into two identical teams. Then, the players of one team think of a word and choose a victim" – a player from the opponent's team, who is told the word secretly. After that, the "victim" is released to the team, where they try to explain the word. The game involves the active use of facial expressions, gestures, movements, and more.
Read more: 12 Dictionary Apps to Help You Learn English
Fun Language Learning Games for Adults
Dixit
It is a rather popular board game that develops not only linguistic skills, but also logic and creative thinking. After preparation, the player who first finds a prompt association becomes the narrator and starts the game. The storyteller chooses one of the 6 cards without revealing it and names a word or phrase – an association relating to their card. Each player then chooses from the 6 cards in their hand what they thinks best corresponds to the narrator-named clue.
Activity
Participants should divide into teams so that each team has at least two people. In turn, every team takes a card from the deck. Each card contains words or phrases, as well as a way to explain them. The purpose of the game is to guess the cards and bring your game chip to the finish line first.
Scrabble
This is a well-known board word game for 2, 3, or 4 players. The task of the game is to form related words on a special game board. Words are formed using tiles with letters, with a different number of points, like a crossword puzzle. Each player competes using their tiles in convenient combinations on the sectors he or she prefers. This game helps to repeat vocabulary, orthography and, of course, trains pronunciation.
Linq
It is a fun game for a group that develops logic, fantasy, as well as interaction with other players. Participants receive cards with words; there are two cards with the same words. You need to guess who has the same word on his/her card, naming a clue to your card. After two clues the round ends, the cards are opened and the points are calculated.
Mafia
The most popular game among adults and teenagers will also help in the development of speech, strategic thinking and oratorical abilities. This is a detective game, the purpose of which is to expose the mafia. A game leader announces the results of the mafia's crimes, and the players discuss which of them may be involved in the criminal world. Why not do it in a foreign language?
