What's this obsession with games? Seriously. Am I a circus artist here to entertain and delight? Really. Students must learn. I get that. Making them learn is my responsibility. But do I also have to bend over backwards to ensure that they have fun doing it?
I have to admit that when I'm in "one of my moods" (and need a coffee break) - I say things like that. And mean it. The rest of the time I am on a never ending quest to find good educational esl games with which to spice up my lessons. My first priority is always that the students should learn. However, if I can make the experience fun for them too - then yes, I'm more than willing to wear the clown-suit (although that has not been necessary :-) yet)
So, having established beyond reasonable doubt that I love games - I have to say that there are some things I don't like about the "obsession with games". Here are some of my concerns:
1. Students get very excited and sometimes rather too competitive and agitated while playing an engaging game. The resulting noise and chaos can be a deal-breaker for me. I understand the difference between constructive, "good" noise and "just noise" but sometimes games lead to too much of the latter. That's why my first question when I hear/read about a new game is - will this end in tears (usually my tears!)?
2. Many games suitable for intermediate/upper intermediate students are so complicated to learn and require so many props that they're really not much fun to do in the end. By the time all of the students have understood what to do they have lost the will to do it.
3. Most games that are both fun and easy and quick to learn are often only useful for elementary students. My kids may enjoy those games but learn very little or nothing from them. I don't love games enough to waste their (and my) time in that way.
4. I stick to my curriculum. The games I play with my kids have to serve a useful, educationally sound purpose in that respect. However, I am sometimes told to “throw in a game” to “make the lesson enjoyable”. Any game will apparently do. Well, I’m sorry but that is not going to happen.
It is when I have tried and failed to find a game that is suitable for my students, acceptable to me and not likely to make anyone cry that I sometimes get in one of my moods and start muttering angrily to myself about the “joys” of teaching... That’s why I really need you, fellow blogger and partner-in-crime, to answer this question for me: What’s so Great about Games?
Seriously.
;-) CoffeeAddict
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Hi Cofee Addict,
I've been reading your posts and they have been quite good. (I wonder though how strict TE is with the word count... It would be a shame if you were penalized for longer posts.)
"I stick to my curriculum. The games I play with my kids have to serve a useful, educationally sound purpose in that respect. However, I am sometimes told to “throw in a game” to “make the lesson enjoyable”."
Good point, but couldn't you possibly use a short game depending on the time of day, or mood, or after a unit. Students don't get enough practice with daily language, so I think games are wonderful even if you can't find one that fits with your language point.
The key with games and everything else is, training the students.
The games I've used so far that worked:
Charades
Cranium
Cards
BrainBox All Around the World Educational Card Game
Dear coffee addict,
I love games too and I share most of your concerns. However, life is a game, isn't it? They should learn how to play. I believe while playing those games they can build a team spirit, they will learn to obey the rules ( or they will be disqualified, penalised or lose), tackle with difficult situations and learn tactics to defeat their rivals.
From time to time I also find myself thinking. OK this is it! I'm going to be the only one who works but later ı find myself doing the same search.
I really appreciate your creativity and have great ideas to use in my class when the schools open. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Eva
Hi CoffeAddict,
I disagree with your point of view. Here are my opinions in reply to your question and opinions.
1. There are pros and cons of all activities, techniques, methods, approaches etc. None of them is foolproof. There is no best way of teaching something But, there is the most suitable way to teach something. I think well-organized games aren't likely to cause unconstructive noise. They interact with their friends and make an effort to learn.
2. It's true that some high level games are difficult to understand. In those cases, you can smooth the way for students. You don't have to stick to guidelines. They just play a game to contribute to their learning. They aren't Olympic Games in which students have to follow strict rules.
3. Games teach a lot if you choose the right games. Games should provide meaningful and useful language and they should be relevant to the syllabus. Then, they can have educational value.
4. We should make the lesson enjoyable. It's so true. A lesson can be enjoyable and it can also serve an educational purpose. Well-organized and well-chosen games can serve both of these purposes.
I also think that games are great getaways from academic and conventional way of teaching. You can teach many main and sub-skills by using games. These are my modest opinions in response to your concerns.
Thanks,
Bülent
I like playing games but I get tired of it when it gets too noisy and when kids don't get excited about a game as I do. These are the times I feel like an idiot trying to entertain them. And playing games sometimes set the fun bar too high that they keep saying they are bored even if you do some drama activity or listen to a song, and I really go crazy:)) but in the end, games are good! I would get bored with my own teaching if I didn't play games or bring songs to class. I keep doing it for myself:)
Dear Aisha and Eva,
Thank you for commenting! Looks like we share some of the same concerns about games - yet we still love them! Honestly, I find games a bit difficult to handle in the classroom. The students get so excited! It makes transitions difficult when we have to stop playing and start doing something else. Because of this, I usually play games with my students in the last section of a lesson. That way I can send them off to break to cool down :-)
Thanks Aisha for reminding me about the wordcount. I have to control myself! I'll be more careful in the future. I hope they're not going to penalize me either....
Cheers!
:-)CoffeeAddict
If games were more of a normal part of classroom life they wouldn't respond like a person in the desert, dying of thirst being offered a glass of water.
Good point Aisha!
:-)CoffeeAddict
No, we don't disagree! I am all for "the well-chosen and well-organized games" :-) It's the obsession with games, the "let's play a game for no other reason than that it is entertaining"- attitude that I don't like!
:-)CoffeeAddict
I agree with Eva,
Life is too short and people should be happy even during learning.
I think game is the only way to make learning enjoyable.
As she said, "life is a game", so i want the students to play hard and enjoy the fun.
Regards,
Kevin