THE USE OF GAMES TO TEACH GRAMMAR INTERACTIVELY

VILNIUS PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOLOGY

SANDRA KNIUKŠTAITĖ

THE USE OF GAMES TO TEACH GRAMMAR INTERACTIVELY

ACADEMIC ADVISER: dr. ELVYRA KONDRAŠKIENĖ

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

THE USE OF GAMES IN LANGUAGE TEACHING 5

The advantages of using games 6

Integrating games into the syllabus 7

The preparation of the game 8

Organisation of the game 9

Teacher’s language 10

Scoring 14

GROUPS OF GRAMMAR GAMES 16

Group 1 Competitive games 16

Group 2 Cognitive games (Silent Way) 17

Group 3 Feelings and grammar 18

Group 4 Listening to people (Grammar in a councelling fame) 18

Group 5 Movement and grammar 19

Group 6 Problem solving 19

CONCLUSIONS 19

APPENDIX 21

INTRODUCTION

After several years in the wilderness grammar has been the subject of a renewal of interest in the last decade (Woods 1995:1).

In order to understand a language and to express oneself correctly one must assimilate the grammar mechanism oof the language studied. Consequently, if a learner has acquired such a mechanism, he/she can produce correct sentences in a foreign language. Therefore, a command of English as is envisaged by the school syllabus cannot be ensured without the study oof grammar, as pupils need it to be able to aud, speak, read, and write in the target language (Rogova 1975:134-135).

The term ‘grammar’ can be defined in a number of different ways, because different people mark different parameters. Looking at what some of the language teachers and grammarians say we can still find problems in setting the parameters in linguistic terms. At times it can be included into any aspect of language analysis, including morphology, phonology, discourse analysis, pragmatics. All of these have come under the umbrella of ‘grammar’ at one time or another (Woods 1995:2).

Leech sees grammar as a central component ‘which relates phonology and semantics, or sound and meaning. Another grammarian Huddleston says ‘the two most bbasic units of grammar are the word and the sentence, one subcomponent of grammar, called morphology, deals with the forms of words, while the other, called syntax, deals with the way words combine to form sentences.’ (ibid:3). Ur (1997,87) says that grammar is a set of rules that define how words (or bits of words) are combined or changed to form acceptable units of meaning within a language. Harmer’s view is that ‘the grammar of a language is what happens tto words when they become plural or negative, or what order is used when we make questions or join two clauses to make one sentence.’ (Woods 1995:4).

What we, teachers, need is the simplest and shortest grammar that meets the requirements of the school syllabus in foreign languages. This grammar must be simple enough to be grasped and held by any pupil (Rogova 1975:135).

So, from the learner’s perspective, the ability both to recognise and to produce well-formed sentences is an essential part of learning a second language (Thornbury 2000:3).

However, there is more to language learning than the ability to produce well-formed sentences because grammar does not only affect how units of language are combined to make correct sentences but also affects their meaning (Ur 1997:76). Grammar communicates meanings of a very precise kind as it is a process for making a speaker’s or writer’s meaning clear when contextual information is lacking (Thornbury 2000:3).

There are at least two kinds of meaning and these reflect the two main purposes of language. The first is to represent the world as we experience it, and the second is to influence how things happen in the world, specifically in our relations with oother people. These purposes are called, respectively, language’s representational and its interpersonal functions (ibid:5).

These grammatical categories – subjects, objects, verbs, adverbials, tense aspect and modality – are just some of the ways in which grammar is used to fine-tune the meanings we wish to express, and for which words on their own are barely adequate. It follows then that in learning a new language learners need to see how the forms of the language match the range of meanings – both representational and interpersonal – that they need to express and understand (ibid:6).

The place of grammar in the teaching of foreign languages is controversial. Most people agree that knowledge of a language means, among other things, knowing its grammar; but this knowledge may be intuitive (as it is in our native language), and it is not necessarily that grammatical structures need to be taught as such, or that formal rules need to be learned (Ur 1997:76). Some people felt that instead of teaching grammar, teachers should teach functions (Harmer 1991:4).

However, in order to perform those functions students have to know grammar. That is why modern courses often teach a grammatical structure and then get students to uuse it as part of a functional conversation.

So, teaching grammar should enable students to assimilate the ways of fitting words together to form sentences while hearing and reading, to reproduce phrases and sentences stored up in their memory and say or write sentences of their own, using grammar items appropriate to the situation (Rogova 1975:138).

To achieve this teachers have to help students make the ‘leap’ from form-focussed accuracy work to fluent, but acceptable production, by providing a variety of practice activities that familiarize them with the structures in context, giving practice both in form and communicative meaning (Ur 1997:83). That is why teachers use different kinds of methodology and technique. One of the methods used in teaching is communicative approach, as the main effects of it has been the realisation that just getting students to perform drills or engage in controlled practise may be not enough to help them to stand on their own feet as users of English (Hammer 1991:5). Other types of activity are needed where students can talk (or write) freely and use all or any of the language that they know. One kind of such activities is a

game.

The aim of this paper is to show the importance of using games in language teaching with a special emphasis on presenting groups of grammar games with examples.

THE USE OF GAMES IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Games are not the same as other communicative activities in the EFL classroom. The main difference between games and other activities is that games have a visible set of rules which guide the children’s actions, and an element of strategy – children must successfully aapply their language (and other) skills (Lewis and Bedson 2002:5).

Gibbs gives the definition of a game saying that it is ‘an activity carried out by cooperating or competing decision-makers, seeking to achieve, within a set of rules, their objectives’, and divides games into two groups:

1) competitive games, in which players or teams race to be the first to reach the goal;

2) co-operative games, in which players or teams work together towards a common goal (Rixon 1981:3).

A few more grammarians and llanguage teachers divide games the same way as Gibbs dose. However, others divide them applying different criteria and thus make different classifications.

Whatever the classification the aim of all games is to get students talking to one another rather tthan always addressing their remarks to the teacher or having him mediate what they say to one another. (Rixon 1981:5)

The advantages of using games

The pedagogical value of games at all levels has been well documented (Lewis and Bedson 2002: 5).

First of all, a language in games is learnt by using it – and this means using it in situations and communicatively because games provide a context in which the language is embedded. This context is ‘authentic’ in the sense that the game creates its own world: for the duration of the game, it replaces external reality (ibid:1). Thus, it is the context in which the language is useful and meaningful.

‘Meaningfulness’ is that the learners respond tto the content in a definite way If they are amused, angered, challenged, intriqued or surprised the content is clearly meaningful to them. This way the meaning of the language they listen to, read, speak and write will be more vividly expressed and, therefore, better remembered (Wright et al 1991:1).

Then, language games are a healthy challenge to a child’s analytical thought, because children are required to make decisions and individual choices, based on specific language criteria which form part oof rules of the game (Lewis and Bedson 2002:6).

Further more, language learning is hard work which requires one to make an effort to understand, to repeat accurately, to manipulate newly understood language and to use the whole range of known language in conversation or written composition. Effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over a long period of time, and games help and encourage many learners to sustain their interest and work (Wright et al 1991:1).

Moreover, learners want to take part for the fun and challenge provided by games, and in order to do so they must understand what others are saying or have written, and they must speak or write in order to express their own point of view or give information. Thus their motivation for learning is increased (ibid.).

What is more, by making the language convey information and opinion, games provide the key feature of ‘drill’ – the concentration on a language form and its frequent use during a limited period of time – with the opportunity to sense the working of language as living communication (Wright et al 1991:1).

Finally, games can be found to give practice in all the skills ((reading, writing, listening and speaking),in all the stages of the teaching/learning sequence( presentation, repetition, recombination and free use of language) and for many types of communication(e.g. encouraging, criticizing, agreeing, explaining etc.) (Lewis and Bedson 2002:1).

Integrating games into the syllabus

If it is accepted that games can provide intense and meaningful learning of language, then they must be regarded as central to a teacher’s repertoire (Wright et al 1991:1). Therefore, they should not be regarded as a marginal activity, filling in odd moments when the teacher and class have nothing better to do, though there are such games (Lee 1991:3). So, games should be regarded as an integral part of the language syllabus.

Although it would be conceivable to teach an English course solely based on games, most teachers have an accompanying textbook which they are required to work through over the course of the year. That is why games can either supplement the core material or (depending on the flexibility of the programme) replace activities which they dislike or feel uncomfortable with. This way, after reading coursebooks or syllabus, a teacher may find that perhaps there are aspects of the language which are not covered in the core curriculum, aand the game can fill the gap (Lewis and Bedson 2002:6).

Language games can be used to introduce new material, to practice recently learnt language items, to introduce or practice certain themes, or to relax or energize a class. Besides, the same game can be used several times and serve as a valuable backup if teacher goes through the material too quickly or if something unexpected happens(ibid.).

The preparation of the game

Teachers must be very clear about what they expect from the children (Lewis and Bedson 2002:6). It is essential to choose games which are appropriate to the class in terms of language and type of participation. Having chosen an appropriate game, its character and the aims and rules must be made clear to the learners, because if the learners are unclear about what they have to do, chaos and disillusionment may result (Wright et al 1991:6).

How a teacher uses a language game will ultimately depend on the ‘personality’ of the group of children. A teacher should consider such questions: Do the children have a long attention span? Are they very active? What is the boy/girl ratio? (Sometimes girls and boys will refuse to play on the

same team.) (Lewis and Bedson 2002:6).

Also, a teacher has to consider external factors, such as the time of the day the English lesson is held, and what happens before and after it (is the lesson a part of the regular school day, or is it held in the afternoon after a long day of school, homework, and other activities.) (ibid.).

Before choosing a game, a teacher should consider the safety as well (Is the space big enough for a llively game? Can the children fall and injure themselves? Is the floor dirty and not fit for sitting on?), which is the matter of control, because the children must know their boundaries and respect a teacher’s authority (ibid.).

Of course, all language games should be fun, but a teacher should try and keep the focus on some clearly recognizable objectives rather than jumping from theme to theme in order to introduce popular games. Besides, games should vary from lesson to llesson as well as the order in which they are played (Lewis and Bedson 2002:9).

It is very important not to play a game for too long, because children will begin to lose interest. However, finding the right moment to sswitch activities is not easy, as each child has a different attention span. Therefore, it is important to have extra material for children who finish an activity or who do not seem interested in continuing to play (ibid.).

What is more, a teacher must be fully sure about all aspects of the game, because children are relentlessly honest critics who expect a teacher to know everything.

After considering and answering all these questions, a teacher will be able to move between activities without having to interrupt the flow of the lesson (Lewis and Bedson 2002:6).

Organisation of the game

Many games depend on their success on good class organization (Lee 1991,4).

Some games require four to six players; in these ccases group work is essential. If there is to be challenge between groups, they should be of mixed ability. If there is to be no such challenge, the teacher might choose groups according to ability: this is very much a personal choice (Wright et al 1991:5).

Many teachers consider it advisable to have a group leader, who would normally be one of the more able learners. However, there is much to be said for encouraging a reticent learner by giving tthe responsibility to him/her. The leader’s role is to ensure that the game is properly organised and to act as an intermediary between learners and teacher, while the teacher’s role, once the groups are in action, is to go from group to group listening in, contributing, and if necessary, correcting (ibid.).

Division into teams or groups should not have to be done afresh on every occasion: this is a waste of time. On the whole it is best for a learner, especially for a child, to be in the same team throughout the year, and it disturbs a child’s sense of ‘belonging’ to be switched arbitrarily from one team to another (ibid.).

If the teams or groups are to be named, much depends on the country and the learners’ ages. The groups of young children would be pleased to be named after birds. Colours and cardinal numbers would be more acceptable by older children. As it is impossible to find team names which are universally suitable, ‘A’, ‘B’, etc. can be used, and it is up to teacher and class to breath life into their own way (Lee 1991:4).

Teams are larger than groups. In a class of average size ((say, 30) with two teams, there could easily be three groups in each team. Organization into groups, all of which can be active at the same time, is one way of multiplying language practice. Four or five in a group are enough, because the teacher should be able to get from group to group quickly (Lee 1991:4).

Pair work is easy and fast to organise. It provides opportunities for intensive listening and speaking, and this way gives a greater amount of communicative practice, though less opportunity for consultation and mutual correction (ibid:5).

Useful though pair activity and group activity are, however, we have to be content with teams where the classroom is very crowded and there is nowhere else to go. There may be two teams – the left-hand and right hand halves of the class. For pair activity, members of the class face their opposite member by turning sideways, and desks can be pushed towards or against each other if necessary (ibid.).

Once students are grouped, new games are normally introduced in the following way:

1) explanation by the teacher to the class;

2) demonstration of parts of the game by the teacher and one or two learners;

3) trial by a group in ffront of the class;

4) any key language and/or instructions written on the board;

5) key language, etc. removed from the board.

Teacher’s language

It may be necessary sometimes to use the mother tongue to explain the game, especially if a teacher wants to play a more complicated game with younger children, or if a teacher wants to use a game which includes concepts and procedures the children have not yet learnt. If a teacher starts explaining a game in English and realizes the class simply does not understand what a teacher means, a short prompt in the mother tongue will get it over the hurdle and on to the game in question (Lewis and Bedson 2002:14).

Besides, it is inevitable and logical that pupils may speak in their mother tongue during a lesson. A teacher has to be aware of the distinction between the target English he/she should require in the lesson and the off-task mother-tongue talking that may take place (ibid.).

However, a teacher has to encourage the pupils to use English. If a child addresses him/her in the mother tongue, it is fine to acknowledge the question, but respond in English. A teacher may even want to tease some English

out of the children by responding to a mother-tongue question with: ‘Sorry? Could you say that in English? I don’t speak.’ etc., and using gestures (ibid.).

So a teacher has to stick to the target language as much as possible. There are some specific phrases which are essential to playing games. When the teacher first plays games with the class he/she has to demonstrate the meaning of phrases while saying them.

1 General commands, instructions, etc.

Take your time.

Don’t be in such a hhurry.

Look.

Listen.

Turn round.

One at a time.

2 Organization

a) Things required for the lesson

John, could you give out the pencils, please?

Fetch the projector from the storeroom, will you?

Bring me some paper, please.

You’ll all need pencils, rulers, etc.

Have you all got pencils?

Put up your hands if you need anything.

What do you need?

Look. There are some over there.

Here you are. Come and get it.

You’ll have to share.

b) arrangement of the classroom

Move the desk(s) over there, pplease.

Put your chair(s) back where it came from.

Take your things back where they came from.

c) Grouping of learners

Work with the person sitting next to you.

Work in threes/in your groups.

Split into your groups (now), please.

John, (would you) sit in front of Peter, pplease(?)

In groups. In your groups.

On your own. By yourself.

You be the group leader.

Who’s next? Whose turn is it?

d) Organization of the game

First,/Next.

It’s your turn.

Who hasn’t had a turn yet?

You take it in turns.

If you want any help, put up your hand(s).

Who wants to try?

You must.

You’ve got to.

3 Praise, blame, and evaluation

(I think) this one is better than that one.

I don’...