Active forms of teaching at English lessons

How to make lessons interesting and have pupils learn the given language material quickly and effectively? Having analyzed a variety of methods of organizing a learning process, using non-traditional methods, as well as, poems, riddles, songs, crosswords, tests appears to be the most effective.

With the help of games pupils’ pronunciation is enhanced, their lexical and grammatical materials are activated and the listening and speaking skills are developed. During a game, creative and critical thinking abilities of children are also developed. While playing, a pupil thinks: “how to do”, “what to say”, “how to win” and makes own decision. Language teaching games help to make the learning process interesting and engaging. The feeling of equality and friendly atmosphere give the chance of getting rid of shyness and exclude the language barrier. Any activity can become very engaging with elements of a game. Especially games are considered to be the strongest motives in teaching a foreign language.

All the language games can be divided into the following types:

• Games with letters;
• Games with words;
• Syntactical games;
• Games with texts;
• Grammatical games;
• Games with poems;
• Correcting games;
• Riddles and crosswords.

However, this classification can be widened. Using games during lessons, a teacher must remember the following moments:

• A game must coincide the learners’ opportunity;
• A game must be played in a foreign language;
• A teacher must not forget that games cannot replace systematic study and intensive training.

Games are based on the learned material and must be used to consolidate the previously learnt words and structures.

Here are some samples of effective and useful games.

The game “ABC”

Pupils throw a ball to one another and say the letters of alphabet in a correct order.

The game “Chain word”

In this game every last letter of a word becomes the first letter of the following word.

The game “Gates”

Two pupils are invited to the blackboard and they stand and they stand in front of the class, connecting their hands so that they can imitate the gates. Other pupils one by one come to the “gates” and answer the questions given by the teacher. If their answers are correct, they are allowed to pass the gates, if not, they go back to their seat.

The game “What did you see?”

Several objects that pupils know are put on the table. After the pupils have seen the objects, they are covered with a newspaper. The pupil, who names more objects, becomes the winner.

The game “Numerals”

Each pupil has a label with a particular number. All the pupils sit down in a circle. One pupil comes to the center of the circle and names two numbers. Pupils with these numbers must change the places. While changing the places, the pupil in the middle must try to take an empty seat. The pupil, who cannot take a seat must sit in the middle of the circle.

The game “Robot”

In this game one pupil is invited to the blackboard and is said to do the commands. It will be very interesting if the teacher gives funny commands.

“Role playing”

The role playing wakes up a huge interest among the children. Here are some points to consider:

• No preparation;
• Role playing takes place only for 5-10 minutes at the lesson;
• Only fairy-tales or situations that pupils know can be a material for a role-playing.

Using this kind of game has shown the effectiveness in enhancing spontaneous oral speech.

To sum up, games help teachers to raise the interest of children and motivate them to learn a foreign language. A wide range of games exist, but, if a teacher wants, s/he can create his own game on any theme.

How to make lessons interesting and have pupils learn the given language material quickly and effectively? Having analyzed a variety of methods of organizing a learning process, using non-traditional methods, as well as, poems, riddles, songs, crosswords, tests appears to be the most effective.

With the help of games pupils’ pronunciation is enhanced, their lexical and grammatical materials are activated and the listening and speaking skills are developed. During a game, creative and critical thinking abilities of children are also developed. While playing, a pupil thinks: “how to do”, “what to say”, “how to win” and makes own decision. Language teaching games help to make the learning process interesting and engaging. The feeling of equality and friendly atmosphere give the chance of getting rid of shyness and exclude the language barrier. Any activity can become very engaging with elements of a game. Especially games are considered to be the strongest motives in teaching a foreign language.

All the language games can be divided into the following types:

• Games with letters;
• Games with words;
• Syntactical games;
• Games with texts;
• Grammatical games;
• Games with poems;
• Correcting games;
• Riddles and crosswords.

However, this classification can be widened. Using games during lessons, a teacher must remember the following moments:

• A game must coincide the learners’ opportunity;
• A game must be played in a foreign language;
• A teacher must not forget that games cannot replace systematic study and intensive training.

Games are based on the learned material and must be used to consolidate the previously learnt words and structures.

Here are some samples of effective and useful games.

The game “ABC”

Pupils throw a ball to one another and say the letters of alphabet in a correct order.

The game “Chain word”

In this game every last letter of a word becomes the first letter of the following word.

The game “Gates”

Two pupils are invited to the blackboard and they stand and they stand in front of the class, connecting their hands so that they can imitate the gates. Other pupils one by one come to the “gates” and answer the questions given by the teacher. If their answers are correct, they are allowed to pass the gates, if not, they go back to their seat.

The game “What did you see?”

Several objects that pupils know are put on the table. After the pupils have seen the objects, they are covered with a newspaper. The pupil, who names more objects, becomes the winner.

The game “Numerals”

Each pupil has a label with a particular number. All the pupils sit down in a circle. One pupil comes to the center of the circle and names two numbers. Pupils with these numbers must change the places. While changing the places, the pupil in the middle must try to take an empty seat. The pupil, who cannot take a seat must sit in the middle of the circle.

The game “Robot”

In this game one pupil is invited to the blackboard and is said to do the commands. It will be very interesting if the teacher gives funny commands.

“Role playing”

The role playing wakes up a huge interest among the children. Here are some points to consider:

• No preparation;
• Role playing takes place only for 5-10 minutes at the lesson;
• Only fairy-tales or situations that pupils know can be a material for a role-playing.

Using this kind of game has shown the effectiveness in enhancing spontaneous oral speech.

To sum up, games help teachers to raise the interest of children and motivate them to learn a foreign language. A wide range of games exist, but, if a teacher wants, s/he can create his own game on any theme.