APPLYING GAMES TO AN ENGLISH CLASS

Applying games to an English class DONG NAI EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT NAM HA HIGH SCHOOL Code : THE INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE APPLYING GAMES TO AN ENGLISH CLASS Teacher : DUONG LE THANH THUY Research field : Education management : …………… Teaching method : English ……………… Methodology : ……………… Other fields : ………………… Attachments :  Object  Software  Film  Other things School year: 2011 - 2012 School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class CURRICULUM VITAE I PERSONAL INFORMATION: Full name: DUONG LE THANH THUY Date of birth: February 20th, 1977 Sex: Female Address: 141/ 114 – Tan Phong – Bien Hoa – Dong Nai Telephone number: 0918090244 Fax: E-mail : huytcoi@gmail.com.vn Work: Teacher Place of work: Nam Ha high school II Training standard - Diploma: Bachelor Graduation year: 1998 Major in: Teaching III Scientific Experience - Major in: teaching The length of service: 13 years The initiative experience: Combination of various skills in teaching “Word study” (2006 – 2007) Teaching Speaking in a Reading period (2007 -2008) How to check the previous lesson effectively (2008 – 2009) Raising the effect of using English (2009 – 2010) Developing students’ listening skill by varifying exercises (2010 -2011) School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Index I The purpose of the chosen subject A The purpose of the subject chosen B The foundation from the fact II Advantages and Disadvantages A Advantages B Disadvantages C Objects and Researching methods III The content of the subject IV The sample of teaching lesson V Effect of application VI Requirements VII Conclusion VIII Reference data School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class A The purpose of the subject chosen Nowadays teaching as well as learning English is compulsory for all grades (from the primary school to the university or especially after the university) because it plays an important role in communicating, updating the information or doing researches To teachers, how to teach effectively, applicably and attractively? To students, how to learn the lessons by heart fast and easily as well as use them correctly? This is always a big question for teachers before each teaching period and for students when studying a foreign language (especially English) Basically, there have been many changes in content and the methods of teaching foreign languages (in general), English (in particular) The purpose of curriculums and books is helping students obtain the main knowledge of the modern practical English and know how to use English as a means of communication However, students are still under pressure, students aren’t really active and creative because in Vietnam, teaching and studying a foreign language (especially English) at the high schools as well as at other grades mainly focus on grammar, that’s why an English class becomes boring and passive To break the silence in class and how to find out the solutions to this hot topic It’s still a problem for teachers of foreign language at the professional work-shops In fact, to find out the best solutions to the problems teachers often meet while teaching and studying foreign languages, all groups and departments related to education usually carry out the movements, the contests or the discussions which help teachers have opportunities to gather, talk to and learn experiences with each other Thanks to the annual plan for writing the creative teaching experience of Nam Ha high school and Dong Nai Education and Training Department, I think of the way to make an English class more interesting and students feel relaxed while studying With the 13-year teaching experience, I have had an idea and applied it to the fact That idea is named: “ Applying games to an English class.” B The foundation from the fact: - To enable English classes more interesting and more fascinating - To help students feel relaxed from the beginning to the ending of a learning period - To help students get not only the knowledge but also the studying methods after each class School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES DURING MY PREPARATION OF THE SUBJECT School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class A Advantages: - Realizing the importance of studying foreign languages, many parents have paid more attention to their children’s studying - There are various teaching techniques supporting for an English class (computer, screen and flash light) - The head-staff board always suports and helps teachers during the teaching period - There are many experienced teachers in the Foreign language group - In school, many teachers who are good at the I.T help us design games - More students are interrested in learning English - Teachers are always enthusiastic and creative in teaching B Disadvantages: - Students’ capacity is much limited and at different levels Some of them are quite deficient in the base of learning English - Some students pronounce habitally wrongly and the teachers feel in vain in correction Moreover, they transcribe English into Vietnamese without using the International Phonetic Alphabet This wrong study leads their lack of English knowledge The teachers must face this problem – A great difficulty in our teaching - The majority of students have lack of self-confidence in listening to teachers’ expanation in English - Most students, for the sake of the university entrance examinations, consider some other subjects, such as: maths, physics, chemistry, even biology more important than English As the result, they learn English with a rather ignorant attitude - Time for a teaching period is relatively short - In Bien Hoa city, there aren’t many opportunities for students to communicate in English - Students fail to study properly and don’t have enough time to take part in the English speaking clubs C Objects and the methods of doing the research: - Objects: students at Nam Ha high school (class 11A1 – A2 – A3 – C2) - The methods of doing the research: + Read books as well as other documents + Learn experience from the colleagues + Do some experiments – make statistics – consider the results School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class CONTENT School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class With the following games, we can apply them to all the skills as well as the steps of teaching and learning foreign languages ( particularly English) To make a teaching period more effective and fantastic, teachers must be flexible in choosing the proper games for each lesson or each skill BRAINSTORMING/ NETWORKS Eg : English 10 Unit (Listening and Speaking) Requirement : In this game, students can it individually to show their feelings, thoughts and ideas based on teacher’s given questions Performance : teacher makes questions – students answer Example: Do you like traveling? When you often go? Where you like to go? What you often prepare for your trip or picnic? guitar water camera 10 clothes tent PICNIC food suitcase sleeping bag shoes cell phone Aim : This game can be used to introduce or enforce a lesson, such as “ Listening” or “Reading” Its purpose is helping students guess the subject and the information about the lesson Moreover students can review the previous knowledge and learn the new words by heart at the same time School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class RUB OUT AND REMEMBER Requirement : In this game, students can it individually, in pairs or groups Eg: English 12 Unit 14 (Reading) Performance : - Teacher gives a short passage or some sentences with the missing information - Students read and fill in the gaps with the words they have just learnt (Note : teacher asks students to close all books and notebooks while doing the game.) WORLD CUP, the international football tournament, is held every four years It is considered the most popular sporting event in the world The World Cup is followed with passionate interest around the globe- the final game of the 2002 World Cup tournament attracted more than one billion viewers Aim : This game is for the consolidaion of a lesson, such as “ Listening” or “Reading” It helps students review the words they have just learnt Besides, this game is vey useful for the lesson having many difficult words because of its data and logicality School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class C A K E P R E S E N T S B I R T H D A Y C A R D C H R I S T M A S N E W Y E A R Aim : This game is used in “ Listening” or “Speaking” Especially, we can use it to introduce or conclude the lesson because students can guess the topic of the lesson or list the words and then learn them by heart NOUGHTS AND CROSSES This game is like “ ca ro” in Vietnamese It can be done at the end of the lesson Requirement : A class is divided into two groups Performance : - Teacher forms a frame with a signal for each group “ Nought” (O) for this group and “ Cross” (X) for the other (colors instead) - Each group does the game in turn If the group has the correct answer, its signal or color will appear on the screen When time is up, the turn will be exchanged if that group has no answer If all two groups don’t have the answers, teacher will erase the signal or color When the group has three signals in one line, that group will be the winner On the contrary, when no group has enough signals as required, the winner will be based on the number of the right answers Aim : we can use it to consolidate the lesson School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Eg: English 12 Unit 12 (Listening) 1x time 1o 10 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 2x 2o 3x 3o 4x X 2O O 1X O X 5x 4o 5o 6x O 5X O X O X 7x 6o 7o O X O 7X 8x O 9X 9x 8o 9o LUCKY NUMBERS/ STARS/ FLOWERS Requirement : A class is divided into two groups Performance : This game is like “ The Road to Olympia Mount” - Teacher forms a frame with numbers - Each group does as required with the chosen numbers In this game, if they choose the lucky number, they will be able to get a prize Lucky numbers 1Very 3good School year: 2011 – 2012 10 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Eg : English 10 Unit 13 (Writing) In this game teacher can give some questions related to the beneath picture What vehicles are used in the sea ? What works were written by Walter Lord? Which film made Leonardio Dicapro, an actor, become famous? In which film did Leonardo Dicarpro act with Kate Winslet? What is Kate Winslet’s nationality? Aim : - This game should be used for introducing or consolidating a lesson such as “ Listening”,“Reading” or “Writing” - We can combine this game with another game (ex: description) in “ Speaking” period or “ More exercise” School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class DESCRIPTION Requirement : Students can play this game in pairs or groups Eg : English 11 Unit (Speaking) Performance: Teacher can give not only pictures but also suggestions and then make an example - This is a baby girl - She is wearing a sleeveless dress with flowers and having some bubbles in hand - She looks very beautiful because she has white complexion,round black eyes, full lips, a straight nose and short black hair - She looks very happy Aim : This game is often used in “ Speaking” period or “ More exercise” because it can help students to recall and use the words they have learnt in “Reading” period effectively and correctly School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class QUIZ Requirement : Students can play this game in pairs or groups Performance: Like “Ring the gold bell” game on VTV3, class should be divided into four groups Then, teacher makes questions and students write answers on the boards (each group has a small board) Next, teacher will give one point for the group having the right answer At the end of the game, the winner is the group having the most points They will be given a prize and a special prize for the group having the right answer for the difficult question Aim : this game not only provides students with the basic knowlegde but also reminds them of the applied vocabularies It’s very useful for “Test yourself” period What mouse can go on feet ? (Mickey) What mouse can’t go ? (computer mouse) Please tell the name of the national cities in China ( Benjing, Shanghai, Trung Khanh and Tianjin) What is the highest Mount in the world ? (Mount Everest) ……………………………… MATCHING Requirement : Students can play this game individually, in pairs or groups Performance: Like “Olympic English” program which is conducted by The National Education and Training Department Thanks to the information technology, we can let two lines of words run about three times for students to observe, remember and match them with each other correctly Merry Year Happy Ending Sing Claus Santa Chrismas New A song Aim : this game helps students to react fast It can be used in “ Listening” or “Reading” period School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class The example lesson: Unit - “Reading” - Grade 11 I Warm up BRAINSTORMING : - Teacher gives students a game with some questions to discuss within minutes - Students guess the answers - Teacher checks students’ answers and give some presents for the pairs or the groups having more right answers to increase the excitement before beginning the lesson Example: Do you like going camping? Who you go camping with? Where you often go camping? What you often prepare when you go camping? guitar water camera 10 Friends /guests gifts A birthday party food candle A birthday cake flowers drinks STRONG POINTS Students can guess the content and the vocabularies of the lesson in advance or learn the words they have just learnt by heart It can ease the Reading comprehesion lesson for students All students at any levels can take part in this game School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class II Pre- reading VOCABULARY: Teacher Students - Teacher can give students some keywords to guess the kinds of words as well as their meanings (students can the preparation at home.) - Students the exercise teacher gives celebrate  (v) làm lễ kỉ niệm  (n) ngày, lễ kỉ niệm anniversary adult  (n) ngƣời trƣởng thành joke milestone  (v/ n) nói đùa silver anniversary  (n) cột mốc, mốc lịch sử golden anniversary  (n) kỉ niệm đám cƣới bạc  (n) kỉ niệm đám cƣới vàng Students learn these provided words visually within minutes before beginning the new game MATCHING silver celebrate milestone anniversary golden anniversary cột mốc, mốc ngày, lễ kỉ kỉ niệm đám làm lễ kỉ niệm lịch sử niệm cƣới bạc kỉ niệm đám cƣới vàng anniversary School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Using the information technology to let lines of words run in parallel for about times for students to match the words meaningfully The winner is the group having the most right answers STRONG POINTS Students can learn the vocabularies by heart at the class It enables students to learn vocabularies in groups All students at any levels can take part in this game III While- reading READING COMPREHENSION Teacher Students - Let students read- comprehend the lesson individually, in pairs or groups - Students read- comprehend the lesson individually, in pairs or groups - Teacher observes and answers their questions - Students can ask teacher any questions while doing the exercise - Students translate the lesson into Vietnamese as teacher asks School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class - Students all the exercises as required - Teacher asks students to all the exercises in books or other appropriate exercises because they can help students understand and Task1: True False Tet is always on 20th February on the western calendar F remember the lesson faster and more easily According to the text, for people anywhere in the world the beginning of spring is the start of a new year F Tet used to be longer than it is nowadays T According to the text, “lucky money” is given to everyone at Tet F Kumquat trees are popular both in the North and in the South of Viet Nam T People try to be nice and polite to each otherbecause they want to have good luck on New Year’s Day F Task1: Answer the questions: When is Tet holiday in Viet Nam?  Between the 19th January to the 20th February How long did the preparations and celebrations for Tet last in the past?  Over a month School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class What streets look like before Tet?  Streets are decorated with colorful lights and red banners What people to prepare for Tet?  Buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses and cooking traditional foods What is banh chung made from?  It’s made from sticky rice, green beans and fatty food What is mut?  Candied fruit What are some popular activities at Tet?  Going to the pagoda - Giving and receiving lucky money - Taking part in games and various forms of entertainment School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class RUB OUT AND REMEMBER - Teacher gives students a paragraph with some missing words - Students use the words they have just learnt to fill in the gaps This is Lisa’s birthday She is years old There is a big birthday cake on the table.Their friends are singing the song “Happy birthday to you” to congratulate her.Then she blows the candles on the cake While evereybody is eating cake and icecream, Lisa is opening the gifts and cards which her friends and relatives give her She looks very happy Notice: In America, when they give their 30th birthday, they don’t have candles on the cakes On that day every year they often joke “I’m 29 years old today.” STRONG POINTS Students can easily remember the content of the lesson It enables students to realize the effectiveness of studying in pairs or groups through games All students at any levels can take part in this game The“Reading” period becomes more exciting because all students work School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Effect of application (school year:2009 - 2010) Class A number of students are interested in English before applying to the new method A number of students are interested in English after applying to the new method 11A1 (42) 11A2 (43) 11A3 (43) 11C2 (40) 25 students 25 students 15 students 10 students 40 students 40 students 35 students 25 students Requirements Because of the characteristics of the subjects, we need the help of the modern techniques, some specialized knowledge in computer as well as the information technology and the infrastructure So, through my writing, I hope that the head-staff board of Nam Ha high school and Dong Nai Education and Training Department will supply us with some things below: - More labs for teachers to apply the new teaching methods to an English period effectively - Improving the internet system and the programs related to using the information technology in teaching - More I.T courses for teachers at every level - Popularizing the most creative teaching experiences with all other teachers to raise their profession That’s also the way to learn, exchange as well as apply the new methods to teaching with each other School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class Conclusion - Applying various games to teaching will help students learn more effectively and excitingly After having applied this new method to my classes I’ve taught for 13 years at Nam Ha high school and got some certain benificial effects of application: + Students will be able to find their own way to improve other skills, such as: Writing , Reading… - + Students’ deep love for English and their enthusiasm for learning English prove that we, teachers, are somewhat successful in one of our teaching steps And that means we are getting closer and closer to the aim of that English is the communicative language among students - I decided to share this topic with the hope that it will be useful for teaching - In my opinion, in order to make full use of it, teachers must make some efforts for the following reasons: + Firstly, the allotted time for a teaching period is relatively short + Secondly, it can take teachers a lot of time to design a game + Thirdly, teachers should be flexible in choosing suitable games for each lesson Besides, choosing what words to teach, the way to distribute time reasonably is also very essential With this method, teachers play the role of activators School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class REFERENCE - Broughton Get all- teaching English as a foreign language - Documents of ELTTP methodology course skills - Guidelines June 1984 David Crable - Hutchinson J (1994) hotlineseries, OXFORD :OUP - Language teaching issues in Mutilingual environment in South East Asia - Textbook: English 10,11 and 12 - Teacher’s books English 10,11 and 12 - Teaching methodology - Nguyen Hanh Dung School year: 2011 – 2012 written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY Applying games to an English class SỞ GD & ĐT ĐỒNG NAI CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM Đơn vị : Trƣờng THPT Nam Hà Độc lập - Tự - Hạnh phúc Biên Hòa , ngày 03 tháng 01 năm 2011 PHIẾU NHẬN XÉT, ĐÁNH GIÁ SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM Năm học : 2011 – 2012 Tên sáng kiến kinh nghiệm : “Applying games to an English class” Họ tên tác giả : DƢƠNG LÊ THANH THÚY Đơn vị ( Tổ ) : Ngoại ngữ Lĩnh vực : Quản lý giáo dục  Phƣơng pháp giáo dục  Phƣơng pháp dạy học môn :  Lĩnh vực khác :  Tính - Có giải pháp hoàn toàn  - Có giải pháp cải tiến , đổi từ giải pháp có  Hiệu - Hoàn toàn triển khai áp dụng toàn ngành có hiệu cao  - Có tính cải tiến đổi từ giải pháp có triển khai áp dụng đơn vị có hiệu  Khả áp dụng - Cung cấp đƣợc luận khoa học cho việc hoạch định đƣờng lối , sách : Tốt  Khá  Đạt  - Đƣa giải pháp khuyến nghị có khả ứng dụng thực tiễn , dễ thực dễ vào sống : Tốt  Khá  Đạt  - Đã đƣợc áp dụng thực tế đạt hiệu có khả áp dụng đạt hiệu phạm vi rộng : Tốt  Khá  Đạt  XÁC NHẬN CỦA TỔ CHUYÊN MÔN ( Ký tên ghi rõ họ tên ) School year: 2011 – 2012 THỦ TRƢỞNG ĐƠN VỊ ( Ký tên , ghi rõ họ tên đóng dấu ) written by: DUONG LE THANH THUY