The PROVEN VALUE of GAMES & SONGS for LEARNING ENGLISH due to their REPETITIVE NATURE which favours memorisation.

How can we GET STUDENTS to LEARN A LANGUAGE BY USING IT so that they BECOME CONFIDENT and FLUENT?
 
First of all LEARNING has to be FUN for younger students and at least ENJOYABLE for adults.

• so to start with, for the younger ones ACTION-SONGS represent a fun, repetitive and meaningful way to learn natural expressions easily.

• once the expressions have been introduced, by action songs, flashcards or other means in the case of adults, I usually get them to play SNAP with the cards seeing if they can think of a complete sentence using this expression, perhaps adding a little fun by ringing a bell for the first person who can think of a sentence.

• but the MOST INTERESTING repetitive FACTOR which HELPS the STUDENTS CREATE and PRACTISE NATURAL SENTENCES is the introduction of SPECIAL custom-made DICE with the language you would like them to practise.

• Every time they turn a card they have to throw one or more dice and create sentences accordingly.   As you can see from the picture, it’s very easy even for beginners or younger students to form sentences and the constant repetition helps them instill the grammatical structure naturally so they get a feel for the language just as a native learner does as he’s growing up.

• Custom-made dice I have been using are:
• Subject pronouns
• Frequency adverbs
• Time expressions
• Expressions for Present Perfect (already, just…)
• Expressions for Simple Past (yesterday, ago…)
• Clock faces for learning to the time
• + affirmative, - negative, ? question to practise all forms
• Object pronouns
• Possessive adjectives

You can make the dice on the following website:  http://www.toolsforeducators.com/dice/

The results are amazing because they not only create sentences easily but also practise the use of the 3rd person and consequently have to remember the addition of the ‘s’. 
 
The games I have been using recently are a complete success in the amount of fun the students have not only playing but managing to create a lot of correct sentences with the pronouns I, he & she, the frequency adverbs and a time expression.  I have introduced affirmative, negative & question dice for older and more proficient students.  I recommend trying it out for yourselves!
 
Check out my latest Household Chores Routine Song for some language to make playing cards with, as well as my recent Morning, Afternoon, Sports & Clothes Routine Songs
 
I hope you find this useful. 
Please leave any comments below and if you like this blog, please subscribe for more updates.
 
Susan

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