Learning Through Play: How to Make English Lessons More Engaging for Children
How can we help young learners remember new words, speak English more confidently, and enjoy taking part in lessons? One way is to incorporate educational games into everyday classroom activities.
On the Oxford University Press blog for English language teachers, games are presented as a teaching tool that can diversify language practice, encourage student engagement, and create opportunities for interaction.
Three Ideas for English Lessons
1. Flashcard Games: Revising Vocabulary
Use flashcards featuring animals, food, or school supplies. Show a card for a few seconds and ask students to name the item or make a sentence with the word. This is a simple way to revisit previously learned vocabulary through active practice.
2. Guess the Word: Learning to Describe
One student thinks of an object, while the others ask questions in English to guess what it is: Is it big? Is it blue? Can you eat it? This game helps students practise vocabulary, adjectives, and question structures.
3. Find Someone Who…: Communicating in English
Ask students to find a classmate who likes pizza, has a cat, or can swim. To do this, they ask questions such as Do you like pizza? Have you got a cat? Can you swim? This activity encourages students to use English for meaningful interaction.
How Can Teachers Make Games Part of Learning?
For games to be effective, teachers should set a clear language-learning objective, choose activities appropriate to their students’ level, and make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate. After a game, students can briefly review the new vocabulary or create their own sentences.
Games should not replace structured learning. Instead, they can complement textbook activities, reinforce previously learned material, and provide more opportunities for speaking practice.
Sometimes, just a few minutes of a well-planned game can turn vocabulary revision into active language practice.
