On the Application of Game in Primary School English Class
游戏在小学英语课堂的应用
Abstract
Interest is a good teacher for pupils to learn a foreign language. So to develop the students’ learning interest and cultivate their language senses are the most important tasks in primary English teaching. In this situation, game is the most useful and effective method for teachers to make a cheerful environment and arouse pupils’ interests. This paper mainly focuses on the research of the application of games in primary English class. The writer points the recent situation and problems of primary English teaching, lists some basic functions of games and the fields of using class games, and proposes some suggestions and guidelines of classroom activities. In the mean time, it aims at drawing people’s attention to the significance of class game, as well as its limitation. Key words：class games; interest; function; limitation
内容提要
兴趣是孩子学习语言的老师。因此激发孩子的学习兴趣和培养他们的语感是小学英语教学中最重要的任务。在这一情况下，游戏是营造愉快的学习环境和激发孩子兴趣的最有用、最有效的方式。本文旨在通过对游戏在小学英语课堂上应用的研究，阐明如今小学英语教学的现状和存在的问题，列举游戏教学的基本功能和其使用的领域，并对教学活动提出建议和意见。同时，呼吁教育者重视课堂游戏的重要性以及其局限性。 关键词：课堂游戏；兴趣；功能；局限性
Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Definition and Characteristics of class games 1.1.1 Definition of class games 1.1.2 Characteristics of class games 1.2 The Importance of Using Games
2. Current Situation and Problems in English Class 2.1 Current situation in English class 2.2 Problems in English class
2.2.1 No connection with teaching materials 2.2.2 Single pattern of English teaching 2.2.3 Lack of creativity
2.2.4 Lack of method of controlling class 3. The Fields of Using Games in English Teaching 3.1 Games in teaching the basic knowledge 3.1.1 Vocabulary Games 3.1.2 Grammar Games
3.2 Games in teaching the basic skills 3.2.1 Listening Games 3.2.2 Writing Games
4. The Effects of Class Games Applying on English Teaching 4.1 Cultivating students' learning interests 4.2 Improving students' learning ability
4.3 Reducing the burden of teaching and studying 5. How to Practice Class Games 5.1 The moderate difficulty 5.2 The suitable time 5.3 The accurate order 6. Conclusion
References
1. Introduction
Nowadays, science, as well as technology, is playing an increasingly important role in social development. More modern materials and tools have been used to meet the need for the teaching and learning of a foreign language. As a result, teaching games become more and more popular and have been used more frequently in primary English class. In addition, people have paid much more attention to the teaching games.
1.1 Definition and Characteristics of class games
Class game, as a new thing, comes to people. The opinions on it vary from people to people, different people hold different views. Some of them support this now method, while others have objections. 1.1.1 Definition of class games
In his article The Theoretical Basis and Application Mode of Educational Games. Fangfang (2007) suggested that,” Game is a kind of activity controlled by children, can bring happy experience and with workable material”. What’s more, Ran Tu (2009) pointed out that, “Class games teaching refers to teachers organize the whole class to do English language practical activity, according to specific teaching goal, combining certain content, and adopting lively and funny form.” In my view, game is a practical teaching form that student likes in generally. It is the most useful and effective method for teachers to make a cheerful environment and arouse pupils’ interests. 1.1.2 Characteristics of class games
Game, as a teaching method, has its own characteristics. Firstly, it is motivating and challenging; games can wake up students’ interest, when students are interested in something, they will be happy to learn, take the initiative to learn. Secondly, game is full of fun; when the students are having class games, they will feel happy, relaxed and comfortable, so that they can absorb new knowledge and skill effectively. Thirdly, game is governed by rules and has its clear purpose; if the game is just for fun or to pass time, it will not get its expected effect. In other words, the teaching games must have a simple and clear objective and be conducted under a rule. Only by knowing what to do and how to do, can the students keep going and get the knowledge though
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the games.
1.2 The Importance of Using Games
As we all know, learning a foreign language is a hard task and requires much more efforts, but if one is having fun and there are something interesting, like games. It is possible for the learner to absorb the knowledge as well as enjoy himself. Teaching game is a kind of effective way, which can help the teachers create a relaxed atmosphere to extend students’ attention and consolidate the language. It will enhance the teaching effect by quickly drawing the student's attention, and arousing their enthusiasm for study. At the same time, games can encourage students to interact and communicate through playing. Students become more willing to take part in the class activity and these shy students will get more opportunities to express their opinions and feelings.
In addition, there is the different information between the speakers; we call it the information gap, which plays an extremely important role in the communication. It is said that in order to promote real communication between students, there must be an information gap between them, or between them and their teacher. In that case the class games can create many forms, arouse students’ eyes, ears, mouths, noses and hands for communication, which causes the information gap. Therefore, creating the information gap by providing all kinds of class games is a good method in teaching activity. So that students will become more eager to learn and can absorb new knowledge while playing.
2. Current Situation and Problems in English Class
As time goes by, English has become one of the basic skills of people in 21st century, and it has not been a compulsory course in primary schools from Grade 3 in China until 2001. And it has been taught to primary school students to help them develop English skill and knowledge so that they can use English to communicate with others (Xia Yajuan 2011). Meanwhile, some problems and difficulties have come out in practice.
2.1 Current situation in English class
Since the course was carried into execution, there has been a great achievement
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