(SKKN 2022) using vocabulary games to motivate students in learning new words phrases

THANH HOA EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT TRIEU SON 1 UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE USING VOCABULARY GAMES TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS IN LEARNING NEW WORDS/PHRASES Writer: Ngu

THANH HOA EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT

TRIEU SON 1 UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL

EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE

USING VOCABULARY GAMES TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS IN LEARNING NEW WORDS/PHRASES

Writer: Nguyễn Thị Cương Position: Teacher

Subject: English

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Reasons for choosing the topic …….……… 1

1.2 Purposes of research……… 1

1.3 Objects of research……… 1

1.4 Methods of research……… 2

2 CONTENT 2.1 Theoretical basis……….2

2.2 Factual basis……… 2

2.3 Solutions……….2

2.3.1 Benefits of learning English through games……….… 2

2.3.2 How to organize the games……… ……….……… 2

2.3.2.1 Time to play games ……… 2

2.3.2.2 Class arrangement………….……….3

2.3.3 Some selected games……… 3

2.3.3.1 “Bingo” game…… ……… 3

2.3.3.2 Facing game……… ……… 4

2.3.3.3 Word connecting game……… 6

2.3.3.4 Words of mouth……….8

2.3.3.5 “Hot seat” game……… ………9

2.3.3.6 Finding synonym or antonym………10

2.3.4 Designing games………13

2.3.4.1 Games for weak or average students……… 13

2.3.4.2 Game for good and excellent students………13

2.3.5 Principles of designing vocabulary games……… 14

2.4 Experimental results……… 14

3 CONCLUSION AND PROPOSAL 3.1 Conclusion……….15

3.2 Proposal……….15

1 Textbook: English 10 [1]

2 Textbook: English 11 [2]

Publisher of training and educational department

Publisher of training and educational department

CATEGORY OF ACKNOWLEDGED EXPERIENCE INITIATIVES

Writer: Nguyễn Thị Cương

Position : Teacher

School : Trieu Son 1 upper secondary school

Numerical

order

Names of experience initiatives

Rating board

Rating results

Academic year

students to solve exercises of passive voice effectively

Thanh Hoa education and training department

2 Helping students to deal

with writing exercises about making sentences

Thanh Hoa education and training department

3 Guiding students to use

proper skills to solve multiple-choice exercises relating to closest and opposite meanings

Thanh Hoa education and training department

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Reasons for choosing the topic

In recent years, English has become a compulsory subject in secondary education programme and it is one of three main subjects in GCSE examinations Beside grammar, vocabulary is considered the key that helps students to improve their English Hence, motivating students to learn vocabulary is very important, which will help them have interst in learning English

In my teaching process, I have discovered that playing games is one of the most successful ways to stimulate students Learning through playing games not only helps students relax and refresh themselves but also enables them to absorb knowledge naturally There are many kinds of games can be used in teaching and it depends on each teacher For me, I usually choose games relating to vocabulary or sentences in my lessons It is very useful for students to remember the new words/ phrases

Therefore; I choose the topic " Using vocabulary games to motivate

students in learning new words/ phrases " in my experience initiative to help

them reinforce and practise vocabulary effectively and achieve good results in their study

1.2 Purposes of research.

In the framework of this topic, I do not hope to give all games of vocabular I only focu on some simple games that can be easily applied in each lesson such as Bingo game, connecting game, facing game…

1.3 Objects of research.

As what has been refered above, vocabulary is an integral part in learning English, so finding ways that encorage students to learn it is neccessary Playing vocabulary games gives them energy and motivation to absorb new words naturally

From my experiences in teaching and guiding process in which I help my students to learn vocabulary, I am pleased to introduce some games that relate to vocabulary

I applied this experience initiative for teaching students at Trieu Son 1

upper school They are students of classes 10A1 and 11C9

1.4 Methods of research

Completing the system of theoretical basis, basic knowledge, guiding the approach to problems, analysing, evaluating and giving conclusions related to these games

Applying this experience to students in English lessons and reporting the topic to the professional team to get suggestions and comments I myself have consulted some opinions of colleagues who have much experience in teaching, and specially interest in vocabulary

2 CONTENT

2.1 Theoretical basis.

Vocabulary is very important in a language and so is it in English English has a variety of words, phrases and idioms and they are widely used, especially

in the English test of GCSE examination However, they seem to be difficult When learning it, students find it very hard to remember a lot of words and they tend to ignore vocabulary exercises Therefore, helping them to learn vocabulaary through games is an effective solution In my topic, I only focus on some theoretical problems, some basic exercises and some simple games that I have applied so that the students can improve their vocabulary in English

2.2 Factual basis.

I researched this topic based on the following aspects:

- Based on factual teaching

- Based on some references about vocabulary

- Based on the opinions of the colleagues

Before making the topic, I had a test to examine the quality of the students

of the 2classes: 10A1,11C9 at Trieu Son I high school I obtained the following results:

Class

Number

of

students

Number of students

of students

of students

of students

%

2.3 Solutions.

2.3.1 Benefits of learning English through games

- One of the most effective ways in learning English is playing games It means that students can learn and relax at the same time Games not only help students refresh themselves but also enrich their knowledge naturally

- Students can learn new words because their brains remember the words naturally without investment on notebooks and books However, they should arrange their time suitably for playing games and studying so that it will bring good academic results

- When students concentrate on playing games, they will form strategic thinking

to get the victory Therefore, it helps improve their speaking skills and enhance the ability to react with different situations

2.3.2 How to organize the games.

2.3.2.1 Time to play games

Finding suitable time to oganize games is necessary because it can have a positive impact on students Teachers can lets their students play games in a duration of fifteen minutes at the beginning or at the end of the lesson

Sometimes, the whole period of 45 minutes is acceptable if necessary Shorter or longer time depend on the level of the game Importantly, all games must be organized after students have learnt new words, and games are considered as a chance for them to check their vocabulary Obviously, it will motivate them to learn words eagerly because they feel excited and comfortable to do it

2.3.2.2 Class arrangement.

To play game, exciting atmosphere is very important Teachers have a lot

of ways to arrange the class: students can play individually, pairwork or groupwork Each has its own advantages, and choosing which calss arrangement

is up to the game However, pairwork and groupwork may be the most interesting for people to take part in the games because they can share ideas, feelings and excitement with one another

2.3.3 Some selected games.

There are lots of games relating to vocabulary that teachers can apply in teaching English In this part of my initiative, I only introduce some very simple games that can be easily organized without requiring special equipment or using technology

2.3.3.1 “ Bingo” game

This may be the easiest games that I have let my students play and students at any levels can play it

Purpose: Helps students to remember the words they have learnt and give them

motivation to learn new words or new lessons

Time: 5-10 minutes The game can be played in the warm-up part or at the end

of the lesson

Preparation: pens, paper

Rules: This game should be played individually within 5 minutes each round.

The teacher calls 5 to 6 students each time The teacher supplies a number of words/ phrases that they know or have learnt on the blackboard Each student chooses some words ( the number is according to the requirement of the teacher) and writes them down in the paper Then, the teacher reads any words on the board The students put a tick beside the word they hear The student gets all the words having the tick will say “ bingo” and be the winner

Example: Unit 10- Nature in danger- English 11[2]

Purpose: students can revise the words/ phrases they learnt in Part A: Reading

In addition, they can improve their listening skill as well as pronunciation

Times: 5 minutes

Procedures:

Teacher calls 6 students to stand in front of the class and then write the following words/ phrases on the board

interference environment responsible rare destruction After that, the teacher asks 6 students to choose from the list 6 words

S1: danger, influence, co-exist, disappear,destruction, interference

S2: environment, responsible, become extinct, cut down,establish, survival

S3: co-exist, disappear,destruction, environment, responsible, rare

S4: danger, influence, co-exist, become extinct, cut down, die out

S5: die out, disappear, establish,influence, environment, survival

S6: cut down, co-exist, decreasing, responsible,interference, become extinct T: reads out 10 words in the list: cut down, co-exist,destruction, influence, responsible, survival, environment, disappear, rare, cut down

Students: put a tick to the words they hear, then check how many words they have From the results, student 3 is the winner with 6 correct words

2.3.3.2 Facing game

Purpose: helps students to remember new words and practise pronunciation

skill

Time: 5-10 minutes The game can be played in the warm-up part or at the end

of the lesson

Preparation: chairs, space enough for 10 people to make a circle

Rules: This game should be played individually within 5 minutes each round.

The teacher calls 8 to 10 students each time They will sit in order to make a

circle The teacher gives a specific topic, which should be the topic they have

learnt Each student has some seconds to give a word/ phrase relating to the topic In the given time, who can’t give the answer or the correct answer will be out of the game In 5 minutes, who gives the most correct words/ phrases will be the winner

Example 1: Undersea world- Unit 9, English 10[1]

Purpose: helps students to remember new words relating to topic “ Undersea world” and practise pronunciation skill

Time: 7 minutes

Procedures:

Teacher: calls 10 students to sit down on their chairs in order to make a circle then speaks out or writes on the board the topic: “Undersea world” and asks students to give the words/phrases relating to the topic

Student 1: seal

Student 2: submarine

Student 3: whale

Student 4: challenges

Student 5: satellite

Student 6: marine life

Student 7: precious

Student 8: Pacific ocean

Student 9: technology

Student 10: tiny

Student 1: oversized

Student 2: jellyfish

Student 3: at stake

Student 4: mystery

Student 5: ………… ( can not give the answer so be out of the game)

Student 6: modern device

Student 7: Atlantic ocean

Student 8: water temperature

Student 9: depth

Student 10: ………… ( can not give the answer so be out of the game)

The game continues until there is only one person who can give the last correct answer and becomes the winner

Example 2: Space conquest- Unit 15, English 11[2]

Purpose: helps students to remember new words relating to topic “ Space conquest” and practise pronunciation skill

Time: 7 minutes

Procedures:

Teacher: calls 10 students to sit down on their chairs in order to make a circle, then speaks out or writes on the board the topic: “Space conquest” and asks students to give the words/phrases relating to the topic

Student 1: orbit

Student 2: lift off

Student 3: launch

Student 4: cosmonaut

Student 5: satellite

Student 6: astronaut

Student 7: weightlessness

Student 8: flight

Student 9: tension

Student 10: technical failure

Student 1: psychological tension

Student 2: success

Student 3: feat

Student 4: ………… ( can not give the answer so be out of the game)

Student 5: space

Student 6: conquer

Student 7: set foot on the moon

Student 8: ………… ( can not give the answer so be out of the game)

Student 9: uncertainties

Student 10: precisely…….

The game continues until there is only one person who can give the last correct answer and becomes the winner

2.3.3.3 Word connecting game.

Purpose: helps students to remember and learn new words and practise their

listening and pronunciation skills

Time: 5-10 minutes The game can be played in the warm-up part , at the end of

the lesson or in speaking lesson

Preparation: no equipment is needed

Rule: This game can be play individually or in group The teacher gives one

word then asks the student takes turn to give the next word with its beginning letter is the last one of the prior word The following words can not be the same

as the previous words The words can be expandes to various topics, provided that students know them Each word is relevant to 1 point Who/ which group gets more points will be the winner(s) Teachers should set a time limit for the game

Procedures:

Individual work

The teacher calls two students and them to stand in front of the whole class They have to decide who will start After that, the person who has the right to start off will give one word (the teacher can give the starting word, instead) The second person will tell his word with its beginning letter is the last one of the previous word The whole class will be the observers and the judges who decide who will be the winner

Words without topic: it means student can give any word they know provided

that they are meaningful This type can be played by almost every student because it is not so difficult

Purpose: helps students to revise any words they have learnt and practise their listening and pronunciation skills

Example:

Teacher calls two students to stand in front of the whole class Then the teacher gives the beginning word: rob

Student 1: beautiful

Student 2: Life

Student 1: energy

Student 2: year

Student 1: round………

The game continues until there is one student give the wrong answer or can’t connect the word The other will be the winner

Words with topic: the teacher chooses a topic he/she has taught the students

and gives the starting word, then two students take turn to connect the words