Using language games to improve speaking skill for the students in class 7C at Nhu Ba Sy Secondary S...

Using language games to improve speaking skill for the students in class 7C at Nhu Ba Sy Secondary School 1 INDEX Title Page A Introduction 2 B Problem solving 4 I Basis reality (Reality) 4 II Basis o[.]

INDEX

A/ INTRODUCTION

Nowadays English has played an important part in our life It has been considered as an international language all over the world, it has become a compulsory subject in all secondary schools as well It is the key for anyone who wants to get success in life In fact, secondary students in particular and people learning English in general, despite many years of learning English, their ability to communicate is very limited They can not know how to express what they want to say They are shy and they are not confident enough to speak or communicate with the others in English even though they still understand vocabulary and the sentence structures Students are learning self-contained method They mainly focus on mastering grammar and forget speaking skill, the school speaking environment is little known even without The reason for this is partly due to their limited vocabulary On the other hand, because of the assessment requirements of the department, the students mostly have to take part in written test in favor of grammar rather than the oral test Therefore, the students often learn conception to pass the exams, not learn to communicate Besides, the students are often afraid of making mistakes when presenting dialogues or expressing their comments on the issues to be presented to the crowd But perhaps, the basic cause is that the students are lack of communication environment: the teachers of English are Vietnamese, the class is also Vietnamese students, so Vietnamese should be used when they can’t express something in English The majority of the teachers pay little attention, or rarely encourage the students to develop speaking skill, the students do not have the habit of speaking English That is why, in the process of teaching, especially for English pilot program, I have been thinking about "How to improve the students’ speaking skill ? », « How to help students to be self confident enough to communicate with one another in English? » I have found out that the

use of language games in teaching English is one of the most effective methods to get the students involved in speaking English Moreover, using language games makes the lessons more interesting and the students more active in learning English The speaking environment is promoted more and more For the above reasons, I have chosen the theme « Using language games to improve speaking skill for the students in class 7C at Nhu Ba Sy Secondary School » Please be shared to consult colleagues and additional comments

B / PROBLEM SOLVING

I.Basis reality (Reality)

Today the use of English in communication is essential and important English not only helps us to develop economic, society, but also helps us integrate with our friends throughout the world English is useful for many different reasons:

We may use English when traveling or working abroad If we know English, we can find a good job easily, we can trade with other countries in English around the world to do business, economic development Knowing English helps us understand the songs, read books, watch movies, watch TV programs in English But in fact, secondary students in particular and people learning English in general have not learned English boldly and confidently to communicate in practice In order to help the students use English to communicate in everyday life, the teachers need to innovate teaching methods, pay attention to promoting language environment at school However this is not an easy matter for both the teachers and the students It is important for the teachers to know how to select the specific language games in the appropriate classes of objects, the ability of the students to meet the efficiency The teachers should always encourage the students to participate in learning activities and practice communicating to make the lessons exciting, lively, and attractive They can form the habit of communicating in English

II Basis of theory

In fact, in teaching and learning a foreign language, the students will learn more effectively if they are learnt in an atmosphere of learning fun, relaxation and have more opportunities to communicate in the context of the real world The use

of language games in teaching a foreign language can increase motivation for the

students, one of the decisive factors for the students to get success in their language learning At the same time, the teachers can help and encourage the students to learn and maintain their interest in learning In addition, language games also help the teachers create the context in which language practice is very useful and easy The students would like to participate in the games, they have to understand what the others are saying, and they have to say these things to present their own opinions or to present information to the others understand So, in this theme, I want to mention some games organized to encourage, promote and improve speaking skill for the students in class 7C at Nhu Ba Sy secondary school

III Solution

In every period of teaching process I often have the students play games such as Networks, Slap the board, Matching, Simon says, Lucky numbers, Lucky stars, Who is the millionaire?, Hang man, Car racing, Survey , Chain game… But

in this theme, I would like to introduce some following language games I find most effectively in motivating the students in class 7C at Nhu Ba Sy secondary chool to practice speaking skill

1.Challenging Game.

Purpose: Review the thematic vocabulary and practice speaking skill.

The teacher devides the class into two teams, then takes out the topic of vocabulary Two teams huddle within 30 seconds and turn to challenge your team Which team is more challenging than the number of words will have the right to speak first If any team says enough and the right amount of challenge wil be scored 1 point If the team says one wrong word or says one word that does not belong to the topic or does not say enough times challenged, the team will lose the

challenge and points The prize will belong to the other team.The game will be resumed with different themes The game will stop when the set time has expired or the teacher has checked all the required test scores

Example 1 : Unit 2: Health – Lesson 2: A closer look 1

(7 English Program Pilot).

The teacher gives the topic “Health problems” and devides the class 7B into two groups Then the teacher asks the students to play “Challenging game” to

warm up the class and lead in the new lesson

(The students are really keen on this game because the students like challenging and they are afraid of leaving behind their friends They have expressed their quickness and liveliness in speaking English than ever before).

Example 2 : Unit 3: Community service – Lesson 1: A closer look1.

(7 English Program Pilot).

The teacher gives the topic “Prolems in the society” such as “homeless people” Then the teacher devides the class 7B into four groups and asks the students to play “Challenging game” to consolidate the lesson

(In this game, I really felt pleased because the students were excited to talk about the “Problems in the society” and the speaking environment is improved as well).

2.Face to face game.

Purpose: Practice the students’ reflexes and agility skills in communication.

In this game, the students work in pairs, stand face to face with their partner, think about the topic of the lesson, the new words they have learned above To start the game, S1 says a new word and S2 says the first related word that comes to

mind, keeps the words going back and forth as quickly as possible until the teacher says “stop”

Example 1 : Unit 2: Health – Lesson 2: A closer look 2

(7 English Program Pilot).

-The teacher asks the students to play a game “Face to face” to consolidate the lesson Whole class stand up In pairs, stand face to face One mentions to

Health problem and the other mentions to Health tip The students take in turns.

(In this game, not only good students but also weak students are involved The whole class take part in the game and pairs by pairs complete their task So, this game makes the lessons interesting, exciting and makes the whole class enthusiastic They have to think of what to say how to respond their partner ).

Example:

S1: Obesity

S2: Eat less junk food

S3: Sunburn

S4: Wear a hat when going out

S5: Spots

S6: Wash your face regularly

S7: Stomachache

S8: Be careful with what you eat and drink

S9:Flu

S10: Wash your hand more

………

Example 2 : Unit 3: Community service – Lesson 1: Getting started.

(7 English Program Pilot).

- The teacher asks the students to play a game “Face to face” to consolidate the lesson Whole class stand up In pairs, stand face to face One mentions to a noun and the other mentions to a verb to make meaningful word phrases related to the topic “Community service” The students take in turns

Example:

S1: Blood

S2: Donate

S3: Homeless people

S4: Help

S5: Donate

S6: Books

S7: Poor children

S8: Teach

………

3.Gossip game.

- The teacher reads a statement that only the student who sits at the top of each group can hear but the others can not

- The first Student repeats the teacher’s sentence to the other student, so on until the last student of the group hears and repeats the teacher’s sentence Which one reads the complete sentence aloud will win the game

Example: “Non-renewable energy” means that it will run out if we use it (This game requires the students to say the whole sentences, so it helps them drill two skills: Listening and speaking Moreover, this game helps the students form the habit of speaking the long sentences in English and encourages them to be self-confident to communicate with the others in English)

4 Word – practicing game.

The teacher gives any English words, using their letters to create meaningful words In this game, the students have the opportunity to "scour all of the words" in their heads, avoid forgetting, and they will be able to enlarge vocabulary from the game which their partners have created The teacher can ask the students to make

up sentences, using the words created if there is enough time

(In this game, I am very surprised because the students are so intelligent that they can create too many words from the letters of any words given Therefore, this game helps the students become quick-minded, consolidate vocabulary and develop speaking skill, These are some examples to show the students’ result)

Example 1 : Unit 11: Sources of Energy - Lesson 1: Getting started

(7 English Program Pilot).

- The teacher asks the students to create meaningful words from the word

“Resource”.

S1: Use

S2: Reuse

S3: Source

S4: Sour

S5: See.

S6: Our

S7: Seer

S8: Course

……

- The teacher asks the students to make up sentences, using above new words

Example 2 : Revision Lesson (7 English Program Pilot).

- Ask the students to create new words from the word “Environment” (It is very amazing that students can creat too many meaningful words from the letters of the word “Environment”)

Toe

Ton

On

Tenor

In

Mr

River

Enter

Mote

Vote

Iron

Rent

To Move Teen Note Mine Time More Meat Minor Never Tin Tree Remove

Net Meter Invent One Into Meet Event Even Ever Over Men Remote Movie

Example 2 : Revision Lesson (7 English Program Pilot).

- Ask students to create meaningful words from the word “Celebration” (It is incredible that the students can create too many meaningful words from the letters of the word “Celebration”)

On

Rat

Tire

Tear

Bear

Rate

Rain

Learn

Table

Boat

Bat

Bar

Cat

Car

In

Elect

Lion

Been None Ear Tie Race Ban Bee Beat Beer Bore Bet Center Nice Role Note Aunt Cane Crab

Ice It Tea Lie Lent Rent Rice Ten Teen Enter Cable Air Clean Clear Able Into Care Train

5 Continuing a story.

The Teacher will give out a topic for the story and the beginning sentence (which can take even the theme of the lesson that day) In turns, the students will

add a sentence to the story and they have to ensure the logic as well as sticking to the theme of the story

(In this game, I require good stusents make up new sentences and weak students repeat the sentences So the students don’t find this game too difficult at all and this game helps the students improve their speaking skill considerably)

Example 1 : Topic: Traffic (Unit 7: Traffic – Lesson 4: Communication (7 English Program Pilot)

Nowadays, there are many kinds of means of transport.

S1: It is very convenient for us to travel

S2: But too many means of transport mean too much pollution

S3: There are often traffic jams during rush hour as well

S4: The more vehicles there are, the more polluted it is

S5: We should use public transport instead of our own private ones

S6: We should go to school on foot or by bike

……….

Example 2: Topic: Saving energy (Unit 10: Sources of energy – Lesson 4: Communication (7 English Program Pilot)

There are two types of energy.

S1: They are renewbale and non-renewable sources

S2: Renewable sources of energy are wind, hydro, solar or biogas

S3: Non- renewable sources of energy are coal, oil, natural gas

S4: Renewable sources of energy are plentiful and unlimited

S5: But non- renewable sources of energy are limited

S6: We are using up non- renewable sources of energy.

S7: It is necessary that we should save non- renewable sources of energy S8: We can save non- renewable sources of energy by using alternative sources

S9: We can use Solar energy instead

S10: Solar energy doesn’t cause pollution

S11: Solar energy can be cheap, clean and effective

……….

6 Car racing.

(This is a great game to help the students learn and play as well It is an effective method to help the students review vocabulary The teachers can apply when starting or ending or reinforcing the lessons Playing time is from 3 - 5 minutes).

Make three lines to create two parallel tracks and the tracks are divided into equal rectangular areas (The students can perform on rough paper) to play a long time, depending on who makes it possible to add multiple lines different race

Initially two "riders" (Ex rider 1 writes "car", rider 2 "train") then draw ballot

to choose the team go ahead The students have to write the word whose first letter

is the last letter of the enemy’s words

The race will end when a rider is "flat tire" that means he/ she gives the wrong words or the word already given before or can not find the word any more

In this game teachers can act as an arbitrator, give the points and divide the class into two teams together or two individuals together

Example: