Games are tools that make it easier for children to learn new things. They can also help adults with learning new information. If the learning game is fun, the child or adult will want to play the game and learn without thinking about learning. Games can also help the teacher to make an association between new English words and the learners, which can spark interest and enhance their desire to learn.

Hangman
Hangman is a word game with which students of any age can enhance their vocabulary and have fun while they are doing it. The game is played by writing the alphabet on the chalkboard, leaving enough room to draw the hangman diagram or another picture of your choice. Think of a word for the class the guess and draw as many blanks under the diagram as there are letters in your word. The object is for the students to guess the word one letter at a time. If they fail to guess a correct letter, draw one small part of a diagram or picture. The picture needs to be drawn in no more than 10 parts to keep the game from going on too long. Whenever students guess a letter, whether incorrect or not, that letter is crossed out in the chalkboard alphabet. The students should take turns guessing letters.

Swap a Letter
Swap a Letter is also for groups of students. Begin with a five-letter word and have the students examine the letters. Tell them to think of words that they could make using any combination and any number of letters from the main word. Go around the group and have each student say his word aloud. If the student hesitates, he is eliminated. You can choose a new word with fewer letters to make it more challenging for the students.

Vocab Snake
The Vocab Snake game can be played by a group or by a single student. This game works best if used with vocabulary that the students know. Write out six or seven words without spaces between them. Do not let the students see the words that you are writing. Once the words are written in one long stream of letters, tell the students to find the words and write them on a sheet of paper.

A-Z
The A-Z game is another fun way to get students to want to learn their English vocabulary words. Choose a category with which the students are familiar. Start with the letter A and ask a student to give you a word in the category that begins with A. Go around the room and have each student say a word that begins with the next letter of the alphabet that was just said. The next student would say a B word and the student after that would say a C word, until a word made from each letter of the alphabet has been said. Encourage the students to think of uncommon words.