If you've ever taught a grammar lesson and noticed that your students were about ready to fall asleep, you know that English, no matter how interesting it is to you, isn't always fun for your students. Although it is sometimes necessary to offer English instruction without bells and whistles, using creative English games can help engage students in the process of English language learning. They also boost students' creative writing and critical thinking skills.

Who Am I Picture Game
Give students pictures or paintings of people you find on the Internet or cut out of magazines. Ask students to describe the characters in the picture and determine the location and what is going on in the picture. Next, ask students to switch pictures and descriptions. The person that each student switched with must now write a story using the details her partner established during the first part of the activity. This activity helps students understand the components of a typical English narrative and allows them to practice descriptive vocabulary and sentence structure. It also encourages students to think critically and imaginatively as they come up with possible ideas for their stories.

Chain Spelling
According to the Internet TESL Journal, the chain spelling game begins when a teacher gives students a word to spell. Students must spell the word, then choose another word to spell that begins with the last letter of the word that was previously spelled. Each student spells one word or names a new word. Whenever a student spells or pronounces a word wrong, the game ends. You also can play a version of this game in which every student spells or says a letter and in which students are divided into teams. When a student says an incorrect letter or pronounces a word wrong, the team loses a point.

Word Guessing Games
There are a number of commercial guessing games, like "Taboo" and "Catch Phrase," that you can mimic to create your own game that teaches the words you want your students to learn. Provide students with a stack of cards. On top of each card, write the word or phrase you want students to guess. You can make the game harder by using the "Taboo" version, in which students cannot use certain words as they try to get students to guess the target word. This activity encourages students to make associations and learn synonyms, something that will help them write creatively and in any environment where exact word choice is important.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Give students a chart with the name of each country represented in the ESL classroom, available as a free download from the LEO Network. In 10 minutes, students must collect the signatures of their classmates and the names of their hometowns, which they must place next to the country names on the chart. This activity is a great way to introduce students to one another on the first day of class. It also is a fun way to get students up and moving. It helps them with their creative writing skills and encourages students to learn how to use question words appropriately.