Teaching English to children can be very rewarding, but teachers must face many challenges. Children may learn languages quickly, but they also get frustrated and bored easily and need to be constantly active to prevent discipline problems. English as a second language (ESL) games can help remedy the situation by giving kids activities to do which are energetic and entertaining while still teaching and reinforcing key concepts.

Go Fish
Go Fish cards can easily be turned into a vocabulary reinforcement game for ESL.Go Fish is a simple matching game. It can be played with two players, but is best with three or four. One players asks another if he has a certain card, and if the other player does, he or she gives it to the first player. If not, the second player says "Go fish," and the first player has to choose a new card from the deck. The first player with no more cards left to match wins. There are commercial decks of Go Fish cards, often with different themes, such as the alphabet or animals. You can also use a plain 52-card deck for numbers, or make your own sets for colors, alphabet, clothes or household items. If you make your own, be sure that each deck is fairly large, in the 50 to 60 card range, and that all cards you make have a match. Break the class up into small groups, hand one deck to each group and explain the game. Insist that all interaction be done in English, and that students are not to use their native language while playing. You can use the game to reinforce questions, answers, phrases and polite speech as well as teach vocabulary.

Board Games
There are many websites that feature printable ESL board games suitable for small groups, homeschooling, tutoring or one-on-one lessons. The website ESL Games has free editable board game templates with crocodile, pirate and football themes. Commercial board games such as Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Connect 4, Battleship and Candy Land can also be used or adapted to teach ESL.

Hot Potato
Hot Potato can be used to teach ESL in classes or groups. You will need something soft and non-breakable to act as the potato, such as a foam ball, pillow or stuffed animal, and an idea of vocabulary or language concepts you want to review. The students pass around the "potato" while you play music or count. When you stop counting or randomly turn off the music, whoever is holding the potato is in the spotlight and must provide the correct answer to your question. Set some rules and offer rewards so the kids don't simply throw the potato around the room, refuse to touch it or gang up on each other. You can use this to test spelling, vocabulary, phrases, questions, alphabet or numbers.

Alphabet/Spelling Relay
An active way to review the alphabet and spelling is the relay. Split your class into two teams and draw a line down the board at the front of the room. Line the kids up so that everyone participates. At your signal, one child from each team runs to the board and either starts the alphabet with "A" or with the first letter of the word you give them. They then pass the chalk or marker to the next child in line, who goes to the board and writes "B" or the next letter in the word. The team who completes the alphabet or the word successfully first is the winner. You can also use complete sentences for higher-level classes.