English can be a challenging subject for native speakers and second language students alike. English grammar is famously unconventional, and known for having a wide range of informal conventions. For this reason, it is imperative that teachers make English teaching as fun and engaging as possible, as conventional grammar and vocabulary lessons cannot possibly convey the idiosyncratic nature of the English language. Teaching through games is one approach that has been successful in getting English across to confused students.

1

Find games that suit your teaching needs. For English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, the best games are those that emphasize grammar, vocabulary and enunciation. For teachers of first language English speakers, the best games are those that teach higher-level communication skills. Games are meant to convey meaning and context to students, and for them to do this, they must be skill-level appropriate. Some good online ESL games are available at englishclub.net, including hangman, crosswords and puzzles. There are many good games for first language English at linguapress.com, which emphasize the proper use of idioms and slang.

2

Rank games according to level of difficulty. Teaching English through games is ineffective unless the games are appropriate to the age and proficiency of the students. Matching and word search games are appropriate for younger students, because they do not require the ability to spell independently. Crosswords and jumbled words are more appropriate for advanced students, because they require solid spelling abilities and a large vocabulary.

3

Explain the rules of the game to your students. Not all students intuitively understand how to do a seek-a-word or a matching game, even though the rules may seem obvious to adults. Explain to the students what the objective of each game is and offer some simple strategies for achieving the objective.

4

Provide the students with a demonstration of how to play the games. Complete a round of each game for the students step by step, allowing them to see the mechanics of the games and how the final objectives can be accomplished. Do not expect students to understand the mechanics of a game from explanation alone; many students learn better by observing than by listening.

5

Allow the students to attempt playing the games themselves. Supervise them as they play and provide tips and suggestions to students who seem to be having trouble mastering the game skills. After all students have mastered the basic mechanics of a game, allow them to play it independently for some time, then quiz them on the English words and conventions they learned from playing. Teach multiple games this way to keep the students' interest.