When it comes to teaching and learning ESL (English as a Second Language), there are many different opinions and ideas. While older schools of thought encouraged strict study of grammar rules along with repetitious drills as the fundamental of language learning, more recent studies encourage ESL teachers to introduce more interactive activities and games into their English classes. If you are writing a paper on using games in learning English, it's best to try and find more current articles in journals and books, as the subject is constantly evolving.

Make a list of accredited universities and programs that have been recognized for offering outstanding ESL courses. These universities, as well as certification courses like TESOL and CELTA, may have websites with information on incorporating games into the classroom. In addition, many have forums where you can contact ESL teachers for help and guidance on finding the best resources for your research.

Find ESL journals that are likely to have the type of article you are interested in, such as the Internet TESL Journal, ESL Journal, and The Asian EFL Journal.

Focus on facts as you read the articles on learning English using games. Rather than quoting or noting the author's opinion on the subject, seek out statistics and facts, such as the percentage a group of students' English scores improved once games were introduced, or how much a student's understanding of a concept improved when the teacher used a game related to the concept.

Research for opinions on both sides of the matter (i.e., for and against games), even if you are writing a persuasive essay. Noting and understanding the opposing viewpoint, then debating or disproving it, will help to guide you in finding specific information in your research.

Keep a list of journals and/or websites, author names, page numbers and/or URL addresses as you research to make it easy for you to create citation page of your paper. This list will also help you to go back and verify data, or find connections or patterns in research as the subject evolved. Only use reputable sources for your research that are respected in the education community; for example, seek out websites with the ".edu" addresses.