
Explore scoring systems that boost learning by adding extra points after listening or speaking games, rewarding individuals and teams and allowing creative adaptations to fit your classroom needs.
Explore how to teach fairness and achievement in competitive classroom games with two teams of students, rewarding the first to listen or speak with proximity to the whiteboard.
Discover how portable plastic hula hoops, popular and detachable, can add a traditional boost to your day.
Set up a simple TEFL classroom game using one hula hoop, mark distances for points, and practice throwing to land a ball inside the hoop while calculating speed.
Students throw a ball to land in overlapping hoop areas to earn points; four hoops lie on the floor, a whiteboard replica marks the zones and numbers vary by age.
Engage your class with hoop rollerball, a color-segmented hoop and small ball game. Students roll the ball inside the hoop to earn points for their team.
Use a sticky ball as a versatile classroom tool to engage students, especially with a whiteboard, and substitute with a softball to mark or erase lines on the board.
Select two successful dice games to feature and use a large die so everyone can see the number rolled. Learn how to make a large die using online instructions.
Engage learners with a circle game that reinforces days of the week and other sequences by calling out each day, tapping to signal, and awarding points for participation.
During this course I'll be showing you how to play more than 20 games that you can use immediately as is or you'll be able to adapt them to suit your needs for teaching your students. These games are suitable for all teaching styles and have been well-tested on young TEFL learners for over 20 years. So whether you're a new teacher just starting out and you need to start building your repertoire quickly or you might just be someone with years of experience behind you, these games are sure to help add extra spice and creativity to your TEFL classes. With some of these games you will only need a whiteboard, markers and flashcards while with the scoring system games there are some toys involved. However, you can creatively substitute anything at any time and, with a just few of these games under your belt, you can confidently start calling yourself, a 'TEFL Games Meister'.
Why do we play games:
As a method of testing to see if your students have actually learnt something
To break the routine and help your students remain excited about learning
As a way of reviewing large portions of work in a fun way
To ensure that our students don't forget that they are still children who are meant to play and have fun
Even though these games have been tested and tried on TEFL students, I have no doubt they would work in any classroom situation.
All these games can be adapted and be made simpler or more complicated, depending on the level and age of your students. As a point of interest, I have watched trainee teachers play these games with abandon and have as much fun as children do.
The whiteboard games can be adapted and used with any subject, while it goes without saying that the scoring system games are there for the students to test their wits, strength and speed against themselves and their classmates.
Who should take this course?
Experienced teachers who feel they need new ideas to make their classes more exciting
New teachers who are in the process of building up their games and activities repertoire