Section 3: Using local games for learning

Key Focus Question: How can you use local games to help language learning?

Keywords: research; local games; traditional; rhymes; songs; investigating

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will have:

  • used traditional and local games to support learning activities;
  • motivated pupils and built their confidence in using language through games, songs and rhymes;
  • extended your own skills in thinking about your role and effectiveness by investigating the value of games for learning.

Introduction

Some teachers who have taught for 20 years have only one year’s experience, repeated many times. This is because they do not learn much or do not develop into better teachers.

Good teachers plan what they do and, once they have done it, record what happened, ask themselves what was successful and what needs improvement. They reflect on (think about) whether the pupils learned anything and, if they did, what they learned. On the basis of this ‘reflection’, they plan again for their next activity. Resource 1: Action-reflection cycle shows this process in the form of a diagram.

Resource 2: Assessing group story performances

1. Informal learning