Theme: improving learning english by stage shows, stories and games

2.2. Improving learning english by stage games
Language learning is hard work… Effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over a long period of time. Games help and encourage many learners to sustain their interest and work. Games… help the teacher to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful. The learners want to take part and in order to do so must understand what others are saying or have written, and they must speak or write in order to express their own point of view or ‘Games have been shown to have advantages and effectiveness in learning vocabulary in various ways. First, games bring in relaxation and fun for students, thus help them learn and retain new words more easily. Second, games usually involve friendly competition and they keep learners interested. These create the motivation for learners of English to get involved and participate actively in the learning activities. Third, vocabulary games bring real world context into the classroom, and enhance students’ use of English in a flexible, communicative way.’
Therefore, the role of games in teaching and learning vocabulary cannot be denied. However, in order to achieve the most from vocabulary games, it is essential that suitable games are chosen. Whenever a game is to be conducted, the number of students, proficiency level, cultural context, timing, learning topic, and the classroom settings are factors that should be taken into account.
Games help the teacher to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful. Even though games are often associated with fun, we should not lose sight of their pedagogical value, particularly in foreign language teaching and learning. Games are effective as they create motivation, lower students’ stress, and give language learners the opportunity for real communication. Games promote learners’ interaction. Interaction comprises the nature of classroom pedagogy and classroom behavior. Pair or group work is one of the main ways to increase cooperation. Many games can be played in pairs or in small groups,
thereby providing an opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills such as the skill of disagreeing politely or the skill of asking for help. In the classroom learners will definitely participate in the activities. Therefore, in groups or in pairs, they are more willing to ask questions, communicate and discuss topics with their partners and think creatively about how to use foreign language to achieve their goals. The competition in the games gives students a natural opportunity to work together and communicate with each other a lot.
Games improve learners’ language acquisition. Thanks to the motivation and interaction created by games, students can acquire knowledge faster and more effectively than by other means. Games can stimulate and encourage students to participate in the activity since they naturally want to win. Apart from having fun, students are learning. They acquire a new language. Students begin to realize that they have to use the language if they want others to understand what they are saying. Furthermore, games can lower anxiety. In the easy, relaxed atmosphere which is created by using games, students remember things faster and better. The meaning of the language students listen to, read, speak and write in will be more vividly experienced in a game and, therefore, they will better remember the language they learn. Games increase learners’ achievement. Games can involve all the basic language skills, for example, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and a number of skills are often involved in the same game. Games can motivate learners, promote learners’ interaction, and improve learners’ acquisition. As a result, games can increase learners’ achievement, which means that learners’ test results, ability of communication, knowledge of vocabulary, or other language skills can improve. In brief, games prove to be a useful tool in language teaching. Games not only motivate learners and create a friendly atmosphere, they are aimed at developing all language skills. Consequently, games can motivate, promote learners’ interaction, improve their acquisition and increase their achievement. Let's summarize why we should use games in language teaching.
- Games are a welcome break from the usual routine of the language class;
- Learning a language requires a great deal of effort. Games help students to make and sustain the effort of learning;
- They encourage students to interact and communicate;
- They create a meaningful context for language use;
- Games lower anxiety especially when played in small groups;
- Games can involve all the basic language skills, for example, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and a number of skills are often involved in the same game;
- Many games can be played in small groups, thereby developing their interpersonal skills;
- Games involve students in active learning;

• 
  - They can encourage students to draw on analysis, synthesis, evaluation;
  
• 
  They foster a more positive attitude toward the classroom experience – more attention, better attendance, better participation;
  
• 
  They improve retention, decision-making skills, and comprehension of general principles.
  

Games can be a very worthwhile teaching element. A successful game is successful because of the reason that it is based on specific time allocation, it has clear relevance to the material, there is appropriateness to all members of the class, and ultimately, the enjoyment of the learners is increased through their active engagement with the language. The idea of using games in teaching does not seem to be widely accepted and implemented although its profitability has been proposed and justified as early in the seventieth century. There has been a misconception that all learning should be serious in nature. In fact, using games is an important tool that allows language teachers to add colours to their classrooms by providing challenge and entertainment. They are particularly valuable for beginners as a source of cognition that helps them adopt sounds and rhythms and comprehend the foreign language.