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Hello Teacher Tetè and classmates!
After some practice classes and reading the material presented in this unit, it can be said that the game is a learning resource that promotes in the students the acquisition of language giving them the opportunity to acquire knowledge through the game while enjoying.
At the same time curiosity and creativity are awakened and motivated by it.
I will share with you a game that I present in one of my practice classes.

Hugs!
Adriana Sleiman.

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What's this? – School supplies | English Vocabulary Guess the silhouette Game for kids (ESL)

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ESL Flashcard Game | Easy Vocabulary Review for Kids

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Hello everyone !

Play fosters children´s learning about the world. It helps them to construct meaning and knowledge through exploration and discovery in a fun way. It is crucial for them to enjoy the way of learning, they need to be involved in the games or activities in order to contribute to their language development.
"Almost all creativity involves purposeful PLAY" Abraham Maslow.

Karen

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3 Best ESL Teaching Methods 👩‍🏫 for Beginners That Works! Roleplays 3/3 #tefl #tesol #esltips #esl

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Hello group!
I consider playing as a universal interest, for all children of any culture, with imagination being their common language.
The uses and advantages of games in education are countless: from the development of cognitive and motor skills to the promotion of social interaction and confidence.
More specifically, using games for L2 learning allows children to easily participate in the learning process, while also enhancing their creativity and helping them interact with peers.
I liked the importance that the authors give to the teacher's guidance during the different games proposed, whether individual or collaborative (Tomlinson & Masuhara, 2009). To do this, we need to support the activities with scaffolding strategies, so that children do not get distracted by conflicts or misunderstandings.
Personally, I think that balancing guidance and a playful environment in the right way is the biggest challenge. Games and materials we can find it anywhere, in addition to those we create ourselves.

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Hi everyone!
As my classmates have said, incorporating games and playful learning into ESL teaching for VYL allows educators to create a positive and effective language learning environment. It not only helps children acquire English language skills but also promotes the love for learning. As Tomlinson and Masuhara share in “Playing to Learn: A Review of physical Games in Second Language Acquisition”, play and games are getting enough (and deserved) relevance nowadays in comparison to how language has been taught in the last decades. I’ve seen cases in which children who start ESL classes from very young age end up getting bored as they grow up and see language learning in a negative way because they are demanded to learn by parents and teachers only use theoretical approaches even when it is known that there are different intelligences and ways of learning. I am the kind of teacher that “gamify” most lessons, I usually use games that are popular among physical education teachers or team building games dynamics and change them slightly to adapt to my lessons’ content, sometimes I use them to reinforce vocabulary, other times to practise grammar. Last month we played "balloon", a game in which students stand in pairs (in front of each other) and on the floor in the middle there's a balloon, they listen to the teacher while she names body parts and actions (eyes, mouth, feet, clap, nose, jump, clap, knees) while they touch that part of the body or do the action, when the teacher says "balloon" they run to grab the balloon on the floor and the one who grabs it first wins. They practise vocabulary and this way they remember it later. I've seen how powerful this tool is in teaching language. And most important, I always incorporate play and games in teaching ESL to sow in students love for learning.

Regards, Florencia Mendaro.

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After reading the material and my classmates' comments, I'm convinced that playing is children's innate skill. Games play a crucial role in language acquisition.  When children are able to explore by themselves and learning with their peers   they feel more confident because of a playful atmosphere and interesting activities created and guided by the teacher. all this, fosters their creativity, imagination and encourages critical thinking.
Tomlinson and Masuhara (2009) assure that "most children in most cultures enjoy playing games". So. board games, quizzes and games involving physical activity empowers mental and physical skills. Furthermore, teachers should make individual as well as groupal activities where children can learning by themselves and with others.
In my own experience - the first one - a game that my students enjoy a lot was ' the hidden treasure'. The game consisted in finding fruits pictures hidden in different places of the kindergarten. After listening the teacher's hints, they had to look for them in the correct place - e.g. in the kitchen - They loved the game! As they found the pictures, I asked them what was the name of the fruit and its colour. This was a funny way to learn new vocabulary.
Next class, I'll bring them some memory games and puzzles because their teacher said me that they like these kinds of games.
I truly believe that it's very important the teacher's guidance when children are doing the different proposals.

Regards,

Chantal.

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Hello classmates and teacher!

While reading the files I considered that the role of games in the classes in the different levels of education are essential to motivate, and improve the learning of a second language.

According to the material Tomlinson & Masuhara (2009) emphasizes the benefits from playing games, children enjoy individual and group games, it doesn't matter if it is competitive or a collaborative one.

Both authors say that if they enjoy different types of games and this means to contribute to their acquisition of the L2, it is something that means a must with positive results.
A game that my students enjoyed is to build sentences while the time is counting and the group that finishes first is the winner. This helps them with present simple learning.
Another game for very young learners is playing to the BINGO. As teachers we can use this game with different topics, more exactly vocabulary. For example, the house, parts of the body, numbers, colours,etc.
Games help us to create a good atmosphere of learning a second language, and it makes more dinamic and enjoyable.
Teachers have the important role of guide to each activity and motivate them to do it.

Hugs,
Milca Juárez.

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Games play a crucial role in the language development of very young English learners. They offer a playful and interactive approach that not only enhances language skills but also fosters social interaction, confidence, and cultural awareness. Incorporating games into early English education can create a positive and enjoyable language learning experience for preschoolers and early elementary school children.

Tomlinson and Masuhara have championed the use of games and technology in language education, emphasizing their potential to engage learners, improve language acquisition, and create enjoyable and effective learning experiences.

On my experience I would like to share that when I started with the observations of Practices II, I found out that games really play a crucial role in L2 acquisition. There were several games in the room and the the teacher always take a time to play some games. They also include technology, as they have tablets where kids can draw and play. It was really interesting to experience by myself the importance of games in L2 learning.

Anabella Burdman.

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How to play in the funniest seriously manner?

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How to play in the funniest seriously manner?

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I want to comment on “Learning, playing and Interacting”  The National Strategies- Early Years; by Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

Exploratory play, where children engage with natural and people-made resources, offers huge learning opportunities. It allows children to investigate materials and their properties, supporting the development of both fine motor skills and scientific inquiry. As children manipulate objects, they build tactile awareness and discover cause-and-effect relationships. This hands-on exploration fosters a deeper understanding of the physical world and encourages critical thinking. Furthermore, the process of discovery during exploratory play sparks curiosity and entertains enthusiasm for learning.

Construction play, involving activities like building with blocks, clay or other materials, promotes a range of cognitive skills. Children learn spatial reasoning as they create structures, develop mathematical concepts like symmetry and balance, and engage in problem-solving by figuring out how to make their creations stable. This type of play fosters creative thinking, as there are often multiple ways to construct a structure. In this way  children develop perseverance as they work through design challenges. Construction play provides opportunities for social interaction as well, as children collaborate on complex building projects, enhancing teamwork and communication.

Role play is a powerful tool for cognitive and social development. When children take on roles and immerse themselves in imaginative scenarios, they exercise their creativity and gain insights into the perspectives of others. This fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of social dynamics. Role play encourages language development as children use speech and vocabulary appropriate to their chosen roles. It exercises memory skills, body posture and mimic skills. Moreover, it allows them to practice problem-solving in context, as they make decisions as the character would, learning to acknowledge the diversity of viewpoints and experiences.

While child-led exploration and play are fundamental to fostering a child's innate curiosity, adult-led activities also have their place in the educational experience. They can serve a purpose when there's a specific concept or skill that needs to be learned through structured guidance ensuring that essential objectives are met.

In my experience, the true beauty of early childhood education lies in its ability to transition from adult-led to child-led experiences. Adult-led activities may serve as a catalyst, as children become more engaged and confident, they naturally gravitate toward self-directed learning. This fluid approach ensures that children develop a lifelong love for themselves and genuine curiosity about the world.

Josela Martín

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The Literature on Physical Games and Language Acquisition

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The Literature on Physical Games and Language Acquisition

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Hi everyone!
I read all your contributions and they are great! Thanks for sharing what you have learned about games. I think that the material included in this Unit is very interesting and useful for all!
I would like to highlight what I read in the material written by Brian Tomlinson
and Hitomi Masuhara. They say that experts in child development emphasize the importance of play in early childhood. Play is a valuable resource for children, contributing to their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. They stress the importance of educators in creating an environment that fosters play as it provides a strong foundation for learning, enhances emotional and mental readiness, and develops essential social and emotional skills necessary for success in both school and life.
The main idea of Bailey's (2006) research is that physical education and sports (PES) can have significant positive effects on children's development across various domains, including physical, lifestyle, affective, social, and cognitive. However, the extent of these benefits depends on how PES is presented and the interactions between students and their teachers, parents, and coaches. Positive experiences, diversity, and active engagement are crucial factors in realizing these benefits.

I hope you find these ideas useful and interesting.

Hugs,
Corachan, María Eugenia

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The role of games and physical activities in second language acquisition.

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The role of games and physical activities in second language acquisition.

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Hello everyone!

After reading all the materials, I believe games are essential for second language (L2) acquisition due to their engaging nature, which motivates learners without them realizing it.
Traditional exercises like repetition and drills have limited impact compared to intellectually engaging language activities. Games are inherently enjoyable and boost engagement, leading to increased practice and exposure to the target language. Additionally, games provide real-world contexts for language use, enhancing comprehension. Many language games encourage interaction, fostering speaking and listening skills for practical conversations.

The benefits of physical games for language learners, such as bingo, hopscotch, musical chairs, and others, are based on how cheap and effective physical activities can be in providing motivated and meaningful experiences of language in use. These games do not require expensive technological aids and the fact that the target for the learners is the winning of a game guarantees that the language used will be authentic, useful, and relevant. Learners will be focused on their aim of winning the game rather than practicing the language.

Regards,
Lucia Sanchez.

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Hi everyone!

After reading all the material provided I can say that Physical games play a crucial role in the process of second language acquisition. They provide an interactive and enjoyable means of enhancing language skills while actively engaging learners. One illustrative game is "Simon Says."

In the context of second language learning, "Simon Says" can be adapted to reinforce vocabulary and comprehension. In this game, a leader issues commands such as "Simon says touch your toes" or "Simon says jump three times" in the target language. Participants must listen carefully and respond accordingly. The twist is that if the leader gives a command without preceding it with "Simon says," anyone who follows that command is out of the game. This game not only helps learners internalize vocabulary but also improves listening skills and comprehension.

Moreover, I want to express my gratitude for the enriching material provided on this topic. Reading it was immensely beneficial, and it greatly assisted us in understanding the significance of incorporating physical games into second language acquisition.

Regards, Lucio C.

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Hi dear Teté and group!

After plunging into the material provided —Playing to Learn: A Review of Physical Games in Second Language Acquisition by Brian Tomlinson and Hitomi— I have realised that it reaffirmed and reinforced my thoughts and insights regarding this concept and its importance in L2 acquisition. The material is clear and enriching and emphasises the benefits of playing games in Literature for cognitive, affective, and social children's development. Referring to this, I would like to share with you an experience in my practicums with preschoolers.

To begin with, I introduced the theme assigned 'Space', asking kids about that, with the aim of knowing previous insights. To achieve this purpose, I prepared two activities in order to introduce new vocabulary and connect it with their learning in L1, then we put the words learned in context, and finally, we reinforced vocabulary, (I firmly believe in the importance of children being enriched and learning first from their peers, in exclusive and prepared contexts). Then, in the next class (to review/to reinforce), I made a Carpet Space, where children had to jump or make other movements with their bodies, while I guided and encouraged them to repeat the specific words learned. To finish the activity, they needed to cross The Carpet of Space to become astronauts. Finally, I gave them an astronaut-free pass to be a member of space for the merit that they had done.

This game was organized in small groups. Keeping calm twenty-two children was no problem because they were delighted and concentrated both on the activity and on obtaining their free passes.

To sum up, the material enlightened and reaffirmed my previous conceptions regarding teaching L2 joining the game with literacy.

Hugs.

Melina Giraudo.