This article underlines the importance of learning grammatical rules of the Latvian language for Latvian as a second or foreign language. In fact, grammar is one of the four components of communicative competence: linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence. Aside from rules and tables, there are more effective and engaging ways to teach and learn grammar. One of them is through educational games. When language learners can apply grammar and use it in a fun way, there is a better chance that they will retain it all. They will be able to practice and internalize grammar phenomena extensively rather than just learning a collection of rules superficially.
Not all games can be considered educational. It is important to recognize the purpose of a grammar game.
The authors propose to consider several principles that can foster effective learning and improve student outcomes when teaching Latvian grammar to non-native speakers (both language minorities as well as foreigners):
- consider the influence of students’ mother tongue,
- offer wide selection of contemporary spoken grammar and vocabulary,
- teach phases instead or separate words,
- consider different learning styles to aid student learning (Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic Learning Styles),
- utilize (or adopt) speech therapy methods.
The authors present educational games for teaching such Latvian grammar phenomena as noun-adjective agreement, verb conjugation, use of prepositions, forming the comparative degree of adjectives, and more.
Grammar games for learning English do not only motivate, they also promote the idea of competition, thus increasing learner attention, memory, as well as speaking, listening and cooperation skills.
Games are beneficial for any age groups. They can be used with young learners who study Latvian as their first language, as well as Latvian as a second or foreign language students learning Latvian in preschools, schools and other educational institutions.
The process of language acquisition starts in the first year of a child’s life and, in some cases, continues through their lifetime. The first language or native language, also known as a mother tongue, is the language children learn first from their parents. In the modern world, it is common that a person’s first language differs from the official language of their homeland. Under the circumstances, children must acquire two languages in the very first years of their lives. The representatives of ethnic minorities in Latvia study Latvian as a second language. This means that Latvian is not their first language; it is the official language of the state, the compulsory language to study. Latvian as a second language is being taught in minority-language schools across Latvia.
It was traditionally believed that there is a prominent difference between second language acquisition and foreign language learning process. Therefore, different teaching principles and methods are applied. But in recent years, these fields have come closer together.
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