Top Ten Improv Games for EFL Classrooms

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-64
Author(s):  
Jason White

This paper focuses on improvisation (also known as improv), which is one of the dramatic techniques that teachers are using in EFL classrooms today. Many teachers have found that improvisation is valuable for a multitude of reasons, including increasing student motivation and lowering foreign language anxiety, creating a positive learning environment, and generally increasing the level of enjoyment for foreign language students. There are numerous possibilities for teachers who would like to use improv games as a main component, or as a supplement, to the standard curriculum in their foreign language classes. This paper discusses the history of improvisation, and then gives a detailed explanation of ten popular improv games that teachers can use in their classes. It should be noted that these games are discussed as used by the author and may not match exactly with the definitions or parameters of similar games found on improvisation websites or in books about improvisation.

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTHONY J. ONWUEGBUZIE ◽  
PHILLIP BAILEY ◽  
CHRISTINE E. DALEY

Foreign language anxiety is a complex phenomenon that has been found to be a predictor of foreign language achievement. This study of 210 university students examined factors that predict1 foreign language anxiety. A setwise multiple regression analysis revealed that seven variables (i.e., age, academic achievement, prior history of visiting foreign countries, prior high school experience with foreign languages, expected overall average for current language course, perceived scholastic competence, and perceived self-worth) contributed significantly to the prediction of foreign language anxiety. An analysis of variance, which included trend analysis, revealed that freshmen and sophomores reported the lowest levels of foreign language anxiety, and that anxiety levels increased linearly as a function of year of study. The educational implications of these findings for understanding foreign language anxiety and for increasing foreign language learning are discussed, as are suggestions for future research.


2019 ◽  
pp. 37-38
Author(s):  
Galina Aleksandrovna Sokolova

The article deals with some ways of forming socio-cultural competence on the example of learning the history of foreign holidays, Christmas and St. Nicholas Day, which are spread in Germany.


Author(s):  
Anna Nunan

AbstractDifficulties establishing support for English speakers taking second language electives in postsecondary education in Ireland led to research on how language classes could be more accessible, multicultural, plurilingual and relevant for students in a university language centre. It is important to try and discover why students choose a foreign language module in an English speaking context, how prior experiences of language learning are processed by these students and how student suggestions for future semester offerings may be relevant to changing paradigms in language learning. 2,600 student evaluations over 3 semesters were analysed in relation to student motivation in taking a foreign language elective. 25 students were interviewed on their motivation in language learning, prior experience of language learning and suggestions for future language modules. Motivation in language learning is a complex process (


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Kellie J. Baglio

Abstract It has been argued that learning a second language requires more self-motivation than other courses (Horwitz, 1995). This article reviews literature on motivation in foreign language classrooms and discusses reasons for the lack of motivation among students in second language classes. Particular attention will be given to addressing reasons why students in Latin classrooms may have less motivation than in other classes. Specifically, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation will be discussed in terms of a Latin classroom. Additionally, this article will discuss what steps can be taken by the teacher to increase motivation and engagement through gameplay, creating a safe space to make mistakes, and turning extrinsic motivation into intrinsic motivation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-215
Author(s):  
Flavia Kaba

Abstract Due to the rapid developments in educational technology, today’s professors are in search of exploring innovative techniques in order to promote involvement of students in the learning process in general and in the foreign language learning process in particular. This is why today’s students are seen as digital-natives and being motivated for the learning process is very difficult if the modern technology they are familiar with is not utilized effectively in the classroom. When it comes to the assessment part of this process, the situation may become worse, as most of the students feel unwilling due to anxiety problems in general and foreign language anxiety in particular. This study presents an innovative way of assessing students’ skills that they gain during foreign language learning process introducing Edmodo, which is an educational social network that provides a secure learning platform for students and educators. This study is a descriptive one, based on the analyses, surveys, and opinions of different researchers that have implemented this platform in their teaching process. The main objective is to introduce the implementation of various assessment applications through Edmodo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balčiūnaitienė Asta ◽  
Teresevičienė Margarita

Abstract The article aims to emphasize the role of foreign language teaching in fostering sustainable development competence in higher education. Foreign language classes enable students to analyze actual topics about sustainable development, to discuss problems, to share personal emotions and experiences. English as a foreign language curriculum aims to build students’ basic language communicative skills with the focus on sustainability, communication for the enhancement of sustainable development competence. The present paper aims to analyze the correlation of sustainable development competence between English as a foreign language studies in the system of higher education. The article overviews the importance of the sustainable development competence development on the theoretical level as well as introduces the practices of the importance of sustainable development competence elements in foreign language classes on the empirical level. The research was planned and performed in 5 universities of Lithuania, in which the respondents studying English (average age of participants was 22 years old) expressed their opinions on the sustainable development topics and usefulness of sustainable development competence. The results of the research demonstrate that students are more engaged in topics and materials on sustainable development and it is challenging for pedagogues to constantly update their materials, to apply innovative English as a foreign language teaching strategies related to sustainable development in foreign language classroom. Therefore, the research findings with the embedded elements for sustainable development competence development encourage educators to search for innovative ways of English as a foreign language teaching in higher education.


Author(s):  
Л.Н. Крячко

Постановка задачи. Изучение предмета «Иностранный язык» в техническом университете предполагает усвоение обучающимися терминологической лексики в соответствии с выбранной специальностью. Опыт преподавания показывает, что студенты испытывают трудности, связанные с запоминанием терминологических единиц и употреблением их в речи. Использование на занятиях по иностранному языку приема обучения терминологической лексике посредством опоры на внутреннюю форму данных лексических единиц позволяет оптимизировать процесс усвоения обучающимися специальных терминов. Результаты. Проведенное исследование дает основание утверждать, что анализ внутренней формы образованных семантическим способом англоязычных терминов специальности «Автомобильные дороги» позволяет выявить деривационно-ассоциативную связь терминологических единиц с лексикой общенационального языка, послужившей основой для вторичной номинации. Данные лексические единицы в большинстве случаев представляют собой хорошо знакомые студентам слова, обозначающие части тела человека и объекты, находящиеся в его близком окружении : одежду, посуду, инструменты, явления природы, представителей животного мира и т.д. Выводы. Ознакомление студентов дорожно-строительной специальности с внутренней формой изучаемых англоязычных терминов, выявление ассоциативных связей терминологических единиц со знакомыми студентам и широкоупотребительными словами общенационального языка, а также выполнение в аудитории специально разработанных тренировочных упражнений помогают снять трудности усвоения обучающимися терминологической лексики и облегчают ее запоминание. Statement of the problem. The study of the “Foreign Language” subject at a technical university involves students’ learning the terminology in accordance with the chosen specialty. The teaching practice shows that students experience the difficulties associated with memorising terminological units and using them in the speech. Applying the method of teaching the terminology based on the internal form of these lexical units at foreign language classes makes it possible to optimise the process of learning special terms by students. Results. The research that has been carried out gives reason to argue that the analysis of the internal form of the English “Automobile roads” specialty terms created in the semantic way makes it possible to reveal the derivational and associative relations of the terminological units with the national language words which served as the basis for the secondary nomination. In most cases, these lexical units are the words that are well known by the students and indicate the parts of man’s body and the objects that are present in man’s immediate environment: clothing, dishes, tools, phenomena of the nature, representatives of the animal world, etc. Conclusion. Introducing the internal form of the studied English terms to the road construction specialty students, identifying the associative relations of the terminological units with the well known to the students and widely used words of the national language, fulfilling the specially developed training exercises in the classroom help the students to overcome the difficulties of learning the terminology and to facilitate its memorization.


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