Using Board Games in the English Class

Using board games in an English language classroom can be a fantastic way to engage students, encourage conversation, and practice language skills in a fun and interactive environment. Here are some board games that are particularly well-suited for English language learners:

1. Scrabble: This classic word game is excellent for vocabulary building. Students can work on their spelling and learn new words as they attempt to score points by creating words from their individual letter tiles.
2. Taboo: This game requires players to describe a word without using a list of “taboo” words that are commonly associated with the target word. It’s great for practicing synonyms and descriptive language.
3. Apples to Apples: This game helps students with adjectives and descriptions. Players match descriptive cards (adjectives) with noun cards, and a judge picks the best pairing. This can lead to discussions about why certain adjectives are more fitting than others.
4. Pictionary: Ideal for practicing vocabulary and quick thinking, Pictionary has players draw pictures to help their teammates guess a word. It involves all team members actively as they guess and draw under time pressure.
5. Cranium: This game includes a variety of activities, from word puzzles to acting, which can be great for a classroom where students have varying levels of comfort with different language skills.
6. Story Cubes: Rolling dice with different images, students make up stories based on the pictures that appear. This game encourages creativity and narrative skills and can be a gentle way to practice speaking.
7. Codenames: Players give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. Codenames is excellent for practicing precision in language use and metaphorical thinking.

These games not only help with language learning but also foster teamwork and critical thinking. They can be adapted to various proficiency levels and can be used to focus on specific language skills as needed.

Eric Bennett