Four Reasons Why Games Are Great For Adults Learning a Language
Four Reasons Why Games Are Great For Adults Learning a Language
Four Reasons Why Games Are Great For Adults Learning a Language
As a teacher or trainer, you might worry that adult learners feel games that are childish and misinformed. Adult learners of a second language are usually highly motivated, but it doesn’t mean their time in class should be boring and only include traditional methods of teaching. Adult learners can have more inhibitions than children and may worry about making fools of themselves in front of their peers. Games that aren’t silly, and that have relevance to their learning can help adult learners of a second language.
Games Warm Up Adult Learners
Adults learners have a very different learning style than younger learners. Adults have often been out of school for a while and are out of the habit of studying. Adults usually have more to worry about than younger learners, and will be juggling housework, jobs, family, and finance alongside their studies.
Swapping to a language classroom can be daunting at times. You don’t need to spend a lot of time on warm-ups, depending on how long the class is. A few minutes is plenty. A quick language or learning something amusing to say, like saying what a hot look their new glasses for peering at the board are, can be enough.
Games Create Better Class Dynamics
When adults join language classes, they usually have a purpose. Each learner will come from a variety of different backgrounds and will have different reasons for wanting to improve their language skills. Like any situation where adults are placed together, there will be some uncertainty over the other members of the class. Adults are not as flexible as children and don’t tend to bond as quickly.
Games in the first few weeks are a great way to break the ice. It can also be a good way to gauge their levels of the language, which can then help you to tailor lessons to their needs later on. Games break barriers and make adult learners feel at ease, and set a precedent that games are acceptable in the language learning environment.
Games Aid Memorization
The older a learner is, the harder it is to recall vocabulary. Games are a fun way to practice, picture, and recall vocabulary and phrases, with much less effort than studying lists of translations.
Adult learners may be hesitant at first, but will soon welcome games to boost their learning as the results can be seen more quickly. Adult learners will soon see that bringing fun elements into a lesson helps their memory.
Games Provide Satisfaction and Motivation
Like any other learner, adults need to know that they are making progress. They have more in-depth reasons for choosing to learn a language, so usually have more motivation. When adults can clearly see the progress they’re making when they answer questions correctly under game circumstances, they feel as though they’re moving towards their goal. If their team is losing in a game, they’ll be even more motivated to learn next time. A bit of healthy competition in the classroom can be a good thing.