LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 16:10 October 2016
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Collaborative Learning through Language Games in ESL Classroom

Sujay Kumar Saha & Dr. Smriti Singh

Abstract

Today's students would become tomorrow's successful leaders. So they must develop 21st-century collaboration skills. Collaborative learning is the most efficient way to help students to attain these skills. Methods and approaches are changing day by day according to learners' need in the field of Teaching English as Second Language from traditional to communicative one. Nowadays collaborative learning approach is of increasing interest to English Language teachers. Collaborative learning can occur in the contemporary discussions of a small group, problem-solving activities, and face-to-face & virtual game settings. Collaborative learning through language games aims at developing collaborative skills, while also maintaining the individuality of learners. The target of collaborative learning is shifting from a mere teacher-student interaction to the role of peer relationship (Johnson, 1981) and implies learner-centered instruction. This paper tries to highlight how collaborating learning can be implemented in English as Second language classroom through language games. Language games provide context for learning and make it interesting for learners. The variety and intensity that games offer may lower anxiety (Richard-Amato, 1988) and encourage shyer students to take part (Uberman, 1998), especially when games are played in small groups. Language games help the learners not only to attain collaboration skills but also to develop language skills.

Keywords: Collaborative Learning, Language Games, Language skills.

Introduction

Language learning is hard work. The effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over an extended period. As we need meaningfulness in language learning and authentic use of the language, it is useful to follow and create many different techniques and procedures. These techniques have been transforming themselves from traditional to communicative one. Nowadays, collaborative learning approach is of increasing interest to English Language teachers. Collaborative learning is the most efficient way to help students attain collaborative skills to become a successful leader in the future while also maintaining the individuality of learners. Collaborative learning is shifting its aim from teacher-student interactions to the student to student interactions. Collaborative learning can occur in the contemporary discussions of a small group, problem-solving activities and face-to-face and virtual game settings. These games and especially language games are most suitable for teachers to use in ESL classroom. The author tries to look into theoretical perspectives of collaborative learning and games for language learning to highlight how collaborative learning can be implemented in ESL classroom through language games. Language games provide the context for learning and make it interesting for learners. Different kinds of games played in small groups help to lower anxiety level of the students and encourage shy learners to participate in it. Language games may help the learners not only to develop language skills but also to attain collaboration skills like active listening, respect, manners, positive attitude, and social awareness.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Sujay Kumar Saha
Ph.D. Scholar in English
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology
Patna 801103
Bihar
India
sujay.phs15@iitp.ac.in
sujoy.eflu@gmail.com

Dr. Smriti Singh
Associate Professor of English
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology
Patna 801103
Bihar
India
smriti@iitp.ac.in
smritichotu@gmail.com
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