Important things to consider when using games in the classroom
Choose suitable games (depending on the number of students, proficiency level, cultural context, timing, learning topic, and the classroom settings).
The way students perceive a game depends on the actual design and implementation of the game.
Give clear instructions, give clear rules and give clear time limits.
Rather demonstrate than explain.
There must be a clear purpose and achievable goals.
Clear objectives and goals must match the difficulty level of the game and ability level of the students.
Ensure that shy or quiet students are not alienated and have an opportunity to take part.
Debriefing, or the evaluation of results/ events in the game, is crucial to the game’s success.
It must still be fun, but still help the students to learn.
Games lower anxiety levels, are entertaining, educational and give students reason to use the target language. It is a natural way of learning and exposes students to real learning opportunities. “Games encourage, entertain, teach, and promote fluency. If not for any of these reasons, they should be used just because they help students see beauty in a foreign language and not just problems that at times seem overwhelming.' (Uberman, 1998)