THE ROLE OF GAME EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING

• Людмила Ясногурська

  РДГУ

The article is devoted to game educational technologies and their application in foreign language lessons. The functions and value of game forms of learning in the educational process in a foreign language are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the classification of language games. Based on the analysis of existing classifications, the authors propose their own classification emphasizing on creative and role-playing games in foreign language lessons. It is noted that games have a positive effect on the formation of cognitive interests of students, help to consciously learn a foreign language and promote the development of such qualities as independence, initiative, and ability to work in a team.

It is noted that game technologies possess a special place in primary schools. The main task is to make the learning process interesting, to create a cheerful working mood in children, to facilitate overcoming difficulties in mastering educational material. Games are a great help in solving these issues. Their use gives good results, increases children's interest in the lesson, allows them to focus on the main thing – mastering language skills in a natural situation and provides active communication during the game.

The author of the article emphasize that play, being the main activity of a child, allows to overcome most of the difficulties associated with the conditional nature of foreign language communication and increases the positive influence of a foreign language on the formation of personality. A large number of game situations, fairy-tale plots create an atmosphere of joy, creativity, a favorable psychological climate in the classroom. The use of the game as one of the methods of learning a foreign language greatly facilitates the learning process, makes it closer and more accessible to children. Motivation of game activity is provided by its voluntariness, possibilities of a choice and elements of competition, satisfaction of needs, self-affirmation, and self-realization.

The article emphasizes that one of the current problems of modern methods of teaching foreign languages is the organization of children’s education of different ages with the help of game technologies. Games with the language material are introduced formally for educational purposes and serve both to consolidate structures and grammatical rules and to automate certain language skills. The purpose of the game and its course can be easily planned in advance and clearly explained. It is suitable for educational purposes in traditional classes.

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