Life going into the 2020s seemed to have influenced everybody from every walk of life. It’s as if it left a lull in the atmosphere, rendering us all amazed yet confused wondering what just happened. If you are an educationalist, a teacher, a trainer, a tutor or even a mentor and you still feel like this then it’s time to help you reverse the situation and get your show back on the road again. Because of the pandemic, everything has been pushed back and life has heaped up and this includes even our education system. To many it looks like an impossible mountain to conquer, to get everyone back to where they should be – both teachers and students specifically feel the pressure of this.

The aim of this book is not only to equip you with games to brighten and enhance your teaching ability but it specifically is there to inject that energy into your classes which is much needed during this post-pandemic era. Motivation plays a vital role, both for the teacher and the student so that we can move forward quicker, with a good heart and with a fun, energetic and hopeful attitude. It’s time to dust off the past and catapult ourselves as teachers and students into a newly, creatively inspired future.

From the moment we landed in Asia in 1998, we were immediately introduced to the challenging world of teaching English as a foreign language. Right from the word ‘go’ the message was clear: be energetic, speak only English and always play games! A whole new world opened to us and, where we previously stood in front of stuffy classrooms, desperately trying to hold the attention of our students, we were now empowered to motivate, educate and entertain them in a fun and flamboyant way. So, here we are, 25 years on and every class of ours, whether live or online, is still filled with energy, games and activities because we know, it guarantees that our students not only learn the language but they do it in a fun and long-lasting way.  

Welcome to the wonderful world of classroom games where you’ll be entering into the privileged position of taking your teaching ability to a brand new level. Again, it’s not just about the games but it incorporates everything that surrounds them and this includes your energy, your attitude, your ability, your creativity and your passion. Now, we can hear many of you saying, ‘But I don’t feel riled up and passionate about teaching my classes.’ Here’s your first bit of homework before we even start with the games: FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT! That’s right. It doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in, everybody at some or other stage goes through this despondent phase. As an introvert who has taught kindergarten children for more than two decades and was never that passionate about teaching, I quickly learnt to do this. This means anybody and I mean anybody can do it.

Don’t mistake playing games in your classroom solely as a way to teach your children. The games are there for you as the teacher as well. It’s the perfect ‘scene changer’ especially when you arrive at that tedious spot in the lesson where you and your students need a rapid change of pace. You’ll see that games and activities not only create a whole new vibe in your class but you too will get a mini ‘lease on life’ which makes the whole ‘fake it till you make it’ moment much easier to sustain.

By using games you will not only allow your children to understand certain concepts but they will be learning through repetition as well. Also, you will be encouraging them to think on various levels. This means that their perception will constantly be challenged while they improve not only their language skills but their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, creativity, teamwork, critical thinking and level of sportsmanship as well.

Playing energetic games in the classroom allows young children who struggle to sit quietly for long periods of time, to blow off steam and actively take part in a fun activity. Games have the ability to grab and hold the attention of students, improving their concentration span, allowing them to remain focused and involved for longer periods of time.

So, with that being said, know that this book is entirely about games in the classroom and your role on how to sustain the energy, fun and motivation you need to pull it off. You won’t be learning about how to teach certain material or how to apply disciplinary rules but you will find out how to keep your students involved and interested in your classes. The way you present yourself while using games as a teaching tool will undoubtedly take your ability as teacher to the next level. You will find that by using games, you are enabling the student to use their visual and auditory senses while enhancing their speaking ability, which ensures longevity in the retention of the material they are being taught.