Ye Ran

05/12/2015
The title of the artifact: The board game
Context: student teaching

Source: http://www.teach-this.com/

The description of the artifact

Above is a fun board game for students to practice asking and answering questions
using adverbs of frequency. Students can play in groups of four. The players move
their counter around the board. When a player lands on a question square, the student
to their right asks them a How often do you..? question. The player must then try to
answer the question appropriately using an adverb of frequency. If they do this
successfully, they stay on the square. If they make a mistake, they must go back to
their previous square. The first player who reaches the finish is the winner.

Explanation of what new ideas, information, or awareness came from this

artifact.
There is a misconception that all learning should be serious and solemn. Actually,
learning language also could be amusing and interesting by using appropriate games.
Krashen (2003) believes that the learners anxiety, lack of motivation and negative
attitude blocks incoming messages to reach the language acquisition device. However,
Games are good motivations in class; even shy students can be engaged in games.
The relaxed atmosphere which is created by using games successfully lower students
affective filters. In addition, while students are playing the game, they are applying all
four language skills. In other words, games can promote their communicative
competence. According to Larsen-Freeman and Anderson (2001), the goal of teachers
who use communicative language teaching method is to help students communicate in
the target language. Students are exposed in an authentic and natural communicative
situation when they play games. Finally they are able to interact with each other in the
target language.

Reflection on how this will impact your approach to teaching and learning.
Most students love games, especially young learners and the board game could be
easily adjusted for students age, level and needs. So, I will use and revise the board

game for my students in the future. The board game will be used in different kinds of
teaching topics. For instance, board game will be applied in grammar class. The topic
could be about past tense talk, if-clause, wh-questions, and so on. Also, it can be
implemented in pronunciation, communication, and vocabulary class.

Krashen, S. (2003). Explorations in Language Acquisition and Use. Portsmouth : Heinemann.

Anderson, M & Larsen-freeman, D. (2011). Techniques & principles in Language Teaching. New
York, NY: Oxford University Press.