Motivation in Teaching Through Games

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  Introduction

This research paper explored the relationship between motivation and language learning

through games and how it affects students. In addition, it pointed out the common types of

motivation that students have in this context. Moreover, this research investigated about

games and how each one affected the students’ learning. Motivation is considered as one of

the most important elements in learning any language regardless of the place, time and

teachers. Moreover, motivation plays a significant role in the process of learning where

motivated students try to search and update themselves unlike those who are not.

Unmotivated students depend completely on the teachers where sometimes self-education is

needed. Thus, motivation can be adopted as an internal process or feeling that guides the

person’s acts and thinking. For some, motivation can be adopted by external factors such as

teachers and family. Therefore, there are several types of motivation however, this research

spotlights on how motivation increases when teaching through games.

 Statement of the problem

The researcher notices how some students are willing to engage and pay attention when

teaching through games. Thus, to what extent does games motivate and influence learners

and are there another factor affect students’ learning. Therefore, there was a need to

investigate the factors of motivation when teaching.

 Research question

How does teaching through games affect motivation in learning?

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  Hypothesis
Teaching through games increases motivation more than traditional means of
teaching.

 Research outline

• Teaching and learner methods/strategy

The methodology is one component of the curriculum. In the current section a literature review is

provided about the most common types of teaching method. The methods included cover both

the old, as well as the modern methods of teaching.

Grammar Translation Method:

According to TJ Taylor Blog (n.d), GTM, which is also known as the Classical Method is one of

the oldest teaching methods that have been used for years. It was firstly used during the 16th to

the mid-201th century while teaching Latin and Greek languages. By the mid 19th century, GTM

was mainly used by scholars such as Karl Plötz and Johann Seidenstücker. GTM’s main aim was

to focus purely on the translation of texts, their grammar, as well as their vocabulary.

Audio-Lingual Method

The audio-lingual method, also known as the Army Method was first developed during the

1950’s and 1960’s, which was during World War II. This was because people in the army had to

become proficient in their enemy’s languages in a quick manner. ALM’s main focus was on the

acquisition of structures and patterns in everyday language instead of the actual understanding of

each word separately.

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Structural Method

According to Linguistikid (n.d), the structural method is “the arrangement of words in such a

way as to form a suitable pattern of sentence.” SM focuses on content words depending on how

useful they are, their simplicity, as well as their teachability.

Task-Based Learning

One of the most famous modern teaching methods is the Task based method. It was firstly

established by Prabhu in 1987 in India. He claimed that students are more likely to learn when

they are focusing on the task rather than on the language itself. The teaching process is done

through communicational tasks by placing the learner in real-life situations.

Communicative Language Teaching

Communicative teaching was developed as a backlash to traditional teaching methods such as

memorization and grammar-centered methods. It developed during the 20th century when second

language educators tried to find new and effective ways of teaching. The ideas were firstly

introduced in the 1960’s and continued to develop in the 1980’s. CLT mainly focuses on the act

of communication as a method of instruction.

Collaborative Teaching

Collaborative teaching is a method that has been developed during the 20th century when

research showed its efficiency when students learned faster and better when they work together

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instead of only learning from their teachers. CT happens when students are grouped to work

together towards a common academic goal.

• Motivation

Motivation in the process of language learning has a strong control on students while learning.

Therefore, it becomes obvious for teachers inside the classrooms to recognize motivated students

and that is through their attitudes in the classrooms. For example, motivated students try their

best to benefit from the teachers and classmates as well as taking notes. Besides remembering the

lesson and what did the teachers explain in the previous class unlike those students who are not

motivated. All these positive attitudes reflect significantly on the student’s level by enhancing

their English and comprehending the input quickly.

• Games in teaching and motivation

Communicative language teaching is an effective method as it focuses on interacting and

engaging the students throughout the learning process. It does not only teach them about the

language, but how to use it in terms of communicating in everyday situations. Instead of making

students rely on memory and repetition, we aim to put students in real life stimulations where

with every situation, the outcome is different depending on the student’s reactions and responses.

In addition, the communicative approach is highly beneficial as it helps with their motivation to

learn. This is mainly because students would realize the importance of learning how to

communicate through language use and would be able to use these skills outside class.

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Methodology:

Context

the context used in this research was the elementary school, specifically 4th grade.

Participants

The overall sample included 15 female students in the 4th grade, as well as the English language
teacher who was later on interviewed.

Research procedure

The research procedure is an explanation of the research design method. The study mainly
assesses the process in which students are motivated to learn through the use of games and analyzes how
it is used. This was achieved as the sample of students were chosen and were visited 4 times in order for
them to fully understand the game process and rules. Moreover, on the last visit, the course instructor
visited the classroom to foresee the teaching games and activities.

Game:

A variety of different activities and games were used to help with teaching motivated. This
included balloons that carried letters, naming the color of each ball, and memorizing and reciting different
songs. These activities played a vital role in increasing the students’ motivation to learn. Mostly as it
involved team work, critical thinking, and communication skills which is greatly different and more
interactive than traditional classroom teaching.

Teacher:

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In order to complete the research study effectively, an interview was conducted with the class room
teacher where she had to answer, in addition to a questionnaire that the teacher needed to fill out which
consisted of her personal information such as age and years of experience in teaching, and also getting her
feedback as well as opinion on the effectiveness of the experiment that was done on the students.

Interview questions:

1- What has been the most effective teaching method that motivates students to learn?

2- What is the relationship between motivation and learning?

3- What type of games do students enjoy?

4- Do students learn better through games or traditional lessons?

5- Why do games play a role in learning?

Questionnaire:

1- Teaching English language via BB helps to enhance learner autonomy:

a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly disagree

2- Please choose your age group:

a. 20-30
b. 30-40
c. 40-50
d. 50-60

3- Teaching experience (in years):

a. Less than 5 years

b. 5-10 years
c. 10-20 years

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 d. More than 20 years

4- Are you satisfied with the result of our experiment with your students?

5- Did the performance of your students increase after the experiment of teaching with games?

6- Are you for practicing these games with your students in the future?

Data analysis and results

Qualitative:

The games that were used throughout the experiment were quite effective. Each game used had a different

benefit and outcome for the students including learning as well as recognizing the names of different

colors, alphabetical letters, body parts, numbers, names of animals, as well as different vocabulary words.

Moreover, after the experiment the positive effect was still ongoing as students seemed to be more

motivated to learn, more interactive, and most of all they developed the ability to grasp and learn from the

information quickly.

Quantitative:

the effectiveness of the experiment was shown when the percentage of students that were positively

affected by the experiment compared to students who were not was relatively 90% were greatly affected

and only 10% were half way effected.

Discussion

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This research aimed to explore how the use of games in teaching plays a key role motivation in language

learning and which factors affect that motivation. After investigations, it seems that no one can deny the

effectiveness of the games and how they attracted students to learn, and how it is a key to achieve the

competence in a language. Achievements and success are associated with motivation regardless of the

types of motivation. However, motivation rate can go up and down depending of on many external factors

such as teachers and society. Thus, schools have to pay attention to this point and hire qualified teachers

and encouraging atmosphere. Ultimately, the research hypothesis was proven to be true as teaching

through games did indeed increase motivation in learning unlike traditional means of teaching.

Game Description Benefit

Color Balls The students are required to Learn and recognize the
recognize and say the color of name of different colors
the ball, then he/she puts the
ball in its required place or
basket.

Letter Balloons Each balloon has a letter Learn and recognize the
attached to it, the student is name of different letters
required to recognize and utter
the letter, in which they will
receive the balloon as a reward
for giving the right answer.
Song #1 Student is required to Learn and memorize the
memorize as well as name of different body
understand the lyrics of the parts
song in which it will name
body parts.
Song #2 Student is required to Learn and memorize the
memorize as well as name of different family
understand the lyrics of the members
song in which it will name
family members.

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 Numbers Students are separated into Number recognition
groups; the teacher writes a
number on the board and the
first student that recognizes the
number and says it out loud is
the winner.
Vocabulary Student is required to Learn different vocabulary
recognize and understand words
different vocabulary words by
matching them to their photos

Interview questions:

6- What has been the most effective teaching method that motivates students to learn?

7- What is the relationship between motivation and learning?

8- What type of games do students enjoy?

9- Do students learn better through games or traditional lessons?

10- Why do games play a role in learning?

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Summary of results:

Children can learn using a variety of ways. However, according to the results of the study, some
means can be more effective than others. The following could be the most effective; songs, vocabulary,
and numbers. Songs can be the most effective. This is because they are entertaining and can be sung
while playing and involves several children. When learning while playing can be enjoyable for children.
The ability of a child to learn something while playing is high. Learning while memorizing a song is useful
to children, especially those in lower grades, and can also be effective in children in higher grades. The
use of vocabulary to match photos is a useful tool for making children learn the language easier and
faster. Students can relate the name of an object to a particular photo. Whenever they see the photo,
the name of the object or item comes to their mind. The photo provokes the brain of a child to
remember something easily and faster by associating it with the photo.

Numbers, just like songs, involve several children. These children have to be grouped together,
and the teacher can write something on the board, and the first to give the collect name is made the
winner. By so doing, children would strike to be winners, and this would make them do all they can to
ensure that the next time they will be able to remember as many things written by the teacher on the
board to be the winners. The spirit of competition and desire to achieve better results than their friends
is cultivated, and the child will always aspire to be the best.

Importance of using games in teaching:

From the study it was evident that games can be an essential tool for students to learn and memorize
things more comfortable and faster while compared to other means; as a result, the following are the
benefits of using games in learning;

i. Breaking the class monotony

Leaning was scheduled to take place in classrooms. This has been the tradition for decades. However,
with the current changes and demanding life, children can quickly develop anxiety. Games help children
forget all difficult issues since they have the capacity to involve a child fully. As a result, when they do
what they like doing best, it becomes easy for them to understand while they play, memorize, and stick
in their heads. That is something that learning in classrooms could not offer.

ii. Games enhance motivation

In most scenarios, games involve many children who compete to attain a particular goal. Those who are
able to develop a feeling of accomplishment and become motivated to do better next time. Other
students are also motivated to beat the one who had emerged as the winner. By so doing, learning
becomes easy as there is an inner drive to perform and to be better than others. In a classroom,
students easy lose focus become absent-minded as since the classroom environment does not keep
them fully engaged. As a result, the desire to perform better is not there.

iii. Games allow students to set goals and work towards achieving them

Learning by use of games set objectives for all the students involved to accomplish to emerge the
winner. Due to this, a student will do all it takes for them to achieve the set goals. Games should be

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encouraged more not only for learning purposes but also for physical wellness and development of skills
and talents.

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References

Student-Centered Learning. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.edglossary.org/student-centered-

learning/

Banejeree, R. (2012). Bright Hub Education: The Origins of Collaborative Learning. Retrieved from

https://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/69716-origins-and-brief-history-of-

collaborative-learning-theories/

Kibbe, C. (2017) The History of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and its Use in the
Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.usma.edu/cfe/Literature/Kibbe_17.pdf

Linguistikid. (n.d). What is Structural Approach. Retrieved from

https://www.linguistikid.com/2017/02/what-is-structural-approach.html

TJ Taylor Blog. Direct and Grammar Translation Methods. (n.d). Retrieved from

https://blog.tjtaylor.net/method-direct-grammar/

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