“Let’s play a game!”
That’s what my sister says every Christmas.
But she never wants to play the games we all know: Monopoly, Risk, hearts, etc.
She always wants to play a new game.
“Oh, boy!” everyone thinks. “This is going to be fun!”
And we all rush to the kitchen table to have fun.
But then she starts to read the instructions.
“Oh no,” everyone thinks, “This isn’t fun at all.”
Soon we’re lost, confused, and bored.
The nieces check their phones.
The husbands pretend like they’re listening.
My other sister suddenly remembers she has to check to make sure the refridgerator is still working.
But because I’m the little brother and don’t I care, I say the truth, “This is boring: let’s just play!”
If I’m lucky, others agree and we start.
And guess what happens?
We learn the game!
We learn not by memorizing the instructions.
We learn by playing.
By trying, by watching,
And of course, by making mistakes.
The Game of English
Isn’t it the same with English?
When you go to a language school, they give you the instructions for the language (grammar rules) and they say, “Learn these before you speak.”
But does it work?
Or would you rather learn by playing?
We have a fun with the game Ticket to ride. We started to play and learnt the instruction on ongoing basis. It is important to play, to practice,,,
That’s one of the games my sister likes!
That’s perfect.., you are right Mr.Vig
Some years ago my daughter went with her family for one year to Brasil. My two grand children, 4 and 2 years old boys, went together with their parents. Nobody knew Poruguese. One day after their come back I at random heared my grand children plyaing together and talk each other fluently Portuguese. I was excellently surprised, and of course pretty glad. They learned by playing with another kids in Brasilia. Therefore I believed Mr. Vig what he initially said about his approach to teach English. Therfore I understand and believe what he is saying today again. Learning by doing. Exactly what about it said, and wrote J. A. Comenius 425 years ago_Learning by playing (doing). Thanks a lot, Ryan.
Comenius was a wise dude.
Donald Winnicot – British psychoanalyst ( he died in 1981) wrote book „Playing and Reality”, it is about learning through playing, it’s very popular psychoanalytic book, a little like introduction to psychoanalysis
definitely, i want to learn rather by playing,
that’s the reason, why i’m here:)
Superbe advice….although for some games ( bridge for example) you must first learn the basics…
Ι would rather learn English by playing. its more fun and you dont feel boring
Playng games may be usefully in some situations. I teach biology at school and somtimes l play games with my students to learn different things, for exemple how the animals adapt on the environment, how they win the competition and fight for existance; also my method is to drow and colour a lot in order to memorie and keep important things. Children like very much these and somtimes they are curioase and ask me ” what will we do the next class”?
“Would you rather learn by playing?” – Perhaps this could be a successful formula for progress.
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One of Einstein’s wisdom is: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” This sentence seems to support the idea of learning something by playing.
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Are double-meaning words also applicable in language learning by playing: for example, in English, where there are so many words with double meanings?
I agree that with the sames is with games. I learned to drive a car in very young ages. It was interesting. Regulations and drivers licenze came later… 🙂
Of course, learning by doing is a very old technique, and can be very interesting and fun. But sometimes it is nice to know the rules too
of course it is much easier to learn while having fun and playing rather than trying to remember grammar rules or constructions.
Definitely, I want to learn rather by playing. You are right mr. Vig
Yes, it’s perfect learn English by playing, , I want it…
Good story, good example
It’s a bit like I love learning how to use the computer properly. If I have to learn, memorize in- structions at the age of 64, I easily lose interest. I didn’t even see any at the Faculty of Art. My husband(MSc) could. As big as a room.😊I DO MAKE MISTAKES. Every day.😁
It enjoyed me a lot, I have the same member of our family as your sister is. But with English it is true.
You are so right, i enjoy to listen & raead you text or leson
Yes it’s true, mar V is the first who said that…I love your methodology, Thanksgiving
Learn with play is more easy than be in hard rules. Maybe your sister does not know easy and fair play but she wants to play with you. I have never played with monopoly and risk but I think this games are much more better than frige service. If I dont play monopoly, my frige will empty, so doesn’t matter how much celsius is inside.
Hi Ryan !
I like it !
O, YES. !
I would learn English by playing,but îs necessary to know some rules of grammar!
Thank you teacher !
Good story. Goo example
I will learn by playing 🤣
I have no idea how that can work:) I don’t like games, not even computer games. Just playing, I feel one emotion – when will it all end> I’m not happy when I win, I’m not sad when I lose. If I see that victory is very important to someone, I will lose it because it makes no difference to me. Other people’s emotions about the game are funny to me. Lithuania is a country of basketball, but it does not evoke any emotions for me personally. And anyway, fans of any sport seem stupid and funny to me.
The best is learn by playing.
All your lessons are pleasant and intereating. Thanks Mr.Vig.
I like to learn playng,of course.
Здравствуйте, хочу пройти курс обучения англииского.
Learn by playing gam is good
Nice story
I would rather learn by playing
Every day I play with my students. It takes me a lot of time to prepare these games. I am grateful to you Mr. Vig for your letters every day!
Playing with words is one of my favorite games. I hope one day I can do this in English. It’s a good idea, sure.
“What is mind ? Never matter. What is matter ? Never mind.’ (k. Popper, I think s-o. 🙂 🤗
The Game of English = learn by playing! I like it!
Thanks Mr Vig!
Fully agree! Just like learning to walk or learning to swim!