The Importance of Using Language Games in Teaching/Learning Vocabulary for EFL Middle School Learners in Algeria

Abstract

Acquiring the vocabulary of a new language is the fundamental key to facilitate its learning. In Algeria, acquiring the vocabulary of English language starts from middle school where students are being taught English as a foreign language. This process of learning is done by two methods: traditional methods such as memorizing new words and translating words into mother tongue, and using language games as a creative method to teach vocabulary. The focus of this study was to find out the importance of language games in acquiring vocabulary when learning English as a foreign language (EFL) in the Algerian Middle Schools. In this respect, a descriptive research was conducted by distributing an online questionnaire for EFL Algerian Middle School teachers who were randomly chosen. This questionnaire was composed of two parts: the first part collected the personal information about the participants (age, gender, experience, etc.). The second part was composed of 14 questions devoted to explore and investigate to which extent Algerian EFL teachers are using language games in their classes to teach vocabulary, and how effective they see language games as a better means to teach new words for Algerian Middle School EFL student rather than using traditional methods. In addition, to how extent the use of languages games is effective to motivate EFL students and to create the best atmosphere to teach them vocabulary and other materials? Results of this study confirms the importance of using language games to teach vocabulary for Algerian EFL Middle School students, and proves the effectiveness of using language games to motivate and encourage students to be a vivid part of the learning process.