One of the best aspects of my job is the opportunity to use toys and educational games as tools for teaching English.
I really enjoy playing with my young students, noticing their concentration and the effort they put into doing their best and actively participating in the game.
But, what's even better is how easily they learn from play experiences. After a couple of times they've already acquired vocabulary and grammar structures without even noticing it!
One of my favorite educational games producer is Orchard Toys, a company based in Norfolk, UK.
Their games and puzzles are highly educational and at the same time really nice, creative and fun.
I personally had the opportunity of using 'The Shopping List': a memory game where each player has to fill his own shopping trolley with all of the items on his shopping list.
The items are drawn on little square cards, that have to be placed face down on the table. The first player turns over a card and if the item is on his shopping list then he can put it in his trolley. If not, the card must be placed face down again on the same place and the turn passes to the next player.
So, while you're trying to fill your trolley you can also review or introduce new vocabulary, some place prepositions like in and on, besides having your students 100% concentrated.
Orchard Toys really sells many products that, as they say, make learning fun.
I warmly recommend them!
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