Usage of Simulations and Language Games in ESL Classes

Abstract

As we all know that the need to access information continues to grow exponentially and institutions cannot remain as mere venues for the transmission of a prescribed set of syllabus from teacher to student over a fixed period of time, rather they must promote the acquisition of knowledge and skills as a continuous process throughout life span. It has been rightly said by a futurist, „The illiterate of the 21st century ―Will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn & relearn‟. Hence, the traditional lock-step approach to language teaching is rapidly becoming inadequate in modem teaching-learning process (Lee: 1965). It‟s a recent mandatory call that once unidirectional teaching methodology must be transformed to two way learning process and learner centered as well.

This is possible only with interactive classes. But even today ESL learners‟ reluctance to speak English in the classroom is a problem found in almost every language learning environment. Many students are afraid to communicate in English for fear of committing mistakes and in turn getting laughed at by their peers.