Games are usually thought of as some type of structured activity done for amusement and relaxation. However, language games have become an accepted, and in some schools a required, language teaching technique. If you peruse any modern English language conversation textbook you will find numerous games. However, most pedagogical works on TESL processes provide very little discussion on using games as teaching activities. Some language games can be used very successfully in large classes, while others fail miserably. While games are fun, they require serious and thoughtful preparation, and thorough set-up, in order to succeed. However, in compiling a potential working bibliography for this paper, I found no texts that addressed the use of games in large-sized classes. Therefore, this research paper will cover the following topics: (a) definitions and purposes of using games in language teaching; (b) problems encountered in using games in large classes; and (c) a step-by-step example of how to set up and conduct a successful classroom word game. The thesis statement for this paper is: Language games can be used as core activities in teaching large foreign language classes.
