Teaching English through Play: Then and Now

Abstract

In this present age of intercultural communication and social media, learning a second language has become of paramount importance to many students. English is perhaps the most demanded foreign language, and many teachers have found that one of the best ways to teach English is through the use of “play.” While play has been a component of teaching English as a foreign language for many years, teachers have had to adapt their use of play to keep up with the technological and cultural changes taking place in educational institutions throughout the world. This paper aims to examine how the use of “play” in teaching English as a foreign language has both developed and changed over the last 35-40 years, through a review of educational literature. Examples of the types of “play” studied include drama and digital play, and it is found that different types of play provide students with different arenas in which to learn English. A more thorough look at technological play and second language learning would complement the findings of this paper.