WORKSHOP: USING BOARD-GAMES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAININGS

"<< Background >>For over 15 years we have been developing non-formal teaching methods with the aim to improve students' key competencies. We have been developing language games for over 7 years. We wanted to become a part of a community of teachers in Europe who are also using non-formal methods in the lessons. We found that the foreign language teachers need to be supported by new methods.During this project, we planned to make our impact and support the teachers community. We were interested in exchanging experience in this area and wanted to get an overview of how our colleagues in Europe use board games to teach foreign languages and get high-quality feedback about our games and methods. This project is the first part of our big plan. Board games are just one of the methods in the non-formal approach in the teaching of foreign languages. In addition, there are various other methods: impro theater, energizers, ""freeride"" games (games for free-flowing communication), outside games, language cafes, online games, etc. We planned to expand the network of cooperation and continue meetings with partners, focusing on various aspects of non-formal foreign language teaching.<< Objectives >> Our big goal of the project was to support the community of the foreign language teachers, using non-formal methods of education, including board games We also had additional goals. We wanted to exchange experience with partners in the field of teaching foreign languages using board games. During the meeting, the project participants had to share their experience and improve their teaching skills and games. Since the game is one of the components of non-formal learning, through the project we wanted to increase the popularity of the non-formal approach in teaching languages in Europe. At one of the workshops, teachers had to see how to create educational games using simple tools. As part of the project, it was important for us to share the experience of colleagues and their recommendations with the help of training videos. These instructional videos will inspire language teachers for years to come!<< Implementation >>1 Activity (Kick off meeting). For better synchronization with our partners we organized preliminary online meetings.2 Activity (Workshop in Tallinn) We wanted to make our workshops as practical as possible and the participants would be maximally included in the workflow. 3 Activity (Toolfair in Tallinn)Toolfair was an open event for foreign language teachers.4 Activity (Production of the video materials) In these videos, experts shared experience in using tabletop games and gave recommendations on how to use them whilst working with pupils.5 Activity Details (Follow up meeting) During the follow up meeting we discussed with partners, evaluated outcomes and process of cooperation during whole project.6 Activity (Project management)- Planning and organizing all the work processes connected with the project- Coordinating communications between partners, peraring kick of and follow up meetings,booking: travel, accommodation, venue, dining. Keeping project books and documentation. - Feedback and reporting7 *Additional activity: Online workshop and Facebook group ""Language Learning Games”In order to increase efficiency within this project and budget, we decided to organize additional activity. << Results >>After a preparatory work in online, we met with board game experts in Tallinn for the main activities: workshop, toolfair and videos recording about how to use board games to teach foreign languages.We have assembled an excellent team of enthusiastic specialists. Many of them brought unique handmade games.Experts took part in the closed workshop, sharing their experience with each other, improving their skills and games. This was followed by an open event for local teachers of foreign languages, where more than 60 teachers came to learn how to use board games in their practice. The meeting of our guests with local teachers was warm and fruitful.On the last day of the project, we invited the experts to the studio, where we recorded their recommendations on video. Thanks to this, everyone can now get inspiration and ideas on how to use educational board games https://gamekeskus.ee/kursused/board-games/In addition to the planned activities, we also created a group on Facebook and held an online workshop ""Using board-games in foreign language trainings"", in which more than 140 teachers from different European countries took part."