Leveling Up English Learning: Using Games to Master Subject and Object Pronouns in ESL

Learning English can be an exciting journey, especially when it involves immersive and engaging activities. One fundamental aspect of English grammar that ESL (English as a Second Language) students often grapple with is understanding subject and object pronouns. These pronouns form the backbone of English sentences, and mastering them is essential for effective communication. While traditional methods of teaching grammar can sometimes feel dry and tedious, incorporating games into ESL lessons can transform the learning experience into something fun and memorable. In this blog post, we'll explore how games can be powerful tools for teaching subject and object pronouns to ESL students.

The Power of Play in Language Learning

Games have long been recognized as effective educational tools. They offer a dynamic and interactive environment where students can actively engage with the material, making learning both enjoyable and effective. When it comes to language learning, games provide opportunities for practice, repetition, and application in a low-pressure setting. Moreover, they appeal to different learning styles and preferences, catering to both visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Subject Pronouns Sorting Activity

Here is how you implement this activity in your ESL classroom:

TO MAKE: use Canva or Powerpoint to make the noun cards and the Pronoun sheets to put them on/sort them onto. I did this as a spring theme, since that's where we are in the year at the moment, but I've also done it for Halloween and Christmas!

1. Print the Pronoun cards (in this case the butterfly bush papers) and the noun phrase cards (in this case, butterflies).

2. Cut out the noun phrase cards

3. On the BLANK cards, write the names of 7 students. You will give these students the cards. ONLY these students should be putting anything in the “I” pronoun bush. For the rest of the cards, distribute them out evenly among your class.

4. Spread the Pronoun Cards (butterfly bush papers) around the room and point out to students where each one is.

5. Send students around the room, with their noun phrase cards (butterflies) in hand, searching for the correct pronoun bush.

6. Circulate and check in on student progress as they work. You can point out errors and redistribute the incorrect ones to students as needed.

My students loved the adorable butterfly theme as well as getting to discuss and debate which butterfly should go with which subject pronoun. They got quite animated and had a great time! You can make this game (recommend using Canva) for ANY season or holiday and then also talk about the objects and seasonal vocabulary with your MLs.

Pronoun Treasure Hunt

For teaching pronouns, a "Treasure Hunt" game can be both engaging and educational. In this game, students are given a list of sentences with missing subject or object pronouns. Hidden around the classroom are cards with pronouns written on them. Students work individually or in pairs to find the correct object pronoun cards and match them to the sentences. The first team to correctly complete all the sentences wins the treasure! This game encourages students to actively search for the correct pronouns while reinforcing their understanding of pronoun usage in context.

Online Interactive Quizzes & Games

In addition to physical games, online interactive quizzes and activities can provide valuable reinforcement and assessment. Platforms like Kahoot!, Quizizz, or even custom-made quizzes on learning management systems allow teachers to create engaging quizzes tailored to their students' needs. These quizzes can include multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and drag-and-drop activities to test students' knowledge of subject and object pronouns in a fun and interactive way. Here is an example of a BOOM deck that I made with a Spring / Easter theme to help students practice subject and object pronouns.

Color by Code

OK, so this isn't really a game, per say, but it's also not just your everyday fill-in-the-blank worksheet. Color by Code activities are a way to make something tedious--like pronoun usage--more fun and engaging. Using color and art is a research-backed way to improve content retention, so why not infuse it into your ESL classroom?

I make my own Color by Code worksheets, but I'll be honest, they are labor intensive. It's probably worth simply buying some on Teachers Pay Teachers unless you're really proficient with using Canva. You can make or buy seasonal ones like these Thanksgiving and St. Patrick's Day examples I've included here. This helps assess your students on multiple parts of speech at the same time OR you can make one that is solely for pronouns.