9 online games for English learners
Altiné MoumouniI found that one of the best ways to learn English effectively is to make it fun. Combining listening to podcasts and playing games generally leads to better learning.
If you are tired of the same old study materials and looking for a fun way to improve your English, why not try online games designed for English learners? They can be an excellent alternative to traditional learning methods.
Like language-learning chatbot apps, playing games can help you remember vocabulary, improve your listening, and even enhance your writing abilities. Here are the 9 best online games for English learners
1 Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee
When playing Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee, you will hear the recording of the word and see its definition, with words appropriately omitted. During the games, you will guess its proper spelling; the more words you correctly spell, the higher your score will go.
I like that the Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee game comes with statistics, which motivates most English learners to challenge themselves to become fluent. If you are an advanced English learner, I encourage you to try this game.
2 Wordshake
Wordshake game provides 16 random letters and three minutes to compose a word. You need to use the 16 provided words to compose as many English words as possible to get points.
If you like playing Scrabble, I suggest you try the Wordshake game. Playing this game is an excellent way for beginners and advanced English learners to improve their vocabulary.
3 Scrabble Online
If you are looking for a fun way to expand or test your vocabulary, try Scrabble Online. To play Scrabble games, start by choosing the difficulty level, compose your first word on the board, and ensure it hits the center space.
Scrabble Online is similar to the popular board game, but the good news is that you can now play with a friend, another virtual player, or a computer.
4 Ba Ba Dum
If you are a fan of interactive graphics and simple gameplay, Ba Ba Dum is an excellent option for you to try. You can learn over 1500 English vocabulary words divided into five different game types, which will help improve your spelling and pronunciation skills.
Each game focuses on matching the word with the correct visual representation or its written form, which also enhances your recognition and memory skills.
I like that Ba Ba Dum is completely free and does not require registration. It is available in multiple languages, making it an excellent choice for learners from various linguistic backgrounds.
5 Digital Dialects
Digital Dialects covers a wide range of English language learning topics, from simple vocabulary to verb conjugation. You just need to select from multiple-choice quizzes, matching games, and word-search puzzles to practice listening, reading, and writing skills.
The website offers games at various difficulty levels, making it ideal for English learners at any stage.
What I like about Digital Dialects is that it provides learning games and resources in other languages, expanding your educational horizons. I actually use it to help me improve my Chinese vocabulary.
6 ESL Games World
If you are looking for an all-in-one website catering to beginner and intermediate English learners, I suggest you check out ESL Games World.
You can practice your English skills through various games like quizzes, puzzles, hangman, and even memory games.
ESL Games World even offers printable PDFs if you prefer offline activities, making it a perfect game suitable to your learning preferences and English level.
7 Human Brain Cloud
Human Brain Cloud is popularly known as a very simple, massively multiplayer word association game.
When playing Human Brain Cloud, you will be provided random words, and your goal is to compose words, expressions, or even sentences that relate to the words you get.
There are no right or wrong answers, and the program takes your answers and adds them to the association bank.
8 Vocabulary.com
At the heart of the English language lies an endless vocabulary waiting to be discovered. I believe Vocabulary.com to be an excellent online game for English learners to expand their word bank while having fun.
I generally recommend my students use Vocabulary.com, particularly if they like playing Scrabble Online, as it is a fun way to learn new words.
I also like that Vocabulary.com has a personalized dashboard to help you track your learning progress and help identify the words you need to improve.
9 ESL Crossword Puzzles
If you are an avid reader looking to test your reading comprehension and vocabulary skills, I encourage you to try ESL Crossword Puzzles.
With ESL Crossword Puzzles, you can challenge yourself with word problems especially designed for English language learners.
I like that their website offers various crossword puzzles in different difficulty levels and themes, which makes it great for students of all skill levels.
Final thoughts
Overall, online games allow English learners to practice language in fun, interactive environments that cater to various learning preferences. I encourage you to try out these online games and immerse yourself in the English learning journey. With perseverance and dedication, I believe you will soon notice a difference in your confidence in speaking English.