Abstract:   McCarthy (1990) argues that: "no matter how good a learner has command of  the grammar of a second language, regardless of his pronunciation as beautiful as the standard, if lacking sufficient vocabulary, the learner  will not be able to communicate successfully in a second language."(56) For  a better command of English, much attention must be paid to the teaching of English vocabulary. Recently, the new English Curriculum Criteria has put  higher requirements on vocabulary  learning and teaching.  Being  the stumbling block for many students , vocabulary learning results in the situation  that  many students lack motivation and interest for English learning. Meanwhile vocabulary teaching is also the most demanding part for many teachers. For many English teachers, in order to improve the quality of English teaching, how  to guide English learners to master vocabulary efficiently  is the point for future breakthrough . So vocabulary teaching should be given high priority.

     English classroom games can help Junior English learners  enhance their confidence for English learning, cultivate their ability to judge and to cooperate well and improve their language skills in a relaxed context. Thus using English classroom games is an effective approach to solve the problems in learners’ vocabulary learning. This paper  is focus on the application of  English Games Teaching Method in  junior English vocabulary teaching, including brief analysis of present situation of the English vocabulary teaching in junior high school and game-related concepts in detail. Based on the psychological and physiological characteristics of junior high school students and the content of English textbooks(PEP version,2013) ,the thesis mainly describes several specific ways of using games in vocabulary teaching under the guidance of many  advanced theories like theories of motivation .

Key words: classroom games; vocabulary teaching;  junior high school

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One     Introduction 4

1.1The current situation of English vocabulary teaching in junior high school4

1.2Research purpose4

1.3Significance of the study5

Chapter Two General concepts about classroom games6

2.1Definition of games6

2.2Types of games8

2.3Characteristics of games9

2.4Functions of games10

2.4.1Spuring students’ interest and motivation for English learning10

2.4.2Enhancing students’ confidence for English learning11

2.4.3Reducing students’ burden and fatigue on English learning11

2.4.4Improving the relationship between teachers and students, between students and students11

Chapter Three     Specific ways of using games in junior vocabulary teaching12

3.1Lucky wheel13

3.2Noah’s Ark13

3.3 Killing game14

3.4 Strange story telling15

3.5 Gambling16

3.6 Act out sayings17

Chapter Four     Conclusion19

Bibliography19