Games in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Primary Schools: The Case of Benin Context

Language learning for primary school learners is an important step in the process of becoming language learners, language users and proficient communicators. Educators cannot ignore the usefulness of language skills acquisition from an early age. English as a foreign language (EFL) would be well learned, acquired and used by primary students if game-based tasks were included and promoted in day-to-day English class practices. This work discusses the effect of using games and fun activities on the students’ EFL learning in primary schools. The study utilized a quantitative descriptive research design, and the designed questionnaires were administered to 341 primary EFL students and to 10 EFL teachers. Furthermore, class observations have been carried out in 6 primary schools. Findings revealed a positive aspect of using games in language learning process especially in primary schools for its positive effect on students’ proficiency and achievement. EFL teachers’ agreement and experiences about the contribution of games in primary schools were also revealed from these data. Findings also show that using games in EFL class in primary school is the best way that helps students build their confidence in the target language. So as to encourage the effectiveness of using games in the process of EFL learning in primary schools, a number of recommendations were made in the study which include the establishment of an environment—physical, psychological, and intellectual—through restructuring of the learning materials and environment, thus, enabling all primary students to act and react productively.