Simple Ways to Teach Grammar through Games and Stories in ESL/EFL Classrooms

 Teaching grammar doesn’t have to be boring. Many teachers think grammar is hard to teach. But guess what? With fun games and short stories, your learners will enjoy learning grammar without fear or stress. This blog will show you simple and powerful ways to teach grammar in ESL/EFL classrooms especially for young learners in Rwanda, Africa, or anywhere in the world. Let’s make grammar fun, not frightening.

1. Teach Grammar with Simple Games

Games make learning active and fun. Instead of only writing or listening, learners move, talk, and laugh. Here are some easy games you can use in your classroom.

 Grammar Games to Try:

•  Grammar Bingo:

Create bingo cards with grammar items like verbs, tenses, or prepositions. Say the word or sentence, and learners find the right one.

👉 Learn how to make grammar bingo cards (British Council)

• Verb Charades:

Act out verbs like run, sleep, write, and let learners guess. Then ask them to make sentences using that verb.

• Past Tense Ball Toss:

Toss a soft ball to a student and say a verb. The student must say its past form (go – went, see – saw), then toss it to another student.

•  Sentence Race:

Divide the class into two teams. Say a grammar point like “present continuous.” Each team writes a sentence on the board. The fastest and correct team gets a point.

 2. Use Short Stories to Show Grammar Naturally

Stories are like magic for teaching grammar. Instead of giving grammar rules first, you let learners hear the grammar in use. This helps them understand how grammar works in real life.

How to Use Stories for Grammar:

•  Read Aloud Short Stories:
  Choose short stories with simple grammar. After reading, ask questions like:
  “What tense did the writer use?”
  “Can you find verbs or adjectives in the story?”

👉 Check out free short stories for ESL learners (ESL Fast)

• Grammar Hunt:
  Give learners a printed story and ask them to find grammar features:
• All past tense verbs
• All prepositions
• All adjectives
•  Story Retelling:
  Learners retell the story using another tense. For example, if the story is in the past tense, ask them to retell it in the present tense.
•  Create a Class Story:
  Let learners help create a story on the board. They choose the verbs and the characters. The teacher writes it, correcting grammar gently. This encourages confidence.

 3. Why Games and Stories Work So Well

•  Learners remember grammar better when they are having fun.
•  Games build teamwork and listening skills.
•  Stories improve reading and speaking.
•  Both reduce fear and anxiety in learning grammar.
• Learners start to use grammar naturally, not just memorize rules.

·         👉 Read why storytelling is powerful in education (Edutopia)

4. Tips for Rwandan Teachers and ESL/EFL Classrooms

•  Use local stories or folk tales. These are rich in simple language and are familiar to learners.
•  Translate complex grammar rules into Kinyarwanda first, then into English.
•  Use real classroom objects to teach prepositions (e.g., “The pen is on the table.”)
•  Involve learners in the story. Let them act, draw, or sing part of the story.

Make Grammar Fun Again

Grammar is part of every sentence. But learners don’t have to learn it in fear. Games and stories give them joy, confidence, and memory. As teachers, when we make grammar fun, our learners will love to learn and never forget what they’ve learned. So next time you plan your grammar lesson, ask yourself: “How can I make this grammar point fun today?”

Want More?

You can read other helpful blog posts like:

• Simple English Greetings Every Rwandan Teacher Should Use
• Master the English Alphabet and Pronunciation
•  20 Beginner English Sentences and How to Upgrade Them for Better Speaking