[HUE]

It's definitely going to take time to get the students to realize that there are other (and better) ways to learn. And of course, some never will think that learning can be fun.

I agree that you should get involved in the games. However, the comfort zone of the students is quite low at this point, so perhaps some quieter, more creative activities will help. This will also help with the level of trust the class places in you. Get their trust, and you will be able to do any game any time.

Here are some ideas:

* Have students do worksheets in pairs. This will foster teamwork. To add a competitive element, time the class to see who finishes first, second, etc.

* Have students practice a dialogue. After practicing a few times, they will need to add appropriate gestures. Award points for correct use of gestures, or interesting gestures, etc.

* Interview BINGO works well, as it gets them out of their seats. If students want to seriously practice the language, they will. If students want to joke around a little in their L1, that's fine too (or at least, it is in your situation). The activity will allow students to be responsible for their learning.

I hope these ideas help.