Phonics can help a person recognize more words, improve spelling, increase reading speed and comprehension, improve writing skills, help with pronunciation, and improve vocabulary. While a learner may still have to memorize the pronunciation and spelling of some words, he or she will be able to sound out many more on his/her own. Creating phonemic awareness should begin with the vowels: a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y. Students should work on the short vowel sounds before moving on to the long vowel sounds. These sounds are foundational for learning how to read English words. Then students can move on to consonants and consonant blends. Learning to read can boost one’s self-confidence and help a learner feel more comfortable when asked to read aloud. And phonics is not just for kindergarten and first grade students! American students and ESL (English as a Second Language) students, both young and old, can benefit from learning phonics. Flash games are a great way for one to get started learning phonics!