Games to Motivate Language Learning
Activities designed to make learning more fun not only keep the tedium away, but they also make it easier to absorb and retain information. In a language learning environment, games are an especially useful aid given the cumulative nature of foreign language learning. Use group and individual games to learn new words, review vocabulary and apply knowledge in the context of both written and spoken settings.
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Vocab Bingo
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For vocabulary bingo, give out cards with vocabulary words in one language while the caller calls the words in the other language. Cards can either be in English with foreign language calls, or vice versa. In fact, it's often a useful tactic to have students reading the foreign words when they are new, and then supplying the foreign words as they get more comfortable with them. For added motivation, award prizes with extra credit points or other class-related privileges.
Language Charades
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Combine the excitement of charades with an immersion language approach to teach language by deductive reasoning. When learning new vocabulary based on a set of related activities or circumstances, the instructor acts out the circumstances and narrates her actions. The instructor should use gestures and sound effects to give clues to the students as to what's going on. It's often helpful to write down new words even as they're acted out to show their meaning.
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Word Replacement
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Take short stories and replace instances of certain words with foreign language vocabulary. Do this consistently with all instances of three or four key words that are used many times in the story. Divide students up into teams to read the stories together and discuss the meanings of the words. Quiz the teams on individual words in a knowledge bowl-style competition after each story.
Crossword Puzzles
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Create crossword puzzles with clues in English as a means of helping students study vocabulary. Write the clues in English for beginning students and in the foreign language for more advanced students. Unlike group activities, this type of game can be assigned as homework or home practice. The quest for the correct answers to complete the puzzle will help create a high rate of retention.
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