Foreign Language Vocabulary Activities (The Barrier)

I try to find new ways to use these materials beyond their original intended purpose before giving up on them.  One such activity is the Memory or Concentration game that always seems to be on a shelf somewhere in the classroom.

In this variation two students sit facing each other and place a barrier such a book between each other so that each one can’t see the tabletop area in front of the other person.  One student takes the picture cards and the other takes the cards with the words.   The student with the words lines the cards up in any order that he wants.  He then reads off the list to the other person who lines up his picture cards in the order that he hears.  When done, the barrier is removed and they can check to see that they are lined up in the same order.  They can then switch sides or try other variations such as having the student with the picture cards read off the list and the student with the word cards lines them up in the correct order.  Here is what it may look like:

French Memory Games

• Class Objects
• Animals
• City Locations
• House and Furniture
• Food
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Professions
• Clothing
• Transportation

Spanish Memory Games

• Class Objects
• Animals
• City Locations
• House and Furniture
• Food
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Professions
• Clothing
• Transportation