Password - French Classroom Game

Some days students just aren't in the mood to learn, which can make French classes frustrating for them as well as for the teacher. Playing games in French is one technique that can help recapture students' interest while helping them learn or review French. This game, called Password, is a fun way to practice descriptions.


Set up

Cut out several dozen pictures of things or people - at least 5 pictures per student. Glue the pictures onto index cards and write the single word that best describes the image on each card in both French and English. Give 3-5 cards to each student, take the same number for yourself, and keep the others face down on a desk or table.


How to play

The point of this game is to describe images without using the one word that would give it away. The student must keep describing the image until another student correctly guesses what is on the index card. Then another student will take a turn.

The teacher should start, in order to show the students how to proceed. Full sentences are best, not one word clues as they are too vague and this is to promote conversation and use of vocabulary. The teacher keeps describing what is on the card until someone guesses what it is. Then it's a student's turn. Remind students not to use the forbidden word - they have use circumlocution. The teacher can take additional turns so the students can listen and learn communication skills from you as well. It's a good idea to have extra cards so that students can draw a new one after each turn and have more options to choose from in case any of the cards seem too difficult to attempt at first.

It isn't necessary to know the French word to guess what the item may be - for example a coffee pot may not be in the student's vocabulary but they can describe it, what it does, when it is used, etc. Don't be afraid to play this game with beginners - it's amazing how much they will come up with once they get started. Don't worry about "proper" grammar - don't correct, just model. Students may find it easier to describe the card in the first person.


Examples

Television: Je suis amusante, je ne travaille pas quand tu travailles, je travaille quand tu es à la maison. Je suis dans le salon, ou ta chambre. J'ai beaucoup de nouvelles, de films, de programmes. Qui suis-je ?

School: C'est un endroit où les étudiants apprennent. Les professeurs travaillent ici. Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

Red: Je suis la couleur de pommes et de corrections. Je suis essentiel dans la création des couleurs orange et violet. Quand on me mélange avec le vert, nous devenons marron. Qui suis-je ?


Notes

Password can be used to practice just about anything - descriptions of people, places, things; vocabulary lists (food, clothing, colors) - the sky is the limit.

This game is also good practice for what happens in real life when you are in France and don't know how to say something in French.

This game was shared on the Profs de français forum. Merci beaucoup !