The Communicative Vocabulary Game

One of the best ways to learn vocabulary (especially low-frequency vocabulary) is through frequent, shallow practice (see Nation 2001). This means that you will learn words best by being exposed to them as much as possible. However, this practice is best when it is as communicative as possible.

The Communicative Vocabulary Game (TCVG) is a new tool that I have created to help my students get this kind of practice with the vocabulary covered in our current textbook (Mosaicos).

Although not all questions are communicative, as many as possible are. To make them communicative, students must identify pictures, synonyms, antonyms, or even definitions in Spanish. For words that these communicative exercises were not possible to create, such as words taught in early chapters, students need to identify the definition in English.

One of the great features of TCVG is that the answers provided each time are randomly generated and arranged, so it is not possible to memorize a specific question set. Rather, students actually need to learn the vocabulary to do well at the game.

In the bottom left hand corner of the game are some numbers in the format of: A / B (C).

  - A is the number of vocabulary items the student has gotten right.

  - B is the total number of vocabulary items (this number varies depending on which chapter is being played.)

  - C is the number of wrong answers a student has submitted.

In my classes I usually play TCVG with my students on the first day that we cover a new chapter. I have them bring laptops to class with the game already installed on it, and break them into groups. They work together to see which group can finish the vocabulary for the new chapter the fastest, without making more than 50 errors.

In my experience students really enjoy playing this game as a way to help them learn the many vocabulary words we cover in this textbook.

This game is freely available to download online here.

You can also play this game for free in your browser here.

After downloading the Windows version, unzip it, and run the exe file.

After downloading the Mac version, install it, and run the app. (Warning! The Mac version is untested.)

I'd love to hear any feedback (suggestions, complaints, problems, praise, etc.) that anyone may have about this game! Happy Language Learning!