Games
Spanish Language Games
Learning a language doesn't have to be all about hard work - in fact, some of the best and most valuable learning experiences are done without a text book in sight. If you remove the concept of 'learning' and introduce an element of fun to the process, the brain often relaxes and is more amenable to new information. The handful of Spanish language games listed below are all excellent ways of reinforcing the lessons learnt in class and building up a store of useful vocabulary, while having a bit of fun at the same time!
Crosswords
Crosswords - known as 'crucigramas' in Spanish - are another way of increasing the number of Spanish words at your fingertips without so much as having to open a book. Although crosswords are well-known for the improvements they bring to mental agility and cognitive ability, generally, the real beauty of crosswords as a Spanish language game is their portability. Amazon and most good bookshops have a selection of excellent Spanish crossword books (such as Easy Crossword Puzzles by Jane Burnett) which you can get stuck into while having a coffee and watching the world go by.
Word Search
The word search - or 'sopa de palabras' (literally 'word soup') - is another of those Spanish language games that's not only great for building up vocabulary, but easy to get your hands on (both online and in books you can pick up practically anywhere) and which can be played outside of the confines of the classroom. Not only that, but word search is excellent for developing reading skills and recognising the basic structure of Spanish words, as the brain becomes more proficient at deciphering and ordering jumbles of information. Play for a while with our Word Search Spanish Game.
Hangman
Hangman - or 'El Ahorcado' - is one of the oldest and most rewarding of all Spanish language games, despite the slightly grizzly premise (each time you fail to guess the correct letters that make up a chosen word a drawn man gets one step closer to being hanged...) While it's popular amongst teachers for the lighthearted and interactive atmosphere it brings to the classroom environment, it doesn't have to be confined to class, as with a dictionary, a pen and a pad of paper, students can benefit from playing it anywhere and develop their vocabulary while killing time on a long bus journey, say.
