Holidays offer a fantastic opportunity to teach vocabulary, culture, traditions, and even food—all while having fun. They’re also a great way to bring variety and excitement to your lessons. Below are a few ideas you can try in your language classes.
Post-Holiday Vision Boards
Looking for a fun, engaging activity to beat the post-winter-break blues? Vision boards are a creative project that can be tailored perfectly for foreign language classes, particularly in French or Spanish.
How It Works
- What You Need:
- A board (poster board, large paper, or even an electronic platform).
- Images or pictures (printouts, magazines, or digital).
- Labels and markers (or sticky notes).
- The Concept:
Students select images that represent things they see in their future, such as:- Health: Goals or habits they want to achieve.
- Career: Dream jobs or ambitions.
- Travel: Places they’d like to visit.
- Hobbies: Books to read, skills to learn, or languages to master.
- Steps:
- Have students pick 10–20 images that align with their chosen themes.
- Glue or attach images to the board (physical or digital).
- Label categories in the target language (e.g., “Places I’d like to visit,” “Things I want to learn”).
- Language Integration:
- Beginners: Write simple nouns, adjectives, or short sentences (e.g., “I like books,” “I want to travel to Paris”).
- Intermediate: Use phrases like “I am going to…” or “I want to…” to practice the future tense.
- Advanced: Use the subjunctive to express hopes or wishes (e.g., “I hope to visit Spain”).
- Presentations:
Students present their vision boards, describing their choices and explaining their goals. This activity encourages speaking practice while reinforcing vocabulary and grammar.
Tips for Teachers
- Keep a stash of magazines or pre-cut images on hand to save time.
- Collect images throughout the year to build a reusable collection.
- Use images for other activities, like creating composite characters or family trees.
Valentine’s Day Language Activities
Valentine’s Day is another excellent occasion for a fun and engaging language lesson.
Compliments Activity
- What You’ll Need:
- Small slips of paper.
- A bag or container.
- How It Works:
- Write the names of everyone in the class on the slips of paper.
- Students draw a name and write a genuine compliment for that person in the target language.
- In smaller groups, each student can write a compliment for everyone in the class.
- Why It Works:
- Encourages positivity and builds class camaraderie.
- At advanced levels, it’s a great way to practice the subjunctive (e.g., “I admire that you are kind”).
- Follow-Up:
- Have students write cards or letters to someone in their life, incorporating vocabulary or grammar structures they’ve learned.
Simple Valentine Writing for Beginners
- Display target language phrases and vocabulary.
- Have students write short Valentines to classmates.
- Use puzzles or games to reinforce vocabulary beforehand.
Looking for more fun and easy-to-implement language activities? Check out this resource.