Quick Guide
- Keywords: Greetings, foreign languages, memory
- Learner English level: Low beginner to low intermediate
- Learner maturity: Elementary school to university
- Preparation time: 10–15 minutes
- Activity time: 5–10 minutes
- Materials: Handout, flashcards, magnetic blackboard, magnets
This engaging warm-up activity helps students to practice simple greetings in a variety of languages. It asks students to match the greeting to a country where that language is spoken. In my university freshman class, I was surprised that some students confused a Spanish greeting for English, which was the reason for the creation of this activity. Through becoming accustomed to various international greetings, students also learn not to assume that commonly heard greetings pertain to the English language only. This is especially important in Japan, where knowledge of other languages besides English is minimal even though people come here from all over the world.
Preparation
Step 1: Create a handout of simple greetings in popular languages from around the world, as well as a list of countries where they are spoken (see Appendices).
Step 2: Create sets of small flashcards with both the greeting and corresponding country. Various greetings can be chosen (see Appendices). This will be used for the “matching memory” game that students will play.
Step 3: Prepare the classroom to allow for pairs or small groups.
Procedure
Step 1: For homework, distribute the handout and have the students review it to become familiar with the greetings and their associated countries, prior to class.
Step 2: Explain that students are going to play a memory game, using the flashcards that were prepared.
Step 3: Conduct a demonstration for the class. Have the flashcards turned over and mixed so that the greetings and countries cannot be seen. Flip one of the flashcards over. After that, flip another flashcard. If it matches the associated country, the student says both the greeting and the country and collects both cards. For example, “Hola” and “Spain”.
Step 4: Put students into either pairs or groups of 3.
Step 5: Students will flip flashcards to match the country where the language is spoken, in a memory-style game.
Step 6: Once all the cards are collected, the student with the most flashcards wins the game.
Step 7: After all the groups are finished, choose several students to come to the blackboard at the front of the class and match the international greeting and country, using the provided magnets.
Step 8: At the end of the activity, test the students by saying the country and English greeting and having the students say the international greeting, as a final review.
Variations
Variations of this activity are to include more common phrases from the countries already chosen and to have students learn about greetings in more difficult languages. These variations will allow students to expand their knowledge of such greetings and phrases.
Conclusion
This activity increases students’ understanding of common greetings heard around the world, which can be mistaken for English greetings, especially in Japan. With some students assuming that English is the mother tongue in many countries around the world, this activity helps students to understand that although English is the lingua franca, it’s not the only language worth learning.
Appendices
The appendices are available below:
