Play Go Fish in a Foreign Language
A Small Group Card Game in Spanish, French, German, ESL and More
Play this classic children's card game to practice foreign language vocabulary and communication skills.
Go Fish! In any language, this good 'ol game of cards is a fun and effective hands-on activity. Players use the target language for structured interaction and vocabulary review.
Card Preparation
You can certainly play Go Fish with an ordinary deck of cards, but only if your main objective is to practice numbers. However, if your goal is to learn the vocabulary for animals, body parts, classroom objects, clothing, food, furnishings, or family members, make your own unique deck of 52 cards.
Choose 13 vocabulary words you would like to practice. Make 4 identical picture cards for each word. Either use 3" x 5" index cards or cut sheets of card stock down to an appropriate size. The most efficient way to make the cards is to create them on the computer with clip art or photos, print them on card stock, and then cut. If desired, put a picture of a fish on the back of each card. Now you are ready to play.
Game Set up
Form groups of 2 to 6 players. Each group receives one deck of vocabulary picture playing cards and one set of simplified target language directions. Review basic game playing expressions such as:
- It's my turn.
- It's your turn.
- Do you have a . . . ?
- Yes I have a . . .
- Here you go.
- No, I don't have a . . .
- Go Fish!
- Good luck.
- Too bad.
- Nice try.
- Great - Fantastic - Congratulations
- Please - Thanks - You're Welcome
Objectives
The object of the game is to get the most sets of 4 matching cards. But the real objectives are to use the target language in an immersion activity, to read and follow directions in the target language, and to practice vocabulary, ask questions, and answer in the affirmative and the negative.
How to Play Go Fish
1. The dealer distributes 5 cards to each player and places the leftover cards face down in a pile in the middle.
2. The person to the left of the dealer (A) begins by asking one other player (B): "Do you have a . . ." (The player asking the question must already possess at least one of the cards that he is requesting.)
3. Player B hands over the requested card and all of its matches. If he does not have that card, he says, "Go Fish."
4. Player A must "fish" for the card he wants by taking a card off the top of the pile.
5. Continue taking turns asking for cards, handing them over, and/or going fish.
6. As soon as a player has 4-of-a-kind, he lays them face up in front of him.
7. The game continues until one person is out of cards.
8. The player with the greatest number of matches wins.
Enjoy a game of Go Fish with the added challenge of speaking in another language.
