The Match Game

• It's good for any level--elementary through advanced
• It's flexible. Use it to reinforce grammar, vocabulary or culture.
• It involves all students at once.
• It's low maintenance. A pencil and scrap paper will do.

This game is based on the old TV show "The Match Game," which I watched far too often in my youth. I have reorganized so that all "players" participate at all times.

The instructor prepares a series of questions. Students try to figure out how their teammates will most likely answer these questions. The more teammates with the same answer, the more points per team.

 How To Play

• Divide the class into two teams. Each team should have the same number of players. If you have an odd number of students, designate one the "wild card." Her answer counts for both teams--which does not necessarily mean she will bring equal points to both teams, as you'll see.

• A representative from each team sits at the front of the room. Instructor asks the first question. The two representatives, and all of their teammates, write down an answer.

• Team One representative reads his answer. Teammates with the matching answer raise their hands. One point per hand/match. Team Two does likewise.

• Instructor takes a moment to ask what the non-matching answers were.  This provides good vocabulary/cultural content review, depending on the question asked. Students guffaw and concur accordingly.

• A new representative from each team, a new question.

Use a projection system such as Elmo or an overhead projector to reveal dramatically the representatives' responses.

 Types of Questions

I usually stick to a theme based on recent lessons. In an elementary class, depending on the material recently learned, I have asked questions such as:

• What would you order in a café at 3:00 p.m., in France?
• Name a gift that children typically give their fathers.
• Name the capital of a Francophone country in Africa.
• Your friend is late to meet you for a movie for the third time in three weeks. What do you say to him? (review of idioms, such as "J'en ai marre!")

• If the class has played and understands the game, have students make up the questions next time.
• You can make this a grammar-oriented game by using certain structures and requiring full-sentence answers. It's a new way to review material already practiced in other ways.
• French is used exclusively in this game, by instructors and students.

Copyright 1998 by Cheryl Krueger
Department of French
University of Virginia