5 fun and quick activities for French class

There are so many fun things to do in French class, but it’s really easy to fall into the same pattern. I’ve got some favorite activities for French class that have really helped me keep students engaged over the years. It feels safe when we know just what to do, but it’s always fun to mix things up, right?

I started in a classroom in 2004, and even though I have it all down (mostly), I still get in a rut at times. I get bored with things, and if I’m bored with it, it can’t be that fun for my students, right?

If you’re looking for something new to keep your students engaged, check out my favorite activities for French class below.

1. Board games

Board games are one of my favorite activities for French class! There are just days when students need to let it all soak in. It’s great to have a structured activity that allows them to practice while still having fun. I use them for practicing French vocabulary and verb conjugation.

These are perfect to use to review for upcoming tests or quizzes, and when paired with student grouping cards, it’s a totally stress-free way to let students work with together.

Board game for practicing the French subjunctive conjugations

2. La claque

Vocabulary slap has been one of my favorite activities for French class for years. My students constantly ask to play it, because they have so much fun they forget how much they’re actually working! They get ultra-competitive to find the words first, and it’s a game they beg to play any time we have new words.

You can use these cards to practice French listening comprehension or translation. To practice listening skills, you use the image cards. Have students place them face-up on their table and they race to find the correct image as you call out the word.

Want to practice translation? Use the French word cards and have students race to find the correct word as you call out the English word. Either way, it’s a ton of fun!

3. Task cards

Whether I put the task cards at a station or play Scoot with the entire class, task cards are another favorite of activity of mine. Scoot is especially great when you are working on verbs and grammar that students might be a little bored by, because the fun and movement makes this review game really engaging!

I love it, because it’s a fun and engaging way to review French skills without doing a worksheet. You can even use the same questions as you would on a worksheet, but students will have so much more fun!

4. Speaking cards

One of the most important tasks of any French teacher is to get students speaking French! That is often easier said than done. One of my favorite activities for French class is speaking cards. Students of all ages and abilities need structured practice in order to use the concepts and vocabulary they are learning. These cards are fun and engaging, allow for movement, and can be used for a structured activity or on those days when you just have a few extra minutes to fill.

Want more ideas for incorporating movement into your classroom? Read this post!

5. Boom Cards™

These paperless task cards are a really fun way to practice vocabulary and verbs, plus they are self-checking! Students get immediate feedback, and they can be played on devices connected to the internet, such as cell phones, tablets, computers, or even an interactive whiteboard.