During the first months of language learning, before they are ready to produce language, students can show understanding through movement. Here are five different possible activities to do with students where they move around the classroom to show what they understand. Click on the links to see examples.

Lève-toi si : Students stand to indicate that they are in agreement. 

Ceci ou cela : Given a topic such as “What do you prefer, dogs or cats?” Students choose a position, then physically move to the side of the room that most closely represents their opinion—one side means dogs, the other side means cats—and then state their preference to the other students.

Quatre coins : Given four different responses for the four corners of the room, students go to the corner that corresponds to their answer to the prompt. 

Lignes et petits groupes : Students listen to the teacher to hear if they should form a line in a particular order or get in a group according to something they have in common.

Petit ou grand : Introduce two words, for example petit and grand. If the teacher says the word for a small animal, the students all squat and say “petit”. If the teacher says the word for a large animal the students stretch their arms up and out and say “grand”. This could be done with other terms as well.