Flashcard Language Games

Problems
How do you entertain yourself, your children or others whilst waiting at airports and travelling?
How do you learn new languages?
Which languages?

Apparently the most useful languages for careers in the future will be French, German and Chinese (Mandarin).

For me, the most useful language is the one of the country I am about to visit.

French speaking countries include;
France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland. Some French spoken in countries and islands such as Vietnam. Full lists in Wikipedia and other places.

German speaking countries:
Germany, Switzerland, Austria.

Mandarin speaking countries:
China. Also many Mandarin speakers in Hong Kong - where the language is Cantonese, Taiwan, Singapore.

Answers
According to a newspaper article Heathrow airport is providing language flashcards online and to families passing through the airport, on request.

I went on line looking for flashcards. You can create your own in several languages.

However, it seemed quicker to select an exciting set. For example:

http://www.cram.com/flashcards/italian-979044

For young children you can create a guessing game, or play snap (matching pictures). When travelling you could create a foreign language version of the old I-spy game, using cards such as objects: planes, water, suitcase; colours:.

Another way to do it is to buy books or card games in a foreign language at the destination and add your own translation in stickers on the back.

You could design cards with the words alongside printed on one side of the paper and cut down the mildly of the page with scissors or a guillotine. Or print in thin card, on both sides, if your printer and your ability to operate your nearest printer allows.

The advantage of the cards is that they can be used as a game for either one or two or more players. For example, a family of children, siblings, a class of school children on a trip, a language class as a game at the end of a lesson or reward for homework finished early.

I prefer Duolingo which takes you through a course of vocabulary and grammar. This is mainly useful for when you are alone. You could have two children or more competing to see who finishes first. Or use Duolingo as inspiration for a set of cards.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.