This week’s Articulate ELH Challenge is to create an interaction using emojis – or basically to use simple graphics in place of text.

The Idea: Vocabulary Practice

Anyone who has learned or taught languages knows pictures are indispensable for vocabulary practice, so I thought I’d create one with emojis.

I wanted it to be in Turkish, partly because it would be way cool and partly because I need the practice, but to save time I stuck with English.

The Design: Simple

I kept it emoji-simple. From layout to images to instructions it’s easy to figure out, easy to navigate, and easy to understand the teaching points.

It’s technically a drag-and-drop I made into a free practice activity. The feedback – even for incorrect answers – is designed to help you learn vocabulary, so I didn’t see the point of keeping score. Sometimes it’s just nice to play.

So Much More

There’s a ton more you could do with the concept, including adapting it to work on listening skills or writing skills rather than reading skills. Maybe I’ll get the chance to adapt it in other challenges down the road!

Give It A Try!

Ready to test your vocabulary skills? You can check out this emoji-nal little demo right here.