Almost every multimedia language program for children features exercise activities involving the association of different target items that are represented variously in the form of text (words), graphics (illustrative pictures or icons) and audio (spoken words or sound effects). These activities exploit one of the main learning potentialities offered by multimedia, namely flexibility in combining the various communication codes.

Association games basically fall into two categories: pairing (association of two target items among all those presented); and grouping (categorisation of all the items presented according to a number of given categories). In both cases the aim of the activity is to enhance and reinforce vocabulary acquisition.

In pairing games the learner is usually presented with a prompt (spoken/written word, illustration, etc.) and must find the corresponding target item. This type of game differs from the treasure hunt in that the prompt is presented explicitly and seperately, not as part of a (spoken) command or request delivered by a mascot in a simulated interpersonal interaction. 

Let's Go (Dyned): dress the creature by reading/ listening to the prompt and clicking on the corresponding piece of clothing.
	Magic Spell (Nicola Milano): describe the portrait pictures by dragging and dropping the appropriate noun/adjective combinations (pronounced automatically when clicked)
English with Toby (ELI): match the moving pictures with the corresponding words. The movement and graphic interface enhance the game element of this exercise.
	Zak's Word Games (Longman/Pearson): Shooting gallery game with moving targets (letters and flash card illustrations). Learner first "shoots" a letter then attempts to shoot the corresponding flash card picture as it moves across the screen. The shooting action, performed with arrow keys and mouse, requires eye-hand co-ordination and manual dexterity.
Word Bird's Word Games (Longman/Pearson):  Learner reads the stream of moving words in order to identify the target that matches the picture (top right). When this arrives in the middle, the learner clicks on the frog, which either leaps onto the log and across the river or sinks if the word is not a match. The game requires timing and eye-hand co-ordination.

In grouping games the learner is presented with a number of different vocabularly items (represented textually and/or graphically) that must be arranged into categories. This usually involves the classification of lemmas according to given hyponym classes: e.g. grouping car, bicycle, boat etc. in the vehicle family. Subsequently, the game not only provides an opportunity for practising vocabularly, but also exercises general linguistic and cognitive skills.

Tell Me More Kids (Auralog): the pictures that the boy  holds up one by one must be grouped into one of two categories by dragging and dropping them into the corresponding zone of the screen.When the pictures are clicked the corresponding word is pronounced. The activity is timed.
	Zak's Word Games (Longman/Pearson): Learner clicks on the vehicle for a target word (furnishings, household items, etc.) and then drags and drops it into the appropriate room of the house. If the operation is performed successfully, a picture of the target appears in the room. A dictionary is available to help the learner.