GAMES AND EXERCISES FOR IMPLEMENTING FREE ASSOCIATIONS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Abstract

This article explores the theoretical and practical potential of free association techniques in teaching English as a foreign language. Based on the cognitive and psycholinguistic foundations of lexical access, the study analyzes how free associative games can improve vocabulary fluency, communicative competence, and creative thinking in foreign language learners. The article presents the results of a pedagogical experiment conducted among second-year students at the Intermediate level at West Kazakhstan University named after M. Utemisov. The findings indicate a significant improvement in lexical fluency and expression in the experimental group.