You can explain what mesa means in another language while keeping mesa as the chain’s word. Alicia is a Spanish-language game: translating a link mid-turn changes the syllables the next word must connect to. In a bilingual family, distinguish explaining a meaning from changing the word being played.
A correct translation can break the connection
Our original language example is mesa → saco → copa: me-sa ends in sa, sa-co begins with sa and ends in co, and co-pa begins with co. We do not assert that these cards appear together in Alicia.
Mesa means table in English. That explanation may clarify meaning, but table → saco no longer preserves the Spanish connection. The translation is not wrong; the material forming the chain has changed. We retain the Spanish words in this English guide because translating them would break the syllable example.
An adult might say, “It means table in English; to continue here, let’s look at mesa’s final syllable.” This is suggested support, not dialogue or a translation feature built into Alicia.
Return to the word shown in the game
The Alicia brief says words remain visible and audio is optional. If someone names a picture in the family’s other language, return to the displayed text before deciding the connection.
- Identify the Spanish word for that turn.
- Look at its last syllable while keeping the full word visible.
- Compare it with the first syllable of the game’s actual choices.
- After explaining meaning in another language, return to the same Spanish link.
Every turn need not become a translation test. We also do not promise that enabling audio changes the words’ language or that the app accepts foreign equivalents.
Support the mode you actually choose
In family mode, Peque chooses between three picture-and-syllable cards and Adulto between six text cards. After Adulto answers correctly, Peque checks the link. In Rally, Peque proposes a word and Alicia continues the chain. Keeping the Spanish link explains what is being compared in either design without adding rules to the product.
Alicia is in development for Android, without a public download. It is designed for children aged 4–7 and their families. We do not present it as a bilingual course or guarantee learning outcomes. Explore its design and prepare support around the actual words, keeping the syllables that hold the chain together.