ESL Board Games

Guess the Word

Often the games we enjoy, our students enjoy just as much and they can be used for learning English.

Guess the Word is one of those esl board games. For those of you who don`t know Guess the Word, it is a game played in teams, and team members try to give hints so that their teammates can guess the word they are trying to describe (without actually saying the word).

This is a great activity for children to adults provided youchange the level for each group. It is great for reinforcingpre-taught vocabulary.

You can make your own cards or use cards from Finding Out orEnglish Land or some other source. Just be sure to instruct thestudents to not show their partner their cards.

Put the students into teams of pairs or even 3-6 students and number each student.

Time them for 1-3 minutes to see how many words their partner can guess. I usually do this for at least four rounds or moreto give both partners at least a couple of tries at describingwords.

"It is a thing used for cleaning."

"It is a cute animal with long ears and jumps."

Everyone enjoys this game.

Pictured: The Diplomacy board game by Avalon Hill (Hasbro)

Picture Guess

One team member is shown a card and has to draw a picture representing what is on the card.

Her teammates try to guess the word.

You can use cards from a Pictionary game, I use Pictionary Junior for junior high students in Japan, or you can use other vocabulary cards. I often use cards by David Lisgo, Finding Out or English Land to name a few.

You can of course make your own cards.

I often play it simultaneously (so there is no waiting) and all teams see the same card and have to draw it. The first team to guess it wins.

Check out more ESL games for your students

Other ESL Board Games for your students to enjoy