We often play “TABOO” in order to revise or teach new vocabulary.

We play it in a simplified way. Other than in the original game, there are no forbidden words.

The goal for the learners is to get their team to guess the word. If the English words are new to the learners, they only need to guess the German word. If we use it as a vocabulary revision game, they should know the English word, too.

How to prepare: Before the lesson, write new words on some index cards. - I wrote these words in German and underneath it the English translation. How to play: I divide the class into two teams. Each team decides who is going to talk.

Together we set a time limit. This depends on how fast the group of learners is. We often set it to two minutes, not more.

Within this time the group should have guessed the word in question. I hand out a card to the talker of the first group. They can say anything they like to describe the word, except the word itself. If the team guesses the word correctly, they get a point.

If they haven’t managed within the set time, the play passes to the next team. The playing team receives one point for a correct guess.

End of the game: The team who has guessed the most words correctly wins.

The learners really enjoy this game! We play it regularly and they always look forward to it. If they know the word which is being described, they even give clues to the talker of the opposite team J. It’s a good way of practicing new words or revising known words.

Alternative: Dialogues Sometimes we play taboo by means of a role-play. I write flashcards for each team (pair) choosing the taboo-word and the setting. I divide the group into pairs and hand out the flashcards giving each pair one set of cards.

Partner A doesn’t know what’s written on Partner B’s flashcard and vice versa.

EXAMPLE : TABOO word – towel (Handtuch)

Flashcard 1 – Partner A:

You work at the reception of a hotel. A new hotel guest (Partner B) has just arrived.

Flashcard 1 – Partner B:

You are on a business trip and you have just arrived in a hotel where you are going to stay until the next day. Now you’ve noticed that there aren’t any towels (Handtücher) in your room. Go to reception and tell the receptionist (Partner B) about your problem.

DO NOT USE THE WORD “TOWEL”!