30 Getting to Know You Games

name is Mariana and she likes Super Hero Girls. My name is Dan and I like dancing.

Her name is Mariana and she likes Super Hero Girls. His name is Dan and he likes dancing. My name is Chloe and I like hamsters...

Say your name and one thing you like. The next person has to remember your thing, and add their own.

Name Game

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as your first name, e.g. ‘I’m Kind Kara.’

Name Game 2

The next person repeats your name and adjective and adds their own, e.g. ‘This is Kind Kara and I’m Smiley Sofie.’

Each student in turn tries to repeat all of the previous names in order, adding their own each time. Can you do a roll call of the whole class like this?

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and then present them to the class. Here are some topics you could talk about:

Present Your Partner

favourite things

plans for the term

interesting skills

what they like about learning English

their dreams for the future

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Don't tell the others who you are; they have to ask questions to discover your secret identity.

Celebrity Hot Seat

What can you remember from the last time you played Celebrity Hot Seat?

Challenge

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talk until you find three things in common with the other person. Then, change partners. Try and avoid repetition when you talk to the next person.

Find Three Things in Common

“What’s your favourite food?”

“I love chocolate ice cream.”

“Me too! That’s one thing we have in common.”

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shout ‘Bingo!’.

Find Someone Who… Bingo!

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describe your life. Look at your partner’s memes and ask them some questions:

Three Emojis to Describe Me

My personality:

My interests:

“Why did you choose…?”
“Do you like…?”
“How often do you…?”
“Are you similar to/different from…?”

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describe your life. Look at your partner’s memes and ask them some questions:

Three Memes about My Life

“Why did you choose…?”
“Do you like…?”
“How often do you…?”
“Are you similar to/different from…?”

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arms that would represent them. Design a coat of arms that represents your family. You could include symbols connected to your name, your interests or your history. When you’re finished, look at your partner’s coat of arms and ask questions:

Draw a Coat of Arms

“Why did you draw…?”

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Mode

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Mode

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small, like how to make the perfect cup of hot chocolate, or something big, like how to win a cycling race.

What Can You Teach Me?

Think about what you can teach your partner. You have a couple of minutes to teach them this new skill.

Then, your partner will teach you something new, too!

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are some ideas for you, but you can choose your own, too. Look at your partner’s list. Ask them questions about what they wrote.

My Values

loyalty

creativity

friendship

independence

peace

dedication

courage

kindness

justice

family

freedom

trustworthiness

happiness

respect

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answers, just one or two words, e.g. ‘2 years’, ‘12th July’, ‘chocolate milkshake’.

If This Is the Answer, What Is the Question?

See if your partner can guess the question for each of your answers.

For example:
How long have you been learning English? When is your birthday? What is your favourite drink?

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be small things, like your favourite chocolate bar, or big things, like your health or your family. Write them down.

Five Things I’m Grateful For

Look at your partner’s list and ask questions.

“Do you like…?”

“Why did you write…?”

“What about…?”

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goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed. Create a SMART goal of your own to plan your progress towards that dream.

What Are Your Goals for the Term?

E.g. My dream is to study in England for a term at university.

I need to get a good grade on the IELTS test to study in the UK.

Specific

I need to score at least a 6.0 on the practice exam.

Measurable

My score is 5.0 now, so a 6.0 is achievable.

Achievable

Scoring a 6.0 on the practice exam will prepare me for the real exam next term.

Relevant

I will achieve this by the end of this term.

Timed

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water bottle

a leaf

a necklace

headphones

a small pair of scissors (Don’t Run!)

a hat or cap

a blue eraser

Can you collect all of the items as a class?

Treasure Hunt

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a group to rank them from best to worst.

From the Best to the Worst

best

worst

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someone important to you
one of a place that you love

My Photo Album Show and Tell

You may do this as homework. Show them to your class, then ask and answer questions about the photos.

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a lot to you?

Object Show and Tell

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about what kind of class you’d like it to be.

This Class Is…

Have a discussion with your partner and then as a group.

What are the class rules?
What do you want to achieve?
How will you be kind to each other? 
How will you help each other focus on improving your English?
What should your teacher know about you?

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people must have a conversation but only using questions. They cannot say an affirmative or negative sentence. For example:

Only Questions… No Answers

“What kind of music do you like?”

“Do you know any other bands from England?”

“Is One Direction from England?”

“Have you ever heard of a band called the Arctic Monkeys?”

“Yes, they are! Oh no… I lost!”

“Are they very popular?”

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numbers, say ‘beep’. Instead of multiples of three, say ‘bop’. Instead of multiples of ten, say ‘buzz’.

Beep, Bop, Buzz!

One, beep, bop, beep, five, beep-bop, seven, beep, bop, beep-buzz! 

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many coloured pencils as you can.

The Facts Are in the Pencils

Once you have your pencils, click here for the instructions.

Now, tell the group one fact for every pencil that you have!

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say a word that either rhymes with that word (e.g. dish) or that could be in the same category or topic as the word (e.g. swim). Take it in turns until someone can’t think of a word or repeats one that has already been said.

Fish, Dish, Spoon

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give everyone else instructions on how to draw the same object without giving away any clues about what the object is.

Copy My Drawing

Draw a circle. In the bottom half of the circle, draw a banana shape that curves upwards. Above each end of the banana shape, draw a small to medium-sized circle. Draw a black dot inside both circles. Above each circle, draw a short line - no longer than the width of the circle - that curves down slightly. What do you think my picture was?

For example:

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breakfast and your favourite animal, e.g. the pancake lion. Describe your new scientific discovery. Where does this creature live? What does it do in the daytime? What does it eat?

New to Science

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teacher which piece to move into position. To move the puzzle pieces you will need to exit presentation mode

Puzzle Pieces

Show Hint

Show Answer

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in turns to ‘play’ your instrument - can the other students guess what tune or song you’re playing? Can you organise the whole class orchestra to play a tune you all know together?

Class Orchestra

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your partner, think of three questions you’d like to ask your teacher. Then, see what answers your teacher has for you!

Ask Your Teacher…

For example:

“Why did you become a teacher?”

“What’s your favourite chocolate bar?”

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