This game is called "TABOO." TABOO is a fun game that helps reinforce new vocabulary and it is a hoot to play!

To play this game the teacher will first divide the class into two teams. The teacher will then pick a number from one to ten. Whichever team guesses the correct number gets to go first.

After one team has won the right to play first... the teacher will bring one of the students up to the board. The teacher will turn the student so that his/her back is facing the blackboard / whiteboard.

The teacher will write the KEYWORD on the board. For this example we will say that the Keyword is "SPIDERMAN."

Spiderman will now become TABOO. And because Spiderman is Taboo, none of the students can say the word "Spiderman."

Underneath the Keyword the teacher will then write three other words which are also Taboo. This means that the students cannot say these three sub keywords either. For this example the teacher would write three words which the students cannot say - because it would give away the main keyword.

The three words under the main keyword/taboo word will be:
Peter Parker
Mary Jane
Web

The blackboard / whiteboard will look like this:
SPIDERMAN
Peter Parker Mary Jane Web

The students cannot say any of the words listed above and they cannot make any ACTIONS to help the student with his/her back to the board.

When the teacher says, "Start" the one team will get two minutes to help the student guess the keyword. The students may give hints such as these:

"He is a man."
"He has an insect on his chest."
"He has a girlfriend."
"His aunt's name is May."
"He wears a blue and red costume."
"Sometimes he fights Venom, Sandman and the Green Goblin."
"He has his own comic book."
"The insect on his chest has eight legs."
"He was bitten by a radio active insect and it made him special."

If any of the students say any of the Taboo words, his/her team cannot win a point. But if the student with his back turned to the board says, "Spiderman" - his/her team will get one point.

After the team gets the point or time runs out; the teams will switch. This E.S.L game is called Taboo. And if you teach English overseas it is one of the best E.S.L. games that you can play because it is fun and it helps reinforce and teach vocabulary. And on top of that... the students will have fun while they are learning English as a Second Language.

To see a video of this game or any of the other 100 teaching game videos go to: http://www.squidoo.com/ESLTeachingGames