Boggle - ESL Board Games

Boggle is one of the most popular word games in North America.

In this game, a number of dice are used, but the dice have letters instead of numbers. When the dice are shaken and played, a grid of 16 letters is presented to the player. With these letters, the player must make words from the connected letters. The letters can be connected horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

For ESL, this game is wonderful for vocabulary practice. It also enhances creative thinking.  

I play a similar game on the whiteboard. In this game, I write a grid of random letters and have the students create words by connecting letters.

For reviews and product information, check out more about Boggle.

Taboo - ESL Board Games

Taboo is one of the most famous party games ever made. It is a word guessing game that is normally played in partners or teams.

The game is quite simple. Players try to guess a word on a card as their teammate uses verbal clues to give them hints. The only restriction is the player can't say any words from a list on the card. Here is an example card:







For this card, the player can't say the 5 words but must get her team to guess the word "watch".

This board game is perfect for ESL classes because it forces students to communicate. The fast pace also creates situations where students must think quickly, much like the real world. It also models a common speaking situation: one person has information and must explain it to another person, also known as an information gap.

If you are interested in the actual board game, you can click here:

Taboo


However, Taboo is a game you can make quite easily with paper and pens. It is also fun to have the students create the cards. It helps them practice vocabulary by creating the 5 words that are "taboo".

For more party game ideas in the ESL class, check out this page:

ESL Party Games

Catchphrase - ESL Board Games

Catchphrase is a popular party game, good for adults or families. The game is played in teams. It is similar to Taboo or Charades.

The object of the game is to score the most points for your team. The game consists of an electronic device that you load cards into. On the cards are hundreds of words. The player can say anything to get his or her team to guess the word on the card. When the teams guesses, the device is passed along to the next team and a new word is displayed. Players must think fast because when the time runs out, the team holding the device gives a point to the other team. In this regard, it is like hot potato.

This game is great for an ESL class because it makes students think quickly and use their speaking skills to communicate with their team. The speed and pressure of the game and the ticking device increases the need for proper vocabulary and pronunciation.

Like any party game, Catchphrase works well in the ESL class. Simply getting the students to speak and have fun at the same time is an accomplishment in itself. This game will allow you to do that. Plus, the endless cards and words mean the game never gets old. Young students will also like using the machine, especially as it ticks away like a time-bomb and goes off when the time is up.

For more information, product reviews, or to buy this game, check out Catchphrase at Amazon.

Guess Who - ESL Board Games

Guess Who is an excellent game for ESL students. It is perhaps the board game you can have for an ESL class. I recommend buying it for your class. If you can't buy it, you can take its ideas and use them in your ESL class.

Guess Who allows students to practice asking ans answering yes/no questions.

The Game:

Each player chooses a card with a character name and face on it. Then the players take turns asking yes/no questions to try and guess who the character is. Each person has a board with all the characters on it that they use keep track of the characters.


Formulating yes/no questions is incredibly important, and it is not always easy for ESL students. This game really let's them practice. Some common questions:

Does he have a mustache?
Does she have red hair?
Is he bald?
Is it a woman?
Does she wear glasses?

Apart from asking yes/no questions, it is also helpful for face vocabulary like beard, mustache, lips, eyes, etc.

If you want more information, or would like to purchase the game, you can click on the link below.

Guess Who


Guess Who is fun and gives a focus on form. It makes a great ESL game for any classroom.