The Name Game
Anytime I have a new class of students, I play the Name Game near the beginning of class. Here’s how to play, and here’s why I continue to play it each semester.
How to Play:
Each student will stand and say, “My name is ______.” Pretty simple, huh? But, each student should also remember the names of all the other students who stood before him.
For example, the first student will stand and say, “My name is Mary.” The second student will say, “Her name is Mary. My name is John.” The third will say, “Her name is Mary. His name is John. My name is Christine.”
Once I’ve explained it, usually the class will laugh and shout out something like, “It’s impossible!” But it’s definitely possible. As the students are saying names, I’m memorizing names along with them, and at the end, I finish by remember all the students’ names.
Why I Play It:
Memorizing Names. To be honest, this game is mostly for me. I try to learn all of my student’s names within the first two weeks. And when you’re meeting 250 kids, that’s not an easy feat. Spending ten solid minutes memorizing their names off the bat help.
Avoiding Awkward Questions. Students will inevitably ask you, “Teacher! Do you remember my name!” Hearing someone’s name once is not enough to get you out of that awkward situation. And, I’ve noticed, when I play the name game, when students know I know their name (at least on the first day), the number of students who ask me this awkward question decreases.
Setting Precedents. Having each student stand and speak on the first day of class sets a subtle precedent for class. With each student saying something simple, like his name, you’ve quickly jumped over the first hurdle of having a student stand in front of his classmates and speak English.
Insights into Personalities. You’d be surprised how much personality a student will show during this simple exercise. It’s easy to spot the rebels, the ones who are not interested in class. You can spot the students who are giving you 100% attention and focusing on every name. Some of the students will whisper names and never look up, and generally, it’s pretty easy to spot the class clown as well.
Insights into English levels. Not only do you get to know their personalities, but you can also get a better judge of their English levels. Notice if students are really struggling pronouncing names or are constantly making mistakes with he/she or verb tense in the simple sentence of “His name is John.”
Tips:
Remind students to say their names loudly and clearly so all the other students can hear.
Allow students to write down names if they need to.
Take note of the type of students in the back. If they seem a bit rebellious or “too cool for school,” then I start with them because I know they won’t pay attention throughout the whole game. It’s better to end the game with students who were actually trying instead of the game dissolving into shrugs and “I don’t know”s.
So give this game a try for yourself! And if you have an idea for how to memorize student’s names better, leave a comment down below!