Why do I use Forbidden Words?
- to repeat and understand terms
- to activate the participants
- for teambuilding
- for variety and fun
How do I use Forbidden Words?
- For preparation, draft terms to define 4-5 Forbidden Words. Feel free to use one of these three options for automatic generation:
In the session
- Divide into teams of 3-4 persons and let 2 teams play against each other.
- One team starts and defines a person to explain the term ("explainer"). The second team defines 1-2 controller.
- Set a timer to 1-2 minutes (depending on the amount of cards and the explaining-guessing-strength of the participants)
- The explainer gets the cards. On the top of the card is the term that has to be explained; on the bottom 4-5 forbidden words that cannot be said.
- For every correct guessed term you receive one point; for every said forbidden word one term is distracted.
- After the set time the second team explains/guesses.
- You may have several terms so everybody can explain the forbidden words.
Alternatives & tips:
- Alternative: How long does one team need to explain a term? (stop the time)
- Alternative: one person explains the term, 1-2 persons control and the rest of the group guesses (without competition)
Antje Wild and Florian Neymeyer adopted this mini-game for game based learning.
