Taboo Sprint: A Phone-Based Speaking Game for ESL

When learners forget a word, they need strategies for explaining its meaning another way. Taboo Sprint makes that skill the point of the game: a student describes a target without saying the target or its forbidden helper words, while classmates listen and guess. Private phone cards make it suitable for shared-screen lessons.

How it works

1. 1

   Choose a topic and difficulty. The activity prepares a set of target words and four forbidden words for each card.

2. 2

   The describer sees the target and forbidden words on their phone; the shared screen hides the secret until the round summary.

3. 3

   Classmates submit guesses on their phones in Everyone guesses mode, or the class can split into two teams. The teacher judges possible taboo violations with the buzz control.

4. 4

   A correct guess advances the card. The describer can skip when needed, and the timed round ends with a summary that reveals the cards and definitions.

Frequently asked questions

Can guessers see the describer's secret card?

No. The target and its four forbidden words appear on the describer's phone. Other students use their own phones to send guesses, and the shared screen keeps the word hidden until review.

How are taboo violations judged?

The teacher listens and controls the buzz button. The activity does not claim to detect spoken violations automatically, so the teacher makes the call.

Can students pass when they do not know a word?

Yes. The describer can skip to the next card without a penalty. This keeps the round moving while classmates continue listening for clues.

What changes in Two teams mode?

One team gives clues and its team guesses while the other team listens for forbidden words. In Everyone guesses mode, classmates can all submit guesses.

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