ESL Describing Games
Describe it

This ESL describing game can be used to help students revise categories of words or vocabulary you have been teaching in class. In pairs, Student A sits facing away from the board. Write five to ten words on the board that you want the students to practice or... read more
Describing Dodgeball

This fun describing game is a variation of dodgeball and can be used to help students practice describing appearance, clothing and personality. Clear a space in the classroom, so there is room to run from one side of the room to the other. All the students... read more
Details

In this descriptions game, students describe things they see in a short video clip. To begin, teams watch a short video clip and write down as many descriptions as they can from what they see in the video. For each suitable adjective-noun collocation the... read more
Felix the Cat

Here is a simple describing game to help students practice adjectives of appearance and personality. Draw or copy a picture of a cat on the board and above the picture, write 'Felix the Cat'. Then, write 'Felix the cat is an awesome cat'. Next, write the... read more
Hot Seats

This is one of the most popular describing games for teachers to play with their students to practice or revise vocabulary. Place two chairs at the front of the class facing away from the board. Choose one player from each team to come and sit on one of... read more
Swat

Here is a lively describing game for ESL students. Write words you want the students to revise randomly on the board. Each team lines up at the back of the room. Give each team a fly swatter. Describe one of the words on the board, e.g. 'It's something you... read more
Teammates

In this ESL describing game, students write descriptions of classmates and try to guess who is being described from other descriptions. Put students who look similar in teams. Teams then secretly choose a student from their team to describe. Next, teams... read more
Ten Words

This engaging describing game is ideal for reviewing vocabulary students have recently studied in class. To start, students secretly write down ten words that they have recently learned in class on slips of paper. Next, collect in the word slips and put... read more