Teach English with What Am I? (Hedbanz) game
An Old Game That Still Has Legs
Teaching English with the “What Am I?” (Hedbanz) game, has been a successful endeavor for me in my ESL classes, both online and face-to-face, for all students of all abilities. It works great as an icebreaker for ESL parties and new students. Every student enjoys this game. In this article, I will give you a quick overview of the gameplay, and then present different ways to play it in small and large classes, whether online or face-to-face. At the end, you can decide if it’s worth it for you. AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS BELOW
Description + Components
What Am I? (Hedbanz) Games
1991?
Designer: Dan Glimne / Henrik Strandberg
Publisher: Many
2-6 (30+) players
Play Time: 5-60 minutes
Contains: 74xcards (x6 reference question cards), sand timer, 6xheadbands, 24xtokens (Each variation of game may have different components but they are essentially the same)
Grammar Points: Question Formulation, Vocabulary, Describing things in one sentence statements, tenses, Memory, Teamwork, Numbers 1-20
Overview
The What Am I? and Hedbanz games are essentially the same game with different publishers. They may have been published in 1991, but the origin of this activity/game is much older. Long car rides through farmlands with only trees and cows to see, forced parents to create fun games to amuse their bored children. The original game has had many names, but the one I am familiar with is called 20 Questions. I will explain how to play 20 Questions, and from there, you can infer how to play What Am I?
In 20 Questions, one person thinks of something and gives only yes, no, or maybe answers to the other person, who tries to guess what it is by asking yes-or-no questions. You have to make your questions specific enough to eliminate possibilities but not too narrow to be unhelpful. If you want, you can adjust how many questions are allowed or give clues. This game can be played with multiple people.
It really is super easy.
Components
The noun cards are useful to have but they are not needed. The variety is quite extensive, but they do not include proper nouns (names of famous things, people, or places). They are also made of very flimsy cardboard. If you have additional card resources, you can use those.
The x6 reference cards proved to be invaluable. My students used these cards as a frame of reference which then enabled them to create further questions. These reference cards can be easily replicated.
You may be wondering how to use the chips, headbands, and sand timer. I believe these peripherals are an attempt to gamify what has been a traditional activity. Here are my thoughts on those.
- The tokens can be distracting and are only useful with a mature group of students (the 20-question countdown is already sufficient).
- Sand timers may not be beneficial for ESL learners who already have enough stress formulating questions.
- Lastly, I use headbands as needed depending on class size and composition. Old neckties or name tag stickers on the back of a shirt can be used as replacements.
How I use What Am I? (Hedbanz) in my ESL class
Here’s how I incorporate these games into my lessons.
One Vs. One – Traditional Q&A
Teams – Nontraditional
I like to try a different approach. The answer holder gives one-sentence clues to the questioner such as ‘You have four legs’ or ‘You are big’. The questioner then asks if they are a certain noun until they guess right, earning them the win. Teams can collaborate on clues if playing in groups.
Online: Traditional and Nontraditional styled lessons.
Speeding up gameplay is essential for online play. I often take a picture of 6-10 noun cards I want to use showing the students ahead of time for a brief 10 second period, which narrows down the possibilities for the questioner. I also have the answer holder write down the item before the questions begin, which adds legitimacy (younger players sometimes cheat). Breakout rooms can be used with large classes with the teacher monitoring. Online play is effortless with this style of game, and no headbands are required.
Is What Am I? (Hedbanz) worthwhile to have as a teacher?
Traditionally, this was a classic wordplay game that has been gamified by adding extra components that may or may not enhance the experience (I found that they detracted from the fun). However, I ended up buying What Am I? because it is relatively inexpensive, and I believe that having more resources in the teacher’s toolbox is always a good thing. There is a reason why this traditional activity has always been popular; it’s because it’s fun!
Is What Am I? (Hedbanz) worthwhile to have for a family?
My family took it out one evening, and we had a great time. It was particularly challenging for my bilingual daughter to formulate questions. When asked if she wants to play this again, she said… maybe? She did not enjoy the extra effort of formulating sentences needed to enjoy the game, but we will play it again!
Thank you for reading this article. Please leave a like if you enjoyed it.
Have a great day, wherever you are.
Previous Play and Learn English title.
https://austinworx.com/learn-english-with-rorys-story-cubes/
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