The Telephone Game—also called Chinese Whispers in British English—is a classic party game that translates surprisingly well into the English language classroom. Simple, energetic, and easily adaptable, this activity gets students moving, listening closely, and speaking clearly, all without the need for any materials.
In an EFL context, the Telephone Game helps reinforce listening and speaking skills in a low-pressure, high-energy format. It’s especially useful for younger or lower-level learners in Taiwan who may still be developing confidence in their spoken English. Even students who are usually hesitant to speak often enjoy the game’s competitive and playful structure.
In this article, we’ll look at how to play the game, ways to adapt it to your teaching goals, and some practical tips for success based on real classroom use.
How I Play the Telephone Game
This is a simple, no-prep activity that works well as a station or a warm-up. Here’s how I usually run it in my classroom:
1. Show the Content First
Before starting the game, I show students the list of sentences or phrases for today’s round. I usually have them printed on a paper clipped to my clipboard. I hold it up and have the whole group chorally repeat each one after me. This gives everyone a fair chance to hear the correct pronunciation and rhythm.
2. Form Teams and Set the Lines
Divide the class into small teams. I usually play with two teams of 4–5 students each, often using this as a station activity with about one-third of the class. If the numbers aren’t even:
- You can rotate one student out each round to keep the lines even.
- Or assign a student to be the scorekeeper. This is especially useful for kids who might not feel comfortable playing. Just make sure they join the choral repetition between rounds.
Have each team stand in a line. Keep enough distance between students so they can’t easily overhear more than one person. This prevents skipping weaker students, which some kids may try to do.
3. Teach the Rules
Go over the basic rules before each session:
- You must whisper.
- No Mandarin allowed. English only!
- Last person in line raises their hand when they’ve heard the sentence.
4. Whisper and Pass
Call the first player from each team to come to you. I point to a sentence on my clipboard and ask if they can read it. If they can’t, I quietly whisper it to them. When both players are ready, I say “Go!”
They return to their line and whisper the sentence to the next player, and so on down the line. If a player forgets the sentence, they can come back to me for a reminder. This is allowed and often helps lower-achieving students feel supported.
5. Say the Sentence
When the last person in the line hears the sentence, they raise their hand. I call on them to say it out loud. If it’s correct, their team gets a point. If not, the other team gets a chance.
Whether there was a correct answer or not, I’ll have all the students repeat the sentence chorally.
6. Rotate and Repeat
The first player in each line moves to the back, and the next player becomes the new starter. If no one gets the sentence after three tries, I move on to the next sentence. This helps keep the pace lively and avoids frustration.
Variations
While the core game is simple, a few thoughtful variations can help you adapt it to different class types and student needs.
1. Whiteboard Final Answer
Students are seated at their desks and each row is a team. The final student in each row has a small whiteboard. As the sentence is whispered from front to back, the last student writes down what they heard. This version is especially helpful when:
- You want to involve the entire class at once (instead of small groups).
- The class is a bit rowdy and needs a more controlled setup.
- You have one or more self-muted students who can take the whiteboard position and participate non-verbally.
Students stay in the same positions throughout the game. After each round, the teacher reveals the correct sentence on a slide or paper, and teams compare their answers. Points are awarded for accuracy.
2. Picture Prompt
Instead of a printed sentence, show a simple picture as the prompt (e.g., a cat drinking milk, or a boy playing soccer). The student must describe what they see and pass that description down the line. This adds flexibility and allows for some creative variation within what is typically a very controlled output activity.
3. Gesture Version (For Very Low-Level Students)
Students all stand in a line facing away from the person behind them. Instead of whispering a sentence, the student at the front performs a gesture (e.g., brushing teeth). They tap the next person to turn around, then pass the gesture down the line.
While fun and accessible, this version sacrifices the primary benefit of having each student practice speaking, so it’s best used as a warm-up or energy booster rather than a main language activity.
Final Thoughts
The Telephone Game is more than just a way to fill time or get kids moving. It’s a powerful tool for reinforcing listening and speaking skills in a low-pressure, engaging format. When structured well, it encourages all students to participate, provides repetition without boredom, and supports classroom management by keeping students focused on a clear task.
Whether you’re working with low-level third graders or high-beginner junior high students, this game can be adapted to fit your goals and your group’s personality. Try it out, tweak the rules as needed, and see how it works with your students.
It’s a flexible favorite that’s easy to set up, easy to run, and easy to love.