Two Truths and a Lie: Try out this Fun Icebreaker in EFL/ESL Classes

If you’re looking for some information about using Two Truths and Lie for ESL/EFL, then you’re in the right place. We’re going to explain what this icebreaker is, as well as give some helpful tips for English teachers who want to use this activity. Let’s get to 2 Truths and a Lie!

How to Play 2 Truths and a Lie

Skills: Writing/listening/speaking
Materials Required: Nothing
Age: 10+

Play in groups of 4-6 in a larger class, or play together in a smaller class. My general rule is that if you allow minimal or no follow-up questions, it takes around 3-4 minutes per student. However, if you allow 2-3 minutes of questions, it takes about 6-7 minutes per student. It’s a good activity to use “always, usually, sometimes, never” or “can, can’t” and “I’ve.”

Students write three sentences, one of which is false. They read their sentences and the other students guess the false one. Higher-level classes can ask three questions, or question the person for a pre-determined amount of time (2-3 minutes) to determine the false one. A correct guess gets one point. Each student gets to play one turn.

Teaching Tips for 2 Truths and a Lie ESL

This is a useful activity for practicing the speaking sub-skills of initiating a conversation and responding in a doubtful way. For example, if you allow question time, students can say something like, “So you can make/play/do _____? I don’t believe you! Tell me _____” if you allow question time.

You can also give points to the student in the hot-seat for anyone who doesn’t figure out the correct answer. But, choose your method; this way or the other as described above. If you do both, it gets complicated and confusing very quickly!
Emphasize that students must pick things that are “big picture” ideas.

The examples I give as poor ideas are things like birthdays, the hospital they were born in, name of sister, etc. There is simply no way to verify this information by asking any sort of interesting questions. Better categories are things like hobbies, travel, part-time jobs, skills, and abilities. I have students write down their statements and try to catch any of the terrible ideas before the game starts.

Play the Truth or Lie Game in One Class, or Series of Classes

You can do this as a single activity in one class, or you can also do it over a series of days. For example, I taught at a winter camp where I had the same group of students for 10 days in a row. My class had 20 students, so as a warm-up for each day, 2 students had to go in the “hot-seat” (one at a time) and we got to ask the students questions about their 2 truths and 1 lie for three minutes.

I appointed a “captain” to keep track of the points throughout the two weeks. The two winners got a $5 Starbucks gift certificate, which was a small way to add some friendly competition to the class.

Procedure for Two Truths and Lie ESL

1. Write three sentences on the board about yourself: two are true and one is not by way of example.
2. Explain to students that they are to do the same for themselves.
3. Do your demonstration with one group. Read your sentences and those students can ask three questions (or have two minutes, etc.) to ask questions.
4. Each student in the group must choose for themselves which sentence is false. Reveal the answer and whoever guessed correctly gets a point.
5. The students play the game in small groups, making sure that each person gets a chance to share their three statements. You can help move the activity along by acting as a time-keeper by giving each student’s turn a specific time limit.

Did you Like ESL 2 Truths and  Lie?

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Have your Say about Using Two Truths and a Lie With English Learners

Have you tried out this icebreaker in ESL classes? How did it go? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

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Last update on 2022-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API