Introductions

Story of my name

Some further resources on name stories here and here

Create a name card/badge

Circle of Names

This is classic theatre game used for name memorization.

Before the games starts, the leader decides if the participants should say something or do an action, then decides what information needs to be shared. Examples could be everyone must say their name and then their favourite thing to do or eat, or everyone must say their name and then make an action that reflects their personality or their favourite thing to do.

To start the activity, have students stand or sit in a circle (if online, ask students to use the participant list to order their turns). One at a time, each student states their name and gives some information about themselves.

In unison, the rest of the class repeats the student’s name and their action or piece of information. For a more challenging version, have one person say their name and do an accompanying action/gives their piece of information. The person to their right then repeats it, and says their own name and makes their own action/gives their piece of information. The third person repeats the first two and then adds their own. This continues around the circle. The last person will have to remember all of the names and actions/information of the entire group.

Greetings

Have the entire group form two lines facing each other. Each side is given a line, such as “Hi, what’s your name?” And the players on the other side gives their name. The leader calls out a way of greeting such as “Greet each other as if you are old friends.” Next, the players walk toward each other, meet in the middle and deliver their lines ‘in character.’ The point of this game is to show how one line of dialogue can change dramatically given different characters and situations.

Examples of Ways to Greet Each Other

• Like old enemies
• Like long lost friends
• Like people in a big hurry, but friendly
• Like rude people in a big hurry
• Like young children
• Angrily
• Sadly, crying
• As if on a cold day
• As if on a sweltering hot day
• Like they are drunk
• While giggling
• With accents
• Like suspicious spies
• Like robots
• Too much coffee
• On the edge of a cliff
• Someone you know a secret about

The Truth about Me

Have all students stand on one side of the room. One at a time, a person walks to the other side of the room and says, “My name is____________ and the truth about me is _____________________.” Anyone else who shares that same truth, walks to the other side of the room and joins that person. It can be anything, but encourage students to share something personal. “The truth about me is that I love to sing, but I only sing by myself,” is better than “The truth about me is that I like playing video games.” Lead by example, and share something that most people don’t know about you!

A volunteer then walks to an empty space and says “My name is____________ and the truth about me is _____________________.” People move to join them if they share the same truth.

This continues whilst there are volunteers willing to share their own truth.

Pointing Name Game

Activity from Professor Jonny Heron (suggested by Sam Parr, University of Warwick)

Description:

The basic principle of name games is to welcome the group to the learning space and to encounter the various individuals in the group. The advantages of this specific game are that: a) you will hear each participant pronounce their own name, b) it creates a dynamic energy through game-playing and c) if caught out, participants have the chance to be welcomed back into the game.

1. Form a circle on chairs;

2. Explain that each person will point at someone else across the circle but say their own name out aloud;

3. Start with an example and move slowly through the various steps of the activity, including the likelihood of being caught out if you hesitate, say the wrong name, or interrupt the flow;

4. Model the seated position for showing you are out (torso facing in, but legs to one side) which will increase the possibility of being re-introduced to the game at a later stage;

5. Run the game a few times until the group finds a fast but steady rhythm and every participant has been included in the activity.

Paired activity: What's in a Name

Activity from Ifrah Salih and Jacqui Brewster at Sheffield Hallam University

  Activity summary

Telling the story of your name

This is an activity which can be specifically used to help build intercultural respect and understanding or to more generally help develop self-identity, open respect and sharing.

You will need at least 2 people as this activity is performed in pairs. There is no maximum number.

Materials

Short presentation to include the importance of pronouncing a name correctly.

Participants handouts- Questions for participant to ask each other

Goals and Learning Outcomes

For participants to:

Understand the place our name plays in our history and identity.

To help participants introduce themselves to each other and remember each other for reasons related to their unique identity.

For participants to recognise the importance of getting a person’s name right and respecting and understanding the cultural importance of people’s names.

Pre - session activity

Ask students to do the following preparatory work.

Look up your names online and find the meanings of your first name (s) and surname/family name.

Consider if (and ask family members if possible) your name has any specific family importance (are you named after a relative for example and why?).

Does your name have any historical significance – were you named after a famous person from history?

Where does you name originate from? Were you at this place when it was given to you or somewhere else?

Does your name have a specific significance in terms of your cultural heritage?

(Optional – for students who know each other well. Ask the students to bring a photo of where they were born and pictures of them as small children or of their parents)

Step by Step Instructions

Start the session with this video- That Moment You Learn The Meaning of Your Name - Bing video

1. Role play the activity with two members of staff before asking students to do this as it helps break the ice, shows them how to do it ( role model a respectful approach) and introduces the staff to the group in a meaningful way. It is useful if you have two members of staff with different background and cultural heritage. (It is useful to plan this beforehand).

2. Give the students a handout with potential questions that they can ask.

3. Ask the students to turn to the person next to them and ask them the questions about their name and vice versa (10 – 15 minutes each)

4. Ask the students to come back to the main group and introduce each other and the information about their name to the wider group.

5. Lead a discussion about why names are important and how important it is that we respect people’s names and address people how they wish to be addressed. For example, discuss common experiences of people not having their name respected – such as being asked to change it, or their name being mispronounced, or being judged by their name due to stereotypes and the power imbalance, exclusion and discrimination issues involved in this.

6. Finish with one of these videos.

Resources

That Moment You Learn The Meaning of Your Name - Bing video

The power in your name | Erikan Obotetukudo - Bing video