Tabla de Contenidos
A fun way to break the ice when starting a class is with a simple game. Participants can relax before formally starting and thus increase their level of interaction during the rest of the class.
Two truths and a lie is a simple game that does not need materials and is ideal for groups of 10 to 15 people. If there are more people in the class, they can be divided into teams so that the warm-up activity does not last more than 15 or 20 minutes.
How to play two truths and a lie
Sitting in a semicircle, the participants must introduce themselves by turns saying three sentences about themselves. Two of these sentences must be true and one must be a lie. The sentences do not have to be intimate revelations, just simple hobbies, likes, interests, or past experiences that are unique to the participant. The lie can be crazy, or it can be simple and seem like the truth so that it is more difficult to discover it.
On each turn, at the end of the statements, the rest of the group must try to figure out exactly which ones are true and which ones are lies. You can keep track of correct answers to find out who guesses the most lies or just play to have fun, get to know each other a little and gain confidence.
Tips for playing
To increase the level of difficulty when guessing the lie, some players choose to reveal three simple statements to avoid giving away too much information with their body language. Others prefer to create a recurring theme around their statements, for example “Hello, my name is Juan. He used to have blue hair, I have a blue car, and I like blueberries too.”
Some people prefer to disguise the lie under a boring statement, and mention a somewhat shocking or surprising truth to confuse the rest of the participants. The group is likely to fall for it and believe that the startling statement is a lie.
Another option would be to say two incredible sentences that are true, and one simple one that is a lie. The group will observe the changes in tone of voice, gestures and body movements and decide which ones they consider to be the truth and which ones are lies.
If in the group of participants there are friends who can get to know each other more deeply, it is a good suggestion to ask them not to reveal the lie at first. This would allow other people to participate in the game and the activity to be successful.
Once the group starts playing, the tension will ease and the participants will surely have fun. Once everyone has shared their declarations, the game is over and if the score has been kept, a winner can then be declared.
examples
A woman named Maria might introduce herself as follows: “Hello, my name is Maria. In high school she had waist-length hair. I spoke to the actress and singer Cher in an airport cafeteria, and I speak four languages.” The rest of the group might think that talking to Cher is the most unlikely and would pick that as the false statement.
The following example illustrates how to use half truths to confuse the group. In this case, a boy named Javier introduces himself: “Hello, my name is Javier. When I was six years old I fell off my bike and broke my arm. My older sister is a doctor and I have appeared on a TV show.” Maybe Javier did fall off a bicycle but there was no fracture; someone who knows him may believe that this is one of the truths, since having appeared on television sounds more unlikely.
sample statements
If you are preparing to play two truths and a lie, here are some statements that may serve as inspiration:
- I love horror movies.
- I have never skated on ice.
- I can’t stay up past 10pm.
- I am afraid of birds.
- I’m colorblind.
- I love chocolate cookies.
- I love solving math equations.
- I have been interviewed on television.
- I educated my children at home.
- I love eating tomatoes and mushrooms.
- I studied three languages but I can’t speak any of them.
- I play the guitar.
- I have flown in a hot air balloon.
- I have never been to Seville.
- I play the harmonica.
- I’m shy on the phone.
- I love camping.
- I drive a convertible.
- I have never broken a bone.
- I was in a Hollywood movie.
- I can juggle seven oranges.
- I won a pie-eating contest.
- I have met Antonio Banderas.
- I play in a rock band.
- I grow most of my own food.
- I love to eat oysters.
- I am vegan.
- I sleep only four hours a night.
- I won a national drawing contest.
We hope these ideas serve as inspiration and that the next round of two truths and a lie will be a great success.
