by Paul Reed, Communicative Disorders.
Ice breakers. The very word evokes memories of awkward exchanges, generates deep sighs, or causes eyes to roll. We’ve all experienced ‘tell us something interesting about yourself’ that often serves as a mainstay of the first day of many classes. Yet, many times this question doesn’t serve any clear purpose, nor does it help create connections or help anyone learn names. However, it doesn’t have to be this way!
I start the first day of all my classes (and usually the first couple of classes) with icebreakers. And I receive positive feedback from my students about how much they enjoy them. What is the secret? Being overtly cheesy and embracing that very fact!
I have several go-tos: what is your go-to karaoke song, what is a food that many people like that you can’t stand, what is a food that you love that others tend not to, what is the weirdest roadside attraction you’ve ever been to, among a handful of others.
Yes, these are somewhat off the wall, but they do serve a purpose. Rather than seeing a roomful of strangers, I can now see a room with Laura who hates pickles, loves sushi, will belt out ‘Shake it off’, and saw the world’s largest ball of yarn while another Laura hates barbecue, eats peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, will sing any Stevie Wonder song, and visited a haunted museum. And there are bound to be other fans of Stevie Wonder in the room, or those who share the aversion to dill and/or slow cooked pork, or who saw the same attraction. Thus, I can remember names faster and the students may find a connection with one another.
Are these ice breakers cheesy? No doubt. Are there sometimes eye rolls? Yep.
And yet, when I learn names quicker, or when two students find a commonality, the usefulness of these conversation starters becomes immediately evident. I often teach classes with more that 70 students (and usually have several students with the same names), but I can usually call students by name by the third week of class. Students often discuss the songs they would sing, or the foods they mention, and then an initial conversation is generated.
Here are some example ice-breaker questions:
- What is your go-to karaoke song (or what would you sing if you went to karaoke)?
- What is a song that is really popular but you really don’t like?
- What is a food you hate that many people love?
- What is a food you love that many people don’t?
- What is your favorite food/restaurant in Tuscaloosa? (this works better with
- upperclassmen)
- What is the weirdest/most random/scariest/etc. roadside attraction that you’ve ever
- seen/visited?
- Where does your first or last name come from? (this is for smaller classes, and usually
- requires some rapport. Maybe for later in the semester!)
- What is your favorite movie/tv show? (You can also turn this into – what is a movie that
- is popular but you don’t really like? Or, what is a movie you really like that isn’t very well-known?)
- What is your favorite book?
- Who is the most famous person from your hometown?
Of course, these are only suggestions. What “cheese” will you add to your class sessions?