The Lying Game
Can Lying Unleash Creativity?
I have been an ESL (English as a Second Language) volunteer teacher for the past 5 years. ESL is a passion of mine and one I enjoy greatly. I better since I don’t get paid!
Recently I played a game with my class using the VisualsSpeak “Visual Energizer” set. I told my ESL students to quickly go through the 42 photographs and pick one. I gave them about a minute to do this. The reason they were doing it, I explained, was to tell the class the biggest lie they could think of based on the picture they chose.
Photograph © Tom Tiernan
This was incredibly fun. I was told about winning world class car races in Brazil and why eating bacon and eggs 5 times a day is actually good for you based on the most up-to-date research.
The goal in my English as a Second Language class is to increase my students conversational ability in the English language. The game was great for getting people to use adjectives and descriptive terms.
For those of you involved in other professions, I think this could be a great group energizer or pump up the creativity level exercise.
My Theory on why this works.
When people are asked to do an exercise about their skills or job or company, they are relying on the left side of their brain to recall facts or perceptions. There is no creativity involved. Its more of a linear process.
“Lying” on the other hand is all about being creative. Even if the “lie” is based on a kernel of truth, the potential for making up details and expounding are limitless. There are no borders or boundaries as in the process of recalling facts or perceptions.
The bottom line. Give your participants the permission to lie, to regale each other with preposterous stories, to make up whoppers without the shame of being found out. The process is fun and unencumbered and that is where creativity lives. In the place where everything is possible and limitless.
Technorati Tags: creativity, ESL, visuals
