Cockney Rhyming Slang

A favourite energiser and introduction exercise of mine which just gets laughs every time.

You could use this as an introduction exercise or link it to communication skills or office slang i.e. in company jargon that no one understands.  I've used it for presentation skills where we need to keep away from company jargon before.

 Equipment you will need

• Handouts pre-printed.  Click here to download the handout in Word format

Trainer Instructions

• Invite the group to prepare to introduce themselves to the whole group or to tell them something about themselves.
• Maybe a favourite holiday destination or where they grew up or their most important success in the last year.
• Suit the topic to your workshop content.
• Then announce that they must use at least 6 cockney rhyming slang words in their announcement.
• Give them five or some minutes to prepare after they've received the handout.
• As each person introduces themselves award prizes for the person with the most slang words.

Debrief

• Doesn't it prove that it's difficult to understand when we don't know the meanings of all the words used.
• In the same way, using in company jargon can have the same affect.
• Also did  they notice how few people questioned the cockney slang even if it were wrong, this is politeness.  In other words your audience may not understand and are too polite to challenge.

Variations

• Always a good idea to laminate the handouts so they can be used again and again.