Pronouncing Names

Some classrooms may appear to be culturally homogenous if students share culturally similar names. Students in these settings may struggle to find value in the activity. However, it’s important to remind students that they may encounter unfamiliar names in a variety of settings outside of the class, and the activity will help them develop empathy and emotional intelligence that can be applied throughout their lives.

While the extension activity is designed to foster inclusion and belonging, the act of sharing names can create opportunities for students to respond inappropriately to unfamiliar names. While conducting this activity, it’s important that you circulate around the room so you can monitor students’ discussions and address any inappropriate comments or reactions. Consider revisiting any notable observations when your class begins to draft its class contract in the days following this activity.

Students learn to pronounce each other’s names by participating in the MeUUme ¹ name game. 

How the Name Game Works

Instruct students to stand in a straight line. There should be room for the line to grow from one end. It might need to round corners in the small space during the activity. 

The first student in line (e.g., Bao) turns to the second person (e.g., Amara) and follows the name-exchange process of “Me-You-You-Me” (MeUUMe) as outlined: 

• Bao says his own name: Bao 
• Amara says her own name: Amara 
• Bao says Amara’s name: Amara 
• Amara says Bao’s name: Bao
• Bao then moves on to the third person in the line, the fourth, and so on. 

After the first person has passed by, the second person starts by addressing the third person, and so on. The first person joins the end of the line, and the game finishes when the last person from the original line has had their turn at introducing themselves to each person in the group.

Tell your students that if they forget the order of the introduction, they should think of the name of the game: MeUUMe, or “Me, You, You, Me.” You might want to write “MeUUMe” on the board to help them remember the pattern.

• 1“Icebreakers and Name Games,” Orange County Department of Education, accessed May 30, 2019, https://ocde.us/EducationalSer- vices/STEMandHumanities/AVID/Documents/icebreakers.pdf.