Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If you’ve ever taught a room full of ESL teens who have a million things on their minds but zero motivation to practice vocabulary—you’re not alone. Over the years, I’ve tried every vocab routine under the sun, but there’s one activity that consistently brings energy, laughter, and actual language output into my classroom: a little game called Word Dash, an ESL vocabulary game inspired by the Mexican game Basta!
The inspiration? A traditional game played all across Mexico and Latin America known as ¡Basta! It’s fast, it’s competitive, and most importantly—my students already know it.
What Is ¡Basta!?
¡Basta! (which means Stop! in Spanish) is a simple paper-and-pencil game that’s wildly popular among Spanish-speaking students. Here’s how it works: players choose a random letter and try to fill in several category boxes (like “Name,” “Food,” “Animal,” etc.) with words that start with that letter. The first player to finish yells “¡Basta!” and the round ends. From there, everyone scores based on how unique or accurate their answers are.
It’s a vocabulary race that encourages quick thinking, spelling, and category fluency—and it’s an absolute gem for ESL instruction when adapted thoughtfully.
How I Adapted ¡Basta! Into Word Dash! (for English Learners)
So here’s the deal: I took the core structure of ¡Basta! and gave it an ESL makeover. Same idea, but with categories that support English language development and fit common classroom themes.
To start, I created a Back to School version of Word Dash! with categories like:
- School Supply
- Class Rule
- School Subject
- Emotion on First Day
- How You Get to School
Instead of random, disconnected vocab, this version focuses on accessible, high-frequency English tied to school life. My students had a blast with it—and they didn’t even realize they were practicing sentence-level vocabulary while doing it.
Here’s a peek at my students playing it in class.
We played it in teams, we laughed at funny answers, and best of all—they were using academic and social vocabulary in meaningful ways. That’s what you want on Week 1, right?
Whether you’re looking to celebrate linguistic diversity or just need a quick, low-prep activity, this ESL vocabulary game inspired by the Mexican game Basta is a classroom favorite. It blends language practice with cultural relevance—something our ESL learners truly connect with.
The Free Version: Traditional Categories Inspired by ¡Basta!
Because this game has such deep roots in many of my students’ home cultures, I wanted to create a classic version too—and offer it totally free.
This FREE Traditional Word Dash! includes 7 of the most common categories from the original game:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Animal
- Color
- Food
- Country or City
- Object
I kept the format clean and teacher-friendly with a printable PDF (color + black & white), student instructions, and a scoring guide. This version is a great way to honor your students’ backgrounds while keeping things educational and lighthearted.
Click here to download the free Traditional Word Dash!
Why It Works for ESL Students
Whether you’re teaching newcomers or more advanced students, this game hits several language development targets at once:
- Builds vocabulary fluency across multiple topics
- Encourages category thinking and letter-sound awareness
- Supports speaking and writing if you extend it with oral sharing or sentence writing
- Fosters collaboration and engagement
- Connects with students’ cultural knowledge, making it feel familiar, not foreign
I’ve used it in small groups, whole class, and even as a fast finisher folder activity. It’s that flexible.
Want a Themed Version for Back to School?
If you’re looking to bring the Word Dash! magic into the first week of school—or want a fun vocab game you can laminate and reuse—I’ve also created a Back to School edition with ESL-friendly categories, a laminated version, and editable Google Slides for student typing.
Check out the Back to School Word Dash! here
It’s a great way to build community and practice real-world school vocabulary without resorting to dry worksheets or textbook drills. Teachers have enough on their plate—this one’s low-prep and high-energy.
Wrap-Up: Use It, Share It, Make It Yours
I’ve seen firsthand how games like this bring language to life for ESL teens—and how powerful it can be when students recognize something familiar from their own experiences in the classroom.
Whether you try the free traditional version or dive into the themed editions, Word Dash! is here to help you start the year with language, laughter, and connection.
If you use it in your class, I’d LOVE to hear how it goes—or tag me on Instagram @sunshinesecondaryesl with photos of your students playing!
Happy teaching,
Sunshine Castro, M.Ed.
If you’re looking for even more speaking prompts…
- B2 ESL Speaking Activities That Actually Get Teens Talking
- 10 Conversation Starters for ESL Teens
- A Fun Speaking Activity for ESL Beginners: Would You Rather?
- Easy Speaking Practice with Emotion Prompts
- My Favorite A2 ESL Speaking Prompts
- Charades for ESL Teens
- Letter Writing for ESL Teens (Speaking/Writing blend)
