ESL Communicative and Vocabulary Resources

No-prep ESL Speaking Activity: Fashion Role-Play

Finding resources that strike a balance between engagement and practicality can be a challenge. Enter our No-Prep ESL Speaking Activity a resource designed to offer both stimulation and structure in the language learning process.

Navigating the Benefits of Role Play Activities:

While role-play activities offer undeniable benefits, it’s essential to approach them with a balanced perspective:

1. Realistic Engagement

Role plays simulate real-life scenarios, providing students with an opportunity to apply language skills in practical contexts. However, it’s important to recognize that these scenarios are simplified representations and may not fully capture the complexities of everyday communication.

2. Fluency Development

Through spontaneous conversation and improvisation, students can enhance their fluency and communication skills. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that fluency takes time to develop and may vary among learners.

3. Vocabulary Expansion

Role plays can facilitate vocabulary acquisition, particularly when centered around specific themes like fashion. However, it’s essential to supplement these activities with other vocabulary-building exercises to ensure a comprehensive learning experience.

4. Cultural Insight

Exploring cultural nuances through role plays can foster cross-cultural understanding. Still, it’s important to approach cultural discussions with sensitivity and awareness of diverse perspectives.

5. Critical Thinking Skills

Role plays encourage students to think critically and problem-solve within the context of the scenarios presented. Yet, it’s vital to recognize that critical thinking skills develop over time and may require additional support and guidance.

Get ready to embark on a journey through the ever-evolving world of fashion, where every role-play scenario is a window into new possibilities. From spirited debates on sustainable fashion to heart-to-heart conversations about personal style, the adventures await:

Discover the clash of opinions between a fashion student who celebrates individuality and a trend-setting influencer who swears by the latest fads.
Navigate the creative tensions between a magazine editor advocating for diversity and a photographer striving for aesthetic consistency.
Dive into discussions on environmental responsibility, school dress codes, budget-friendly fashion, and navigating familial disagreements over wardrobe choices.

At the heart of every role-play lies a simple yet profound truth: language is a living, breathing entity, meant to be experienced, embraced, and shared. With No-Prep ESL Speaking Activity, you’re not just teaching English – you’re igniting a passion for learning, fostering connections, and empowering your students to shine.

So why wait? Step into the world of fashion with us and watch as your ESL classroom transforms into a vibrant tapestry of language, laughter, and learning. The adventure begins now!

Student A1: You are a fashion student who values personal style and individuality in fashion. You are talking to a fashion influencer who often promotes the latest trends and encourages their followers to follow them blindly.

Student B1: You are a fashion influencer who often promotes the latest trends and encourages your followers to follow them blindly. You believe that following trends is a crucial part of being fashionable.

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Student A2: You are a fashion magazine editor who values diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. You are talking to a fashion photographer who often uses the same types of models in their shoots.

Student B2: You are a fashion photographer who values aesthetics and consistency in your work. You often use the same types of models in your shoots because you feel that they fit the aesthetic of your portfolio.

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Student A3: You’re concerned about the negative environmental and social impacts of fast fashion and believe in promoting sustainable clothing choices. Discuss your concerns with your friend.

Student B3: You love shopping for the latest trends from fast fashion brands and don’t think much about the consequences. Discuss your fashion choices with your friend and try to understand each other’s viewpoints.

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Student A4: You’re environmentally conscious and shop exclusively at thrift stores to support sustainable fashion. Discuss your reasons for this with your friend.

Student B4: You enjoy buying new, trendy clothing items from fast fashion brands and don’t think about their environmental impact. Discuss your preferences with your friends and try to understand each other’s viewpoints.

Student A5: You believe that dress codes at school are too restrictive and should allow more self-expression through clothing. Discuss your opinions on dress codes with your friend.

Student B5: You think that dress codes are essential to maintain a focused and orderly learning environment. Discuss your reasons with your friend and try to understand each other’s perspectives.

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Student A6: You have a tight budget and need a new wardrobe but can’t afford a shopping spree. You want to organize a clothing swap event with your friends to save money and promote sustainability. Discuss your idea with your friend and ask for their support and participation.

Student B6: You usually enjoy shopping sprees and are skeptical about the clothing swap idea. Discuss your reservations and try to find a compromise or solution that benefits both of you.

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Student A7: You have a limited budget for clothing but long for designer items that are beyond your means. You’re torn between staying within your budget and splurging on a high-end item. Discuss your fashion dilemma with your friend and seek their input on making the right decision.

Student B7: You have a passion for designer fashion but understand the constraints of a tight budget. Discuss your friend’s fashion dilemma and help them explore options to satisfy their desire for designer items without breaking the bank.

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Student A8: You’ve been arguing with your parents over your clothing choices, as they think your style is too revealing or inappropriate. You want to discuss the issue with your friend and seek advice on how to communicate with your parents about your fashion choices.

Student B8: You’re a friend who has faced similar disagreements with your parents about fashion. Discuss your experiences and provide suggestions on how to have a productive conversation with parents about clothing choices.

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NEW: 12 Back to School Games That Foster Teamwork and Learning

As the new school year starts and the corridors buzz with the excitement of a fresh academic journey, educators everywhere are looking for innovative ways to motivate their students, spark their passion for learning, and create a dynamic classroom vibe. When it comes to achieving these goals, back to school games are a brilliant solution that seamlessly blends the thrill of fun with the magic of learning!

And guess what? We’ve got something pretty cool up our sleeves – a bunch of back to school games that mix the thrill of fun with the magic of learning! These action-packed activities aren’t just about having a good time; they’re tools that weave teamwork, spark conversations, and light up a love for languages. So, hold on tight because we’re about to dig into a treasure trove of fantastic games that are about to kick-start your school year in style!

In education, games are more than just play – they’re like secret ingredients that blend together teamwork, chatter, creativity, and even some serious thinking.

Back to school games aren’t just limited to physical engagement; they stretch your imagination and language skills too, such as swapping treasures in ‘The Trading Game’ or weaving memory threads in ‘The Memory Web.

These activities are like a recipe that combines a pinch of teamwork, a dash of collaboration, and a sprinkle of language magic. How about joining forces to solve a puzzle in the ‘Collaborative Puzzle Challenge’ or conjuring up a wacky story in the ‘Group Storytelling Relay’? These games aren’t just flexing your muscles; they’re like a workout for your language skills, as you swap ideas, connect words, and unravel mysteries.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or stepping into the teaching world for the first time, these back to school games are like a treasure chest of opportunities at your fingertips.

So, let’s dive into each game and watch your classroom buzz with energy, creativity, and a bunch of grinning faces. Get ready for a splash of laughter, smart thinking, and the art of working together – all while setting the stage for an amazing school year ahead!”

1. The Trading Game

Objective: To encourage collaboration, negotiation, and communication.

Materials: Various small objects or items (e.g., pens, erasers, stickers)

Instructions: Distribute one object to each student as they enter the classroom. Explain that the goal of the game is to trade their object with others and end up with an object they value the most. Students must negotiate trades with their classmates by communicating their preferences. Set a time limit (e.g., 10-15 minutes) for trading. After the time is up, ask students to share the object they ended up with and why they chose it.

2. The Memory Web

Objective: To help students remember each other’s names and build connections.

Instructions: Form a circle with the students. The first student introduces themselves, saying their name and a fun fact about themselves. The second student introduces themselves and repeats the name and fact of the first student before sharing their own. This pattern continues around the circle, with each student repeating the names and facts of the previous students before adding their own. By the end of the activity, each student will have repeated and heard all the names and facts in the circle.

3. Collaborative Puzzle Challenge

Objective: To encourage collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Materials: Jigsaw puzzle pieces (one per student), a complete jigsaw puzzle

Instructions: Distribute one puzzle piece to each student. Explain that the goal is to complete the puzzle together as a class. Students must find their matching piece by finding the student with the adjacent piece. Once all students are connected, assemble the complete puzzle.

4. Human Bingo Icebreaker

Objective: To help students learn interesting facts about their classmates and break the ice.

Instructions: Create bingo cards with empty squares, each containing a unique statement or fact (e.g., Has visited another country, Can play a musical instrument, Loves pizza). Distribute the bingo cards to students and provide them with markers. Instruct students to mingle and find classmates who match the statements in the bingo squares. Once a student finds someone who fits a statement, they ask that classmate to sign or initial the square. The goal is to complete a row, column, or diagonal by finding classmates for the statements. Celebrate the first student to achieve bingo and learn interesting facts about each other.

5. Word Association Circle

Objective: To stimulate vocabulary recall and encourage quick thinking.

Instructions: Have students form a circle. Start with one student who says a word (e.g., “apple”). The next student must quickly say a word that is associated with the previous word (e.g., “fruit”). Continue around the circle with each student providing an associated word.

6. Group Drawing Challenge

Objective: To foster creativity, cooperation, and communication.

Materials: Large sheets of paper, markers or colored pencils

Instructions: Divide students into groups of 3-4. Each group starts with a blank sheet of paper and a marker. The first student starts by drawing a simple shape or line on the paper. Pass the paper to the next student, who adds to the drawing. Continue passing and adding to the drawing until all students in the group have contributed.

7. Story Starters Relay

Objective: To enhance creativity, cooperation, and storytelling abilities.

Instructions: Prepare a list of story starters (sentences that initiate a story). Divide students into teams and line them up. The first student in each line receives a story starter and must start telling a story based on it. After a short time (e.g., 30 seconds), the teacher signals for students to pass the story starter to the next team member. Each student adds a sentence to continue the story. The last student in each line concludes the story and shares it with the class.

8. Circle of Compliments

Objective: To boost self-esteem and promote positive interactions.

Instructions: Have students stand in a circle. Explain that each student will give a genuine compliment to the person on their right. The compliments should focus on positive traits, skills, or qualities. Continue until each student has given and received a compliment.

9. Tower of Support

Objective: To foster collaboration and physical teamwork.

Instructions: Divide students into teams. Provide each team with newspapers and tape. Instruct teams to build the tallest tower using only newspapers and tape. The catch: the tower must support an empty plastic cup at the top. Set a time limit for the challenge. Test the stability of the towers by placing cups on top.

10. Emoji Charades

Objective: To promote non-verbal communication and creativity.

Instructions: Create a list of emojis representing different actions, emotions, or objects. Divide students into teams. One student from each team selects an emoji and acts it out without speaking. The team members must guess the correct emoji within a time limit. Rotate players within the team for each round.

11. Name Chain Reaction

Objective: To practice name recall and concentration.

Instructions: Have students stand in a circle. The first student says their name aloud and performs a simple action (e.g., claps hands). The second student repeats the first student’s name and action and adds their own. Continue around the circle, with each student reciting all previous names and actions before adding their own. See if the group can maintain the chain without mistakes.

12. Group Memory Game:

Objective: To improve memory and team coordination.

Instructions: Prepare a tray with a selection of small objects (e.g., pencil, eraser, coin, paperclip). Display the tray to students for a brief period (e.g., 30 seconds). Cover the tray and give each team a piece of paper. Teams write down as many objects as they remember from the tray. The team with the most correct objects wins.

Discover TEFL Lesson Plans: TEFLLessons.com’s Exceptional Teaching Resources

Ever seen confetti on a link? Well, not literally, but some links here might have a festive affiliate twist. If you click and end up at an amazing destination, it’s like a mini-party for both of us – you find cool stuff, and we get a little confetti shower too.

Hey there, fellow educators! So, I stumbled upon TEFLlessons.com – a website that is a treasure trove of TEFL lesson plans- not too long ago and as someone who’s passionate about teaching and always on the lookout for top-notch resources, I dove into their offerings with genuine excitement.

This website is all about backing up teachers like us. Founded by two experienced educators with nearly 30 years of combined teaching under their belts, they get the teacher life.

They get that prepping killer TEFL lesson plans can be stressful and time-sucking. That’s why they’re all about supporting us with top-quality resources that cut the stress and save time. Their lessons come with everything you need – teacher’s notes, answer keys, and even pronunciation guides. It’s like they’ve thought of everything.

And guess what? Their website is packed with all kinds of teaching goodies –TEFL lesson plans, activities, games, and worksheets. All designed to help us create lessons that light up our students’ faces. They’re constantly updating too, so there’s always something new to discover.

Getting Hooked on the Free Stuff:

Okay, let’s talk about their free resources. They’ve got this cool collection of stuff that’s like a treasure chest for teachers. I’m talking interactive activities, ready-to-roll lesson plans – you name it. I’ve sneaked some of these into my classes and trust me, the kids are loving it. It’s like a secret weapon for keeping them all jazzed up.

Diving into the 6-Month Membership:

The 6-month membership offers a burst of new content every time you log in. The lesson plans fit seamlessly into your teaching style, as if they were tailor-made for your classroom. It’s like having a toolkit of puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together to create engaging lessons.

Going the Distance with the 12-Month Access:

If you’re ready to commit to a longer teaching journey, the 12-month access membership is your trusty companion. Their impressive range of materials covers a multitude of topics and teaching styles, ensuring you never hit a teaching rut again.

Give a Nod to the School Package:

Oh, and listen to this – they’ve got this school package thing. If your school is all about teaching awesomeness, you’re in for a treat. It’s like they’re handing out goodie bags to all the teachers. And let’s be real, having the whole gang on the same page when it comes to teaching is a total win.

Bottom line, this TEFLlessons.com discovery has been like stumbling upon a goldmine. It’s not just about resources; it’s about having a buddy who totally gets the teacher life. So if you’re up for injecting some oomph into your lessons, give TEFLlessons.com a whirl. Let’s make teaching as fun as it should be, shall we?

Plus, get this – you can snag 20% off your first membership with their coupon code: INTRO20. I mean, who doesn’t love a good deal?

Check out the memberships below!

Other resources:

15 Back to School Activities: Icebreakers, Warm-ups, and Energizers

End of Year Activities and Games : No-prep, Easy to Print

10 No-Prep and Low-Prep Fun ESL Christmas Activities

Best English Games to Play in Your ESL Classroom

More Role-play Ideas for English Classroom

50 ESL Conversation Questions for Teens and Adults

End of Year Activities and Games : No-prep, Easy to Print

It’s June, the most wonderful month. For students, but mostly for teachers. We really need that break. Here are a couple of end of school activities that will help with that,

But before you start sipping that cocktail by the pool, have some fun with your students if you can. In some countries, students returned to school at the beginning of June to wrap things up. Use the last couple of days to connect with your students and enjoy your time together. Here are some quick and simple end of year activities and games for ESL classes.

No-prep end of school activities

Picture dictation

Students work in pairs. One has a picture (any picture from a textbook, their own photos on phone, whatever) and describes the picture to their partner who has to draw the picture as accurately as possible. Entertaining activity for future artists.

Picture description

A variation of the previous activity. Students choose a couple of photos(appropriate) from their phones and describe it to each other. Works great as a quick warm-up.

Write a survey

Tell the students to each write 10 questions for a class survey. Give them a topic (summer holidays, hobbies, habits, future, etc). When they have written the questions let them survey each other and report their results at the end of the lesson. They love to talk about themselves! Who doesn’t, right?

Dictionary game

Tell the students to use a dictionary(an app, online, or paper) and find a couple of words they don’t know. For each of the words they need to write down the original definition of the word and make up two more definitions that are false. Thy then work in groups of three or four and read their definitions to their classmates who have to guess the right definition. They get a point for every correct guess. This is a fun guessing game that is also great for learning new vocabulary.

Draw a giraffe

This is another activity for aspiring artists. Two students sit with their backs to each other. Each will have a paper and a pencil/pen. Their task is to draw a giraffe or any other animal or an object, but each of them has to draw only a half of the final image. They can’t see what the other one is drawing so they have to communicate, how to draw it. It’s a lot of fun and the students can have an exhibition of the finished drawings and comment on them.

Plan a holiday trip

Put the students in pairs and tell them they have to plan a trip for the summer. They have to plan the whole itinerary and come with a budget for that trip. Hiking in the French Alps? A cruise in the Caribbean? Everything is possible!

Guess who I am

You’ll need a self-stick pad and a pen. Put the students in groups of four. They will write a name of a famous person or literary character(on anything else) on the self-stick note and stick it onto the forehead of a person sitting next to them so nobody know what is written there. They have to ask yes/no questions to guess the personality. A classic!

*Prince William plays post-it note game on charity visit. Source: The Telegraph*

Mini presentations

Give each student two slips of paper. Tell them to write down a topic they would like to discuss. When they are done, take ale the slips of paper, put them in a bin or a hat and have students each draw a slip. Tell them that they will have to give a short presentation on the topic. Give them 2 minutes to think about the topic, then put them in group of four. They will have each five minutes to present their topic. If there is time at the end of the lesson, have them ask follow up questions.

Print and play end of school activities

One minute talk

This is a very simple, no-prep activity. In pairs, students give each other a topic to talk about and they have to talk uninterrupted for a minute. It is more difficult than it sounds, especially with topics such as egg yolks, armpit hair o or shoe laces. If your students lack imagination, you can use these ideas: One Minute Talk Cards.

Role plays

Role-plays are fun, educational, great for shy students, creative, fun, and did I mention fun? You can create your own, look for some online or download these:

Role-plays about nature and the environment

Negotiation role-plays based on real life situations

Balderdash

Balderdash is a word bluffing game in which you write definitions for weird words. The definitions may or may not be correct. You will find more about the game and a free PDF in this link.

Discussion questions

Another classic activity. If you don’t want to waste time googling, you can download this 120 Conversation Starters activity.

Picture description

I’ve mention no-prep picture description activities above, for this activity you can download my free PDF resources:

Picture Prompts for Speaking

Creative Storytelling

Stories with a twist

This activity is a cross of telling a story, inventing your own and acting. I use famous stories with three or more characters so the kids can work in small groups. Then I assign the story and let them draw a card with a specific genre. You can download the activity with my stories here or prepare your own, using stories well known in your culture.

Stories with a Twist

Dominoes

A fun game of vocabulary dominoes. Students can work individually, in pairs or in teams. Great for vocabulary revision.

Travel Dominoes

Places Dominoes

Online end of school activities

Jeopardylabs

Everybody knows Jeopardy. So far, I was able to find any grammar or vocabulary revision quiz I needed. Lots of quizzes on many topics, but beware as the quality varies. You can create your own Jeopardy quiz and you can also assign your students a topic and let them create their own quiz to test their classmates’ knowledge.

Baamboozle

I use this site mostly with my younger learners as it doesn’t have many higher level grammar or vocabulary quizzes.
My tip: put your students in teams (max number of teams is 4), choose a quiz and let them play the Classic mode with the power up, it’s much more fun!

Quizizz

My favorite online quiz tool can be used to assign homework (this works great) or do solo practice. Very useful during lockdown, but also anytime. Assigning homework online in just a few clicks? The system checks it? The students see and track their progress? It gamiefies the learning process? What’s not to love!

Kahoot

If you don’t know Kahoot, you should definitely start using it. Right now! Kahoot is widely popular and it’s good to know that its creators made Premium available for free for the rest of the academic year. Try it out!

The Game Gal

Here you can find plenty of simple, family-friendly games. I mostly use the Word Generator for charades, pictionary and other games. The great thing is I only need my laptop and I project the words on the whiteboard, so the students don’t need computers.

ESL Taboo Cards: Printable Vocabulary Activity

Are you looking for a stimulating and entertaining method to increase your vocabulary and communication abilities in English? Take a look our ESL taboo card games below!

ESL Taboo is a frequently played game that’s designed for teams of two or more players. The goal is to get your teammates to guess a particular word or phrase without uttering a series of taboo words or phrases that are closely linked to the target word. For instance, if the target word is “banana,” the taboo words could be “fruit,” “yellow,” and “peel.”

Using ESL taboo cards in your classroom is an excellent method to stimulate your students’ minds and broaden their vocabulary range. It’s also an ideal opportunity to develop communication skills like expressing ideas with clarity, actively listening to others, and providing feedback.

To play, split your class into teams and give each group a pack of taboo cards. One member of each team draws a card and attempts to get their teammates to guess the target word without using any of the taboo words or phrases. If their teammates guess correctly, the team earns a point. If they use a taboo word or phrase, the other team earns a point.

ESL taboo cards can be used to practice various topics and themes, such as food, travel, hobbies, and more. You can also generate your own cards based on your class’s specific needs and interests.

So why not add a dash of spice to your ESL classes with a game of Taboo? It’s an amusing, effective, and engaging way to improve your students’ English language abilities while having fun in the process. And who knows, you might even learn a few new words and phrases yourself.

Here are our favorite taboo games:

Science&Techology NEW!

Food

Health

Nature and Environment

Other vocabulary activities:

ESL Vocabulary Quizzes and Games

ESL/EFL Vocabulary Activity: Travel Compound Nouns Dominoes

ESL Game Compound Nouns Dominoes: Town and Countryside

More Role-play Ideas for English Classroom

Welcome to Role-play English Resources!

Want to make learning English more fun? Try role-playing! It’s a great way for ESL students to practice their conversation, grammar, listening, reading, and writing skills. We’ve got a ton of cool role-play activities, games, scripts, and ideas for you to use in the classroom. Whether you’re a teacher or a student, our resources will help you bring role-playing into your English language class and improve your language skills.

Role-playing in the ESL classroom is a game-changer! As an ESL teacher, I’ve found that these activities are a fun and effective way to help my students improve their language skills in a natural way. It also gets my students excited and engaged in their English studies.

By putting students in realistic scenarios, role-playing allows them to practice using the language in a communicative context. It helps them develop their communication and problem-solving abilities, and it builds confidence and fluency in using the language.

There are so many role-play activities ESL teachers can use in the classroom! And, the best part is that you can always customize them to fit the needs and interests of your students. This way, they can practice language specific to all sorts of topics and scenarios.

I highly recommend incorporating role-play English scenarios in your lessons. Travel is one of my favorite topics to use, it’s always a hit with the students. Also, a restaurant role-play is a great way to bring some fun to the classroom.

Yo, there are so many role-playing activities English teachers can use in the classroom! And, the best part is that you can always customize them to fit the needs and interests of your students. This way, they can practice language specific to all sorts of topics and scenarios.

You will find more new engaging roleplays on different topics below. Give them a shot, and let me know how they go. I’m always curious to hear how they worked out for you and your students.

Roleplay 1: Family

Student A: You and your sibling are arguing over your shared bedroom. You are the older sibling, and you are very interested in fashion and design. You have recently started following some interior design blogs and Instagram accounts, and you have been inspired to redecorate your bedroom. You want to add some bright colors, modern furniture, and trendy wall art to the room.

Student B: You and your sibling are arguing over your shared bedroom. You are the younger sibling, and you are more practical and comfortable in your tastes. You have always enjoyed the traditional and cozy feel of the shared bedroom, and you don’t want to change it too much. You like the current furniture and decor, and you don’t see the need for a major overhaul.

Roleplay 2: Housing, Education, Relationships

Student A: You are a first-year student, and you are very excited to be living in the dorms. You have made many new friends and you want to spend as much time as possible with them. You want to have people over every weekend to hang out, watch movies, and play games. Talk to your roommate.

Student B: You are a first-year student focused on your studies. You want to do well in college and you need a quiet and peaceful environment to study in. You are worried that having people over every weekend will be too distracting and disruptive. Talk to your roommate.

Roleplay 3: Education

Student A: You are a teenager who believes that the government should have a minimal role in education and that schools should be run independently. You believe that this would lead to more innovation and better outcomes for students.

Student B: You are a parent who believes that the government should have a strong role in education in order to ensure that all students have access to quality education. You also believe that government oversight is necessary to hold schools accountable for their performance.

Roleplay 4: Housing, Finances

Student A: You are the older sibling who is currently living in the family home. You have just graduated from college and are planning to move out soon. You believe that it is important to sell the family home so that the money can be split among all the siblings.

Student B: You are the younger sibling who is still living at home with your parents. You feel that the family home is an important part of your childhood and you would like to keep it in the family. You are feeling frustrated because Student A seems to only be thinking about their own financial gain, rather than the sentimental value of the family home.

Roleplay 5: Housing, Relationships

Student A: You are a resident of a suburban neighborhood. You are very proud of your lawn and garden and take great care to maintain them. You believe that the shared driveway should be maintained equally by all of the neighbors.

Student B: You are also a resident of a suburban neighborhood. You have just moved in and have not had time to work on your lawn and garden yet. You feel that Student A is putting too much pressure on you to keep the shared driveway looking perfect. You are feeling frustrated because you believe that Student A should be more understanding of your situation.

Roleplay 6: Health

Student A: You are a high school student who is an advocate for mental health awareness and de-stigmatization. You believe that mental health is just as important as physical health and should be treated with the same importance. You have personal experience with mental health issues and have seen the impact of a lack of access to resources and support.

Student B: You are a school counselor who works with high school students. You believe that mental health is important and support the use of therapy and medication in treatment. However, you believe that some students may be overdiagnosed and overmedicated and that other forms of support and intervention should also be considered.

Roleplay 7: Travel

Student A: You are a high school student who has always wanted to go on a trip to Europe. You have saved up enough money to finally make it happen, and you have planned out all of the destinations you want to visit. However, your best friend, Student B, has a different idea for where the two of you should go. Your role in this argument is to convince Student B that Europe is the perfect destination for your trip and to explain why you have been dreaming of going there for so long.

Student B: You are a high school student and the best friend of Student A. You have always wanted to go on a trip to Asia, and you think that it would be a more exciting and unique destination than Europe. Your role in this argument is to convince Student A that Asia is the better choice for your trip and to explain why you think it would be a more memorable experience.

Download the role-plays: Role plays Ideas for English Classroom

Try also our other resources:

Business English Role-play Activity: Annoying Coworkers

ESL Communication Activity: Science Role-Plays

ESL Role-play Worksheet: Food

10 No-Prep and Low-Prep Fun ESL Christmas Activities

It’s the time of the year again!

I’m slowly getting into the Christmas mood, and nothing says Christmas more than music. Although I love listening to festive music mostly when I’m wrapping presents, planning a holiday lesson isn’t that bad either.

So grab a cup of tea or mulled wine, enjoy the music and let the creative juices flow. Or try these ESL Christmas activities.

Secret Santa

You know how this works, don’t you? Every student will become a Secret Santa to a classmate whose name they draw. The catch- they will not give each other sweets or other small gifts. The gifts these Secret Santas will be giving are a personalized poem or a short story for the lucky recipient.

Baked Goods Party

If possible, have the students bake something at home and take pictures of the process. The next day, everyone will bring what they baked and the students will take turns describing what and how they baked it. Think of it as a show and tell Christmas Edition. Plus, there will be sharing and tasting.

Charity Auction

Let the students choose a charity they want to contribute to. The next day, they will bring stuff they don’t need or don’t use for the auction. Decide on the starting price and minimum bid. Each student will describe the product they are selling. The students love outbidding each other and the will learn about helping others.

Christmas Taboo

Taboo is a classic vocabulary activity. You can download the Christmas version below.

Christmas Taboo Cards

Christmas Traditions Presentations

Each student chooses a country and will prepare a presentation about the Christmas traditions of the chosen country (or any major holiday if the country doesn’t celebrate Christmas)

Christmas Movie and Discussion

Why not watch a short Christmas movie? Or download our Advent Activity Calendar for even more activity ideas.

Advent Activity Calendar

Christmas Songs Complete the Lyrics

Find a couple of popular Christmas songs, copy the lyrics, erase some words and you’ll have a nice Christmas listening activity. And an earworm!

Christmas Charades

Prepare small slips of paper
Put the students into groups of three or four
Let them write vocabulary related to Christmas on the slips of paper(or use the Christmas taboo cards)
The groups exchange the vocabulary piles
In groups, they take turns and draw one paper slip at a time. They have to act out the word or expression for the group to guess

Bucket List

Depending on the age of your students, tell them to think about the things they would like to achieve by a certain age( 15,18,25,30). Have them write a list containing ten things they want to achieve, do, experience before that certain age. When they complete the list, put them into groups of three to discuss their choices.

Christmas Postcards

Cut drawing paper into postcard-sized pieces. Students first draw a Christmas postcard and then write a short holiday greeting to a member of their family or a friend. They’ve probably never written a postcard before. If you want, you can arrange for the postcards to be sent. It will be a nice Christmas surprise.

I hope you liked these ESL Christmas activities. Share your favorite ideas in the comments!

Advent Calendar for ESL Students: 24 Ideas To Make Your Lesson Even More Fun!

Who doesn’t like Christmas?

This is my twist on a traditional advent calendar.

You will need a Christmas stocking, 24 slips of paper and your creativity!

Conversation Questions for ESL Lessons

This speaking activity contains 30 ESL conversation questions for ES lessons. Great for teens and adult learners. (16+, B1+). It is best for small groups or as a pair-work.

The slideshow can be used as a resource for online teaching, just share your screen on Zoom or another app when teaching online. You can use it for a group discussion or if you want to use the activity in smaller groups, assign your students into breakout rooms and send them the PDF with the conversation questions before your lesson. During the lesson, pop into the breakout rooms to listen in and observe.

You can use the video below – How to Never Run out of Things to Say – Keep a Conversation Flowing! as a warm-up.

Conversation Questions for ESL Lessons

Describe your worst travel experience.
What was the most important chance meeting you’ve experienced?
How would you describe a good life?
How did going to school shape you as a person?
How important do you think self-improvement is?
What will the future of transportation look like?
What strategies do you use to make big decisions?
What are some of your plans for the future?
How would you explain the idea of love to an alien?
What policies could the government implement to improve people’s health?

What was the scariest dream you’ve had?
What life hacks have you found to be particularly effective?
If you could design a reality TV show, what would it be like?
What combinations of flavors do you like, and why do they taste so good?
How have standards of beauty changed in your lifetime?
What is your best school story?
Why do some words sound funny to us?
What are the best and worst things about your favorite restaurant?
How would your country change if children were allowed to vote?
What experiments would you like to run if time and money weren’t an issue?

How would the world change if some people could use magic spells, and some people could not?
Why is it so hard to learn from our mistakes?
What is your most controversial opinion?
How do you usually celebrate some of the major holidays?
What valuable lessons should we learn from history?
How has photography changed the world?
How do your values differ from others?
How do you wish your country would change?
What completely baseless conspiracy would you like to start?
What social situations do you dread?

Download Conversation Questions for esl lessons

Slideshow – Conversation Questions for ESL Lessons

Funny Conversation Starters: 60 Questions

Save time preparing your ESL conversation lessons, try these funny conversation starters. Need a warm-up activity? Looking for something different and fun? No problem, share your screen if you teach online or use a projector when teaching in the classroom. You can also download the PDF and print the questions.

This extensive list of funny conversation starters was compiled from various sources and not primarily targeted at ELT learners. The questions are authentic, not taken from a textbook, and enable students to have real, authentic conversations.

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60 Funny Conversation Starters for ESL Students

1 What is the worst advice you have given?

2 If you were in a circus, which character would you be?

3 Have you ever stalked someone on social media?

4 What is the best part about taking a selfie?

5 What is your favorite celebrity scandal?

6 What is one thing you should never say at a wedding?

7 What is the worst pickup line you have ever heard?

8 Did you have an imaginary friend? What was his/her name?

9 Have you ever had a dream where everyone was in their underwear?

10 Who’s your favorite comedian?

Funny conversation starters

11 Have you ever been on a blind date?

12 If you could only store one type of food in your pocket, what would you carry?

13 What is the worst present you have ever received and why?

14 If you were a farm animal, who would you be and why?

15 What is the worst first date you have ever been on?

16 If you could do anything illegal without getting caught, what would you do?

17 What is the weirdest food combination you’ve ever tried?

18 Do you remember what you were doing on the 21st of December, 2018?

19 Tell me an embarrassing, yet funny story.

20 What is the funniest joke that you know?

21 What would your dream job combination be? Mine would be a space-cowboy!

22 What’s the weirdest smell you have ever smelled?

23 What is the weirdest thing you are afraid of?

24 If animals could talk, which animal would be the rudest?

25 If a squirrel could talk, do you think it would have a really high voice or a really low voice?

26 What would be the absolute worst name that you could give your child?

27 What movie completely changes its plot when you change one letter in its title?

28 What is something that hasn’t happened yet, but would certainly break the internet?

29 What is the silliest way that you’ve been injured?

30 What quote or saying do people often say, but you believe is complete trash?

31 What was the funniest thing you’ve seen recently online?

32 What makes you laugh?

33 What is the weirdest thing that you have ever eaten?

34 What is a funny excuse that you have given to leave a party early?

35 What old person tendencies do you have?

36 What did you think was cool as a kid, but isn’t actually cool now?

37 What makes you smile without fail?

38 What is the craziest dream you’ve had?

39 Do you think you’d survive a zombie apocalypse? Why or why not?

40 What was your worst fashion disaster?

41 If you had to change your name to something totally new, what would be your new name?

42 If you had to name a chapter in your life right now, what would it be called?

43 What would the book about your life be called?

44 What was the last thing that you did for fun?

45 What part of a kid’s movie completely scarred you when you were younger?

46 What’s the weirdest thing that a guest has done at your house?

47 If you could start a secret society what would it be called?

48 What movie should be made into a musical?

49 Which animal would be super cool if it was made into the size of a horse?

50 If you could design a new ice cream flavor what would be in it?

51 What would you name your boat if you had one?

52 If the color blue had a smell, what would it smell like?

53 What is a magical power that you wish you had?

54 If you had an extra part of your body what would it be?

55 If you were a candy bar what candy bar would you be?

56 What is something that you love that everyone else thinks is gross?

57 What is the weirdest habit that you have?

58 What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?

59 What celebrity would you trade lives with?

60 What fairytale story would you like to be in?

Download 60 Funny Conversation Starters.

Other resources:

ESL Vocabulary Activity Based on Taboo: Food

Unfinished Sentences ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Role Play Worksheet: Travel/Holidays

12 ESL Negotiation Role-plays: Real-life situations

Conversation Starters: 30 Interesting Conversation Questions Not Only For ESL Students