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.


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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.

Try also our other resources:

Business English Role-play Activity: Annoying Coworkers

ESL Communication Activity: Science Role-Plays

ESL Role-play Worksheet: Food

Travel ESL Conversation Questions

This is an excellent speaking activity for students when engaged in a conversation about travel, as well as for adult students in any program or one-on-one lessons. Travel words on the list include – journey, flights, destination, trip, license, accommodation, backpacking, international, leisure, and countries.

The free discussion worksheet for the topic of travel is anything but boring, and it’s guaranteed to pique your students’ curiosity. They may be inspired to go on vacation or organize group trips, especially when cheap flights are easily available on reputable websites such as sa.wego.com.

Students should be placed in groups or pairs, and they should take notes on what their partners say and answer.

Travel ESL Conversation Questions

  • Have you ever been abroad?
  • Where have you been?
  • Are you planning on going anywhere for your next vacation?
    • If so, where?
    • Who with?
    • How long will you stay?
  • Are you afraid of going abroad alone?
  • Do you have any tips to get cheap flights? 
  • Could you live in another country for the rest of your life?
  • Describe the most interesting person you met on one of your travels.
  • What was your best trip.
  • What was your worst trip.
  • Did your class in high school go on a trip together?
    • If so, where did you go?
    • How long did you stay?
    • How did you get there?
  • Do you have a driver’s license?
  • Do you like to travel with children? Why or why not?
  • Do you like to travel with your mother? Why or why not?
  • Do you prefer summer vacations or winter vacations?
  • Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?
  • Do you prefer to travel by train, bus, plane or ship?
  • Do you prefer traveling by car or by plane?
  • Have you ever been in a difficult situation while traveling?
  • Have you ever been on an airplane?
    • How many times?
    • What airlines have you flown with?
  • Have you ever been to a foreign country?
  • Have you ever gotten lost while traveling? If so, tell about it.
  • Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, how many times?
  • Have you ever taken a package tour?
  • How do you spend your time when you are on holiday and the weather is bad?
  • How many countries have you been to? How many states?
  • How many times have you traveled abroad?
  • How much luggage do you usually carry?
  • If you traveled to South America, what countries would like to visit?
  • If you went to ___(Insert a country name)__, what kind of souvenirs would you buy?
  • If you were going on a camping trip for a week, what 10 things would you bring? Explain why.
  • What are some countries that you would never visit? Why would you not visit them?
  • What are some things that you always take with you on a trip?
  • What countries would you like to visit? Why?
  • What countries would you most like to visit?
  • What countries would you not like to visit? Why?
  • What country do you most want to visit?
    • Why?
    • Do you think you will ever go there?
  • What do you need before you can travel to another country?
  • What is the most interesting city to visit in your country?
  • What is the most interesting souvenir that you have ever bought on one of your holidays?
  • What languages can you speak?
  • What place do you want to visit someday?
  • What was the most interesting place you have ever visited?
  • What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
  • When was the last time your traveled?
  • When you are on a long car journey do you play games or sing songs to occupy your time?
    • What kind of games?
    • What songs?
  • Where are you going to go the next time you travel?
    • When are you going to go?
    • Who are you going to go with?
    • How long are you going to go for?
    • What are you going to do there?
    • What kind of things do you think you will buy?
  • Where did you go on your last vacation?
    • How did you go?
    • Who did you go with?
  • Where did you spend your last vacation? Your summer vacation? Your Christmas vacation?
  • Where will you go on your next vacation?
  • Would you like to take a cruise? Where to? With who?
  • Do you prefer traveling on a hovercraft or a ferry?
  • Would you prefer to stay at a hotel/motel or camp while on vacation?
  • Would you rather visit another country or travel within your own country?
  • Would you rather go to a place where there are a lot of people or to a place where there are few people?
  • Do you find more fulfillment from your leisure activities including vacations than from your job?
  • Do you think the type of vacation one takes reflects one’s social status?
  • What are popular tourist destinations in your country?
    • Have you been to any of them?
    • Which would you recommend if you could only recommend one? Why?
  • Do you prefer active or relaxing holidays? Why?
  • Which is better, package tour or a tour you organize and book yourself?
  • Why do you travel?
    • Why do people travel?
  • Would you like to go back to the same place?
  • Did you find anything of particular interest? / Did you get attracted to anything special?
  • What are some benefits of travel?
    • Why do people travel?
  • What is your favorite mode of travel?
  • Have you travelled in business class?
  • When you were a child did your family take a vacation every year?
  • Do you prefer a budget or first class hotel? Why?
  • Do you travel with a lot of baggage or do you like to travel light?
  • What is your favorite method of travel at your destination? Train? Bus? Boat? Bicycle? Backpacking?
  • What is the best kind of holiday for different ages of people? Children? Teenagers? Adults? Elderly people?
  • Do you think it is a good idea to travel with friends, or alone? How about with your family?
  • If you had $100,000, where would you go on holiday? How about if you had $10,000? What about $1,000?
  • Which countries have you travelled to?
  • Do you prefer hot countries or cool countries when you go on holiday
  • Who makes the decisions when your family decides to go on holiday
  • If you could choose one place to go this weekend, where would it be?
  • How do you browse for the best deals on flight tickets?
  • Has the airline ever lost your luggage? What happened?
  • On long flights do you usually walk around the plane to avoid health problems?
  • Have you ever read an interesting question in an in-flight magazine? What was it?
  • Is there any difference between young tourists and adult tourists?
  • Do you think tourism will harm the earth?

This is a sponsored blog post by sa.wego.com

Photo by 熊大 旅遊趣 on Pexels.com
Other resources:

ESL Travel Vocabulary Taboo Cards

ESL/EFL Vocabulary Activity: Travel Compound Nouns Dominoes

ESL Role Play Worksheet: Travel/Holidays

Food and Travel ESL Lesson: Interactive Online Lesson

ESL Conversation Lesson: Game Of Thrones And Traveling

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 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)

ESL Christmas activities

Christmas Movie and Discussion

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

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!

Christmas Vocabulary: ESL Taboo Cards

Another set of popular vocabulary game based on Taboo. This time, Christmas vocabulary. You know the drill, download, print, cut, and let your students have some fun while learning.

Download here>>>>>christmas-forbidden-words1
 
While you plan your holiday activities, enjoy this timeless classic.
 
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Other Forbidden Words card sets:

Travel/Holiday Vocabulary Cards

Media/Entertainment Vocabulary Card Game Based on Taboo.

Business English Vocabulary Card Game | Forbidden Words

Other resources:

Taboo Card Games

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

Storytelling Card Game

Last Days ESL Activities and Games : No-prep, Easy to Print

Negotiation Role-plays

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!

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

Halloween Vocabulary Activity: ESL Video and Speaking Activity

It’s almost here! Our students’ favorite holiday! Halloween!

Ok, not everyone loves Halloween, but it’s a perfect opportunity to have a little fun in the classroom. There are plenty of various activities online and for those who don’t like crafts and are not particularly artsy (as myself) I’ve put together this cute Halloween vocabulary activity based on even cuter video by TedEd, which is by the way one of my favorite sources for educational videos.

Despite the animated video, the topic and vocabulary are perhaps not suitable for younger students (younger than 12). Watch the video beforehand to make sure it’s appropriate for your class.

Halloween activity based on video from TedEd.

WARM UP

1. What is your favorite holiday/festival?

2. Do you celebrate Halloween?

3. What traditions do you celebrate in your country on Halloween?

4. Do you like scary stories?

5. What costume would you like to wear for Halloween?

VOCABULARY

1. Match the halves of the expressions

1) spindly                                           a) grounds

2) rusted                                            b) gardens

3) crumbling                                       c) tops

4) solitary                                           d) trees

5) blooming                                        e) catacombs

6) burial                                              f) grounds

7) head                                              g) gate

8) crowds                                           h) stone

9) mountain                                        i) yard

10) subterranean                                j) water

11) church                                          k) mourner

12) ground                                          l) of people

VIDEO

1. Watch the video and check your answers.

2. Complete the sentences with the expressions from Ex. 1

1. The ________________________are very extensive and hold numerous galleries and graves of different types.

2. Adding a ___________________ to a gravesite or memorial is one of the most common ways to commemorate a loved one once they are gone

3. The old ____________________ is bent and battered, but it holds a lot of memories for our family. 

4. Large parts of the northern _______________________ were destroyed in order to make space for the basements of the new building

5. There are fears that _____________________ might become contaminated

6. The fate of endemic birds of eastern Brazilian _________________ in the face of climate change.

7. __________________________ watched the fireworks.

8. Americans had always buried their dead, but did so in churchyards, town commons, or municipal __________________

9. Seven years before our story begins Scrooge is seen, as a _________________, at the funeral of his business partner Jacob Marley.

10. Making sure that no one was looking, I touched the ___________________. Sand grains accumulated in my hand. 

11. The island’s west side slopes into terraces and cultivated __________________.

12. Some tall, _____________________need to be cut at the top in order to produce new twig or branch growth.

DISCUSSION

What information from the video surprised you the most?

Would you be scared if you were in a graveyard at night? Why?

How did people bury their dead in the past?

How do you think people will bury their dead in the future? Why?

Download:

Halloween Worksheet: Video ESL Vocabulary and Speaking Activity SW

Halloween Worksheet: Video ESL Vocabulary and Speaking Activity TN


Bonus for your entertainment, a comic by Oatmeal.

Other resources:

Halloween ESL Video Lesson: Simone Giertz Made a Soup Robot

Online ESL Video Lesson Plans

ESL Personality Questions and Reading Worksheet

ESL personality questions based on reading activity and 20 conversation questions with personality adjectives.

1 Warm up. Watch the video and do the personality test. Do you agree with the result?
2 Read the text and answer the questions below.

Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. It is believed that personality arises from within the individual and remains consistent throughout life.

Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people’s characteristics. For instance, “She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist,” or “They are loyal and protective of their friends.”

The word “personality” comes from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers in order to either take on different roles or disguise their identities.

Personality Types

One theory suggests there are four types of personality. They are:

  • Type A: Perfectionist, impatient, competitive, work-obsessed, achievement-oriented, aggressive, stressed
  • Type B: Low stress, even-tempered, flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, tendency to procrastinate
  • Type C: Highly conscientious, perfectionist, struggles to reveal emotions (positive and negative)
  • Type D: Worrying, sad, irritable, pessimistic, negative self-talk, avoidance of social situations, lack of self-confidence, fear of rejection, appears gloomy, hopeless

Research on personality can provide us with fascinating insights into how personality develops and changes over the course of a lifetime. This research can also have important practical applications in the real world.

For example, people can use a personality assessment (also called a personality test or personality quiz) to learn more about themselves and their unique strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Some assessments might look at how people rank on specific traits, such as whether they are high in extroversion, conscientiousness, or openness.

Other assessments might measure how specific aspects of personality change over time. Some assessments give people insight into how their personality affects many areas of their lives, including career, relationships, personal growth, and more.

Personality type can also have an impact on your health, including how often you visit the doctor and how you cope with stress. Researchers have found that certain personality characteristics may be linked to illness and health behaviors.

Adapted from: Verywell Mind


  1. What is personality?
  2. How can we learn more about ourselves?
  3. Can personality change over time?
  4. How can your personality influence your health?
  5. How would you describe yourself?

ESL Personality Questions

  1. How would you describe someone creative?
  2. Who is the most competitive member of your family?
  3. How do you feel about people who are impatient?
  4. Who is the most generous person you know?
  5. What are some irritable habits you have?
  6. Are you rather pessimistic or optimistic?
  7. In which profession do you need to be really achievement-oriented?
  8. How can we improve our self-confidence?
  9. Do you think one can train to become more patient?
  10. Do people get less flexible as they age?
  11. Have you ever been in a situation that felt hopeless? What happened?
  12. What makes some people charismatic?
  13. Do you know someone hilarious?
  14. Describe your most reliable friend.
  15. Describe your most conscientious friend.
  16. How would you describe someone who is resourceful?
  17. Do you think aggressive people should be put in jail?
  18. What are intuitive people good at?
  19. Do you think a mother can be impartial about her children?
  20. What are you determined to accomplish?

Similar resources:

Conversation Questions: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Conversation Questions Passive Voice: ESL Speaking Activity

50 ESL Conversation Questions for Teens and Adults

12 ESL Negotiation Role-plays: Real-life situations

Communication Boardgame

ESL Reported Speech Speaking Activity: Gossip

TED Talks Worksheets

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

Fun and easy-to-use back to school activities

1) Learn your students’ names

New class, new faces, new names – a mess. This back to school activity has saved me multiple times. You can learn 30 new names in minutes, kids have fun and they painlessly learn new adjectives. Start by explaining how difficult it is for teachers to learn students’ names and that you need their help. At the end of the activity let them test you- they will be thrilled. Students need to introduce themselves by an adjective that starts with the same letter as their first name. You start by giving an example: My name is Al, so I am Artistic Al. The first student has to repeat your name after you – You are Artistic Al, and add their own –  I am Hilarious Hannah. The second student repeats the previous names and adds their own, and so on. At the end of the round, ask the first student(who had the easiest task) to say all the names backward. Finally, say all their names quickly(with or without the adjectives). Congrats, you’ve learned your new students’ names!

2) Oh, really?

Put the students in pairs and tell them they will have a conversation. The first student has to start with a short sentence, like this:

Student 1: I play tennis.

The other student responds: Oh, really?and adds extra information( a word or a phrase).

So it should be like this: Oh, really? I play tennis every day.

Student 1 continues: Oh, really? I play tennis every day with Serena Williams.

Student 2 responds: Oh, really? I play tennis every day with Serena Williams in Monaco.

Student 1 responds: Oh, really? I play tennis every day with Serena Williams in Monaco while feeding dolphins.

And so on. Can they keep up?

The student who will form the longest grammatically correct (and at least a little bit coherent) answer wins.

3) Questionnaire

Have your students write a questionnaire. Chose a subject(summer holiday, school, hobbies, general personality questions) or let them decide. After that, students circulate the classroom and ask their questions. They should talk to 4-5 people. When they finish, ask them to share any interesting answers, it usually leads to lively discussions.

Unfinished sentences ESL speaking activity is great for revising grammar, as a warm-up or a conversation starter.

It can be used with groups of various sizes as well as in one to one classes.

4) Unfinished sentences

Unfinished sentences ESL speaking activity is great for revising grammar, as a warm-up or a conversation starter. It’s a perfect back to school activity.

It can be used with groups of various sizes as well as in one to one classes.

Finish the sentence. Tell your story.

1. I was very surprised when__________________________________________________.

2. What I value most about my friends is_____________________________________.

3. I really regret_______________________________________________________________.

4. One of my favourite childhood memories is_______________________________.

5. I could never_______________________________________________________________

5) Find someone who

You can easily find tons of these worksheets online or just put together a couple of ideas.

Find somebody

-who doesn’t like chocolate.
-who is vegan.
-who has a tattoo.
-who speaks more than 2 languages.
-who’s never flown before.
-who wants to be famous.
-who has a special talent.

6) Vocabulary race

This is probably more suitable for younger kids. Put them into two teams, divide the board into two sections, give them a topic and let them run a relay with the marker to write as many words on the topic they know.

7) Get physical- Gordian knot

This activity doesn’t involve any language practice but it is great for kids who don’t know each other, to break the ice and create a positive atmosphere. It also shows you how the students communicate, who is a natural leader and how they deal with problems, so it’s quite useful.

You need an even number of students for this. The students stand in a tight circle. Tell them to close their eyes. Then they put their left hand in front of them and try to grab any free hand they can find. Eyes still closed. Repeat the same with the right hand. Eyes open. They should be intertwined – hence the Gordian knot. Without letting any hand go, they should untangle the knot and form a circle. Sometimes there are two or three smaller circles when they grabbed a hand right next to them. That’s ok, they will work it out after a couple of attempts.

8) Conversation questions

This speaking activity contains 50 ESL conversation questions for teenagers and adult learners. (16+, B1+). It is best for small groups or as a pair-work.

Conversation questions

9) 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 dry topics such as door, socks, or air. If your students lack imagination, you can use these ideas: One Minute Talk Cards.

10) What do they have in common?

This is mostly an activity you can use with new students, but it can be also used in larger classes where the students don’t know each other that well. Put students who don’t know (or don’t know well) each other into pairs and tell them to find out 3-5 things they have in common and 1-2 things they don’t have in common. Let them talk to more people. After that, discuss with the whole class what surprising or interesting things they’ve found out about their classmates.

11) Online quizzes

If your students like technology, you can use some fun interactive activities. You can find a list of 10 great sites here: 10 Websites To Make Your Lessons More Engaging And Fun.

12) Hypothetical questions

These conversation questions are more suitable for more advanced students as the questions are hypothetical, so it requires a knowledge of conditionals and a certain level of creativity. These can be also used for online classes.

Click here.

13) Vocabulary: taboo

A timeless classic! If you have time, you can make your own, if not try these:

Media/Entertainment Taboo Cards,
Travel/Holiday Vocabulary Cards
Health Taboo Cards
Food Taboo Cards.

14) Get them to know each other

A timer, fifteen questions and a lot of fun. A classroom appropriate variation of speed dating. Arrange the desks so that two students sit at one desk facing each other. Give each a set of “speed dating” questions. You can download a set here. Set a timer for a couple of minutes, and when the time’s up one student moves and another sits in their place.

15) Mini presentations

ESL conversation topics for intermediate and upper intermediate students. You can use the slideshow and share your screen on Zoom or other app when teaching online. Just click on the full screen option in the top right corner of the slideshow.

Click here.

More ideas for back to school activities

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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

  1. Describe your worst travel experience. 
  2. What was the most important chance meeting you’ve experienced? 
  3. How would you describe a good life? 
  4. How did going to school shape you as a person? 
  5. How important do you think self-improvement is? 
  6. What will the future of transportation look like? 
  7. What strategies do you use to make big decisions? 
  8. What are some of your plans for the future? 
  9. How would you explain the idea of love to an alien? 
  10. What policies could the government implement to improve people’s health? 
  1. What was the scariest dream you’ve had? 
  2. What life hacks have you found to be particularly effective? 
  3. If you could design a reality TV show, what would it be like? 
  4. What combinations of flavors do you like, and why do they taste so good? 
  5. How have standards of beauty changed in your lifetime? 
  6. What is your best school story? 
  7. Why do some words sound funny to us? 
  8. What are the best and worst things about your favorite restaurant? 
  9. How would your country change if children were allowed to vote? 
  10. What experiments would you like to run if time and money weren’t an issue? 
  1. How would the world change if some people could use magic spells, and some people could not? 
  2. Why is it so hard to learn from our mistakes? 
  3. What is your most controversial opinion? 
  4. How do you usually celebrate some of the major holidays? 
  5. What valuable lessons should we learn from history? 
  6. How has photography changed the world? 
  7. How do your values differ from others? 
  8. How do you wish your country would change? 
  9. What completely baseless conspiracy would you like to start? 
  10. What social situations do you dread? 

Slideshow – Conversation Questions for ESL Lessons

25 For and Against Essay Topics and Ideas that Double as Conversation Topics

25 for and against essay topics that can be also used for class debates.

For and against essay topics: layout.

• The first paragraph should be the introduction. Include a thesis statement, which summarises the main issue.

• The second paragraph should focus on the advantages. Include at least two arguments, if possible. Give examples where appropriate, introduced by phrases like For example or For instance.

• The third paragraph should focus on the disadvantages. Include at least two arguments, if possible. Begin the third paragraph with a phrase like On the other hand or However,.. to express contrast with statements in the previous paragraph.

• The fourth paragraph should be the conclusion. State your own opinion and decide whether the arguments for outweigh the arguments against the thesis statement or the other way around.

Source: Solutions Upper-Intermediate


For and against essay topics
  1. Having a role model can affect someone negatively.
  2. Should dyed hairstyles be allowed in school?
  3. Can a bad upbringing be an excuse for a felony?
  4. Social media – a blessing or a curse?
  5. It’s possible to learn to love somebody.
  6. You don’t need a college degree to be successful.
  7. Your past does not define you.
  8. Does watching fantasy films affect our perception of reality?
  9. Should there be a mandatory number of trees per square kilometer?
  10. Should people older than 65 be able to be politicians?
  11. Should healthcare be state-owned or privatized?
  12. Is immortality a blessing or a curse?
  13. Is the sous-vide method of preparing meals worth trying?
  14. Should self-driving cars be illegal?
  15. Should sharing hoaxes and false information on the Internet be severely punished?
  16. Should students do a part-time job while they are still studying?
  17. Sessions with a therapist should be mandatory for kids and teens
  18. Every country in the world should ban cigarettes.
  19. Every country in the world should stop producing and selling plastic bags and bottles.
  20. Field trips to prisons should be mandatory to help lower the crime rate.
  21. Scientists should pair people up for marriage based on DNA.
  22. A new universal language should be taught in every school.
  23. Should universities be apolitical?
  24. Do orphans have the same opportunities to be successful as children from complete families?
  25. Should the state have more control over our privacy?

Download the worksheet.


Other resources:

Picture Prompts for Speaking and Writing: An ESL Activity

Storytelling Cards: Imaginative Speaking and Writing Activity

Questions for ESL Conversation: 60 Questions Based on Vogue Interviews

ESL/EFL Speaking Activity: Role Play Debate

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