esl resources Archives

Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice

As ESL teachers, we’re always on the lookout for resources that can truly make a difference in our students’ language learning journeys. That’s why I’m excited to share a resource that has not only enriched my classroom but has also contributed significantly to my students’ language skills: the “Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice.”

Negative prefixes, such as “un-“, “dis-“, “in-“, and “im-“, often pose a challenge for ESL learners. These tiny word elements can drastically change the meaning of a word, and mastering them is crucial for achieving fluency in English. This prefixes worksheet, however, takes a different approach to teaching negative prefixes, one that’s focused on engagement and genuine communication.

Engaging Gap-Fill Exercises: The heart of this prefixes worksheet lies in its carefully crafted gap-fill exercises. Instead of dull, disconnected vocabulary drills, students are presented with sentences that have missing words. Their task? To fill in the gaps with the appropriate negative prefix. This approach transforms what might be a monotonous exercise into an interactive puzzle, piquing students’ curiosity and challenging them to think critically.
Conversation Catalysts: What truly sets this worksheet apart is its dual functionality. Each sentence, in addition to being a gap-fill exercise, serves as a conversation starter. After completing the sentence, students are encouraged to discuss the meaning of the word or phrase in the context of the sentence. This not only reinforces their grasp of negative prefixes but also equips them with the ability to use these prefixes naturally in real-life conversations.
Improved Comprehension: By encountering negative prefixes within sentences and conversations, students gain a deeper understanding of how these prefixes work and influence word meanings. This comprehension goes a long way in helping them become effective communicators in English.
Enhanced Retention: The combination of active exercises and discussion-based learning not only helps students remember the correct usage of negative prefixes but also ensures that this knowledge sticks. They’re not just memorizing rules; they’re internalizing language patterns.
Teacher’s Ally: As teachers, we value resources that align with our teaching philosophy and seamlessly integrate into our lesson plans. This worksheet is not just beneficial for students; it’s a teacher-friendly tool that enhances the overall classroom experience.

So, fellow ESL educators, I invite you to share in the success I’ve witnessed in my classroom. Consider using and sharing our “Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice” within your teaching community. It’s a practical and effective resource that can empower both you and your fellow educators, fostering confident, fluent English speakers.

Exercise 1

In each sentence below, there is a missing negative prefix. Fill in the gaps with the correct prefix (un-, dis-, in-, ir-, im-, il-, etc.) to complete the sentences.

Can you recall a time when you felt __________(estimated) or __________(valued) in a professional or personal setting? How did you prove your worth?
Have you ever encountered a situation where someone was __________(fairly) discriminated against? What actions can society take to combat discrimination?
Describe a moment when you found yourself in a __________(comfortable) or even __________(bearable) situation. How did you handle it?
Share a story of someone who was initially __________(understood) but later gained recognition or respect. What can we learn from their experience?
Can you think of an occasion when you felt __________(connected) or __________(engaged) from a group or community? How did you address this feeling?
Discuss a time when you observed an action that you considered __________(ethical) or __________(moral). How did it affect your perception of the person involved?
Have you ever experienced an __________(usual) or __________(expected) phenomenon that left you feeling uneasy or __________(oriented)?
Share a situation where you or someone you know had to deal with an __________(cooperative) colleague or team member. How was it resolved?
Can you describe a moment when you felt __________(valued) as a consumer or customer? How did you respond to the situation?
Discuss a time when you observed an __________(ethical) or __________(moral) action that you believe should be discontinued. What alternatives would you propose?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt powerless or __________(able) to influence the outcome? How did you cope with it?
Share an example of a __________(just) law or policy you believe should be discontinued. What alternatives would you propose?
Describe a situation where someone exhibited __________(healthy) or detrimental behavior patterns. How can they be encouraged to change?
Can you think of a time when you were __________(prepared) for a significant life event or challenge? How did you adapt and learn from it?
Discuss an instance when you witnessed an __________(effective) or __________(productive) meeting or discussion. What improvements would you suggest?
Share a story of a project or endeavor that initially seemed __________(feasible) but was eventually successful. What contributed to its success?
Have you ever had to deal with an __________(responsive) or neglectful service provider? How did you seek resolution or compensation?
Can you recall a situation where you felt __________(appreciated) in a personal relationship? How did you address the issue with the other person?
Describe a time when you encountered an __________(dated) or __________(moded) practice or technology. What innovations could replace it?
Discuss the concept of an __________(certain) future and the role it plays in making long-term plans and decisions.

Exercise 2

In each sentence below, there is a missing prefix. Fill in the gaps before the words with removed prefixes to complete the sentences.

Have you ever encountered an ____ (efficient) system or process at work or in daily life? How could it be improved?
Can you think of a situation where someone acted ____ (responsible)? What were the consequences?
What are some examples of ____ (tolerant) behavior you’ve observed, and how can we promote more tolerance in society?
Describe an experience when you found a book or movie to be ____ (interesting) despite high expectations. What went wrong?
Share a story of a ____ (conventional) or ____ (orthodox) solution to a problem. Did it prove effective in the end?
Share an instance when someone’s comments or actions were ____ (sensitive). How did it affect you or others involved?
Do you believe there are any ____ (possible) tasks or challenges, or is it always a matter of perspective and determination?
Discuss a time when you had to deal with an ____ (convenient) situation while traveling. How did you handle it?
Can you recall a moment when you witnessed a dispute escalate into an ____ (controllable) argument? What could have been done differently?
Describe a situation where someone displayed ____ (reasonable) behavior. How did you respond, and what did you learn from it?
Have you ever faced an ____ (expected) setback that temporarily disrupted your plans? How did you adapt and move forward?
What do you think about the idea of a ____ (known) or ____ (charted) future? Does it excite or worry you, and why?
Have you ever encountered someone who was completely ____ (interested) in your favorite hobby, and how did you handle it?
Have you encountered any ____ (desirable) consequences of technology in your life? How do you mitigate them?
Can you think of a situation where someone was ____ (fairly) underestimated, only to prove themselves later on?
Discuss a time when you had to confront your own ____ (securities) or ____ (uncertainties). How did you overcome them?
Can you think of a time when you found yourself in an ____ (hospitable) or unwelcoming environment, and how did you cope with it?
Have you ever encountered a ____ (functioning) device or piece of equipment, and how did you address the issue?
Share a personal experience where you felt ____ (understood) or ____ (represented). How did you clarify the situation?
Do you believe there’s such a thing as an ____ (reversible) mistake, or can most errors be rectified in some way?

Prefixes worksheet:

Download: Negative Prefixes Conversation Questions

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.

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.

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

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

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.

In the past, most people lived with their parents until they got married. But in the modern world, it is more common to leave home and share accommodation with friends. This choice has both positive and negative aspects.

• 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.

There are several advantages to sharing with friends. Firstly, it gives you the opportunity to spend time with your friends and to build strong relationships with them. Secondly, it allows you to develop some of the practical skills that you will need as an independent adult. For instance, you will learn how to manage household bills, how to shop and cook, and so on. And thirdly, it makes living in your own home more affordable, and the more people who share, the more cost-effective it is. For instance, a shared house for six people is far cheaper than two houses for three people.

• 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.

On the other hand, sharing a home has its disadvantages. Sharing a house can often cause disagreements. For instance, housemates often argue about household chores. What is more, it can be difficult to have time alone when you need it. And finally, the houses which young people share are sometimes in poor condition and landlords are not always good at repairing appliances when they break down.

• 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.

Although sharing a house with other young people is not always easy, the advantages definitely outweigh the problems. It is certainly something I would like to do in a few years’ time.

Source: Solutions Upper-Intermediate

For and against essay topics

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

Storytelling Cards: Imaginative Speaking and Writing Activity

I’ve decided that you deserve a little treat. Read on and find all about it. It’s almost Christmas after all and you’ve been working hard.

We love stories. We have always loved them.

When our ancestors sat by the fire they told stories of mighty warriors, immortal gods, or wicked witches.

Stories are fascinating. And they are a powerful teaching tool.

This storytelling activity will save you tons of prepping time!

Storytelling Cards can be used as a fun and imaginative speaking activity for groups or for creative writing assignments.

There are thousands of possible variations and no two stories will be the same. The recommended level of English is A2-B1 and it is suitable for students aged 12+.

With Storytelling Cards they will be able to create hundreds of wonderful stories.

The aim of the game is to tell(or write) a story using the prompts on the cards. There are five types of cards:

12 Character cards
12 Activity cards
12 Object cards
12 Place cards
12 Problem cards

I’ve mentioned a treat before, haven’t I? Well, you deserve one. So here you go. You can get the Storytelling Cards with a 25% discount.

Click below to reveal the discount code. The code is valid until December 24th.

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Other resources:

Improvisation Cards: ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Speaking Activity: Conversation Cards

Fluent English: Effective Tips on How To Speak Fluently

ESL/EFL Speaking Activity: Role Play Debate

12 ESL Negotiation Role-plays: Real-life situations

ESL Reported Speech Speaking Activity: Gossip

ESL Video Lesson Based on Netflix Docuseries “The Mind, Explained”

Modal verbs: Use, Examples, and Conversation Questions

Modal Verbs Conversation Questions, Use, and Examples

Practice modal verbs with conversation questions, watch video explanation and study example sentences.

What are modal verbs? According to Merriam-Webster, a modal verb is a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission.

Modal verbs and their meanings.

Modal verbs	Meaning	Example
can	ability permission	She can speak play several musical instruments. They can work on the project now.
could	polite request past ability suggestion possibility	Could you help me, please? He could climb trees when he was a kid. You could focus on the problem now. This could be the solution we need.
may	possibility permission	This may help us save the environment. You may leave.
might	possibility	These numbers might be wrong.
will	future polite request	The prices will go up. Will you open the door for me?
would	offering, inviting polite request	Would you join us for dinner? Would you check this report for me?
should	advising, suggesting expectation	You should stop smoking. It should start raining soon.
must	obligation, necessity conclusion	You must submit the application by Friday. This car looks luxurious. It must be very expensive.
mustn’t	prohibition	Passengers mustn’t talk to the driver.

I also recommend this wonderful video by Khan Academy. You can assign it as homework, it explains modal verbs in a very approachable and enjoyable way.

Practice modal verbs with Quizlet.

(Choose Flashcards in the Study mode in the bottom right corner, and click on the arrows above it to switch between front and back sides.)

Modal verbs conversation questions

1) Is there anything you can’t do and would like to learn?

2) What are the three things you can do best?

3) Name three things you may do this weekend.

4) Name three things you may not do at school.

5) Should students be allowed to eat during lessons? Why or why not?

6) Name two things you must do every day.

7) Name two things you mustn’t do at home.

8) What activities couldn’t you do last year because of the pandemic?

9) Name three things you could do when you were younger but can’t do anymore.

10) Is there anything you can do better than your parents?

Other resources

Conversation Questions Gerunds and Infinitives: ESL Speaking Activity

Conversation Questions Conditionals: ESL Speaking Activity

Conversation Questions: Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Tenses Exercises: Present Simple and Continuous

Conversation Questions: Future Tenses

English Speaking Practice: 20 Conversation Topics

These conversations topics and questions will help any learner practice and master speaking English. Age or level of English doesn’t matter, what matters is practice, practice, practice.

So here you go, find a speaking partner, choose a topic and have fun!

Starting a conversation

1. Current situation

How are you doing?

How’s the job?

How’s the family?

How was your weekend?

2. Job / Work

What do you do?

How long have you worked there?

Do you like it?

How are your coworkers?

What’s the best / worst thing about being a (their job)?

3. News

What do you think about (current news story)?

Did you hear about (news story)?

How much do you follow the news?

What do you think doesn’t get enough news coverage?

What gets too much attention in the news?

How do you get your news?

4. Sports

Do you like (sport you like)?

What teams do you follow?

What was the last game you went to?

What do you think about (popular player / team that is doing well)?

Do you play any sports?

Who do you think will win the (major sports event)?

5. Not too distant future

What are your plans for the weekend?

Where are you planning to go for your next vacation?

Do you have anything exciting going on this week?

Getting to know someone

1. Free time

What do you do in your free time?

How much free time do you have?

What do you wish you had more time for?

2. Music

What kind of music are you into?

What music did you like when you were younger?

What’s your favorite band / singer?

Have you been to any concerts recently?

What’s your favorite album?

3. Movies

What type of movies do you like?

What’s your favorite movie?

Who’s your favorite actor / actress / director?

What’s the last movie you saw?

4. Food

What’s your favorite food / ethnic food / restaurant / thing to cook / seasonal food?

Do you like cooking?

How do you usually find good restaurants?

What weird foods have you tried?

5. Books

Do you like reading books?

What types of books do you like?

What’s the last book you read?

What’s your favorite book?

What book is overrated?

Are there any books you would really recommend I read?

6. TV

What shows do you watch?

What do you think about (popular TV show)?

Have you seen (TV show you like)?

What are some shows that ended that you were really into?

What show do I really need to check out?

7. Travel

Where have you been on vacation?

What did you like / dislike about (place they traveled)?

Where do you wish you could go?

What place do I really need to see?

What’s your favorite place you’ve been?

8. Hobbies

Do you have any hobbies?

How long have you been doing them?

How did you get started?

What common misconceptions do people have about your hobby?

What hobbies did you have when you were younger?

9. Learning / Studies

What kinds of things do you pick up easily?

What subjects were hardest for you in school?

What kinds of things are you interested in learning more about?

Talking about personal stuff

1. Where they grew up

What was your hometown like?

Did you enjoy where you grew up?

How much did where you grew up shape you?

What were some of the best and worst things about where you grew up?

2. Things they were into

What games did you play as a child?

What kind of hobbies did you have when you were growing up?

What cartoons or shows did you watch when you were a kid?

What fads or interests were you really into when you were younger?

3. Friends

Do you stay in touch with your old childhood friends?

What do you usually do when you hang out with your friends?

Do you prefer having a lot of friends or just a few close ones?

How long have you known your best friend?

How did you and your best friend meet?

4. Accomplishments

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

What awards or trophies have you won?

What is the next big thing you want to accomplish?

5. The distant future

What do you think life will be like in 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 years?

Do you think humanity is headed in a good direction?

What discovery could be made that would completely change the course of humanity?

How long would you like to live?

Other English speaking resources

One-Minute Talk: ESL/EFL Speaking Activ ities

50 ESL Conversation Questions for Teenagers and Adults

1 20 Conversation Starters

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

ESL Negotiation Role plays: 12 Real-life Situations

Unfinished Sentences ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Speaking Activity: Conversation Cards

ESL Role-play Worksheet: Food

In this post, you will find role-plays on various topics connected to food. With these role-plays, your students will be discussing the best dishes in the world, ordering food they don’t know, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of delivery and cooking, and choosing the best diet.

There is another restaurant-themed role-play activity I created some time ago, called At the restaurant, where students create their own restaurant menus and than role-play ordering in different “restaurants”, rotating and speaking to more partners. This role-play can be also done online, I did it with my students on Zoom some time ago, but it’s much in a real classroom. And it’s more fun.

But, here we are (some of us) teaching online and in need of a simple, straightforward role-play activities.

ESL Role-play Worksheet: Food

A1: Your friend wants to eat healthier and think that they should eat low fat and low sugar foods and drinks and use artificial sweetener instead of sugar. You disagree and you want to recommend another, healthier diet. Think about your arguments. Talk to your friend.

B1: You want to eat healthier and you think that you should eat low fat and low sugar foods and drinks and use artificial sweetener instead of sugar. Think about arguments to support your decision. Your friend wants to talk to you.

A2: Choose five dishes which you think are the best in the world. What are they made of? How do they taste? Describe them to your partner. They will have their own list. Discuss your choices and try to persuade your partner that your list is better. Finally, agree on ONE dish, which will be The Best Dish in the World.

B2: Choose five dishes which you think are the best in the world. What are they made of? How do they taste? Describe them to your partner. They will have their own list. Discuss your choices and try to persuade your partner that your list is better. Finally, agree on ONE dish, which will be The Best Dish in the World.

A3: You love cooking and you don’t understand why your friend refuses to cook at home. Think of five arguments why cooking at home is better than eating in restaurants and ordering delivery. Try to persuade your friend to change their mind.

B3: You don’t cook and you prefer to eat out or order something online. Think about five reasons why eating in restaurants and ordering delivery is better than cooking. Your friend wants to talk to you.

A4: You are on an exotic holiday and would like to try some local food so you go to a local restaurant that doesn’t have an English menu. You don’t know any of the dishes on the menu, so you have a lot of questions about the ingredients, spices, texture. You also have a food allergy(choose one ingredient you’re allergic to). Decide if you like anything and if yes, order it.

B4: You work as a waiter in a small restaurant specializing in local, exotic cuisine. Your next customer is a tourist who has a lot of questions. Describe your most popular dishes in a very appetizing way. Try to sell him as many dishes as possible.

ESL Role play Worksheet: Food Download

Try other role plays:

ESL Negotiation Role-plays

ESL Role-plays: Nature and Environment