Beginner ESL Vocabulary Exercises

A basket of vegetables make a great prop for teaching food vocabulary.

Teaching vocabulary is the foundation for learning English, especially for students learning English as a second language. Memorizing a large list of vocabulary words is the only way to progress to the next step of learning English, which is to put those words together into sentences. Teaching and learning vocabulary can actually be one of the areas that is more enjoyable to the students. Interactive games, videos and props are all involved in cementing these words into your students' minds.

Worksheets

Find worksheets that ask your students to match the correct English word with a picture. Committing a visual image to memory is one of the most effective ways to memorize new vocabulary. Other helpful worksheets -- many of which can be found for free online -- are crossword puzzles, word web games and hangman. Assign your students a variety of worksheets each week as homework to further cement vocabulary words away from class.

Props

Bring a variety of props to each class as a way to introduce new words. Focus on a group of words at a time. For example, bring a large basket filled with fruits and vegetables. Also bring in pasta, crackers, bread, milk, meat and other food items. Seeing and holding the actual item can create a more vivid image in your student's mind surrounding each individual vocabulary word. The next week, bring in clothing items.

Video

Play video slides, which are available online, to cover vocabulary words that may otherwise be more difficult to illustrate, such as rooms of the home and occupations. Introduce one video each week and have it correspond or reinforce vocabulary concepts you have already covered. Show a restaurant menu video on the same day as you bring in food props, for example.

Interactive Computer Games

Many websites offer free interactive computer games ESL students. Matching games, hangman, speed word, every-other-letter games, opposites and quizzes are available. Give your students time during each class to practice their skills in a fun and engaging way. Games are tailored to all skill levels, so once your students have mastered the beginner level, move them up to intermediate.

References

• a4esl: Activities for ESL Students
• Rong-Chang: Exercises and Quizzes

Resources

• ESL Exercises: English Beginner Video Slide Lessons
• Easy Things for Beginners: Interesting Things for ESL Students