ESL Classroom Games & Activities

ESL students enjoy fun games and activities during lessons.

Learning English as a Second Language (ESL) can be challenging for students of any age. While most ESL lessons will include memorization of new vocabulary, writing practice and repetition for pronunciation, most ESL students will appreciate a fun activity. Educational ESL games can help get students more involved in their lessons.

Pronunciation Game

Speaking words correctly, as well as hearing subtle nuances in English, can be difficult. This pronunciation game can be adapted to fit almost any topic. Divide students into two teams. Choose a set of two or three words that sound similar, such as "three, thirteen, thirty" or "make, bake, take" and write them on the board. One student from the first team stands at the board, while another stands with you. Show this student one of the words on the board written on a piece of paper. The student must say the word out loud, and the student at the board circles the word she hears. If the correct word is circled, the team wins a point. Move to the second team, switching the words each time. The team with the most points in the end wins.

Mix Up

This activity motivates students to write correct sentences. Write a mixed-up sentence on the board and separate each word and punctuation mark with a slash. For example: it's/don't/raining/./I/when/outside/like. Do not allow students to see the words until you are finished writing, then reveal the mixed-up sentence. Students must write the sentence correctly, including proper capitalization and punctuation, in their notebooks, then say "Mix Up!" when they are finished. The first student to write the sentence correctly wins. Be sure to remind them that neatness and legibility counts with this game.

Category Chant

This game can fit any age level and is a good way to get the students' attention before a lesson begins. Sit with the students cross-legged in a circle on the floor. Start a rhythm by slapping your knees, clapping your hands and pausings: Slap, clap, pause. Begin by announcing a category in the pause, such as "Food". In the next pause, the student to your right must say a word within that category, like "hot dogs." Continue around the circle, and when it comes back to you change the category. Students fall out of the circle if they cannot think of a word during their pause. Using "Nouns," "Verbs" and "Adjectives" as category topics can help students learn their parts of speech. For an extra challenge, combine categories, like "Transportation Verbs."

References

• ESL Teachers Board: Lessons and Classroom Games for Teachers

Resources

• English 4 Kids: Games and Ideas for ESL Kids Classroom Learning