17 ESL Activities for Engaging Classes

ESL Activities For the Classroom

Fun, relevant, and engaging ESL activities are the nitrous of every successful lesson. Through hundreds of successful ESL classes, we know what does and does NOT work.

ESL exercises are a controlled way to practice a particular language aspect. Instead, ESL activities engage in discussion and communication focused on a goal.

For example, you can cut our ESL discussion topics into bite-size papers and have them communicate in pairs. And this is just 1 of 17 ideas waiting for you to build these ESL activities into your classes and to perfection,

Ready to get started? Let’s jump in.

1. 101 ESL Discussion Topics: Free-Talking

Need to spark lively discussions in your ESL classroom? Try our tested free-talking topics! Print the worksheet, cut out the topics, and put them in a hat.

Have students pick randomly and start chatting in pairs or as a group. With 101 diverse conversation starters, there’s something to get everyone talking.

If you’re looking for the whole package, here are 101 ESL conversation topics. Like an open microphone, there’s something in this list that will break the classroom silence.

2. Reverse Jeopardy: Formulating Questions

Let’s flip the quiz show format. Students create questions instead of answering them. Set up 5 categories, each with 5 cards of increasing difficulty and point value.

In groups of 4, students choose a category and point value. When a card is flipped, the fastest group to raise hands creates a question.

This game gets super competitive as points add up, and it’s a guaranteed hit every time you play it.

3. Lost in Kansas: Asking for Directions

It’s time to navigate through Wichita, Kansas. Students pair up and practice giving directions using a city map.

They’ll learn to say “turn left,” “go straight,” and count blocks or intersections. One student asks how to reach a destination, while the other gives directions.

This activity helps students master essential travel vocabulary and direction-giving skills. It’s a fun way to prepare for real-world situations when exploring new cities.

4. Let Me Introduce Myself: Self-Introductions

Let’s turn introductions into a fun classroom activity. Have students create personal business cards using our template.

In the next class, they’ll use these cards to practice self-introductions, mingling with classmates. This exercise helps students break the ice and improve their social skills.

As a bonus, teachers can quickly learn names and faces. No photo? No problem! Students can draw self-portraits instead.

5. Timeless Timelines: History Exploration

This activity explores history with a timeline activity. Students arrange famous people and inventions in chronological order.

The teacher then reveals the correct sequence. For example, paper predates the printing press by 1300 years.

After reviewing answers, encourage discussion: Who else should be on the list? What other important inventions are missing? What future inventions might we add?

6. Einstein’s Riddle: Detective-Style Logic Activity

This is Einstein’s famous logic puzzle! Students must deduce each homeowner’s nationality, pet, drink, color, and hobby using a series of clues. 

This brain-teaser, supposedly created by young Albert Einstein, will challenge even your brightest pupils. It’s a great exercise in logical thinking and deduction.

We’ve provided answers, but encourage students to tackle it with just the clues first. Ready to put those detective skills to the test?

7. Cultural Dictionary

In this activity, you ask students to write down one significant cultural item from their country. Encourage volunteers to share their choices with the class.

Collect all responses and create a “culture exchange dictionary” to keep in the classroom. 

This activity promotes mutual learning because students share their cultures while learning about others.

8. Group Charades: Action Verbs

Let’s change up “Charades” so everyone can join. Split the class into teams (e.g., 6 groups of 5 for a class of 30).

Instead of solo performances, the whole group acts out while one member guesses. This twist makes shy students more comfortable participating.

Our worksheet provides plenty of fun ideas to get started. It’s a fresh take on a classic game that gets everyone involved and laughing together.

9. The Classroom Movie: Dialogue Practice

Bring Hollywood magic to your classroom with a simple green screen. This tool sparks creativity by allowing students to write their own movie script. 

Suddenly, they’re transported to the Eiffel Tower or anywhere their imagination takes them. When students take charge of their learning like this, their English skills skyrocket.

Empower learners using a green screen. It makes English practice feel like a thrilling adventure in moviemaking.

10. Your Dream Job: Job Interview Practice

Students pair up and ask each other questions, tallying “YES” answers to discover their ideal profession.

Next, they’ll prepare for a mock interview using our job interview worksheet. They’ll write answers to common interview questions for their dream job.

Finally, students can practice these interviews with each other. This activity helps students think about their futures and prepares them for real-world job hunting scenarios.

11. Multi-purpose Items: Informative/Explanatory Writing

Time to get creative with everyday objects. The teacher presents a simple item, like a fork. Students then brainstorm as many different uses for it as possible in a few minutes.

They might suggest using a fork to eat, comb hair, open cans, or clean pans. Afterwards, everyone shares their ideas.

This “Multi-purpose Items” activity encourages creativity and improves explanatory writing skills. Students think outside the box, while learning English.

12. Rhyme Time: Activity Sheet

Let’s play ‘Rhyme Time”. Divide students into groups and hand out activity sheets.

Set a timer and challenge them to come up with as many rhymes as possible for each word group. The team with the most rhymes wins.

Afterwards, review the rhymes together. Finally, discuss where we encounter rhymes in daily life, like in songs or poems.

12. Simon Says: Imperatives

This activity is the classic “Simon Says”. Students only follow instructions that begin with “Simon says.”

If you just say “Touch your nose,” they shouldn’t move. But “Simon says touch your nose” means everyone should do it.

Our worksheet offers plenty of fun commands like jumping or running in circles. Listen, follow instructions and just importantly is have fun.

13. Pushy Salesperson: Advertisement Ideas

Become a creative salesperson. Give them an everyday object and challenge them to sell it like a pushy advertiser.

First, they brainstorm multiple uses for the item (like using a fork to eat, comb hair, open cans, etc.). After a few minutes, students share their imaginative ideas.

This “Multi-purpose Items” improves persuasive speaking skills. It’s a fun way to practice thinking outside the box and presenting ideas convincingly.

14. Pass the Ball: Vocabulary Brainstorming

“Pass the Ball” needs minimal prep and can cover various subjects from vocabulary to rhyming. The teacher chooses a topic, and students think of related words while music plays.

Players pass a ball, each saying a unique word before passing. When the music stops, the person holding the ball loses.

You might want to make the losing player face a challenge, like speaking for a minute on a given topic.

15. Pronunciation Game: Minimal Pairs Pyramid

During the “Minimal Pairs Pyramid Game”, students listen carefully as the teacher pronounces similar-sounding words.

They start at the top of the pyramid while the teacher says minimal pair words like “glamour” and “grammar.”

They circle the word they hear, moving down the pyramid. There’s only one correct path to the bottom. After everyone finishes, the teacher checks answers and sees where everyone lands.

16. Tongue Twisters: Pronunciation Practice

This activity is all about having fun with tongue twisters! Start by attempting one in your students’ native language – your mistakes will break the ice and show it’s okay to mess up.

Next, introduce an English tongue twister using “repeat after me” drills. Then, let students practice in pairs briefly. Finally, hold a speed competition for volunteers.

This activity makes pronunciation practice enjoyable. It encourages speaking confidence, and often brings shy students out of their shells!

17. Talktastic: The Free-Talking ESL Board Game

“Talktastic” uses a printable game board and typically runs for about 15 minutes. Its aim is to provide a fun way for students to practice speaking and listening skills.

Pair up students and give each duo a game board and dice. Players roll, move, and ask their partner the question on their landing square.

Partners take turns asking and answering until they complete the board. Enforce English-only rules to maximize language practice.

Essential ESL Activities that are Fun, Relevant and Engaging

Engaging ESL activities are one of the most essential elements of teaching an effective lesson.

These ESL activities aim at boosting awareness and increasing English as a Second Language in an effortless, fun sort of way.

Are you ready to take action? These ESL activities are all free to download and print to teach within your class today.

Let me know what you think with a comment below.