Quick ESL Lessons Activities

 

Even the best teachers are sometimes in need of a quick idea for a great lesson.  Scroll through the list below to find ESL inspiration.  Most activities can be modified to any level.

 

 

Celebrity Interview

Have students pretend to be a famous celebrity (By choice or random drawing) and then proceed to let students interview each other in character. (Disney Characters, animations, Heroes etc can all be used)

 

Change the Setting

Use well known children's stories but ask students to change the setting.  (Example Hare and Toroise in the future, Cinderella in Tokyo, Fox and Grapes Under the Sea)

 

Make Over

Show some pictures of well or not well known people and ask the class to say how they would make over that person.  Allow for disagreement and defending one's position. 

 

Past-Present-Future

Write a brief 6-8 sentence sequence in the present "ing" form.  Pass it to a student and have them change it to past tense.  The next student gets it and change it to the future tense.  (John is sleeping->John was Sleeping.->John will sleep.)

 

Recipe Contest

Lay out some ingredients (by list or picture) and have students create an original recipe.  Make sure they have a chance to present their recipe and tell how the dish is made.

 

Sales Pitch

Cut out some products from a magazine and then task each student with creating a sales presentation for it.  (Change the target audience from children to women to businessmen and explore how the nuance might change.)

 

Superheroes

For comparisons have student create or choose a well known superhero.  Have them describe the powers, and then compare who would likely win a battle.  Use sports stars, TV Celebs and people you know as well.  Vary the situations where one power might be better suited than another.)

 

Three Word Stories

Write three non-related words on the board and task students to create a story connecting them togther.  (Jungle, sandwich, put away... I was eating a Sandwich while walking through the jungle and realized I forgot to put away my cell phone.....)

 

Tour Guide

Student becomes virtual Tour Guide of Hometown, Famous place, shopping center, house, geographic point of interest etc.)

 

Who/What Am I?

Have student choose a person or thing and describe it without revealing the name.  Allow other students to guess.

 

Writing a Postcard

Tell about a person you know who is far away.  Relate a story about them, and how they are a part of your life.  Talk about greeting, appreciation and the various forms of simple communications and then actually write a postcard to mail to that person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a suggestion for a Quick ESL Lesson please submit here.