Theme: the role of games in teaching speaking for a2 level learners c0ntent introduction

Debate Game

So this is less of a game, more of an activity, but it can still be really fun and gives your learners to chance to voice their opinions and develop their speaking and communication skills. Using these question cards, or any topics of your own that you want to cover, divide your class into two halves. Give each half a different side of the debate to argue for. For example, if the question is ‘do you prefer pizza or pasta?’ ask one side of the class to argue for pizza and the other side for pasta. You could award points for particularly persuasive arguments. Or you could get your class to vote at the end of the lesson for who they thought argued their point the best.

13. Tell me the Truth

This is a great game particularly for the start of a year or a new class to help learners get to know each other. Have each learner write down two things about themselves that are true and one that’s a lie. Then the rest of the class asks them questions about each statement to try and discover which is the lie.

14. The Longest List

Split your class into teams. For each round, have each team nominate one learner to participate. Put all the letters of the alphabet into a hat and pick one out for each round. The nominated learner then has 30 seconds to try and think of as many words beginning with that letter as they can, earning a point for each. If someone on their team shouts out, they get a pint deducted. See which team manages to earn the most points.

15. Team Association Game

This one is similar to the association game already mentioned, but this one is played in teams (hence the creatively named title). Put your class into teams and nominate a pair from each team for each round. From the pair, one learner stays in the classroom while the other either waits outside or puts on a pair of earphones- something to block out the noise in the classroom. The first learner is then given a list of words, like from these word association cards, and they have to say the first thing that comes to their mind that they associate with that word. Then the second learner comes back into the classroom/takes off their earphones and is given the same task. But, if the second learner says the same words as the first learner did, they don’t get a point. For every unique answer they give, they get a point
And there you have it. 15 fun games to learn in English class, perfect for helping your ESL learners develop their skills and knowledge in fun and exciting ways.