ESL Activities Uncovered!

ESL activities are a crucial part of any ESL lessonGame: Slap N Say - Students are divided into teams
plan. If you are not including activities within your classof 7 if possible. One student from each team stands
or tutorage, then you are missing out on one of theand is given a blow up bat. When the teacher says
strongest tools at your disposal. Contained in this articleone of the prepositions, the students race to the board
are some of the best activities and a resource ofand hit the correct picture then say the preposition.
where to find more.Then the students race back to their team and the
In the average ESL classroom, there is, or should be,entire team repeats the preposition. First team to finish
an actual methodology to the way the lessons aregets points.
taught. It is not the same as it is over in NorthIntroduce: Phrases. Teacher gives examples using a
American classrooms where you are drilled then studybox and other props displaying the preposition and
then tested. You have to make the learning FUN whensaying the new phrase. Students repeat. Do each
you are teaching ESL. How can learning in apreposition/phrase 3 times.
classroom be FUN??? Well, come with me and I willActivity: Teams form a circle. Students are all given a
show you.blank piece of paper. Teacher then assigns each
There are 5 things that should happen within eachstudent in each team one of the prepositions. The
class. They are:students are to draw their preposition. When
completed, the teacher tells students to mingle with
1. Reviewother team(s) and find your match by showing and
2. New Vocabularysaying their preposition. When they have found their
3. New Phrasesmatch, they sit down together.
4. ActivitiesActivity: Song - On, In, Under, Over
5. GamesStudents stand and teacher sings and models song
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES?? Yes, they need to be inwith hand actions. Students repeat. All sing and do
each session if you are to be successful as an ESLhand actions slowly. Teacher quickens the tempo each
teacher. In order to best demonstrate how totime it is sung and the students try to keep up. Repeat
incorporate these correctly, lets write out a lesson planabout 5 times quickening the tempo each time. Team
for an imaginary classroom together. The formula weable to keep up gets points.
will be using is:As you can see, writing a workable, fun lesson plan is
not rocket science. After you have done it a few
1. Reviewtimes, you will be able to write a GOOD lesson plan
2. New Vocabularywithin a few minutes. The only prerequisite is that you
3. GameMUST make the lesson FUN. SBy the lesson plan
4. New Phrase(s)above, what we can see is that your lesson plan...
5. Activity
6. Activity1. Must be functional but fun for everyone.
7. Close2. Must include activities and games as reinforcement
So lets imagine that we have a class and they aretools.
learning prepositions. This is how to make up a lesson3. Should have both new vocabulary and new phrases
plan for this class.in the plan.
Materials Needed: Pictures of prepositions, box, ball,4. Should review last sessions lesson.
blow up bats5. Should conclude with something fun like a song,
Vocabulary: on, in, under, over, infront of, behind, next toawarding prizes for most points, etc...
Phrases: "The ball is infront of the box." "The ball isThis format could be changed around any way you
behind the box." etc...want but it is highly recommended that after you have
Review Vocabulary and Phrases of the last class.taught something, follow up with a game or activity as
Introduce: New Vocabulary. Teacher models eacha reinforcement tool. Your students will have a lot
word and students repeat. Do this 3 times. (Modelling ismore fun and will end up retaining more of your lesson.
saying the word and using hand gestures or actions toWishing you all the success in the world as an ESL
show an example of what the word means.)teacher.