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Resources for English language teachers | Cambridge English

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We have resources to help you teach English, whatever your context. Use these resources in your classroom, or pass them on to your students for them to use at home.

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More than two-thirds of teachers have at least one English language learner (ELL) in their classrooms, according to National Center for Education Statistics data. Fewer than half of these teachers have received formal training on how to teach these students. This knowledge gap underscores the urgent need for educators to have access to high-quality English language learner resources.

With the right methods and tools, educators can provide the support ELLs need to thrive academically and in other areas of their lives.

English as a Second Language Education

English as a second language (ESL) education plays a critical role in equipping non-native English speakers with the language skills they need to communicate effectively. This specialized form of instruction includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing lessons. It also gives students opportunities to build an understanding of cultural nuances within the English language.

Ultimately, ESL education helps empower students to become proficient in English. With effective ESL instruction, students can learn to adapt their language skills to different settings, navigating both academic and social contexts with a sense of self-assurance and competence.

Benefits of ESL Education

The importance of ESL education cannot be overstated. Research has repeatedly shown that high-quality ESL instruction positively impacts ELL students' academic success. For example, studies have indicated that ELLs who receive comprehensive ESL support demonstrate improved performance and higher rates of on-time graduation.

Beyond language acquisition and greater academic success, ESL education helps students develop vital social and cultural skills by engaging them in meaningful cultural exploration. ELLs may learn about US holidays, their historical significance, and the traditions associated with them. This offers ELLs a chance to gain a deeper understanding of American society and its customs.

ESL education also introduces students to idioms and cultural references commonly used in English-speaking communities. For example, students might learn how to use phrases like "the ball is in your court" or "barking up the wrong tree." In this way, ELLs can become better equipped to engage in conversations and understand the nuances of English.

Additionally, ESL education encourages cross-cultural interactions. Students may participate in projects in which they share aspects of their own cultures, such as traditional foods, music, or festivals. These exchanges can encourage greater feelings of acceptance and build bridges of understanding among students from diverse backgrounds.

Overall, ESL education empowers students to participate fully in academic pursuits, engage with their peers, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The Need for ESL Education

On average, ELLs comprise almost 14 percent of city public school enrollment, according todata from the National Center for Education Statistics. In some states, ELLs can comprise up to 20 percent of the overall enrollment. These numbers emphasize the need for targeted support and resources for ELLs.

Addressing the Barriers Faced by English Language Learners

English language learners face many obstacles on their educational journey. Their limited language skills can impede their ability to understand teachers' instructions, participate in classroom discussions, and grasp complex academic concepts. These issues frequently hinder the students' academic progress. This can lead to frustration and a sense of being left behind.

Cultural differences can further compound these feelings. Adjusting to a new educational system and new social norms and expectations can overwhelm ELLs. Unfamiliar teaching styles and classroom dynamics may also dampen these students' motivation.

Standardized exams pose a particular challenge for English language learners. The complex wording often used in test questions can make it difficult for ELLs to fully comprehend and accurately respond to them. As a result, ELLs may struggle to perform at the same level as their peers, which can lead to them having lower test scores and can potentially impact their overall academic standing.

The combination of these obstacles can contribute to lower academic achievement and increased dropout rates among English language learners. Without appropriate support and accommodations, ELLs may feel discouraged and disconnected from the educational system.

To help ELLs deal with these issues, educators need to have access to quality English language learner resources and professional development. When equipped with the right knowledge and strategies, educators can create inclusive and supportive learning environments for all of their students.

Methods for Teaching English Language Learners

Teaching English language learners requires a diverse set of methods and approaches. By combining different instructional techniques, educators can create engaging and dynamic learning experiences that cater to the unique needs of ELLs.

Educators can employ the following methods to support ELLs.

Total Physical Response

The total physical response (TPR) instructional approach focuses on the powerful link between language and physical movement. In TPR, educators provide ELLs with commands or instructions in English and students respond by carrying out corresponding physical actions. This method taps into the connection between body movements and language comprehension, making language acquisition easier through active participation and kinesthetic learning.

Implementing TPR in the classroom can be greatly supported by practical resources such as TPR storytelling techniques and total physical response teacher toolkits available online. These resources offer educators a wide range of practical tools, activities, and lesson ideas to effectively incorporate TPR into their teaching practices.

TPR storytelling techniques help educators combine storytelling with physical actions, allowing ELLs to comprehend and internalize language in a more immersive and engaging manner. Total physical response teacher toolkits provide educators with a comprehensive set of instructional materials, including command cards, action visuals, and interactive games, to enhance the TPR experience in the classroom.

In TPR, students' bodies become part of their learning process; they use their hands, arms, legs, etc., to respond to language prompts. This may involve employing a combination of abstract signing, similar to sign language, and acting out the meaning of words. For instance, a student might demonstrate the action of swimming while saying the word "swim," or they might use a specific hand gesture to indicate the word "stop."

This method not only strengthens language comprehension but also infuses enjoyment into the classroom. By connecting words and phrases with physical movements, students establish a tangible connection to the language. This enhances their overall language learning experience.

TPR works particularly well with young learners and beginner-level ELLs who may have limited vocabulary or language proficiency. The combination of clear, concrete commands and physical responses gives students visual and kinesthetic support for learning new language concepts.

Communicative Language Teaching

Communicative language teaching (CLT) focuses on developing students' ability to communicate in real-life situations. This interactive approach engages ELLs in authentic conversations and practical language activities to help them gain the skills needed to express themselves fluently and with confidence.

CLT involves activities that prompt students to communicate using the words and vocabulary they're learning. These activities may include role-plays, group discussions, or debates that can create opportunities for authentic language practice and allow students to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas in a meaningful context.

The following guidelines provide ideas on how to integrate CLT principles into teaching ELLs:

Designing Communicative Tasks

In CLT, communicative tasks ask students to have a conversation, solve a problem, or share information in the language they're learning. These activities help students use targeted vocabulary in practical and meaningful ways, just as they would in the real world.

To design effective communicative tasks:

Practice real-life communication: Create activities that invite students to use language in practical situations that reflect their everyday lives. Consider role-plays, simulations, information gap exercises, and problem-solving tasks.

Use relevant supporting content: Incorporate authentic materials like news articles, videos, and interviews into the tasks, to provide meaningful contexts for language practice.

Set milestones: Create clear goals for each task, to ensure students understand the purpose and focus of their communication.

Promoting Pair and Group Work

Research has shown that pair and group work helps lower the anxiety ELLs feel about speaking and improves their speaking ability simultaneously. Working in pairs or groups provides a sense of support and shared responsibility, which can help alleviate the pressure and self-consciousness associated with speaking in front of others.

These instructional tools encourage students to engage in genuine conversations in a relaxed and interactive setting. They also allow students to receive more personalized attention and feedback from their partners as well as take ownership of their learning.

To promote successful pair and group work:

Delegate effectively: Assign group members roles and responsibilities, to ensure participation and equal involvement.

Facilitate collaboration: Help students work together, such as by providing sentence starters or discussion prompts.

Providing Constructive Feedback

Constructive feedback supports the language learning process in several ways. It allows educators to address errors and provide guidance on language accuracy, so students can understand their mistakes and make corrections, and it also encourages students to reflect on their own language use and identify areas for improvement.

Things to keep in mind when using this tool:

Give constructive feedback: Focus on providing feedback that enhances students' communication skills rather than solely pointing out errors.

Validate progress and success: Offer specific praise for effective communication strategies, such as using appropriate vocabulary or initiating conversations.

Consider both accuracy and fluency: Avoid immediately correcting every error during an activity or conversation. Instead, write down the errors or use symbols or codes to indicate them, so students can continue communicating without interruption, maintaining their fluency.

Content-Based Instruction

Content-based instruction (CBI) intertwines language learning with subject matter content. This provides English language learners the resources to acquire language skills while also learning other academic subjects. This integration of language and content helps students develop their language proficiency and keep up with their grade level curriculum.

For example, in a middle school science class, educators can incorporate CBI by designing lessons where students conduct hands-on experiments and engage in collaborative discussions. By actively participating in experiments, analyzing data, and communicating their findings, students not only deepen their understanding of scientific concepts but also develop their ability to use scientific language effectively, expanding their language skills within the context of science.

Educators can effectively implement CBI by:

Selecting relevant and engaging content: Choose subject matter that aligns with the curriculum and is interesting to students, such as current events, cultural topics, or real-world issues.

Integrating language and content: Design activities and assignments that require students to use language while engaging with the content. This can include discussions, debates, projects, presentations, and research papers.
Providing language support: Scaffold language learning by providing vocabulary lists, language models, and graphic organizers that assist students in understanding and expressing complex ideas related to the content. Scaffolding means providing structured support to help students grasp new concepts and skills. Teachers give students tools and resources that assist them in their learning process until they can independently apply what they've been taught.

Incorporating authentic materials: Use original materials, such as articles, videos, and primary sources, to expose students to real-life language use and to enhance their understanding of the content.

Assessing language and content integration: Evaluate students' language proficiency and content understanding through a variety of assessments, such as oral presentations, written assignments, and project-based assessments.

Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning strategies help foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment for ELLs. Engaging ELLs in group activities, discussions, and projects promotes participation and mutual support among students. Collaborative learning allows ELLs to practice their language skills in real-life contexts while building connections with their peers.

Educators can implement various practical collaborative learning techniques including:

Jigsaw activities: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group member a specific topic or task. Each group member becomes an expert in their assigned area and then shares their knowledge with the other group members. This encourages cooperation and the exchange of ideas and information among students.

Think-pair-share: Pose a thought-provoking question or a problem to the class. Allow students a few moments to reflect individually (think), then have them pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts (pair), and, finally, invite pairs to discuss their ideas with the whole class (share). This technique promotes collaboration, communication, and the development of speaking and listening skills.

Group projects: Assign group projects that require students to work together to complete a task or solve a problem. For example, students can collaborate to create presentations, design posters, conduct research, or create multimedia projects. Group projects encourage ELLs to engage in meaningful language practice, develop teamwork skills, and learn from other students' perspectives and experiences.

Role-playing: Assign specific roles or characters to each student and have them engage in role-playing activities. This could involve simulations of real-life situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant, interviewing for a job, or acting out a scene from a book. Role-playing encourages active participation, language use, and the development of oral communication skills.

Establishing clear expectations and roles: Whatever the collaborative learning activity, give students clear guidelines and expectations, including specific roles and responsibilities for each group member. This helps ensure equal participation, accountability, and a sense of ownership among students. By clarifying expectations, educators can facilitate a positive and productive collaborative learning environment.

Task-Based Language Teaching

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) emphasizes learning through tasks and activities that reflect real-world language use. TBLT engages students in tasks that require them to use language to achieve specific goals or solve problems.

For example, a teacher may assign students the task of planning a trip to a foreign country. Students would need to research and gather information, make travel arrangements, and create an itinerary-all while using specific assigned target language when communicating with their peers. As they complete the task, students practice language skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They also develop problem-solving and collaboration skills.

TBLT exposes students to language in situations that mirror real-life communication. This approach enhances ELLs' ability to use language effectively in everyday situations and makes language learning more relevant and engaging, leading to a deeper understanding and retention of English.

Strategies and techniques for implementing TBLT effectively include:

Task selection: Choose tasks that are relevant and meaningful to the students' lives. Tasks could include planning a trip, solving a problem, conducting an interview, or participating in a debate. Connecting language learning to real-life situations motivates students to engage and apply their language skills.

Preparatory activities: Before students begin the task, provide them with activities that will activate their prior knowledge and introduce key vocabulary or language structures. These activities can include brainstorming, discussions, or short reading/listening exercises that prepare students for the task.

Task design: Design tasks that have a clear goal and require students to use language to achieve that goal. Tasks should be challenging but achievable, promoting critical thinking and language production. Consider incorporating elements of collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving into the task design.

Planning phase: Allow students time to plan and prepare for the task. During this phase, encourage students to discuss their strategies, organize their thoughts, and plan their language use. This planning stage fosters communication and helps students clarify their ideas before engaging in the task.

Task performance: Provide opportunities for students to engage in the task and use language to accomplish the goal. Monitor and facilitate the students' performance of the task, offering support and guidance as needed. Encourage students to interact with one another and apply the language skills they have been learning.

Language focus: While the primary focus of TBLT is on completing the task, address students' specific language needs that arise during the task performance. Provide feedback and language support as students engage in the task, addressing errors, clarifying language use, and highlighting language patterns or structures.

Reflection and feedback: After completing the task, engage students in reflection. Encourage them to discuss their experience, evaluate their performance, and reflect on their use of language. Provide constructive feedback that focuses on both the content and the language aspects of their performance, helping them improve their skills.

English Language Learner Resources for Educators, Students, and Their Families

High-quality resources designed for instructing ELLs can empower educators to create inclusive classrooms that support the needs of students working toward full English language proficiency. The right resources can offer valuable guidance and assistance to both educators seeking innovative teaching materials and students looking for language learning support.

Resources for Educators

To enhance their instructional practices, educators can turn to a range of English language learner resources. By exploring professional development platforms, instructional strategies, assessment tools, and more, educators can stay up to date with the latest research and gain insights into effective teaching methods for ESL instruction.

Colorín Colorado, a resource hub for ESL teachers, provides a wide range of lesson plans, instructional strategies, and classroom activities for various English language proficiency levels. It also houses an extensive collection of bilingual books and recommended reading lists for students.

The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition gives educators access to webinars and workshops focused on ESL teaching strategies, research-based publications about effective ESL instruction and language acquisition, as well as information on policies, laws, and guidelines related to ESL education.

TESOL offers an array of articles, research papers, and publications that cover topics such as lesson planning, language assessment, classroom management, and cultural competence. Additionally, TESOL provides a platform for teachers to connect through discussion forums, online communities, and networking opportunities.

"Helpful Online Resources for Teaching ELLs" offers a collection of tools that support teaching vocabulary and literacy skill development to ELLs, discusses the benefits of online learning stations, and provides a list of ELL learning apps and websites.

WIDA, part of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, provides a range of educator resources, including ESL instructional materials and assessment tools for evaluating ELLs' language proficiency and monitoring their progress.

On the National Education Association's Resources for English Language Learners page, ESL teachers can access instructional materials, lesson plans, and teaching strategies tailored to ELLs. The page also provides access to professional development resources as well as articles, research papers, and guides that offer insights into effective ESL instructional practices.

Kid-Inspired Classroom focuses on ESL teaching resources for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Teachers can access printable worksheets, graphic organizers, and educational materials for ESL instruction as well as learn teaching tips and strategies for working with ELLs.

Resources for ELLs and Their Families

From online platforms and language learning apps to community organizations and support networks, ELLs and their families can benefit from exploring a range of resources that cater to their diverse needs and aspirations.

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab houses a vast collection of audio recordings at different levels of difficulty. ELLs can listen to various dialogues, interviews, and conversations followed by comprehension questions designed to help ELLs assess their understanding. The site also provides links to podcasts, videos, and websites that further support language acquisition.

The resource page for ELLs and their families compiled by the New York State Education Department offers helpful links to community organizations and advocacy groups that support ELLs and their families in overcoming their language barriers and thriving in school.

"Eight Excellent Digital Resources for English Language Learners" provides recommendations for websites where ELLs can practice their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Storyline Online offers a collection of video recordings of celebrated actors reading children's books aloud. The website also provides activity guides and worksheets families can use to engage with the stories and promote reading comprehension.

Create Inclusive Environments for English Language Learners

All students deserve a quality education. By providing appropriate support, educators can help ELLs thrive academically and socially. English language learner resources help promote educational equity and empower students for future success.

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Supporting English Language Learners: Resources for Educators and Administrators

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Supporting English language learners can help promote academic success. Explore some effective English language learner resources and how to implement them.

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A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners

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Jenny White: ESL Games and Teaching Tips

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An ESL Game that Rocks: Total Engagement, 100% Efficiency

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K-8 ESL Teaching Materials & Strategies | Kid-Inspired Classroom

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Find engaging, effective materials and strategies for helping your English learners improve quickly as well as access grade-level content.

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Jigsaw reading is a cooperative learning technique where learners develop reading skills while working together to build comprehension. Learners work in small groups to become experts on a section of a longer text, then form new groups with a representative from each section. Learners take turns teaching their new group about their section of the text.

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The 2012 Amplification of the WIDA English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten-Grade 12, represented the social, instructional, and academic language students might need to engage with peers, educators, and the curriculum in schools. The 2012 Amplification included examples of how language could be processed or produced within a particular context through Model Performance Indicators (MPIs). MPIs were meant to be examples and not fixed guidelines of the language with which students may have engaged during instruction and assessment.
WIDA intends to fully retire the 2012 Amplification of the WIDA English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten-Grade 12. However, we recognize that all member SEAs have different timelines for implementation of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. With that in mind, the 2012 Amplification will remain in the Resource Library so that educators whose SEAs are still using it may access it as needed.
Resource Details View Download Now

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The 2012 Amplification of the WIDA English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten-Grade 12, represented the social, instructional, and academic language students might need to engage with peers, educators, and the curriculum in schools. The 2012 Amplification included examples of how language could be processed or produced within a particular context through Model Performance Indicators (MPIs).

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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The Best Way to Improve Your Skills Practicing your English speech with ELSA is fun and addictive. Our bite-sized lessons are effective, and we have proof that it works.

Get Instant Feedback Receive immediate, detailed feedback on your pronunciation using our proprietary artificial intelligence technology.

Find Your Proficiency Level Take a thoughtfully designed, short assessment test and receive a detailed report of your strengths and weaknesses.

Explore Fun Content Play games while practicing all 44 English language sounds, and learn from a wide range of relevant topics about business, travel, school, and more.

Track Your Progress Be proud of the accomplishments you've made along your journey to becoming a proficient English speaker.

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Our speech recognition app is designed to evaluate and give feedback on your English pronunciation and fluency. With ELSA you can speak English like a natural.

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Phonetics - Consonants: Crash Course Linguistics #8

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Stages of Second Language Acquisition: ESL, ELL, LEP & Bilingual

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English Language Learners
in U.S. Schools: An Overview of Research Findings

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This article reviews findings from scientific research that has been conducted in the United States since 1980 on the educational outcomes of English language learners (ELLs). The studies selected…

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Games and fun activities are a vital part of teaching English as a foreign language. Whether you're teaching adults or children, games will liven up your lesson and ensure that your students will leave the classroom wanting more.

Games can be used to warm up the class before your lesson begins, during the lesson to give students a break when you're tackling a tough subject, or at the end of class when you have a few minutes left to kill. There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of games that you can play with your students. EFL games are used to test vocabulary, practice conversing, learn tenses - the list is endless.

This list of ten classic ESL games every teacher should know will help get you started and feeling prepared. Having these up your sleeve before stepping into the classroom will ensure your lessons run smoothly, and, should things get a little out of control, you'll be able to pull back the attention of the class in no time.
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1. Board Race

There isn't an EFL teacher I know who doesn't use this game in the classroom. Board Race is a fun game that is used for revising vocabulary, whether it be words from the lesson you've just taught or words from a lesson you taught last week. It can also be used at the start of the class to get students active. It is a great way of testing what your students already know about the subject you're about to teach.

This is best played with 6 students or more - the more, the better. I've used it in classes ranging from 7-25 years of age and it's worked well in all age groups.

How to Play:

Split the class into two teams and give each team a colored marker.

If you have a very large class, it may be better to split the students into teams of 3 or 4.

Draw a line down the middle of the board and write a topic at the top.

The students must then write as many words as you require related to the topic in the form of a relay race.

Each team wins one point for each correct word. Any words that are unreadable or misspelled are not counted.

2. Call My Bluff / Two Truths and A Lie

Call My Bluff is a fun game which is perfect at the start of term as a 'getting to know you' kind of game. It is also a brilliant ice breaker between students if you teach classes who do not know one another -- and especially essential if you are teaching a small class size.

The game is excellent for practicing speaking skills, though make sure you save a time for after the game to comment on any mistakes students may have made during the game. (I generally like to reserve this for after the game, so you don't disrupt their fluency by correcting them as they speak).

With older groups you can have some real fun and you might be surprised what you'll learn about some of your students when playing this particular EFL game.

How to play:

Write 3 statements about yourself on the board, two of which should be lies and one which should be true.

Allow your students to ask you questions about each statement and then guess which one is the truth. You might want to practice your poker face before starting this game!

If they guess correctly then they win.

Extension: Give students time to write their own two truths and one lie.

Pair them up and have them play again, this time with their list, with their new partner. If you want to really extend the game and give students even more time to practice their speaking/listening skills, rotate partners every five minutes.

Bring the whole class back together and have students announce one new thing they learned about another student as a recap.

3. Simon Says

This is an excellent game for young learners. Whether you're waking them up on a Monday morning or sending them home on a Friday afternoon, this one is bound to get them excited and wanting more. The only danger I have found with this game is that students never want to stop playing it.

How to Play:

Stand in front of the class (you are Simon for the duration of this game).

Do an action and say Simon Says [action]. The students must copy what you do.

Repeat this process choosing different actions - you can be as silly as you like and the sillier you are the more the children will love you for it.

Then do an action but this time say only the action and omit 'Simon Says'. Whoever does the action this time is out and must sit down.

The winner is the last student standing.

To make it harder, speed up the actions. Reward children for good behavior by allowing them to play the part of Simon.

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4. Word Jumble Race

This is a great game to encourage team work and bring a sense of competition to the classroom. No matter how old we are, we all love a good competition and this game works wonders with all age groups. It is perfect for practicing tenses, word order, reading & writing skills and grammar.

How to play:

Write out a number of sentences, using different colors for each sentence. I suggest having 3-5 sentences for each team.

Cut up the sentences so you have a handful of words.

Put each sentence into hats, cups or any objects you can find, keeping each separate.

Split your class into teams of 2, 3, or 4. You can have as many teams as you want but remember to have enough sentences to go around.

Teams must now put their sentences in the correct order.

The winning team is the first team to have all sentences correctly ordered.

5. Hangman

This classic game is a favorite for all students but it can get boring quite quickly. This game is best used for 5 minutes at the start to warm the class up or 5 minutes at the end if you've got some time left over. It works no matter how many students are in the class.

How to play:

Think of a word and write the number of letters on the board using dashes to show many letters there are.

Ask students to suggest a letter. If it appears in the word, write it in all of the correct spaces. If the letter does not appear in the word, write it off to the side and begin drawing the image of a hanging man.

Continue until the students guess the word correctly (they win) or you complete the diagram (you win).

6. Pictionary

This is another game that works well with any age group; children love it because they can get creative in the classroom, teenagers love it because it doesn't feel like they're learning, and adults love it because it's a break from the monotony of learning a new language - even though they'll be learning as they play.

Pictionary can help students practice their vocabulary and it tests to see if they're remembering the words you've been teaching.

How to play:

Before the class starts, prepare a bunch of words and put them in a bag.

Split the class into teams of 2 and draw a line down the middle of the board.

Give one team member from each team a pen and ask them to choose a word from the bag.

Tell the students to draw the word as a picture on the board and encourage their team to guess the word.

The first team to shout the correct answer gets a point.

The student who has completed drawing should then nominate someone else to draw for their team.

Repeat this until all the words are gone - make sure you have enough words that each student gets to draw at least once!

7. The Mime

Miming is an excellent way for students to practice their tenses and their verbs. It's also great for teachers with minimal resources or planning time, or teachers who want to break up a longer lesson with something more interactive. It's adaptable to almost any language point that you might be focusing on.

This game works with any age group, although you will find that adults tire of this far quicker than children. To keep them engaged, relate what they will be miming to your groups' personal interests as best as possible.

How to play:

Before the class, write out some actions - like washing the dishes - and put them in a bag.

Split the class into two teams.

Bring one student from each team to the front of the class and one of them choose an action from the bag.

Have both students mime the action to their team.

The first team to shout the correct answer wins a point.

Repeat this until all students have mimed at least one action.

8. Hot Seat

This is one of my students' favorite games and is always at the top of the list when I ask them what they want to play. I have never used this while teaching ESL to adults, but I imagine it would work well.

Hot Seat allows students to build their vocabulary and encourages competition in the classroom. They are also able to practice their speaking and listening skills and it can be used for any level of learner.

How to play:

Split the class into 2 teams, or more if you have a large class.

Elect one person from each team to sit in the Hot Seat, facing the classroom with the board behind them.

Write a word on the board. One of the team members of the student in the hot seat must help the student guess the word by describing it. They have a limited amount of time and cannot say, spell or draw the word.

Continue until each team member has described a word to the student in the Hot Seat.

9. Where Shall I Go?

This game is used to test prepositions of movement and should be played after this subject has been taught in the classroom. This game is so much fun but it can be a little bit dangerous since you'll be having one student in each pair be blindfolded while the other directs them. So make sure to keep your eyes open!

It is also excellent for the adult EFL classroom, or if you're teaching teenagers.

How to play:

Before the students arrive, turn your classroom into a maze by rearranging it. It's great if you can do this outside, but otherwise push tables and chairs together and move furniture to make your maze.

When your students arrive, put them in pairs outside the classroom. Blindfold one student from each pair.

Allow pairs to enter the classroom one at a time; the blindfolded student should be led through the maze by their partner. The students must use directions such as step over, go under, go up, and go down to lead their partner to the end of the maze.

10. What's My Problem?

This is a brilliant EFL game to practice giving advice. It should be played after the 'giving advice' vocabulary lesson has taken place. It is a great way for students to see what they have remembered and what needs reviewing. This game works well with any age group, just adapt it to fit the age you're working with.

How to play:

Write ailments or problems related to your most recent lesson on post-it notes and stick one post-it note on each student's back.

The students must mingle and ask for advice from other students to solve their problem.

Students should be able to guess their problem based on the advice they get from their peers.

Use more complicated or obscure problems to make the game more interesting for older students. For lower levels and younger students, announce a category or reference a recent lesson, like "Health", to help them along.

These games will keep your students engaged and happy as they learn! Remember, these are just ten on the hundreds of different EFL games that you can plat with your students. As you get more confident in the classroom, you can start putting your own spin on games and eventually make up your own.

Whatever the age of your students, they're guaranteed to love playing EFL games in the classroom. An EFL classroom should be fun, active and challenging and these games are sure to get you heading in the right direction.
This article was originally published in October 2013; we redesigned and updated this article in May 2018.
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10 Fun ESL Games and Activities for Teaching Kids English Abroad

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Want to make your ESL classroom a more fun and educational place to be? These 10 great games will help teach your students during your time as an ESL teacher abroad.