Encouraging your students to speak up and test themselves in English class is certainly a challenge, but it can also be one of the most rewarding elements of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Whether you’re working with young kids just starting out or with advanced adult learners, or any level in between, selecting the right ESL speaking activities can make all the difference. Simple tools like whiteboard games for classroom settings or engaging icebreaker games for students can often be the key to getting even the most hesitant learners talking.
In this guide to ESL conversation activities, we’ll outline several practical and adaptable speaking activities for ESL classrooms, with clear examples for different ages and different levels. So, let’s take a look!
For many students learning a language, speaking can be one of the trickiest aspects but also one of the most useful to master. While grammar, reading and listening are all essential too, ESL teachers know that a lot of pupils measure their personal progress by how well they can express themselves verbally. That’s why well-designed ESL speaking practice activities matter so much, as they can help to bring out fluency and confidence. More importantly, they can transform your classroom into a more interactive and engaging environment.
As is the case with any kind of education, different age groups respond to different types of activities. As such, tailoring your ESL speaking activities can lead to higher engagement and better results. For example, young learners thrive on movement, imagination and play, while teens generally enjoy more humorous games with a bit of competition, and adult learners tend to prefer more practical and meaningful communication. Here come two games that can be played with each age group.
Show and Tell: Students choose an object in the classroom, or bring one with them, and describe it.
How to play: Give students a few minutes to prepare, then have them present to small groups instead of the whole class to reduce pressure.
Simon Says: This is like the classic Simon Says game, but with speaking prompts added to the instructions.
How to play: Instead of just actions, include phrases like “Simon says: State your favorite food” or “Simon says: Ask a question.” This helps blend listening and speaking naturally.
Would You Rather: A game to discuss fun or thought-provoking dilemmas.
How to play: Students choose an option from a set list and explain their reasoning in pairs or groups. For example, a question could be “Would you rather live in the city or the countryside?” and a short debate then follows.
Would I Lie To You: This game gets class members to tell multiple stories, with one of them actually false.
How to play: The aim of the game is for one speaker to tell a story and for the others to correctly guess if it’s true or false. Whatever the outcome, whether it’s true or made-up, it encourages speaking.
Problem-Solving Discussions: The class is given a real-world problem to solve.
How to play: In groups, students should discuss solutions to real life problems, like planning a trip on a budget. Then, with the whole class, each group presents their final decision to the rest of the room.
Debate Club: The introduction of a simple topic with two sides.
How to play: Divide the class into teams. Give preparation time, then let each side present arguments and respond. Try to keep it structured but relaxed.
Learners at different proficiency stages need different kinds of support and challenges when it comes to speaking. Choosing the right ESL speaking activities for each level helps students feel comfortable while still pushing them to improve. Beginners usually need clear structure and plenty of guidance, intermediate students are ready for more interaction and flexibility, and advanced learners benefit from activities that encourage deeper discussion and critical thinking. Below are two engaging ideas you can use with each level in the classroom.
Picture Description: Students describe a simple image.
How to play: Provide prompts like “I see…” or “There is…” to guide the students as they describe the various aspects of a particular image.
Question Chain: Students ask and answer basic questions in a chain.
How to play: One student asks a question, such as “What is your name?”, before the next answers and then asks another student a new question.
Story Building: Students collaboratively create a story.
How to play: In this game, each student adds one sentence to continue a story. The collaborative nature of this game encourages creativity and continuity.
My Top Five: Students take turns to list their top five, in response to a prompt.
How to play: Come up with a prompt, such as “My five favourite foods are…” and get the class to take turns listing their answers. A Q&A session can follow to encourage pupils into some thinking on their feet.
Panel Discussions: A simulation of a talk show or expert panel.
How to play: Assign roles to the class, such as a host, experts and audience members. Then, the group should discuss a complex topic like technology or education, sharing their genuine opinions but in the new language.
Two Truths And One Lie: Students reveal three facts, but one of them isn’t true.
How to play: This is similar to the “Would I Lie to You?” game mentioned above, but it requires three statements to be made, with two of them true and one of them false. The rest of the class is allowed to interrogate, sparking plenty of discussion.
Once you’ve planned the activities you want to use in the classroom, it’s important to keep some general tips in mind to make the games as effective as possible.
If you want to take your skills to the next level, IH Madrid offers specialised training courses for English teachers. These help ESL teachers to perfect their understanding of the English language classroom and to stay up to date with the latest ESL teaching techniques. One of the options is the CELTA course, which represents the gold standard in initial TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training for English teachers and which provides an internationally recognised certification.
Given that these high-quality ESL training programmes are designed to focus on real teaching scenarios, you’ll then be excellently placed to use ESL speaking practice activities for every classroom situation.
