"5 Fun Speaking Games to Engage ESL Students in Online English Learning"

Speaking games can be an engaging way to practice English for ESL students. Here are five fun speaking games that can be adapted for online learning:

 

  1. Word Chain: In this game, students take turns saying a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. For example, if the first word is “apple,” the next student might say “elephant.” This game can help students practice their vocabulary and improve their pronunciation.

  2. Would You Rather: This game involves asking students to choose between two options and explain why they made their choice. For example, you could ask, “Would you rather live in a big city or a small town?” This game can help students practice making choices and expressing their opinions.

  3. Role Play: In this game, students act out a scenario using English. For example, they could pretend to be at a restaurant and order food. This game can help students practice speaking in a natural way and using English in context.

  4. Storytelling: Students take turns adding to a story, with each person contributing a sentence or two. This game can help students practice their storytelling skills and improve their fluency.

  5. Mystery Word: In this game, one student thinks of a word and gives the class a clue to help them guess the word. For example, the clue might be “It’s a fruit that is red and grows on trees.” This game can help students practice their listening skills and vocabulary.

These games can be adapted for online learning by using video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Skype. Teachers can create breakout rooms for small group work and monitor student progress by jumping between rooms.