As an ESL teacher in the digital age, keeping your students energized and engaged during online classes is more important than ever. Whether you’re teaching English to beginners or advanced ESL learners, creating an interactive and enjoyable online teaching experience is key. Here are 20 must-try tips that can transform your virtual classroom and boost spoken English skills, participation, and learning outcomes.

Start with a Warm-Up Game
Kick off your lesson with a short game or quiz. Icebreakers help ESL learners feel comfortable and ready to speak.

Use Visual Aids
Incorporate pictures, infographics, and short videos to explain vocabulary and grammar points more clearly.

Set Clear Objectives
Let your learners know what they will learn and be able to do by the end of the lesson. This builds focus and motivation.

Break Lessons into Chunks
Divide your lesson into small sections with different activities to maintain attention and avoid screen fatigue.

Include Movement
Ask students to stand up, point, act, or do simple tasks to keep energy levels high during online sessions.

Use the Chat Box Creatively
Encourage students to type answers, questions, or short reflections in the chat to promote active participation.

Gamify Learning
Use apps like Kahoot, Quizlet, or Wordwall to turn learning English into a fun, competitive activity.

Create Student Roles
Assign roles like “Discussion Leader” or “Vocabulary Checker” to give students a sense of responsibility.

Use Real-Life Materials
Teach with menus, signs, news clips, or YouTube videos to make lessons more relatable and practical.

Encourage Peer Interaction
Use breakout rooms for pair work or group discussions to boost spoken English practice.

Celebrate Progress
Recognize milestones, like mastering new vocabulary or improving pronunciation, to boost confidence.

Incorporate Music
Songs are great for teaching pronunciation, rhythm, and new vocabulary in a fun way.

Personalize Lessons
Use students’ interests—like sports, hobbies, or pop culture—to make lessons more engaging.

Give Instant Feedback
Provide quick corrections and praise to help ESL learners grow and stay motivated.

Use Interactive Slides
Tools like Google Slides or Canva can make your online lessons more engaging and visually appealing.

Ask Open-Ended Questions
Encourage critical thinking and conversation by asking questions that require more than yes/no answers.

Assign Fun Homework
Give creative homework like making a video diary or writing a short dialogue to encourage language use at home.

Have Theme Days
Plan fun themes like “Movie Day” or “Travel Day” to keep online teaching fresh and exciting.

Record and Reflect
Let students watch lesson recordings to review and self-correct their spoken English.

Stay Positive and Patient
A friendly, supportive attitude helps ESL learners feel safe and confident to speak and make mistakes.