Tag Archives: classroom activities

1-Word New Year’s Resolutions for ELT

Tomiko Breland
Tomiko Breland

It’s the new year, and a great time to reflect on the previous year while planning for the next in the form of New Year’s resolutions. Though we don’t need a special occasion to set a goal, the beginning of … Continue reading

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5 No-Prep Activities Using Photo Apps

Brent Warner
Brent Warner

We’ve all had those moments in class: We need to fill a few minutes, break the ice with newly formed groups, personalize the lesson, or just plain change pace when things aren’t working. A lot of teachers keep a handful … Continue reading

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5 Things to Talk About in ESL Class

A. C. Kemp
A. C. Kemp

Sometimes the biggest challenge in a speaking class is running out of things to talk about! This month, I’d like to share some ideas that get the conversation going. These activities are all appropriate for online or in-person classes.

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4 Ways to Celebrate Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month: Start With Names

Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes

In 2016, the U.S. House of Representatives recognized April as the National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month. Bilingual and multilingual learners are one of the fastest growing student populations in U.S. schools. The number of English learners (ELs) grew 28.1% between … Continue reading

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6 Tips for Teaching Impromptu Speaking

A. C. Kemp
A. C. Kemp

ELs are often called on to speak extemporaneously in content classes. They might be asked to outline a scientific process, explain a literary term, or compare two historical events. Having to speak without preparation can be stressful, even in your … Continue reading

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December Holidays: 5 Writing Activities

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Ōmisoka, New Year’s Eve…with abundant holidays and traditions involving food, gifts, and socialization, December offers teachers many opportunities to engage students in fun and reflective writing activities. As I wrote last month in my November post, … Continue reading

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3 More Easy Improv Warm-ups for Speaking Classes

A. C. Kemp
A. C. Kemp

Last month, I wrote about four simple, silly improv warmups to get students active and engaged. This month, I’d like to continue with three more: Diddy-Diddy-Dum, Energy Circle, and Five Things. All three games are low stakes and noncompetitive. There’s … Continue reading

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6 Ways to Build Fluency in Second Language Writing

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

What Is Fluency in Writing? When asked what their goal is in learning a language, many learners say they want to be fluent in both speaking and writing. In everyday discussions, we often think of fluency as a reflection of … Continue reading

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