Meet David De’ Ath, founder, editor, and writer at Wonderful World English. With his extensive background as an English teacher, David provides valuable insights and practical tips on ESL for students and teachers alike.
Mastering English as a Second Language (ESL) can be quite a challenge for students of all ages and backgrounds.
It’s an important role of the teacher to ensure that lessons are fun and engaging for their students.
It can be daunting for students to speak in a foreign language, so by keeping things positive, a teacher can create an ideal environment for effective learning.
Fortunately, there are some proven activities that teachers everywhere have included within their lesson plans to help their students get the most out of their lessons.
These activities, or ‘icebreakers,’ are perfect and simple to warm up a class, calm nerves, and prepare students to learn English!
Some of the best icebreaker activities that ESL teachers can do in their classrooms include Two Truths and a Lie, Find Someone Who, ESL Bingo, The Name Game, Cultural Exchange, The Interview, Picture Storytelling, Vocabulary Circle, The Alphabet Game, Would You Rather, and Descriptive Drawing among others.
I am an experienced English teacher who can vouch for the importance and effectiveness of a good icebreaker activity.
From young learners to adults, they are great ways to keep things fun and engaging, taking a teacher’s effectiveness to the next level.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the best icebreakers for ESL teachers.
Best ESL Icebreakers
Incorporating icebreakers in the classroom can significantly ease the learning process for ESL students.
They make learning much more pleasant and less stressful.
Icebreakers are straightforward yet engaging tasks that kick-start conversations and help build camaraderie among students.
These activities are precious in environments where students are either new to one another or are interacting for the first time.
By encouraging all students to join in and chat, ice breakers are excellent in dismantling any initial awkwardness and building a welcoming atmosphere for everyone’s benefit.
Now let’s explore the 16 best icebreakers for ESL teachers:
1. Two Truths and a Lie
This is an all-time classic that not only gets students talking but also helps them practice their listening skills and learn fun facts about their classmates.
How to Play:
- Each student thinks of two true statements and one false statement about themselves.
- They take turns sharing their three statements.
- The rest of the class guesses which statement is the lie.
2. Find Someone Who…
“Find Someone Who…” is a mingling activity that encourages students to practice question forms and discover things they have in common while speaking English.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of statements like “Find someone who has visited another country.”
- Students walk around the room asking classmates questions to match the statements.
- Once they find a match, they write down the person’s name and look for another match.
3. ESL Bingo
Bingo can be tailored to practice a variety of language skills, from vocabulary to verb tenses.
How to Play:
- Create bingo cards with different English words or phrases.
- Call out definitions, synonyms, or sentences with missing words.
- Students mark their cards if they have the corresponding word or phrase.
4. The Name Game
This game helps students learn names and practice adjectives.
How to Play:
- Students sit in a circle.
- One student starts by saying their name and an adjective that describes them and begins with the same letter (e.g., “Friendly Fernando”).
- The following student repeats the previous names and adds their own.
5. Cultural Exchange
This activity celebrates the diverse backgrounds of ESL students and encourages sharing cultural experiences.
How to Play:
- Have each student prepare a short presentation about a tradition or custom from their home country.
- Students take turns presenting while others listen and ask questions.
- This promotes cultural awareness and practices speaking and listening skills.
6. The Interview
Pairing students to interview each other simulates a real-life conversation and can reveal interesting details about their lives.
How to Play:
- Pair students and provide a list of basic questions for them to ask each other.
- After a set time, partners share what they learned with the class.
- This activity can be scaled up for advanced learners by increasing the complexity of the questions.
7. Picture Storytelling
Using images is a great way to stimulate imagination and language use.
How to Play:
- Distribute different pictures to the students or display them on a screen.
- Ask each student to tell a story based on the picture they received.
- This not only practices narrative skills but also encourages creative use of language.
8. Vocabulary Circle
This is a fun game that challenges students’ vocabulary and quick thinking.
How to Play:
- Students sit in a circle.
- The teacher says a word, and the next student must say a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word.
- If a student cannot think of a word quickly, they sit out until the next round.
Related Article: How to Teach Vocabulary to ESL Students – Teacher’s Guide
9. The Alphabet Game
This game is excellent for beginners to practice the alphabet and vocabulary.
How to Play:
- Students are challenged to think of a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet.
- They can work individually or in groups to complete the alphabet with relevant words.
- This can be themed around different topics like food, occupations, or countries.
10. Would You Rather
A game that promotes speaking fluency and opinion sharing.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of “Would you rather” questions (e.g., “Would you rather travel to the past or the future?”).
- Students choose their preference and explain the reason for their choice.
- This encourages students to express their opinions and provides a platform for practicing the conditional tense.
11. Descriptive Drawing
This activity combines listening and drawing skills and results in lots of laughs.
How to Play:
- One student describes a picture without showing it to their partner.
- The partner tries to draw the picture based on the description.
- Afterward, compare the drawings to the original pictures to see how well they communicated.
12. Quick Chat Topics
A rapid-fire conversation starter that helps students think and respond quickly in English.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of diverse topics or questions.
- Students draw a topic from a hat and have a minute to speak on the topic.
- This activity encourages spontaneous speaking and listening, with the class providing feedback or asking follow-up questions.
13. What’s in the Box?
This is an intriguing sensory game that focuses on vocabulary related to the senses and adjectives.
How to Play:
- Place various objects in a box.
- Students reach in without looking and describe what they feel.
- The class guesses the object based on the description, practicing sensory vocabulary and descriptive language.
14. Memory Challenge
A game that tests students’ memory while practicing sentence structure and vocabulary.
How to Play:
- Show students a tray with several random items for a minute.
- Hide the tray and ask students to write down all items they remember.
- Discuss the items using different English tenses or adjectives to expand on the exercise.
15. Role Play Scenarios
Role-playing can be a powerful tool for practicing conversational English in a variety of contexts.
How to Play:
- Assign pairs or groups different scenarios (ordering food, asking for directions, a job interview, etc.).
- Students act out their roles, practicing relevant vocabulary and phrases.
- Each group can present their role play to the class, followed by a discussion.
16. “I Spy” – Classroom Edition
An adaptation of the classic children’s game to help with objects and color vocabulary.
How to Play:
- The teacher starts with “I spy with my little eye something that begins with…” followed by a letter or color.
- Students take turns guessing the object.
- The student who guesses correctly takes the next turn.
For a list of the best games to help someone learn English, check out the guide below!
Related Article: Best Games to Learn English: Ultimate Guide
Tips for Effective ESL Ice Breaker Sessions
Below are some tips to help ESL teachers get the most positive impact out of an icebreaker activity:
- Opt for Simplicity: Pick activities with easy-to-follow rules, especially for those just starting out.
- Foster Inclusivity: Select activities that all students can enjoy, no matter their level of English proficiency.
- Promote Engagement: Create a welcoming environment where every student feels comfortable joining in.
- Reflect Together: Finish with a conversation about what everyone has learned about their peers and any new words they’ve picked up.
Related Article: How to Build a Positive Classroom Culture – Teacher’s Tips
Conclusion
Adding icebreakers to ESL classes can truly enhance the learning process.
These fun activities make learning English lively and enjoyable while also promoting a classroom vibe that’s perfect for language acquisition and cultural sharing.
By beginning your lessons with these straightforward but impactful icebreakers, you’ll lay down a solid foundation for a fruitful and engaging language-learning adventure.
Try out some of the suggestions above and see which ones your students like best.
We hope you have found value in this guide; feel free to reach out if you are in need of any assistance.
Have a wonderful day!
Image Attribution: All images licensed via canva.com
