My favorite... Speaking Activity for ESL

Here is an activity I have used in my ESL class. It can be scaffold/differentiated to help fit the needs of different levels of ELLs. I typed up a bunch of questions:

 What is your favorite color?

 What is your favorite T.V. show?
 

 What is your favorite book?

 What is your favorite holiday?

Who is your favorite celebrity?

  Who is your favorite soccer player?

 
 What is your favorite class?

 What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite movie?

 What is your favorite weather?
 
What is your favorite sport?

 What is your favorite month?

 What is your favorite day of the week?

Who is your favorite super hero?

 What is your favorite exercise?

Who is your favorite singer?

 What is your favorite song?

 What is your favorite videogame?

 What is your favorite genre to read?

What is your favorite game to play in gym?

 Who is your favorite author?

What is your favorite fruit?

What is your favorite restaurant?

What is your favorite scary story?

 

You can print them off. There are some different activities to help your ELLs get comfortable

speaking in English.

Activity 1: Coffee Questions

Beginning Speakers:

1. Cut apart the questions and fold them in half.

2. Place them in an empty container (a coffee can or plastic bucket will do)

3. Explain to students they are going to pick a random question, read the question aloud and then answer the question.

4. Model what students should do to clarify instructions.

 

Beginning-Mid Speakers:

(You can do this modification once the beginning students understand the questions too)

1. cut apart the questions and fold them in half

2. Place them in an empty container (a coffee can or plastic bucket will do)

3. Explain to students they are going to pick random questions, they are going to read the question silently, and then tell the answer in a complete sentence.

4. The students not answering the question will try to guess what the question read.

5. Model what students should do to clarify instructions (You can model with a more advanced student)

 

Activity 2: Interview about My favorite things (This is good for getting to know students at the beginning of the year)

Beginning Speakers:

1. Print off the questions. (You don't have to use all of them)

2. Explain to the students they are going to ask their partner questions and they need to write down the answers. (have students write in complete sentences if level is advanced enough)

3. Model what students should do to clarify instructions

4.  After students are done you can have students demonstrate how their interview went.

 

Mid-Advanced:

1. Print off the questions (You don't have to sue all of them)

2. Explain to students that they are going to ask their partner questions and they need to write down the answers. (have students write in complete sentences if level is advanced enough)

3. Model what students should do to clarify instructions.

4. After students answer questions have them write a paragraph about their partners favorite things and present it to the class.

 

These activities are pretty simple, but they work when it comes to getting your ELLs to feel comfortable to speak English in the classroom since they are pretty scripted. It's also a fun way to get to now your ELLs. If you have any other activities or ideas feel free to share them

Regards,
Leslie

 

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