Looking for some fun and exciting speaking games for adults in your ESL/ESOL classes? Look no further, this page includes links to fun and free games you can use with your students at different levels of ESL.
Speaking Games for Adults
There are many ways you can encourage adults to talk, the most important aspect of teaching ESL to adults though, is to create an open and inclusive learning environment. This will be talked about often here but for now here are some super fun and helpful speaking games for adults that'll make teaching any subject easier for you and your students.
1. Finish the sentence: we play this game often when we have 10-15 minutes left of class and I don't want to start a new topic / activity.
Here's how it works, you base the 'sentences' on a language or concept you have been teaching about for example 'past tense verbs'. You explain that each person will need to start with one word each to continue the sentence.
For example, the first student in the row says 'she' then the next student beside her will continue with another word to create the sentence 'was' (if you're focus is past tense verbs), this continues until the whole sentence is complete.
I write the sentence on the board and then critique the sentence. Is it correct? I'll wait on the students to respond.
I will start this again with more students until the whole class has a go, however I can start this game at any time in the class where I feel we need an ice breaker / movement.
2. Play Board Games: board games are super fun and an easy way to have adult learners practice speaking. Often, adult ESL learners are shy and are hesitant in making mistakes, but board games break this common stigma and allow them to make mistakes in a fun and engaging way.
Check out this free past tense verbs board game printable here and try it out with your class.
3. Use Role Play Cards: role play cards are a fun and engaging way to have ESL learners speak up and play games in the classroom. Check out these Sleep Themed Role Play Free which are free for you to print and use with your students.
4. Whole Class Role Play Past Tense Role Play Cards for ESL Adults: this role play can be written on the board as student A holds the card for role play A and student b holds the role play card for student B etc. The questions are written on each card and the students get to practice speaking as they learn from each other!
The perfect way to practice speaking in an ESL classroom with adults!
5. Pair Work Speaking Game Parts of Speech: Have fun with your ESL students with these this super simple and fun Pair Work Speaking Game Parts of Speech for Adults! Students will receive a template card each and read the instructions to help their partner fill in their squares, They will also need to practice their speaking and listening skills to identify what their partner .
6. Past Tense Board Game Speaking Games for Adults: Have fun with your ESL students with these this super simple and fun Past Tense Board Game Speaking Games for Adults Students will get a board game printable to work on with their friends in groups of 3 or more, and they will use dice to roll and read the sentence they land on. They will then conjugate the sentence to a past tense form.
I hope these ideas were great for you so you can quickly jump on in your classroom and have FUN with your adult ESL learners. :)
