10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners To develop speaking skills in all languages for all Levels and ages.
10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners
10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners.
Activities that will get students talking in a language they’re still learning
It’s a common issue for many teachers to struggle with encouraging students to speak in a language they’re still learning.
A student may have a deep fear of making a mistake, or may be just plain shy, even in their native language. Whatever the reason, here is a list of a few fun activities to get your students to speak.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart
~
Nelson Mandela
10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners.
Activities that will get students talking in a language they’re still learning. These activities can all be adapted and used at different points of your lesson.
VERBAL CHARADES
This activity works very well as a warmer to start a lesson to learn about words without looking them up.
Procedure
Write nouns on a slip of paper. Put them in a hat and ask each student to take one. Each one has then to tell the others what is without saying the word and without using mimes or sounds. The classmates have to guess what the word is.
Example
It’s an animal that you ride on (horse)
TABOO
This activity works very well for intermediate to advanced students to
revise and assess the vocabulary in a fun way.
Procedure
The taboo cards consists of a picture that illustrates a word or only a
word to be described along with three – four words that are forbidden
to use to describe the word. The students work in two groups, sitting in
a circle so that they have players from the other team on both sides to
check if they use the forbidden words to describe the word or the
picture unless their team utters any of those words while trying to
guess what the word is. The group with more
words guessed wins the game.
SHORT STORIES
Give one sentence from a short story to each student not in the correct order. Ask each of them to read them out in turn. By listening they have to put the sentences in the correct order sitting or standing beside the student who has the preceding sentence. When they have done this, they read out the complete story.
PHONE GUESSING GAME
Bring a phone to class and pretend to receive calls throughout the class. As the students can only hear one side of the conversation, they must guess who is calling you and why. Make the initial conversation very brief, and gradually add clues with each conversation. The student that guess correctly wins a prize. Ask then your students to do the same.
THE FIRST
This is one of the warmers that can be used often because it’s very variable.
Procedure
Ask the students: What was the first thing they did in the morning? What was the first thing they saw in the morning? Who was the first person you met this week?
After a few answers you can prompt students to take over asking the questions.
10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners
CLASS STORY
Start by feeding in one line, eg. Richard was walking home last night. Ask your students to continue adding to the story one by one around the class.
NEWS REPORT
Tell each student to report the latest news in their country or city to the class. Leave it for them to choose the news item.
FORTUNATELY/UNFORTUNATELY WARMER
Start the class off with a sentence, for example I lost my wallet at the shops but fortunately, then point to a student to finish a sentence. Then continue But unfortunately (get the next student to finish that sentence). Continue on around the classroom. You can have very funny responses!
IMPROMPTU SPEECHES
Have your students brainstorm and put on index cards key words related to their reading. Each student then selects a card from the box and must give an impromptu two-minute speech on the key word chosen. This works well because students must practice their speaking skills in delivering the speech.
PASS THE MARKER
Keep a set of index cards with discussion topics on them, such as best places for vacation. After introducing a topic, pass the marker to a student and allow the student to speak on the topic for several minutes. Then, pass the marker to the next speaker who will take the floor, and so on.
This activity gives students practice in the discussion skills of listening and contributing to a conversation, especially in a quiet classroom of reluctant speakers.
10 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners
Here are some fun activities you can find on Language Advisor:
Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners
