Practical Advice Game for ESL Learners

Practical Advice Game for ESL Learners: Free PDF for Effective English Practice. Enhance Your ESL Classroom with Fun Activities for Practicing Giving Advice

Practical Advice Game for ESL Learners

Practical Advice Game for ESL Learners

As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, one of the key areas to focus on is helping students give advice in various situations. Mastering the art of giving and receiving advice is a valuable communication skill, especially for students who plan to use English in everyday situations. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a fun, engaging classroom activity that helps your students practice giving advice while also improving their fluency and vocabulary.

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to play the “Advice Game” — a free, printable activity that gets students thinking quickly, collaborating with peers, and using different English phrases to offer helpful suggestions in a variety of scenarios.

What is the “Advice Game”?

The “Advice Game” is a versatile ESL activity designed to encourage students to practice different ways of giving advice. It’s perfect for a group or class setting and can be easily adapted to various levels of English proficiency. Not only does it give your students an opportunity to practice common advice phrases, but it also helps them think critically about language use in real-life situations.

How to Play the Advice Game

1. Divide the Class into Teams

Start by dividing the class into small teams of three students. Designate one student from each team to be the “writer.”

2. Write a Situation on the Board

Choose a situation that’s relevant to your students’ lives and write it on the board. For example:

• “I had a car accident.”

The goal is for each team to write as many pieces of advice as they can, using the phrase: “You should…”

3. Example Advice

Ask students to come up with advice for the situation on the board. For example:

• You should call the police.
• You should check the damage to your car.
• You should contact your insurance company.

4. Avoid Repeating

Ensure that students don’t simply repeat the same advice in different words. Encourage creativity and specific advice for the given situation.

5. Time Limit

Give the teams five minutes to come up with their advice.

6. Review and Score

After the five-minute mark, ask each team to swap their papers with another team. Each team reads out their list of advice. Any duplicate sentences are marked, and the team scores a point for each valid piece of advice. Continue playing multiple rounds using different situations.

Phrases for Giving Advice:

Students will benefit from practicing a variety of phrases used to offer advice. Encourage them to use these phrases throughout the game:

• You ought to…
• You need to…
• My advice is to…
• You could try…
• I would advise that…
• If I were you, I’d…
• You’d better…
• If I were in your place, I’d…

Sample Situations for the Advice Game:

To keep things interesting, you can use different situations for each round. Here are a few examples:

• I can’t find my wallet.
• Burglars broke into my house.
• I was fired from my job.
• The food I just cooked tastes terrible.
• My wife/husband left me.
• I didn’t pass the exam.
• My business has gone bankrupt.
• I didn’t get the job.

Why This Game is Great for ESL Learners

The “Advice Game” provides a fun and competitive way for students to practice critical English phrases. It encourages creativity, teamwork, and thinking on their feet, all while helping them improve their vocabulary and fluency.

Moreover, it’s adaptable to various proficiency levels. You can introduce simpler advice phrases for beginners or more complex situations for advanced learners. Whether in a classroom or online setting, this game can be played virtually or in person, making it a versatile tool for any ESL teacher.

Download the Free PDF

Ready to try this game in your classroom? Download our free, printable PDF of the “Advice Game” with detailed instructions, scenarios, and a list of phrases for giving advice. It’s the perfect resource to have on hand for your next ESL lesson.

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By adding this game to your lesson plans, you’re giving your students a chance to engage with English in a fun and meaningful way. With its versatility and simple rules, the “Advice Game” will help your students build their confidence in giving advice while improving their English communication skills.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE

📩 Want more free ESL grammar lesson? Share this post with other teachers and let us know how it worked in your classroom!

💬 What other grammar topics would you like? Drop your ideas in the comments!

More ESL Classroom Games & Activities

Looking for more fun grammar activities for your English class? Check out these ideas:
✅ ESL Speaking Games to improve fluency
✅ Grammar Board Games for practicing sentence structures
✅ Interactive Writing Activities for ESL learners