How to Practice Giving Advice in English ESL Classes: Fun Group Activity with Free PDF Cards. Engage Your ESL Students with an Interactive Activity to Master Giving Advice in English

How to Practice Giving Advice in English ESL Classes: Fun Group Activity with Free PDF Cards

How to Practice Giving Advice in English ESL Classes: Fun Group Activity with Free PDF Cards

In an English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom, one of the essential language skills that students need to develop is the ability to give advice. Knowing how to express suggestions in a polite and helpful manner is crucial for daily conversations.

In this blog post, we will share an exciting and effective group activity that helps students practice giving advice using real-life scenarios. Plus, you’ll get access to a free PDF with advice cards you can use in your classroom. This fun activity encourages participation and interaction among students while allowing them to develop their language skills in a practical way.

The Benefits of Learning to Give Advice in English

For ESL learners, giving advice is a challenging yet necessary skill. Here are a few reasons why learning how to offer advice in English is so important:

Communication Skills: Giving advice is a common part of everyday conversation. Whether it’s recommending a book, suggesting a career path, or giving personal tips, students need to be able to express themselves clearly and appropriately.
Cultural Understanding: Understanding how to give advice in different cultural contexts is a valuable skill. In many cultures, the way advice is offered can vary. Practicing in the classroom can help students navigate these cultural nuances.
Confidence Boost: As students practice giving advice in a safe, supportive environment, they gain confidence in their speaking and listening skills.

Fun and Interactive Group Activity: Advice Needed

This engaging group activity allows students to practice giving advice in a realistic and fun way. It encourages them to use target language phrases such as “You should…” or “I think you should…” while also building teamwork skills as they collaborate with their peers.

Materials Needed:

A set of advice cards (available for download in the free PDF)
A whiteboard or blackboard for writing the target language

How to Play:

Prepare the Cards: Before class, print and cut the advice cards provided in the PDF. You will need one set of cards for each group of four students.
Introduce the Target Language: Write the following phrases on the board:
- “What should I do?”
- “I (don’t) think you should…”
- “You should(n’t)…”
Go over how to use these structures to ask for and give advice. Provide an example using one of the cards.
Divide the Class into Groups: Split the students into groups of four and give each group a shuffled set of cards. Place the cards face down in a pile in the center of the group.
Start the Game: The first student picks a card from the pile and reads the situation aloud to the group. The student then asks the question on the card (e.g., “What should I do if I’m feeling stressed?”).
Giving Advice: The other group members take turns giving different pieces of advice using the target language. For example, “I think you should take a break” or “You should talk to a friend about it”.
Selecting the Best Advice: After everyone has given their advice, the student who read the card decides whose suggestion was the best. They hand over the card to the person whose advice they think was most helpful, saying, “That’s a good idea. I’ll do that.”
Repeat the Process: The next student picks a card and the process repeats. Continue until all cards have been used.
Determine the Winner: At the end of the activity, the student with the most cards wins!
Discussion: Finally, ask the class to reflect on the best advice given for each situation. This promotes further discussion and provides an opportunity for additional practice.

Why This Activity Works

Real-life Scenarios: Students will relate to the various situations presented on the cards, making the activity more engaging and meaningful.
Variety of Responses: There’s no single correct answer when it comes to giving advice, so this activity encourages creativity and diverse responses.
Peer Interaction: By giving and receiving advice from classmates, students get to practice conversational skills in a supportive and relaxed environment.
Fun and Competitive: The game-like format keeps students engaged while encouraging friendly competition.

Download the Free PDF

You can download the free PDF of advice cards by clicking the link below. These cards will make your class more dynamic and ensure your students get plenty of practice with the language of giving advice.

By using this interactive group activity in your ESL classroom, you can make learning to give advice an enjoyable and memorable experience. Don’t forget to download the free PDF to get started today!

How to Practice Giving Advice