6 Fun Educational ESL Games for Students

If you are teaching English as a second or foreign language to students, you should go for some fun educational games in the classroom.

No matter if the students are youngsters or adults, games will always keep them engaged and help them in learning English quickly.

So, here is a list of some famous educational ESL games.

Table of Contents

1. Vocabulary Showcase Game Show

To play this game, you and your students need a vast amount of vocabulary. If you want to enhance your vocabulary before playing this game, read this article.

Now, how to play this game? For it, you need to split your team into two parts. Then, ask Team A to give one student for the game.

The student will stand in front of the classroom with his back to the board. Write a vocabulary word on the board.

Now, team A has to give different clues to the student so that he can guess the word.

Give a specific time to a student to guess the game. If they guess it correctly within this desired time, they will win.

2. Telephone

This ESL game will enhance the speaking and pronunciation skills of the student. In it, you need students to sit in a circle or line.

Speak a phrase in the ear of the first student. They will whisper the same phrase in the next student’s ear.

They will continue it in a circle till the last student. Now, the last student will speak the phrase out loud to the class.

It is a fun game as you will find a different phrase in the end.

This activity is amusing and will enhance the listening skills of students too.

3. Question Volley

You can use this ESL game for every level of student. It will enhance their communication and speaking skills.

In it, you need to play volleyball. Ask students to stand in a circle. Then, select any topic. For example, you can select nature as your topic.

Pass the volley to a student and ask them any question relevant to the topic. They will answer it. And, then they will pass the volley to the next student and will ask them a question.

You need to make sure that each student is questioning and answering in a quick session to give it a communication feel.

You can select the topic and questions according to the level of the students.

4. Reporter

This ESL game is good for English writing and speaking skills. And, it is appropriate for slightly older students.

For it, you need to make a group of two students in the classroom.

To start the game, brainstorm different questions with the class. Let them come up with different questions.

Then, give them paper and pen, and ask each student to interview their partner. Give them an allotted time for this activity.

When one student is done with the interview, switch the roles.

In the end, either ask them to submit the interview questions. Or, you can ask them to read the answers in front of the classroom.

5. Song Puzzle

It is another amazing game that will enhance student’s listening and reading skills. Moreover, it will enhance their vocabulary too.

In it, what you have to do is to select the music and print out the lyrics for students. Cut the lyrics page into different strips.

Now, either make the group of two students or have it as an individual activity. Play the music and students will sort out the lyrics while listening to it.

If you have older students, you can opt for any podcast or YouTube video too. Just print out the text of it and do the same practice.

6. Role Play

This activity is ideal for young or adult students. This activity will enhance their communication skills, and creativity and will teach them how to speak English in different scenarios.

In it, you just have to give them a role or scenario and let them play their role.

We will suggest that you give small roles to kids, and do select different questions or dialogues for them to begin with. But, also encourage them to ask creative questions too.

For older students, just give them scenarios. For example, placing an order in a cafe. Let them decide the roles themselves and communicate them on the spot.