5 Go-to-ideas for Conversation

Have you ever felt in a rut when trying to come up with fun ways for your students to improve their speaking skills?

Bored of the list with 4-5 questions to start a conversation everyday at the beginning or end of class?

If you answered yes to any of the above, I hear you! The struggle IS real. But fear not. Thanks to a recent post by BusyTeachers.org that I happily came across with the other day, I now present to you the following strategies to add some pizzaz to your daily conversation practice with #Tech tip included! You're welcome.

A Picture’s Worth

Give each S a unique photo (try worth1000.com for ideas) and ask them to create a story about it. Then have them share the story in pairs or groups. Encourage them to ask follow up questions to each other!

Conversation Redo

Ss think about a conversation that did not well. They redo the conversation by looking back and identifying the mistakes and deficiencies and how to fix them. Then they can role play it with a partner.

Teacher for a Day

Ss share their ideas about how to make class more interesting and engaging. Ss discuss and ideal day in your WL class and then pitch their ideas to you. Extension: Turn this into a presentational speaking task by having them play the role of the teacher!

Get-to-know-you Bingo

Ss write down a list of interesting and fun experiences they might have in the blank spaces of a bingo card. The, Ss walk around asking questions to find people who may have had those experiences. The first one with 5 initials in a row wins!

Making Plans

Ss plan a filed trip, a holiday meal, a class party, a family reunion, a trip or any other event that might tie in the vocabulary they are learning.

Want to digitize any of these? I would recommend using Flipgrid so students can record themselves and then you will be able to provide them with valuable feedback or they could also review it themselves for some self-assessment practice.

Adapted from “7 New Go To Activities for Conversation Class” by BusyTeacher.org