These are 49 great tips to make your ESL Speaking Class more awesome and interesting.

1. 49 Ways to Make
your ESL Speaking
Class Awesome
Twitter: @bolen_jackie
Website: www.eslspeaking.org
Introduction:Introduction:
Your job as an ESL instructor orYour job as an ESL instructor or
teacher is very vital to the students.teacher is very vital to the students.
English is a difficult language toEnglish is a difficult language to
learn. Therefore, each student’slearn. Therefore, each student’s
success in speaking fluent Englishsuccess in speaking fluent English
depends on your effective teaching.depends on your effective teaching.
Here are 49 great tips to successfullyHere are 49 great tips to successfully
teach ESL in class.teach ESL in class.

2. No. 1
Change Speaking Partners OftenChange Speaking Partners Often
It’s boring to talk to the same person allIt’s boring to talk to the same person all
the time! Avoid it as much as possible.the time! Avoid it as much as possible.

3. No. 2
Teach Students How to Ask QuestionTeach Students How to Ask Question
Take some off theTake some off the
pressure offpressure off
yourself to alwaysyourself to always
be carrying the conversation.be carrying the conversation.
Check out this video:Check out this video:
Teaching Students to Ask Questions.Teaching Students to Ask Questions.
((httpshttps://://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrhochWfSeEwww.youtube.com/watch?v=DrhochWfSeE))

4. No. 3
Join this Facebook group if you teachJoin this Facebook group if you teach
preschool kids: ESL/EFL Preschoolpreschool kids: ESL/EFL Preschool
Teachers.Teachers.

5. No. 4
Big Picture FirstBig Picture First
Give studentsGive students
the big overviewthe big overview
before you getbefore you get
intointo
the finer points.the finer points.

6. No. 5
Use Role-PlaysUse Role-Plays
They’re fun,They’re fun,
student-centered andstudent-centered and
can help buildcan help build
some confidencesome confidence
in your students.in your students.
I talk about using role-playsI talk about using role-plays
in this short video.in this short video.
httpshttps://://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e0FUoJhZkwww.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e0FUoJhZk

7. No. 6
Get this book:Get this book:
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking
Activities: For Kids (7+)Activities: For Kids (7+)

8. No. 7
Play a Warm-Up GamePlay a Warm-Up Game
How about Just a Minute?How about Just a Minute?

9. No. 8
Give some FeedbackGive some Feedback
Your students will love itYour students will love it
that you’re actuallythat you’re actually
helping themhelping them
get better at English speaking.get better at English speaking.
Whenever I’ve done surveys,Whenever I’ve done surveys,
many of my studentsmany of my students
have listed this as theirhave listed this as their
#1 expectation of me.#1 expectation of me.

10. No. 9
Use the textbookUse the textbook
You don’t alwaysYou don’t always
need to reinventneed to reinvent
the wheel.the wheel.
There’s likelyThere’s likely
lots of good stufflots of good stuff
in the bookin the book
that you can use in class.that you can use in class.

11. No. 10
Play some Board GamesPlay some Board Games
They’re guaranteed to get your students engaged, active andThey’re guaranteed to get your students engaged, active and
having fun in English class. I talk about board games for ESLhaving fun in English class. I talk about board games for ESL
students in this short video.students in this short video.
https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w77wZLq0vpYwww.youtube.com/watch?v=w77wZLq0vpY

12. No. 11
Show and TellShow and Tell
It’s not just for kids! Everyone can do it.It’s not just for kids! Everyone can do it.

13. No. 12
Practice Small Talk with Your StudentsPractice Small Talk with Your Students
Here’s my favorite ESL Small Talk ActivityHere’s my favorite ESL Small Talk Activity
http://eslspeaking.org/small-talk-esl-activity/http://eslspeaking.org/small-talk-esl-activity/

14. No. 13
Provide a demonstration of theProvide a demonstration of the
languagelanguage
Students learn best byStudents learn best by
seeing and then doing.seeing and then doing.

15. No. 14
Join this Facebook group:Join this Facebook group:
Resources for English TeachersResources for English Teachers

16. No. 15
Make Instructions ClearMake Instructions Clear
Use ICQs (instruction checking questions).Use ICQs (instruction checking questions).

17. No. 16
Focus on CommunicationFocus on Communication
If students can getIf students can get
their message acrosstheir message across
and be understood,and be understood,
they’ve accomplishedthey’ve accomplished
something.something.

18. No. 17
Get this bookGet this book

19. No. 18
Use CCQ’sUse CCQ’s (concept checking(concept checking
questions)questions)

20. No. 19
Don’t Correct All ErrorsDon’t Correct All Errors
Students will getStudents will get
frustrated and youfrustrated and you
will too. Instead,will too. Instead,
focus on thosefocus on those
that involvethat involve
the target languagethe target language
for that lesson.for that lesson.

21. No. 20
Follow me on:Follow me on:
@Bolen_Jackie@Bolen_Jackie

22. No. 21
Focus on Fluency as well as AccuracyFocus on Fluency as well as Accuracy
Have some activitiesHave some activities
where the goalwhere the goal
is to simply speakis to simply speak
quickly and notquickly and not
worry too muchworry too much
about making mistakes.about making mistakes.

23. No. 22
Correct Errors as a ClassCorrect Errors as a Class
Instead of singlingInstead of singling
someone out,someone out,
you can sayyou can say
at the endat the end
of an activity,of an activity,
““I heard someoneI heard someone
say XYZ, butsay XYZ, but
it should haveit should have
been ABC.”been ABC.”

24. No. 23
Use SurveysUse Surveys
They are one of the best ways to get yourThey are one of the best ways to get your
students up out of their seats and talking tostudents up out of their seats and talking to
their classmates.their classmates.

25. No. 24
Praise LiberallyPraise Liberally
Students respondStudents respond
well towell to
positivepositive
reinforcement.reinforcement.

26. No. 25
Follow this board on Pinterest:Follow this board on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/jackiebkorea/teachttps://www.pinterest.com/jackiebkorea/teac
hing-esl/hing-esl/

27. No. 26
Make a Lesson PlanMake a Lesson Plan
Use this ESL lesson planning template in thisUse this ESL lesson planning template in this
site:site: http://eslspeaking.org/esl-lesson-planning-templatehttp://eslspeaking.org/esl-lesson-planning-template//

28. No. 27
Have your Students do a PresentationHave your Students do a Presentation
Fun for you, useful for the students.Fun for you, useful for the students.
(For presentation project Ideas:(For presentation project Ideas:
http://eslspeaking.org/presentation-projects/http://eslspeaking.org/presentation-projects/))

29. No. 28
Play CharadesPlay Charades
((http://eslspeaking.org/charades-esl-game/http://eslspeaking.org/charades-esl-game/))
It’s a classic one for a reason!It’s a classic one for a reason!

30. No. 29
Get this book:Get this book:
It’s available on Amazon!It’s available on Amazon!

31. No. 30
Use FlashcardsUse Flashcards
For kids,For kids, fflashcards are pure gold in termslashcards are pure gold in terms
of what you can do with them.of what you can do with them.
((http://eslspeaking.org/esl-speaking-game-for-kids/http://eslspeaking.org/esl-speaking-game-for-kids/))

32. No. 31
Incorporate listening and reading intoIncorporate listening and reading into
your classyour class
It’s all tied together andIt’s all tied together and
you can’t reallyyou can’t really
become fluentbecome fluent
in speaking withoutin speaking without
a grounding in thea grounding in the
other stuff.other stuff.

33. No. 32
Give Students Thinking TimeGive Students Thinking Time
It’ll make that discussion time even better.It’ll make that discussion time even better.

34. No. 33
Rock-Scissor-PaperRock-Scissor-Paper
Kids love it and you can also turn it intoKids love it and you can also turn it into
a fun ESL Speaking Activity.a fun ESL Speaking Activity.
((http://eslspeaking.org/rock-scissor-paper-esl-game/http://eslspeaking.org/rock-scissor-paper-esl-game/))

35. No. 34
Help Students Get to Know EachHelp Students Get to Know Each
OtherOther
Use the “My World” introduction activity.Use the “My World” introduction activity.
(http://eslspeaking.org/my-world-esl-speaking-activity/)(http://eslspeaking.org/my-world-esl-speaking-activity/)

36. No. 35
Encourage RespectEncourage Respect
When you’re talking, everyone is listening.When you’re talking, everyone is listening.
Same with another student.Same with another student.

37. No. 36
Encourage StudentsEncourage Students
It’s hardIt’s hard
to speak into speak in
English! PraiseEnglish! Praise
even small efforts.even small efforts.

38. No. 37
Attend a ConferenceAttend a Conference
Learn a few new tips and tricks fromLearn a few new tips and tricks from
experienced teachers.experienced teachers.

39. No. 38
Do the CELTADo the CELTA
Learn how to teach so you can feel moreLearn how to teach so you can feel more
confident in the classroom.confident in the classroom.

40. No. 39
Read How to Teach SpeakingRead How to Teach Speaking
By Jeremy Harmer, it’s a classic for thoseBy Jeremy Harmer, it’s a classic for those
new to teaching ESL.new to teaching ESL.
(http://eslspeaking.org/how-to-teach-speaking/)(http://eslspeaking.org/how-to-teach-speaking/)

41. No. 40
Use Toilet Paper in Your ClassUse Toilet Paper in Your Class
Click to know HOW:Click to know HOW:
http://eslspeaking.org/ice-breaker-speaking-activity/http://eslspeaking.org/ice-breaker-speaking-activity/

42. No. 41
Teach your Students about RelativeTeach your Students about Relative
ClausesClauses
Here’s a fun game you can play to practiceHere’s a fun game you can play to practice
themthem (http://eslspeaking.org/relative-clause-speaking-activity/)(http://eslspeaking.org/relative-clause-speaking-activity/)

43. No. 42
Learn a Language YourselfLearn a Language Yourself
Remember whatRemember what
it’s like toit’s like to
be in thebe in the
student’s shoes.student’s shoes.

44. No. 43
Like ESL Speaking on FacebookLike ESL Speaking on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/eslspeakinghttps://www.facebook.com/eslspeaking
All kinds of ideas for your ESL speakingAll kinds of ideas for your ESL speaking
classes.classes.

45. No. 44
Maintain a Positive AtmosphereMaintain a Positive Atmosphere
Don’t let studentsDon’t let students
make fun ofmake fun of
other studentsother students
for their poorfor their poor
English abilityEnglish ability
in your class.in your class.

46. No. 45
Make it Student-DirectedMake it Student-Directed
Let them have a say in the topics you study.Let them have a say in the topics you study.

47. No. 46
Smaller Groups and Pairs is BestSmaller Groups and Pairs is Best
Maximize student talking time by generallyMaximize student talking time by generally
avoiding discussions with the entire class.avoiding discussions with the entire class.

48. No. 47
Teach Formal and Informal SpeakingTeach Formal and Informal Speaking
Students will need to know both, dependingStudents will need to know both, depending
on the circumstance so point this out, ifon the circumstance so point this out, if
relevant.relevant.

49. No. 48
Don’t InterruptDon’t Interrupt
If students areIf students are
doing an activitydoing an activity
with a small groupwith a small group
or partner,or partner,
just observejust observe
but don’t get involvedbut don’t get involved
in the conversation.in the conversation.

50. No. 49
Draw a PictureDraw a Picture
It’s a classicIt’s a classic ESL speaking activityESL speaking activity
http://eslspeaking.org/draw-a-picture/http://eslspeaking.org/draw-a-picture/

51. These are just 49 of the many ways to make your ESL Speaking
Class more interesting, not to mention awesome! You might find
them a lot and overwhelming but there is just one thing that I would
like you to remember: Make your teaching a 2-way street—speak
and listen to one another.
ConclusionConclusion
Twitter: @bolen_jackieTwitter: @bolen_jackie
Website: www.eslspeaking.orgWebsite: www.eslspeaking.org