ESL Pictures To Describe
As ESL teachers ourselves, we know what a core activity Describing Pictures is. But we also know all too well the challenge of finding suitable ESL pictures to describe. Finding images with name labels, the right elements, the right vocabulary…let alone enough to keep things fresh while practising a few times with the same class!
That’s we we’ve created this page – your best source for ESL pictures to describe (if we do say so ourselves). Over 25 images, all in one place, categorised by topic. Because sometimes you want to practise the present continuous using a picture with name labels. Sometimes you want to practise prepositions of position and place using a busy scene with lots of elements. And sometimes you want to practise furniture and objects in the house. We’ve got you covered.
Describing pictures is a powerful way for English students to practise a variety of language topics. At a basic level they can practise There is/are… and phrases like I can see…. Prepositions are used to describe where in a picture something is, either as a whole (e.g., At the top/bottom…, In the middle…, On the left/right…), or relative to other elements (e.g., in front of, behind, next to). As we mentioned earlier, students can also practise the present continuous by describing what is happening in a picture, or what people are doing. With the right picture, vocabulary for describing appearance, food and drink, furniture, household objects, Christmas and many other topics are possibilities!
Moreover, describing a picture is a important elements of many English language tests, such as the Cambridge exams. For example, in the PET speaking exam, students have to describe a picture they are given for approximately one minute. Even in the Pre-A1 Starters speaking exam, the examiner asks a students questions based on a picture prompt. So for effective exam preparation, it’s vital that you prepare your students by repeating the relevant task multiple times, across multiple classes.
For younger children, or beginners with limited vocabulary, we recommend simple illustrations. This way students won’t get overwhelmed by extra elements they don’t know the words for. We focus on these images on this page. However, when students are ready, you can move on to using real photos. Our Describing Pictures Generator has lots of real photos, that you can project one one at a time on the board. Get instant access with a free 7-day trial (no payment details required):
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ESL Pictures To Describe
Actions (Present Continuous)
These pictures have name labels on them, so students can easily practise the present continuous. For example, Sarah is reading a book. You could also use some of the images to practise clothes and colours vocabulary. For example, Sarah is wearing a pink dress.
Other images (hosted on other sites, open in a new tab):
Busy Scenes
These pictures are great for practising prepositions of position and place, because they have lots of elements. Because there are people doing lots of different things, you could also use them to practise the present continuous. These images are hosted on other sites, and the links will open the image in a new tab.
In a Town (includes transport vocab)
Home and Furniture
The following pictures are perfect for practising rooms of the house, and the furniture and objects in those rooms.
Objects
These pictures have a variety of household objects and toys. They are especially suited to practising that vocabulary with kids.
Food
These pictures show different basic food items. They are again best suited to practising that vocabulary with kids classes.
