Drilling the pronunciation of each letter is effective, but quickly gets mind-numbingly boring for both you and your class. The key is to mix things up with a range of different games and activities, and to help students practise without even realising it.
Here’s a list of EFL / ESL games, activities, projects and conversation ideas to help you do just that.
In the Alphabet Board Slap ESL Game, students slap the correct letter on the board when it (or a word beginning with that letter) is called out.
In the Alphabet People ESL activity, students describe different people using each letter of the alphabet.
In the Alphabet Race ESL game, students race to write a word beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
The Back Draw Telephone ESL game is a version of Telephone for practising numbers and letters with beginner level kids.
The Board Race ESL game is a flexible, active way to start the class and/or practise vocabulary.
In the Find Something ESL game, students have to find something in the room that matches a given criteria.
In the Find The Alphabet ESL activity students have to find objects that begin with each letter.
The Go Fish ESL game is a version of the classic card game, in which students have to get four numbers/vocabulary items of the same type.
The I Spy ESL game is a version of the well-known game in which students guess vocabulary words from the first letter or the colour of the object.
The I Went To The Shop ESL game is a simple memory exercise which you can tailor to practise food, home or classroom objects vocabulary, or the past simple.
The Red Light Green Light ESL game is a version of the well known children’s game (also known as Statues), in which students have to write instead of running.
In the Fortunately Unfortunately ESL Activity, students create a story that alternates between positive and negative sentences.
