Are you looking for engaging ways to break the ice and get your beginner students excited about learning English? Look no further! Here are 20 fun and easy EFL icebreakers that are perfect for getting your students talking and building their language skills. These activities are designed to be simple to set up and require little to no preparation, making them ideal for busy teachers. Let’s dive in!
Name Bingo
- Create bingo cards with different names in each square.
- Hand out the cards to students and have them mingle to find the people whose names are on their cards.
- Once they find a match, they can ask questions to get to know each other better.
Two Truths and a Lie
- Each student says three statements about themselves – two truths and one lie.
- The other students have to guess which statement is the lie by asking questions.
Find Someone Who
- Create a list of statements related to your students’ interests or experiences (e.g., “Find someone who has traveled to another country”).
- Students mingle and ask each other questions to find someone who fits each statement.
The Ball Game
- Pass a ball around the class.
- The student holding the ball has to say a word related to a topic you choose (e.g., animals, food, hobbies).
Draw and Guess
- Divide students into pairs.
- One student draws a simple picture, and the other student guesses what it is.
- They switch roles and continue.
Memory Circle
- Sit in a circle and say your name, then add an adjective that starts with the same letter as your name (e.g., “Happy Hannah”).
- Each student repeats the names and adjectives of everyone who spoke before them, adding their own at the end.
Story Chain
- Start a story with a sentence (e.g., “Once upon a time, there was a little boy”).
- Each student adds a sentence to continue the story.
Charades
- Write down simple words or phrases on pieces of paper (e.g., “playing soccer,” “eating pizza”).
- One student picks a paper and acts out the word or phrase without speaking, while the others guess what it is.
Picture Cards
- Prepare a set of picture cards with everyday objects, animals, or actions.
- Show a card to a student, and they have to say the word in English.
Word Chain
- Start with a word (e.g., “cat”).
- The next student says a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word (e.g., “cat” – “table” – “elephant”).
Guess the Sound
- Play a sound (e.g., a doorbell, a car engine).
- Students guess what is making the sound and say it in English.
Find Your Pair
- Prepare cards with pairs of related words (e.g., “apple – tree,” “book – read”).
- Give each student a card and have them find their pair by asking questions.
Alphabet Game
- Start with a category (e.g., animals, food).
- Each student says a word from that category, starting with the next letter of the alphabet (e.g., “apple,” “banana,” “cat”).
Story Dice
- Roll dice with pictures on them (e.g., a person, a car, a house).
- Students use the pictures to create a story together.
Color Match
- Call out a color in English.
- Students find something in the classroom that matches that color and say its name in English.
Flashcard Race
- Show a flashcard with a word or picture.
- The first student to say the word or phrase in English wins a point.
Who Am I?
- Write down the names of famous people or characters on sticky notes and stick one on each student’s forehead.
- Students ask yes/no questions to guess who they are.
Pictionary
- Divide students into teams.
- One student from each team draws a word or phrase on the board, and their team has to guess what it is in English.
Sentence Starters
- Provide students with sentence starters (e.g., “My favorite food is,” “I like to”).
- Students complete the sentences and share them with a partner.
Interview Game
- Pair students up and assign one as the interviewer and the other as the interviewee.
- The interviewer asks questions (e.g., “What’s your favorite color?” “Do you have any pets?”) and the interviewee answers.
These 20 ESL icebreakers are sure to make your beginner students feel comfortable and excited to learn English. Try them out in your classroom today!