Ice breaker

An activity to help students to get to know each other. Ideal for new classes / student groups.

A game of language feature bingo, with answers, for L1 and L2 learners.

Editor's notes

I love this! A simple idea perfectly executed (and easily adapted or added to).
Note that although this is a PPT resource you do not need PPT to use it in the classroom.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose

Why are names important? What can we learn from them?

Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about the importance of names while building their English skills. (For example: vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation, research, discussion and a mini writing task).

Editor's notes

Ideal as an ice breaker at the start of the year - although the wealth of material, discussion points and links mean it could easily fill an entire lesson! Topics covered include:

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FS Eng L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
FE L1.22 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly, coherently & accurately
FE L2.23 Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

This activity can be used as an icebreaker or as resource when teaching about 3rd person agreement in the present tense.  

Learners ask 'Do you ..... ?' and use the answers in the box to complete the question however after the Tutor's monitoring they should realise that the answer form cannot be used for the question form.  

The questionnaire has 16 boxes but according to time and size of class, it can be reduced by folding the questionnaire so only 8 questions are used instead.  

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E1.5 Respond to questions about specific information
FE E2.3 Respond appropriately to straightforward questions
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E2.2 Make requests & ask clear questions appropriately in different contexts
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E1.3a  Ask for personal details
ESOL Sc/E2.2c Ask for personal details
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Lr/E1.4b Recognise different question words
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Lr/E3.5b Respond to requests for information

An introduction lesson for ESOL/Pre Entry to help build learner confidence and introduce them to college rules/expectations.

Editor's note

Two complete and very welcoming lessons. Also covers asking and responding to questions about personal information, recognising letters of the alphabet, and classroom equipment.  Lovely :)

Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
AL SLlr/E1.4
AL SLc/E1.3
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
AL Rw/E1.3
AL Ww/E1.2
Pre-entry
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.1 Listen and respond to familiar people in simple/personal contexts
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.2 Listen to & answer simple questions about personal details/experiences/events & narratives
pre-Entry SLc/M8.1 Use key words, signs, symbols when communicating about own experiences, and to recount a narrative
pre-Entry Rw/M8.1Recognise letters of the alphabet by shape, name, sound
pre-Entry Rw/M8.3 Recognise & read a growing no. of words signs symbols
pre-Entry Ww/M8.1 Write with appropriate grip making many controlled letter shapes & using a conventional sequence of letters
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E1.4a Listen and respond to requests for personal information
ESOL Lr/E1.4b Recognise different question words
ESOL Sc/E1.3a  Ask for personal details
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rw/E1.3a Identify letters of alphabet in both upper & lower case
ESOL Ww/E1.2a Form the letters of the alphabet using upper and lower case

4 Oct 2017. Updated information on source material added

A reading activity on legal age limits in different parts of the UK. Includes: education, voting, driving, marriage and work. Based on materials at: http://esol.britishcouncil.org/content/learners/uk-life/be-safe-uk/what…

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL Ws/E3.1a Write using complex sentences
ESOL Sd/E3.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Sc/E3.4e Give directions and instructions
ESOL Sc/E2.2a make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Lr/E3.2d Listen for grammatical detail
Context
News, Politics & Government items

Three sets of dominoes to use in warm-up and for letter and word recognition activities. The first set, for pre-Entry ESOL and Literacy learners with very low levels of letter and word recognition, matches lower case to capital letter versions, the second set is a set of “doubles”, which can be used alongside the first. The third set, for pre-Entry / Entry 1 ESOL learners, matches a category to an example. Each set has 17 dominoes, so 4 each for a group of 4 learners, plus one to start.

Level
M7
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Rw/E3.2
Rw/E2.1
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
Functional English reading
Form filling
Pre-entry
pre-Entry Rw/M8.3 Recognise & read a growing no. of words signs symbols
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.2a Read & understand words / phrases commonly used on forms
ESOL Rw/E2.1a Recognise words on forms related to personal information
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
Context
Employment skills & Public services

A recap game to practise applying knowledge of when to use capital letters. Learners supply names, dates, places and objects to create a mis-matched story.

It could also be used as an icebreaker.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Ws/E3.4
Ws/E2.4

Mingle activity to use straight after the Christmas holidays to review past simple.
Learners ask each other questions to try to find one name of another learner to fill in each square. First to finish shouts “bingo!”
Review as a group and check questions using past simple.
Give a prize to the winner.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
SLc/E2.2
AL SLc/E1.3
SLc/E1.2
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.3b Give personal information
ESOL Sc/E2.3a Express statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E2.2d Ask for factual information (present, past, future)
ESOL Sc/E2.2c Ask for personal details
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail

This is a good starter activity to introduce measures, shape and space. It is also useful in dividing classes into small groups.

Using the templates I created I printed them on to card of different colours. I gave the shapes to the learners as they entered the room and told them to find the table with the same shape on it. When they reached the table they found the shape and some questions to answer.

After five minutes I asked for feedback from the learners.

Editor’s note
With Functional Maths mapping

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.8
MSS2/E3.1
MSS1/L2.7
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L1.8
MSS2/E3.2
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space

This activity encourages ESOL students:
- To communicate with each other while moving around the classroom,
- To revise Past Simple (questions and answers),
- To practise basic numeracy (subtraction).

With extensive teachers’ notes

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
Maths
AN N1/E3.2
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.2a make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Sc/E1.1a Use stress & intonation to make speech comprehensible
ESOL Lr/E1.4a Listen and respond to requests for personal information
ESOL Speak to communicate (Sc)