Tag Archives: ESL

Choice of the Dragon

This is a great interactive reader with a nice sense of humour for higher levels and a good way to get learners using an online dictionary. Level: Advanced Location: Computer room Skills Focus: Reading Game: Choice of the Dragon Preparation Decide how you are going to use the reader in class.  There are a few [...]

Solving A Heist

Lesser controlled speaking activity and past tense writing. Level: Intermediate Location: Classroom Skills Focus: Speaking / writing about a robbery Language Focus: Past simple, sequencers Game: Heist This online game involves passing through four rooms solving puzzles so you can finally steal secret plans.  In this classroom activity you can download the floor plan of [...]

10 Online Games with Walkthroughs

Here’s a brief description of ten online games that have walkthroughs.  What is a walkthrough?  Text written by a gamer to help another gamer complete the game successfully.  All these games and walthroughs were chosen because they have proved popular with language learners, use language that is not too complicated or dense and are not [...]

Cabal, Cataclysm and Engaging Students

When I walked into my upper-intermediate class of teenagers yesterday, there were two students already there. One of them (A) spoke up about something that was on his mind and that he wanted to tell me (G) and then the other (D) soon joined in. The exchange more or less went like this: A: I [...]

Happy Christmas Escape

Level: Beginners Language: Prepositions of place Skills Focus: Listening/ speaking Location: Classroom room Game: Happy Christmas Escape Father Christmas wants to deliver his presents but he is locked in a house and he can’t get out.  Help him to find the keys that will help him escape. Preparation Familiarise yourself with the walkthrough to this [...]

Is a WebQuest Digital Play?

What is a WebQuest? A WebQuest is an inquiry based online learning activity in which learners are given the task of finding out information on the internet. A WebQuest can last for quite a short time (for instance a half hour computer room session) or for a long time (a long term course project, for [...]

Princess Natasha – An Action Reader

This game actually has a built-in walkthrough and lots of text to challenge your learners. There are also some nice reading puzzles too.  The content and look of the game also makes it very child friendly.  I also like this because the main character in this game is a James Bond like character but is [...]

‘Type ‘Em Up’ Spelling Game

Level: Beginners Language Focus: Spelling letters of the alphabet Skills Practice: Pronunciation Game: Type ‘Em Up This works great as a warmer.  Use the space bar or enter key to move your ship up and down and type in the letters on the keyboard to shoot them down on the screen. Preparation Sit your learners [...]

A Downloadable Game – Nearly Departed

Sometimes access to the internet in a classroom or computer room may not always be reliable or even available. Here is a very visual and humorous point and click adventure game that you can download and play on a computer without an internet connection. Gameplay: You wake up to discover you are a zombie with [...]

Stop disasters – Start taking note!

A computer room note taking activity leading to a writing for homework. Level: Upper-Intermediate+ Location: Computer room Skills focus: Note Taking Game: Stop Disasters A disaster simulation game in which you choose a disaster scenario (tsunami, hurricane, wildfire, earthquake and flood) and “try to build upon an established community; providing defences and upgraded housing to [...]