Role playing is an excellent way to get students talking about real-life scenarios. You'll need to prepare cards with scenarios written on them - for example, buying a car at a
If you have a mixed level group, you can have the advanced students do more of the talking - for example, they can be a store clerk and the others can be customers.
This game requires some work and preparation but it can be a lot of fun and generate some heated discussions.
1. Participants pick out “what if” questions from a question jar. I print my questions and cut them into strips and curl them up in the jar. For example:
What would you do if you won the lottery? What would you do if you found a $100 bill in a library book you borrowed?
3. After answering the questions, participants can come up with their own “what if” questions and ask other participants.
For more "what if" questions check out this list; you'll need to edit out questions that won't work for your group.
This is a simple game but is best with participants that know each other fairly well; it's not as successful as as an ice-breaker.
1. Participants say three things about themselves; one of these statements should be a lie.
2. The others guess which one the lie is.
3. The participant that guesses correctly wins the game.
Think of situations where alibis may be required. Participants choose a scenario and then make up alibis for each. Remember to keep it fun! You can either have everyone make up alibis for the same scenario and give a prize to the best alibi, or just go around and respond to each scenario.
Here are some example scenarios:
This quick game is a great way to wrap up the class if you have a few extra minutes left over. It is an easy version of the ‘real’ board game.The objective is to score points by uniquely naming objects within a set of categories. So, you first say the category, and then everyone goes around in a circle naming things in that category. If someone can’t think of one, have them pass and keep going until the topic is stale. Have students talk about each thing they name. Some good categories:
Wondering if an ESLCC is worth the effort? I asked my colleauges what they enjoyed best about facilitating a ESLCC and for most of us, it's a lot of fun while being a highly rewarding, enriching experience. Read on...
"The attendees always are happy to be in a safe, comfortable environment where they can practice their English. It’s very difficult to live in a “monolingual” society even though our population doesn’t reflect it at all! It’s just always a positive experience." - AM
"The inter-connecting with students" - TC
"Seeing adults step out of their comfort zone and attempt a challenging task like pronunciation and succeed." - ND
"Hearing everyone's opinion about the article topic and how it is different or non-existent in their country. Lots of timse they don't respond to the topic like I expected. I find that interesting from a sociological point of view." - CW
"Incredibly rewarding - it is fascinating on the level of language and how linguistic structures can inform our thinking about other cultures, perspectives, norms, in the way that we advance in understanding. I love learning about people, their motivations, and helping people navigate the world of English more successfully." - CR
"Look for creative ways to make the discussion fun and energetic. I like our customers to leave the class full of energy and motivation." - MA
"I love meeting new people, learning something about them and their homes. We have a lot of fun discussing 'American-isms' or challenging words such as 'indigenous'." - LJ
"I enjoy giving ESL learners the opportunity to practice their verbal skills. I simply enjoy talking and listening to them try out their new-found skills." - CT
"I love learning about the cultures and lives of the members of the group. Some of the group members become great friends." - JW
"The personal relationships, and the pride in group members increasing their confidence and skills, or reaching their personal goals." - HK
"A great opportunity to enrich lives and promote literacy" - MD
"The students are so much fun. I learn a lot from them." - RK
"Participants are lively, have good questions, are eager to learn, and have a sense of humor - it's my favorite time of the week!" - PE
"I have become friends with a lot of these people and they are freinds with each other. We all laugh a lot. I can see how they improve every week." - KM
"I love meeting the people, hearing their stories, and having fun with them by playing games and more!" - ST
You can expand the grid to 5x5 but it takes them a while to fill in the blanks and the game can get rather lengthy.
Prepare
The most important thing for managing the group is structure. Many of the immigrants treat the Conversation Club like a class with fewer responsibilities. They come to learn, and if they feel they aren’t learning something they leave.
Have an agenda.
Pick interesting topics - ask attendees for future topics.
Pick a conversational scenario.
Have fun with it!
Be prepared with conversation starters.
Have a method to review things that come up.
Be flexible.
It’s impossible to over prepare - what you don’t use one week can be saved for the future.
Be prepared to talk to fill the silence - listening is part of conversation.
Encourage group work, and don’t get too forced into assuming a teacher role. Have them change partners often - it keeps the talking going so that no one runs out of things to say.
Mix it up!
Be flexible with the needs of your group. I went in very structured but adjusted to what my group wanted. It’s difficult when you have a variety of needs; I try to mix it up.
Make it interesting with games, prizes, field trips, videos, pot lucks, etc.
Ask Questions
Persist in being available, make the suggestion to customers you encounter in the library who seem like they might benefit. I haven’t had a problem keeping the group talking but may ask them by name to read or answer a question.
You can’t have a silent group. Sometimes, when you ask someone to talk, you need to be ready with another question in case they can’t answer the previous question. You also need to move on to the next topic if it gets out of hand.
Keep them talking by asking questions and give them time to compose a response. Be casual, patient, and interested!
Questions that cannot be answered by a simple yes or no keep people talking. Hourglass shaped timers get them to stop and gives everyone a chance to talk.
Keep them talking by asking questions and give them time to compose a response. Be casual, patient, and interested!
It helps to have some understanding of group dynamics and facilitation. It’s important to know how to involve everyone, when it’s time to switch topics, what topics to steer clear of,. Pick topics everyone will have something to say about and bring the quiet ones into the discussion.
Positive attitude!
What has worked for me is to be open, interested, friendly, and patient. Whenever we encounter a barrier to understanding, we work on the confusing item until everyone understands, no matter how long it takes. It is important to think broadly, to be able to describe any single thing in 5-10 different ways, to be able to make connections and comparisons, to be uninhibited and able to act things out.
If they seem to wander, I ask them a question on the topic, I try to make sure everyone gets a chance to talk. So I ask a question to the shy or more reluctant speaker. Lots of times the group gets involved and they speak to each other - especially people from the same country. One topic can lead to another. As interesting aspects come up I’ll get the group going or elaborate on that aspect. So the main topic of the article might lead us to other topics, and I just go there. If the tangent runs dry,. I ask another question or relate an experience from my life and we move on. The original topic is just a starting point and the conversation can move far afield - just depending on their interests or what comes up in the conversation.
I got this game idea from http://www.afn.org/~afn49566/page3.htm. It's best played with a group with intermediate to advanced ESL conversational skills.
ESL Conversation Clubs (ESLCC) provide a casual, relaxed environment for language learners to use English and practice conversation skills. ESL students often appreciate additional opportunities to use English outside of classes.
A typical ESLCC:
