ESL Warm Up Activities – Simple ESL warm up Activities

Summary

In this video, Jema Perry shares three fun and engaging warm-up activities for ESL classrooms. The first game, 'Yes-No,' uses flashcards to get students active and practicing vocabulary by responding to yes/no questions. The second game, 'Speed,' challenges students' speaking or listening skills through quick flashcard recognition. Lastly, a simple chant-based activity is introduced for younger students, helping them practice body parts, animals, or transportation vocabulary in a fun, interactive way. These activities are designed to energize students and prepare them for the lesson ahead.

Takeaways

• 😀 Warm-up activities are essential for engaging ESL students at the beginning of a lesson.
• 😀 A good warm-up activity should be fun, simple, and designed to get students' attention quickly.
• 😀 The 'Yes-No' game involves asking yes/no questions related to previously taught vocabulary and is ideal for getting students moving and speaking.
• 😀 In the 'Yes-No' game, students jump to either the 'Yes' or 'No' side of the board based on their answer, promoting active participation.
• 😀 For lower-level students, simply having them say 'Yes' or 'No' is enough, while advanced students should form full sentences.
• 😀 The 'Speed' game can focus on either speaking or listening skills, depending on how the teacher presents the vocabulary.
• 😀 In the 'Speed' game, students race to say or touch the correct flashcard based on either a spoken or visual cue.
• 😀 The 'Speed' game promotes quick thinking and fast reactions, which makes the activity more exciting and engaging for students.
• 😀 For younger students or those who are not ready for competition, using a simple chant with actions, like 'Nose, nose, touch your nose,' can keep them engaged.
• 😀 The chant can be adapted to review various topics, like body parts, animals, or transportation, making it versatile for different lessons.
• 😀 The video emphasizes the importance of using Total Physical Response (TPR) and chants to help students retain language in an engaging and fun way.

Q & A

What is the importance of the warm-up in an ESL class?

The warm-up is a crucial part of the ESL lesson because it helps to engage students and prepare them mentally for the lesson. It gets students excited and ready to learn English, setting a positive tone for the class.

What materials do you need for the 'Yes-No' game?

For the 'Yes-No' game, you need board markers and flashcards of previously taught vocabulary.

How do you set up the 'Yes-No' activity in class?

To set up the 'Yes-No' game, arrange the class in a semi-circle, write 'Yes' on one side of the board and 'No' on the other, and draw a line down the middle. Then, show students a flashcard and ask a yes/no question related to it.

What should students do during the 'Yes-No' game?

Students should jump to the 'Yes' or 'No' side of the board based on their answer. For lower-level students, they can simply say 'Yes' or 'No,' while more advanced students should respond with full sentences.

How does TPR (Total Physical Response) help in the warm-up activities?

TPR helps students stay engaged and retain language more easily by associating physical movement with the vocabulary or language they are learning. It also makes the activities more interactive and fun.

What is the objective of the 'Speed' game?

The objective of the 'Speed' game is to improve students' speaking or listening skills by having them quickly identify or pronounce words from the flashcards on the board.

What are the two variations of the 'Speed' game?

One variation of the 'Speed' game focuses on speaking skills, where students must say the word when pointed at a flashcard. The other variation focuses on listening skills, where students must hear a word spoken and quickly touch the correct flashcard.

How can you adjust the speed of the 'Speed' game?

After students are familiar with the game, you can increase the speed at which you switch players to make the game more challenging and engaging.

Which students would the third warm-up activity be suitable for?

The third warm-up activity is ideal for younger students or those who are not yet ready for competitive games, as it involves simple movements and chants rather than a competitive structure.

What is the structure of the third warm-up activity?

In this activity, students perform actions to a simple chant. For example, they might touch their nose or clap their hands while singing along to a tune. The activity is designed to be fun and engaging, especially for younger learners.