Job Discussion Forums

[smiliegirl]

What kinds of first day, icebreaker activities have you used in your beginning English classes? I'm especially interested in activities geared toward adult learners with little to no English language experience.

[coffeedrinker]

I think you're pretty limited with beginners, though I suppose if you speak their language and are okay with giving instructions in it you might have a bit more room.

I've used the very creative "remembering each others' names". There's not too much to this.

If they aren't complete beginners and/or you could teach a few basic sentences - I'm 27, I'm a teacher, I like coffee (or whatever) you could try the "changing identities" activity. After you learn names, each one writes his/her own name on a card (but only the name, nothing else). They then stand up and make two rows, facing each other, in pairs. They say their three or four sentences (I'm..., I'm 27...) and then you have them exchange cards. Now they have a new identity - their partner's - and they switch partners (one row moves down one person, one stays the same) and have to remember their partner's sentences. Repeat. Several times. You can have each person read out what they recall at the end to see if it's correct.

I don't know. I like this activity and have used it with more complex structures for higher levels; I think having the name on the card makes it easier to understand that they are adopting a new identity...but with real beginners if you don't speak their language or if this is their first communicative class...you run the risk of freaking them out with this activity. It might be best to stick with just remembering names!

[smiliegirl]

Thanks for the suggestion. I speak a little of the language, but not enough to probably give great directions. And because they are all beginners, I'm not sure how much conversation will really be going on to begin with! I just wanted to try and do something to make everyone more comfortable on their first day.

[Glenski]

Most textbooks seem to start out with introductions as a means of getting students' feet wet. Assuming your students know the English alphabet and how to read a little, go with that. Plenty of exercises around on the Net to help you.

I find it extremely useful to teach beginners how to help themselves. Teach them how to ask you

How do you say ___ in English?
What does ___ mean?
How do you spell/pronounce ___ ?

Write these on the board every day for 3 lessons, give them a handout on day one, and push these. After they learn it, the next time you give an answer to a student (to one of these questions), and a second student asks, just have them talk to the first student (with these same questions).

Introductions.
Part of a lesson is to give them handouts with famous people's names on them. Info gap some of the above questions, but teach students vocab like last name, first name, middle name, nickname, family name, and a few more related things. Make it a cultural experience because their own culture may have differences (first name last, for example). Add stuff like how to do proper handshakes to round it out. Keep it casual and friendly and safe.

[surrealia]

This page has some excellent activities that work well with beginners:

http://www.mgu.ac.jp/~ic/helgesen/physical/physical_-prehtml.htm