ESL ELL Drama Activities

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70 drama literacy games that can help students learn the English language!

Are you working with English language learners, or ESL students? Kids often learn best by doing rather than studying. Here are over 70 games that can help your students practice their English in fun, engaging ways!

Examples of English language learner drama games:

 The Interview Game

Have students pair up with someone who they don’t know very well.  Instruct students to take turns interviewing their partners for just a few minutes.  Here are some sample questions (for younger kids, give no more than three):

What is your name?
What is your favorite hobby?
What is your least favorite food?
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
What is your favorite movie?
What are you afraid of?
What is your favorite season and why?
If you were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would you take with you?
If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Encourage students to try and discover and remember as many details as possible.  After they’ve interviewed each other, students can take turns in pairs going up onstage and introducing their partner.

Rhyme Pantomime

Sit in a circle. One student says, “I’m thinking of a word that rhymes with cat.” Anyone who thinks they may know the word may raise their hand. A person is chosen who goes into the middle of the circle. They DO NOT say the word, instead, they pantomime it. The others in the circle try and guess what the player is miming. It’s important that students do not randomly call out rhyming words; rather, they should focus on what is being mimed. Once a student guesses correctly, she begins a new round with a new word.

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