interactive websites for esl students

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16 ESL Listening Websites with Interactive Lessons and Audio Files [2024 Update]

Teachers take special pains to make learning fun for their students .

We bend over backwards to make vocabulary lessons sizzle and encourage learners to speak in class .

For students who learn best while listening, you can  increase their engagement  by pointing them to interactive websites with audio content.

In this post, I’ve put together a variety of ESL listening websites to fit different learning needs. 

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1. ESL Video

4. englishclub, 5. easy world of english (ewe), 6. british council learning, 7. bbc learning english, 8. voa learning english, 9. zapp english, 10. all ears english, 11. real english conversations, 12. randall’s esl cyber listening lab, 13. storycorps, 14. ted talks, 15. eslkidslab, 16. lyricstraining.

Students can choose any video that catches their interest, like this beginning video with  Lala the penguin . Those who are at the high intermediate level, on the other hand, can tackle their ESL lessons while debating about current issues like this one about climate change . 

FluentU has videos that students of all ages can engage with, like children’s songs, movie trailers and clips, music videos, news segments, vlogs and inspirational talks (to name just a few).

The videos make it easier for students to follow what’s happening thanks to accurate subtitles with a built-in contextual dictionary. This means any time a student isn’t sure of what a word means, they can click on it to see an in-context definition with plenty of text and video examples, or add it to their flashcards to review later.

Reviews consist of different types of interactive exercises that include speaking practice, and questions adapt to each student’s comfort level with the words. Meanwhile, you can keep track of how your students are doing from your end, including seeing what videos they’re watching and which questions they’re getting wrong.

This is the first site many educators think of when it comes to listening exercises since it has thousands of topics to choose from. Many are interviews between native and non-native speakers, which gives the files an authenticity other sites sometimes lack.

The lesson will take you to a ton of audio lessons. Among other activities, students can find a section devoted to a game where they listen to a short audio description of a picture and choose the one that fits.

Most of the listening selections are easily downloadable and free . They also have a quiz or two for vocabulary and comprehension, and there are transcripts of everything. If your students prefer other types of content like video, they can find it here too. 

Maybe your learners want to try their hand at listening and transcribing an entire paragraph?

If so, they’ll get the chance here. The exercises on this page are divided into three levels with increasingly longer excerpts of text: elementary, intermediate and advanced. Each level is then divided into categories like “common expressions” or “currency.”

After selecting their topic, users are given specific instructions on how to tackle the recording. Students can then see the correct answers and check their responses against them.

The main “Reading” menu on EWE gives users clear instructions on how to tackle the texts successfully. Each level has 20 readings with an audio recording.

After listening to the audio, there are three quizzes to choose from that increase in difficulty. I appreciate that the program asks students to fill in the answer instead of selecting one of the multiple-choice responses.

One of the quizzes really tests students by requiring them to look at a series of phrases and put them in the correct sequence. What a great way to encourage active listening!

The listening section on the  English for adults  page allows users to choose their level and select a recording. Lessons come with a preparation activity, an audio recording and two tasks to complete when finished.

Younger learners will be interested in their English for kids page , and you shouldn’t hear any complaints from teenagers about their English for teens page, which uses audio on situations and topics relevant to teenagers.

The site goes into current events  and  serial programs for immersive lessons. If you’re looking for formats that can more easily fit into the classroom, it also has “6 Minute English”  (as well as  “6 Minute Grammar”  and  “6 Minute Vocabulary” ) audio lesson podcasts, most of which are downloadable for free for 30 days.

The accents lean toward British English, which is good for getting a greater variety of accents if you’re in an environment that teaches American English.

The site is also available in different languages, allowing lower-level learners to navigate it more easily.

There are sections that highlight  science news ,  idiomatic expressions  and  life in the USA . There’s even a page with  one-minute English lessons .

Audio files and videos can easily be downloaded by clicking “Direct link” and choosing the file size, and below the selections are a transcript and a section that highlights vocabulary used in the story. There’s also a page with a number of podcasts .

Their free audio files cover colloquial expressions students can use to socialize with others and develop their vocabulary and pronunciation to make a better impression.

All Ears English is a podcast designed for American English learners. The description notes that it’s appropriate for intermediate to advanced students and it covers topics geared toward adult professionals.

There are thousands of episodes that typically last less than 20 minutes. You can find episodes that deal with culture and etiquette as well as ones focused on grammatical aspects of the language.

This is great for anyone who doesn’t have many English-speaking learning partners since it’s focused on teaching real and natural English . Students will no longer have to be intimidated by those who are fluent in English because with adequate practice, native speech will be much easier to understand.

In addition to an MP3 download, students get a PDF transcript and speaking and listening activities to make the most out of each lesson. They’ll also be guided on things like understanding people with accents very different from theirs or being able to watch English movies without the aid of subtitles. Pretty comprehensive, in my opinion.

For example, if they’re interested in fishing, they could start with a two-minute recording about a fishing trip . If you’re working with beginners, they’re probably already fluent in social media, so this recording about  social media web sites  should be right up their alley.

When you select an exercise, Randall provides a pre-listening activity along with the audio recording and quiz.

There are even quizzes for academic purposes and life tips. Who doesn’t need more of those?

This site allows you to choose from any of the stories that come up on the homepage that strike a chord. If nothing piques your students’ interest there, they can also choose a year, state or collection to see more options.

After making their selection, users can see an excerpt of the story and engaging pictures, as well as access the audio. I’d encourage listeners to try to understand as much as they can before looking at the transcript.

Available in a variety of topics, this has over 4,200 TED Talks your students can check out. Learners can search by topic or duration, or simply browse all of the available discussions right there on the homepage.

This resource is a great way to encourage students to increase their comprehension and learn more about the world at the same time.

You may have students who like challenges that allow them to beat their previous score. If so, you can point them to this website, which features a plethora of audio memory games about a variety of topics that allow users to do just that.

As the name of the site clearly states, it’s geared toward young learners. However, it’s a great low-key yet stimulating activity for ESL students of all ages.

Responses are timed and the website keeps a record of correct and incorrect responses. Users also have the opportunity to watch the videos as they play.

As with everything, you’ll want to make sure videos are appropriate for the age group you’re working with.

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Play Online Games for ESL, Math & Science, Engage Primary K-12 Education

Welcome to ESL Games Plus Math & Science, your premier hub for interactive and educational online games tailored for K-12 students. Dive into our immersive gaming experience designed for children and young learners eager to learn ESL, Math, and Science.

Top Features:

• Play Games for ESL Learning : Engage with activities that emphasize English grammar, vocabulary, sentence formation, listening, pronunciation, and phonics.
• Play Games for Math Mastery : Through our math games that are cool, cool games for math and students practice skills like addition, multiplication, division, and even complex concepts like fractions.
• Play Games Science Exploration : With fun games that challenge and entertain, students gain a solid understanding of science topics.

Diverse Game Types

• Diverse Game Types : Choose from a plethora of games - Classroom Games , Memory Games , Pirate Games , Spelling Bee Games , Crossword Puzzles , Word Search Puzzles , Sentence Games , Hangman, Jeopardy, Wheel Games, Concentration Games, Matching Games, Board Games, Car Racing Games, and even the thrilling Crocodile Games . We also offer crossword puzzle printables , word search printables , word scrambler activities.
• Adaptive Compatibility : Access our platform on both desktop and mobile without the need for any app installation.

Unleash a world of fun and learning with ESL Games Plus Math & Science, where primary education meets entertainment. Whether it's enhancing English skills through word recognition games or diving deep into board games for math and science drills, we have a game for every young learner. Ready, set, learn!

Classroom Games

Energize your English lessons with these interactive ESL team Games for classroom practice. With these games, you have fun classroom activities to practice and play.

• Classroom Games for Beginner & Elementary ESL
• Classroom Games for Intermediate & Advanced ESL

Memory Games

Sentence Monkey

Pirate Board Games

Crocodile Board Games

Spelling Games

Preschool & Kindergarten ESL Videos

There are free ESL videos for teaching kindergarten and preschool levels on this site. These videos will help ESL teachers to teach vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns to kids.

• English Courses
• Preschool ESL Video Lessons
• Kindergarten ESL Video Lessons

1st Grade to 3rd Grade ESL Videos

Teach your 1st, 2nd and 3rd grader EFL/ESL learners new vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures using top quality free animated videos. These videos will help your learners focus longer.

• 1st Grade ESL Video Lessons
• 2nd Grade ESL Video Lessons
• 3rd Grade ESL Video Lessons

Word Search Puzzles Online

Crossword Puzzles Online

Connector Matching Games

Games for Mobile

Puzzle Worksheets

Hidden Pictures Powerpoint

Flash Cards - PPT & PDF

Printable Board Games & Cards

Phonics Worksheets

• Preschool Phonics Worksheets
• Kindergarten L1 Phonics Worksheets
• Kindergarden L2 Phonics Worksheets
• 1st Grade L1 Phonics Worksheets
• 1st Grade L2 Phonics Worksheets
• 2nd Grade Phonics Worksheets

Phonics Games & Videos

• Preschool Phonics Exercises
• Kindergarten L1 Phonics Exercises
• Kindergarden L2 Phonics Exercises
• 1st Grade L1 Phonics Exercises
• 1st Grade L2 Phonics Exercises
• 2nd Grade Phonics Exercises
• Math Games for Kids

• Math Worksheets for Kids
• Science Games for Kids

• Science Worksheets

Reading Quizzes

Advanced level reading comprehension exercises. Develop reading skills to conquer English exams such as IELTS, TOEFL and SAT by practising with these reading exercises. The exercises are also perfect for non-native university students looking to improve their reading skills for academic studies.

• IELTS Reading

Develop vocabulary with idioms A-Z exercises

Advanced level English vocabulary exercises. This vocabulary section is based on over 500 words advanced English learners must know before entering English exams like IELTS, TOEFL and SAT.

• 500 Exam Words
• Idioms A-Z exercises

ESL Games Plus offers interactive online games for learning and teaching English as a Second Language. Our learning games are mostly suitable for teaching ESL Kids and Teenagers . There are activities for teaching and practising English grammar, vocabulary, sentences, listening and pronunciation skills.By playing our fun educational games, students learn English vocabulary, sentence structures, grammar, listening, pronunciation and phonics.The site features these ESL Activities Online: ESL Classroom Games , Memory Games , Spelling Games , Sentence Games , Interactive Board Games , Hangman Games , Jeopardy, Wheel Games , Concentration Games , Matching Games, Car Racing Games, Pirate Games, Crocodile Games , Word Recognition Games , Mobile Games for iPad, iPhones and Android devices .

Popular ESL Games

Insects Vocabulary word search

Animals in the sea interactive word search

Things in the kitchen crossword

ESL Vegetable Vocabulary Memory Game for Low Beginners

Jobs, Places, Transportation, Time and Daily Routines Vocabulary Game, ESL Dinosaur Game

Furniture Vocabulary Memory Game for ESL Practice

Clothes Interactive Crossword

Halloween Vocabulary Crossword

Christmas Interactive Crossword

Food Vocabulary word search

Popular math/science games.

Optics and Light, Physical Science Game

Interesting Facts About Mars – Science Game

Conservation – The Importance of Research in Conservation Science Game

Facts about the moon – science game, the similarity of venus to earth – science game.

How to save the planet science game

Discover more about saturn, the sixth planet from the sun – science game.

Pressure, Physical Science Game

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures, Physical Science Game

Precipitation science game, leveraging games for enhanced k-12 primary education in esl, math, and science.

In a world where screens have become ubiquitous, leveraging technology for educational purposes has never been more relevant. Enter the realm of online gaming€”not just any gaming, but educational games designed for K-12 primary students. In this expansive guide, we will delve into the multifaceted benefits of using online games to enhance English as a Second Language (ESL), Math, and Science education. Get ready to play ESL games online, dabble in math adventures, and explore the fascinating universe of science games that are cool.

Play ESL Games Online: Transforming Language Learning

Games for esl: more than just fun and games.

When it comes to learning English as a second language, play becomes a powerful tool. Online games offer a unique blend of fun and educational content designed to help ESL learners grasp new concepts, from vocabulary to sentence structure, and even cultural nuances. Playing ESL games online creates a less intimidating environment for learners, allowing them to absorb language elements more naturally.

Building Blocks of Language: Vocabulary and Grammar

The most basic, yet crucial aspects of language learning, are vocabulary and grammar. ESL games often include exercises to match words with pictures, spell words correctly, and form sentences. This playful approach facilitates easier understanding and retention of language fundamentals.

Find Cool Games for Math: Making Numbers Fun

Why play math games online.

The conventional way of learning math€”through rote memorization and repetition€”often leaves students bored and unengaged. When you play math games online, you bring an element of fun into the equation, literally. Math games convert abstract concepts into tangible problems that require critical thinking. This makes it easier for young minds to grasp these concepts while having fun.

Math Gaming Categories

Whether it's solving puzzles, going on treasure hunts, or participating in virtual math competitions, online platforms offer a wide range of math games. You can find cool games for math that range from simple addition and subtraction to complex algebraic equations.

Play Science Games Online: Discover, Learn, Innovate

Science games that are cool.

How can you make science, often seen as a complex and challenging subject, enjoyable for primary students? The answer lies in integrating games into the educational process. When students play science games online, they experience hands-on learning that fosters curiosity and deepens understanding.

A Universe of Topics

The realm of science is broad, encompassing biology, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and more. Online platforms often offer games for science that cover these various subjects, each designed to address specific educational standards and outcomes.

Primary Games for Holistic Learning

What Makes Primary Games Different?

When we talk about primary games, we refer to games explicitly designed for younger learners in the K-12 spectrum. These games are simplified yet engaging, covering the core subjects of ESL, Math, and Science. They are crafted to be age-appropriate, ensuring that students not only learn but also enjoy the process.

Primary the Games: Customization and Curriculum

The beauty of primary games lies in their customization options. Teachers and educators can tailor these games to align with the curriculum, making them an excellent supplemental learning tool.

FAQs: Why Are Games Important in Primary Education?

Q1: What is the significance of using games in primary education? A: Games turn learning into an engaging and interactive experience. They help in improving focus, enhancing retention, and building problem-solving skills, all of which are crucial in primary education.

Q2: How can games be beneficial for ESL learners? A: Games can offer a stress-free environment where ESL learners can practice language skills without the fear of making mistakes. They also facilitate better retention of vocabulary and grammar rules.

Q3: Are online math games effective for learning? A: Absolutely! Online math games transform abstract concepts into interactive challenges, making it easier for students to understand and apply them.

Q4: Do science games offer practical knowledge? A: Yes, many science games simulate real-world scenarios, encouraging students to apply scientific principles and learn through experimentation.

Q5: How do primary games align with traditional education? A: Many primary games are designed to correlate with standard educational curriculums, making them an excellent supplement to traditional classroom teaching.

In conclusion, the digital age offers an abundance of opportunities to make learning a more engaging and enjoyable process. Whether it's ESL, Math, or Science, there's an online game tailored to make mastering each subject a thrilling adventure. So go ahead, enrich your primary educational journey with an array of games that not only educate but also entertain.

We will appreciate your feedback.

Useful Sites

• FredisaLearns
• ESL Games World
• English 4 Kids
• ESL Kids Lab
• English Media Lab
• Turaco Games

Connect with us

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www.ManyThings.org Interesting Things for ESL Students

Listen and repeat, listen and repeat videos, listen and read along videos, vocabulary, etc., learn a song podcast, ipad-friendly.

Not yet tested on smaller mobiles.

For more, see the "List of All Sections. List of All Sections

Not Yet 100% Mobile-friendly

These two sections were updated on 2024-04-01.

This web site is for people studying English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) . There are quizzes, word games, word puzzles, proverbs, slang expressions, anagrams, a random-sentence generator and other computer assisted language learning activities. Even though the primary focus is for ESL, native English speakers may also find some interesting things on this site. This site is non-commercial and has no advertising. TESL/TEFL teachers may want to recommend this site to their students.

Copyright © 1997-2024 by Charles Kelly & Lawrence Kelly

Free English Online

Online English resources for teaching and learning English are available for free. Use our free interactive speaking and listening lessons, reading and writing exercises, quizzes, and games to improve your English. 

Our pages include a variety of online English exercises at various levels, as well as practice for the Cambridge English and IGCSE ESL, plus higher-level courses like the IB English Language B . Our most recent free English online activities, games, and teaching resources are listed above.

Take our free level test if you are unsure of your level. The Junior Level Test is for students aged 6 to 12, and the Senior Level Test is for students aged 13 and up. It only takes 15-20 minutes to determine which English language course to take. You can also choose to have your results emailed to you. So why waste your time? Take the English level test online right now!

If you enjoy our free English online resources and would like to contribute to the site’s upkeep, please consider clicking this link . Our website promises to publish new content on a regular basis throughout the year, so you’ll always find something of interest.

Starters | Beginner | Elementary | Intermediate | Upper Intermediate | Advanced

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ESL Speaking

Games + Activities to Try Out Today!

in Activities for Adults · Activities for Kids

ESL Interactive Games and Activities | Interactive ESL Lesson Ideas

Okay, so who doesn’t want more interaction in their ESL or EFL classes, right? That’s where these ESL interactive games and activities come in. They’re fun, engaging, and best of all, will get students interacting with you, and most importantly, each other. Keep on reading for some of my favourite interactive ESL Games.

ESL interactive game

Stay tuned for the best interactive ESL lesson plan ideas, tips, games and activities.

ESL Interactive Games, Activities, Worksheets and Lesson Plans

Are you ready for some ESL teaching awesome? Then let’s get to the best interactive ESL games and activities you’ll need to plan your lesson in style!

#1: ESL Board Games

Board games, by their very nature, are an interactive activity. Did you know that it’s extremely easy to design your own for your TEFL classes? You can easily make them for just about any topic or level of students in just a few minutes. I use them for review at the end of a unit, or as a review before the midterm or final exam.

A quick tip: You can often find board games in the teacher’s activity book that may come with your ESL textbook. Check there first before spending time making your own. Check them out here: Board Games for ESL Students.

#2 ESL Interactive Vocabulary Game: Draw a Picture

If you’re teaching your students about ways to describe people, animals , objects, etc., then you may want to try out this fun and interactive ESL activity. The way it works is that you put students into pairs, and then show one of the people a secret picture. They have to describe the picture to their partner who can’t see it, and then they draw it. The results? Usually hilarious, so be sure to compare them with each other.

Find out more details here: Drawing a Secret Picture. 

#3: Taboo Interactive ESL Party Game

You’ve probably played taboo with friends or family somewhere along the line. You can also play it with your ESL/EFL students! Just be sure to use vocabulary words that they know, and/or that you’ve recently used in class. If you don’t remember what taboo is, basically you have to get your team to say a certain word by describing it. The catch is that you can’t use words from a certain list.

It’s a fun party game so try it out today: Taboo for English Learners .

ESL interactive games and activities

#4 ESL Interactive Game: Rock-Scissor-Paper

This is a fun ESL game that requires a ton of interaction between students. They NEED to talk with other people in order to complete the activity. It’s ideal for a quick review game before a test, or at the end of a unit. The way it works is that you make a set of questions/answers.

Then, separate them into strips of paper (questions and answers separately too). Give each student 4-5 papers and they have to find their match. Once they do, they do rock-scissor-paper and the winner takes both papers and gets a point.

Here’s everything you need to know about this interactive review game: Rocks-Scissor-Paper ESL Review Activity .

#5: Flip-Chart, an Interactive Vocabulary Review Game

If you teach beginners and are looking for a fun game to help students with new vocabulary, consider “flip-chart.” It’s an ideal way to round out a unit or to do some review before a vocabulary test.

Learn more here: Interactive ESL Vocabulary Game .

#6 Interactive ESL Game: Just a Minute

This is a fun ESL activity that focuses on speaking fluency. It works for just about any topic, is an ideal warm-up and it best for intermediate to advanced level students. The way it works is that students have to speak about a certain topic for one entire minute without stopping. The way you can make it interactive is to put students into groups of 4 or 5. The “listeners” have to ask 1-2 related follow-up questions after the person is finished talking.

Check it out here: Just a Minute ESL Warmer .

#7 ESL Interactive Game for Kindergarten: Flashcard Sentences

If you teach English to kindergarten students , but don’t have a set of flashcards, then you’ll need to get one ASAP! They are extremely versatile and lend themselves to a ton of different activities. My secret? You can often buy a matching set to go along with the textbook you are teaching from.

One of the simplest, interactive games you can do is to hold up a flashcard to each student. Then, they have to make a sentence with the picture. If correct, they keep the card. If incorrect, it goes back into the pile. Continue until the flashcards are gone.

More information here: Flashcard Sentences .

#8: Interactive Vocabulary Quiz (Name 5 Things)

#9 Interactive Activity for ESL Students: The Hobby Unit

Let’s be real. Most teachers are pretty tired of teaching about “hobbies” and I’m sure most students feel the same way. It seems like every single English textbook out there has a unit on this. If you find one that doesn’t, please let me know!

In order to spice things up a bit, I like to do this interactive activity. Basically, each student has to teach their group how to do something. It could be how to make fried rice if their hobby is cooking. Or, how to kick a ball if they like soccer. Just something simple that they can teach someone in a couple of minutes.

Then, to make it more interactive, each student in the group has to ask 1-2 follow-up questions.

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bolen, Jackie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 68 Pages - 11/12/2019 (Publication Date)

Need more ideas for hobbies? Have a look here: ESL Hobbies Games .

#10 ESL Grammar Interactive Game: Can/Can’t

This is a fun, interactive game that you can use with your beginner level students when teaching about can/can’t. Students have to choose some secret nouns, and then give hints about it, using can/can’t. I prefer to have students write down the hints because it goes more smoothly than just having them think on their feet, especially if they are true beginners.

Check it out here: Can/Can’t ESL Game .

#11: ESL Christmas Interactive Games

Okay, so Christmas is just around the corner and you’re looking for some fun and engaging ESL games or activities to use with your students? Then you’re certainly in the right place.

Here are some of my favorites to try out today: Interactive ESL Christmas Activities

#12: Hot Potato Game for ELL Students

If you’re looking for an interactive ESL game that’s some pure fun and excitement, then you’ll want to consider Hot Potato. The way it works is that students pass around a “potato” and when the timer goes off, the person holding it has to do something. In my classes, it’s usually answering a question of some kind.

If you want to make it a little bit more interactive, you could consider requiring the person previously holding the potato to think of the question themselves instead of the teacher. More information here:

ESL Hot Potato Game .

• 66 Pages - 11/06/2020 (Publication Date) - Independently published...

#13 ESL Interactive Games: Charades

I’m ALL about having some fun party-type classes with my students to celebrate the end of a unit, an upcoming holiday like Halloween , or the end of the semester. One of my favourite interactive games that I like to play with them is charades. I’m sure you’ve played this with family or friends before.

The way it works is that you have to act out a secret word or phrase and your team has to guess what is it. Find out more about it right here:

Charades for ESL Students .

#14: Do you Like to?

This ESL interactive activity requires that students write down five facts about themselves on 5 strips of paper. The more unique, the better.

Then, you distribute the strips of paper to other students in the class who have to ask questions to find their matches. It’s a fun game that’s ideal for getting students to work on yes/no questions. Find out more about it right here:

Do you Like to ESL Speaking Activity ?

#15: Social Problems ESL Lesson Plan

One of the ways to foster interaction among English learners is to bring an interesting conversational topic into class and then let students get to talking! In particular, I like to use this social issues lesson plan because it’s engaging and almost all students have an opinion about things that are happening in the world around them.

Want to check it out for yourself? Have a look here:

Social Problems ESL Lesson Plan .

#16 Interactive ESL Activity: Discussion Starters for Children or Adults

One of the best ESL interactive activities is a straight-up discussion! I find that it’s best to offer students some discussion starters so that you’re not met with utter silence when you tell your students to start talking to each other!

Here are some of my top picks for interesting things your students could talk about:

Discussion Starters for Children

Discussion Starters for Adults

• 148 Pages - 03/09/2016 (Publication Date)

#17: WH Questions Activities

Who, what, when, why, where, and how are by their very nature, interactive words. They are the start of a question in English, and you’ll probably want to have a partner to answer them, right?

There are a ton of interactive ESL games to practice W + H questions. You can see some of our top picks right here:

W/H Questions Games and Activities .

#18 ESL Interactive Activities for Giving Directions

Another topic that lends itself extremely well to interactive activities is giving directions. After all, you can’t give directions to yourself, right? Well, I guess you could in theory but it’d be a little bit weird!

The best directions activities are those with an information gap of some kind. By that, I mean where one student has the information another student needs. And, they have to interact with each other to find out what it is.

Do you want to know more? Then check this out: ESL Giving Directions Activities .

#19: Tips for Interactive Small Group Discussions

When students think of a conversation class, it’s often free-flowing discussions that they want. Or, if you like to have interactive discussions in your English classes, then you’ll want to check out these top tips for making them even better.

Maybe you’ve been met with blank stares and silence when everyone should be talking? Seriously, we’ve all been there and the good news is that it can be easily avoided These are the tips for you, so neglect them at your peril!

ESL Small Group Discussion Tips.

Get your interaction on!

#20: ESL Warmer Activities

#21: Telephone ESL Speaking + Listening Game

A fun game that you can play with kids or teens is telephone. The way it works is that you give the first student in the line a sentence or phrase. They pass that to the next person and so on until the end. At that point, their sentence is compared to the original.

The results? Usually really funny! Find out more about one of my favourite interactive games for ESL students:

Telephone ESL Listening/Speaking Game.

#22: Easy ESL Animals Quiz

#23: Choose your Own Adventure Group Writing Activity

Interactive group writing activities are few and far between as writing is generally more of a solitary kind of activity. However, this is one of the best group writing activities that I’ve come across and I think your students will like it as much as mine.

This writing activity is engaging and very student-centred, so give it a try today! Find out more about it:

Choose your Own Adventure Group Writing Activity for English Learners .

• 279 Pages - 07/12/2020 (Publication Date)

#24: Technology ESL Lesson Plan

One of my favourite interactive ESL activities is to put students into pairs or small groups and then give them an engaging lesson plan. This one about technology includes the following:

• Warm-up question
• Vocabulary, idioms, and phrases
• Conversation questions
• Writing prompts that are ideal for homework

Have a look right here:

Technology English Conversation Lesson Plan

Or, if you’re a teacher who is looking to level up their use of tech in the classroom, be sure to check this out:

Technology for Teaching English.

#25: Tell your Story: An Interactive Activity for Reported Speech

It’s not that easy to come up with interactive, fun reported speech activities, even though this grammar point comes up quite often in real life. So, it makes sense to practice it in class with our students and not just skip over that section in the book.

If you’re looking for an interactive, natural way to do it, then you’ll want to check out this activity: Tell your Story ESL Reported Speech Activity .

#26: Information Gap Activities

#27: Vocab Sheets

A nice way to generate some conversation in English classes for intermediate or advanced learners is to use vocab sheets, along with the accompanying discussion questions. Find out more about them here:

TEFL Vocab Sheets .

#28: Whiteboard Games and Activities

Who says that the teacher is the only one that gets to write on the whiteboard? Have some fun with these interaction games that make use of the whiteboard:

ESL Whiteboard Games and Activities .

#29: Speaking Fluency Activity

#30: Typhoon Review Game

If you’re looking for an ESL review game that’s heavy on the fun, then consider playing Typhoon. Students of all ages love it and whenever I use it in class, students talk about it for weeks afterwards. It’s perfect to use in class before a midterm or final exam. Check out this ESL interactive game:

Typhoon ESL Review Game .

#31: Basketball ESL Challenge

If you’re looking for a fun activity for an interactive English lesson, then consider ESL basketball. It’s ideal for children and a nice way to review simple grammatical structures or vocabulary. Find out more about this interactive English activity here:

ESL Basketball Activity .

#32: Things to do on the First Day of Class

#33: Using Movies and TV Shows to Teach English

If you want to have an interactive English lesson, then seriously consider using TV shows or movie clips. Students generally love watching TV, so why not bring them into the TEFL classroom to generate some interest?

Find out more about interactive ESL lessons using movies here:

Movies and TV Shows for Learning English.

#34: TPR (Total Physical Response)

A fun, interactive teaching method is total physical response. The teacher says something and the students have to act it out. For example:

• Touch your elbow.
• Pick up your pencil.
• Turn around.
• Be quiet, please.

As you can see, it’s useful for a variety of kinds of vocabulary. Find out more:

What is TPR?

#35: Prepositions of Place Memory Quiz

Try out this simple memory game to work on prepositions:

#36: An English Debate

A fun way to get students to interact with each other, in English is to have a debate. The key is choosing a topic that they want to talk about. Here are some of the best ideas:

Good Debate Topics .

Pointless Things to Debate About .

#37: I’m Going on a Picnic

This is a simple, interactive game that focuses on noticing patterns. Find out all the details you need to know here:

ESL I’m Going on a Picnic .

#38: Me Too!

Try out this fun speaking and listening activity for beginners. Students have to say a true statement about themselves. For example:

• I have a sister.
• I love fruit.
• My grandparents live with me.

If the statement is also true for other students in the class, they can stand up and say, “Me too!”

#39: Twenty Questions

What about ESL Interactive Games for Students?

If you’re looking for some interactive ESL games, then this isn’t the place for that! We specialize in games and activities for teachers to do with their students in the class.

However, here are some of our favourite sources of games for ESL students:

Games to Learn English

ESL Games World

A quick tip: Many of the major textbooks these days have web-based practice for students. This will often require a special code to get this up and running and some support from the admin at your institution as well. But, it’s often quite useful as far as teaching tools go, so it may be worth looking into.

Sure, they’re not ELL games so your students may not love them that much, but they do have the added benefit of corresponding to exactly what you teach in class. This fact alone makes it worth its weight in gold.

ESL Interactive Lesson Plans

Do you need some help with planning more interactive, communication-focused ESL lessons for kids or adults? Then you’ll most definitely need to check out some of our go-to sources for ESL lesson planning right here:

Task-Based Learning Lesson Plans

ESL Authority

How to Teach English Conversation?

Surprisingly, it’s possible to teach English conversation in a pretty non-interactive kind of way. Yes, I know. It seems actually difficult to do this, but many teachers do!

The goal of a conversation class is to make it as student-centred as possible. Your students should be doing all the hard work, not you. This means that if you have a class of more than say, four students, you’ll want to get them interacting and talking with each other, instead of with the entire class.

Here are some of my tips and tricks for how to make this happen: How to Teach English Conversation .

ESL Interactive activities and games.

ESL Interactive Games and Activities FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about making their ESL lessons more interactive. Here are some of the answers to the most popular ones.

What is an interactive lesson?

An interactive lesson is one where students are able to participate in a number of ways. Students are able to engage with the material presented instead of just passively absorbing it, which can make it more memorable. This can happen in a classroom or  during homework activities.

How I encourage ESL students to participate?

If you want to encourage ESL students to participate in class and be more interactive, here are a few tips:

• Use a wide variety of engaging ESL games and activities.
• Consider group work and change the groups frequently.
• Use some kind of reward system for good participation.
• Use positive reinforcement
• Have a friendly and upbeat demeanour in the classroom.
• Try as much as possible to reduce teacher talking time.
• Offer lots of support and opportunities for practice.

Why is interactive learning Better?

Interactive learning is a better choice for language learning because it emphasizes engagement and participation, which can result in better language gains. This style of teaching allows students to build their own definition and meaning of the presented material instead of just being spoon-fed information. This helps students take an active role in their own learning.

What are some interactive games?

Some interactive games to consider using for language learners are running dictation, dictogloss, speaking bingo, puzzle finders, surveys, board games, telephone, charades, and hot potato.

How can I make my lessons more interactive?

If you want to make your ESL lessons more interactive, consider the following things:

• Use some mystery in your lessons (predictions, games, etc.).
• Try to never repeat classroom materials in terms of topics.
• Use lots of ESL games and activities
• Allow students some degree or freedom (task-based learning activities for example)
• Use technology.
• Don’t take things too seriously!
• Use context to relate any new material to students’ lives.

Did you like these ESL Interactive Games?

Yes? Thought so. Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 71 ESL Interactive Games, Activities, and Teaching Tips. The key to better English lessons is a wide variety of interactional games and this book will help you get there in style.

You can find it in both digital and print formats. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide. Or, take the e-version with you to your favourite coffee shop for some lesson planning on the go.

Whatever the case, get ready for some ESL teaching awesome in your life. Head over to Amazon to pick up your copy today:

Tips for Creating More Interaction in ESL Classes

Increasing interaction in an ESL (English as a Second Language) class is crucial for language development. Here are some tips to foster more interaction among students and between students and the teacher:

Create a Welcoming Environment

Build a safe and inclusive classroom where students feel comfortable expressing themselves.

Icebreakers and Warm-Up Activities

Start each class with icebreakers or warm-up activities that encourage students to interact and chat in English.

Pair and Group Work

Use pair and group activities frequently to promote interaction. Students can discuss topics, solve problems, or complete tasks together.

Role-Playing and Simulations

Engage students in role-play scenarios or simulations to practice real-life conversations and situations.

Discussion Prompts

Use thought-provoking questions or discussion prompts related to the lesson topic to spark conversations.

Think-Pair-Share

Ask a question, have students think about their answers individually, pair up to discuss, and then share their thoughts with the class.

Jigsaw Activities

Divide a larger task into smaller parts, assign each part to different groups, and then have groups share their findings with the whole class.

Debates and Discussions

Organize debates or class discussions on controversial or thought-provoking topics, allowing students to express their opinions.

Storytelling and Presentations

Encourage students to share personal stories or give presentations on topics of interest.

Language Games

Incorporate language games like word games, vocabulary bingo, or charades to make learning enjoyable and interactive.

Peer Teaching

Assign students to teach a concept or skill to their peers. This reinforces understanding and encourages interaction.

Collaborative Projects

Have students work on projects that require them to research, plan, and create together.

Utilize Technology

Integrate technology tools like discussion forums, language-learning apps, or video conferencing for virtual group activities.

Use Visual Aids

Incorporate visual aids, such as pictures, diagrams, and multimedia, to stimulate discussion and interaction.

Variety of Communication Modes

Encourage different types of interaction, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing, to develop all language skills.

Feedback and Correction

Provide constructive feedback on language use to guide students in improving their communication skills.

Rotate Seating Arrangements

Change seating arrangements regularly to mix students and encourage them to interact with different classmates.

Set Interaction Goals

Establish specific interaction goals for each lesson and celebrate when students meet these objectives.

Cultural Exchange

Incorporate discussions and activities that encourage students to share their cultural backgrounds and learn about each other’s cultures.

Model Interaction

As the teacher, actively participate in class discussions and model proper language use and communication skills.

Have your say about these ESL Interactive Games and Activities

What are your thoughts about these interactive ESL activities or games? Have you tried any of them out in your classes? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy teachers, like yourself, find this useful teaching resource.

Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at: YouTube Facebook TikTok Pinterest Instagram

Thanks a lot for sharing those amazing ideas. I would like you to give me some advice about how to help weaker students. What skill do I have to focus on: speaking, reading, listening or reading? Thanks a lot for your advice and I appreciate any help that you can give me!

If your students can’t read well, then certainly focus on that at the start. It’s kind of the foundation for everything else that you’ll do in your class. However, if they can read well, then start with speaking. Most other things follow from there.

Great teaching tips! I love all of these ideas for interactive English lessons.

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Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL speaking since 2014 and the goal is to bring you the best recommendations for English conversation games, activities, lesson plans and more. It’s your go-to source for everything TEFL!

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Listen and click on the correct images.

Click to make correct sentences.

Look at the images and make sentences.

Practice vocabulary and phrases for daily activities.

Click on the images to see the body parts.

Practice the 12 months of the year in English.

Practice present simple tense verbs.

Click the words to practice making phrasal verbs.

Click and drag the words to match the images.

Practice days of the week in English.

Guess the job and practice job language.

Listen and move the weather images to the countries.

Listen and click on the correct food images.

Look at the image and then spell the word.

Read the sentences and move the clothes.

Interactive clock to practice telling the time.

Describe the images by making sentences.

Find the words to match the images. Practice spelling.

Practice future tense sentences with 'Going To'.

Practice making sentences in past tense.

Find the matching pairs of images and words.

Look at the images and make comparatives.

Listen to the numbers and move the monster.

Click on the words and make questions.

Guess the word or phrase as the image is revealed.

Make conditional phrases to match the images.

Read the description and click on the matching image.

Guess letters to spell out a hidden word.

Speaking practice. Say the vocab items.

Speaking practice. Say the phrases.

Guess the animal by forming questions.

Listen to the words and click on the images.

Move the objects to match the prepositions.

Move the clouds to make sentences.

Practice vocab for family members.

Practice making sentences in perfect tense.

Reveal the images and click on the words.

Games to Learn English

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100 ESL Games | Ready-To-Use Games To Teach English

Welcome to our ESL Games page, where you can find many games for teaching English. These ESL games are great for teaching English both in the classroom and online to kids and beginner English language learners. Our ESL games are absolutely FREE! Simply show them from this website or from our YouTube Channel. See below for all the latest ESL games available. And don’t forget to check out our other FREE resources including,  Flashcards ,  Board Games ,  Worksheets ,  Lesson Plans , and  PowerPoint Games .

Featured Game

All ESL Games

Below you will find over 100 free ESL games on many different topics for kids and beginner English language learners. Browse through the games below, which are arranged alphabetically, or search our whole site for resources.

• Accessories Vocabulary Game
• Action Verbs Game
• Alphabet and Phonics Games – A to Z
• Alphabet And Phonics Games – The Phonics Train Game
• Animals – ‘What Am I? Quiz’
• Animals Vocabulary Game
• Animals Hidden Picture Game
• Animals – How Many..?
• Animals – Farm Animals Guessing Game
• Animals – Sea Animals Guessing Game
• Animals – Pet’s Guessing Game
• Bathroom Vocabulary Game
• Bedroom Vocabulary Game
• Body Parts Game For Kids
• Choose Your Gift Game – Adjectives
• Christmas Game – Guess The Christmas Food
• Christmas Game – How Many Snowmen?
• Christmas Telepathy Game
• Christmas Quiz – ‘What Am I?’
• Christmas Vocabulary Game
• Classroom Objects Game
• Clothes Vocabulary Game For Kids
• Clothes Guessing Game
• Color Games For Kids
• Compound Words Game – Guess The Emoji
• Countries – Guess The Country From The Food
• Countries – Guess The Country From The Picture
• Countries – Guess The Country From The Map
• Daily Routine Activity
• Describing Appearance Game – Draw A Monster
• Directions Games
• Easter Game For Kids
• Emoji Game – Spot The Odd One Out
• Family Members Game
• Feelings And Emotions Game
• Food – Guessing Game 1
• Food – Guessing Game 2
• Food – Top Five Quiz
• Food – ‘What Am I?’ Quiz
• Fruit And Vegetables Guessing Game
• Future Tense Activity
• Hangman Alternative – Save The Teacher
• Halloween Find The Odd One Out Game
• Halloween Guessing Game
• Halloween Game – Pass The Pumpkin
• Hobbies and Interests Game
• ‘How Much Is It?’ Game 1
• ‘How Much Is It?’ Game 2
• ‘How Often Do You…? – Adverbs Of Frequency Game
• Idioms Guessing Game
• Jobs – ‘What Am I?’ Quiz
• Jobs Vocabulary Game
• Jobs And Occupations Guessing Game
• Jobs Telepathy Game
• July 4th Game
• Kitchen Vocabulary Game
• Living Room Vocabulary Game
• Logo Quiz – Odd One Out
• Magic E Words Game
• Musical Instruments Quiz – Guess The Instrument From The Sound
• New Year’s Resolutions Game
• Opposite Words Game
• Parts Of The House Vocabulary Game
• Past Tense Game – Mystery Box
• Past Tense Irregular Verbs Game
• Past Tense Regular Verbs Game
• Person Place Or Thing Quiz
• Phrasal Verb Quiz
• Places Around Town Game
• Prepositions Memory Game
• Prepositions Of Time Game – At On In
• Present Continuous Tense Activity
• Present Continuous Guessing Game
• Present Simple Tense Review Game
• Present Perfect Tense – Review Game
• Restaurant Vocabulary Game
• Riddles For ESL Students
• Rooms Of The House – Telepathy Game
• Rooms Of The House – Vocabulary Game
• Seasons Game For Kids
• Some or Any – Review Game
• Speaking Activity – Level Up Game
• Sports Vocabulary Game
• Sports – Winter Sports Vocabulary Game
• Sports Quiz
• Summer Quiz
• Superlatives Quiz
• Telling The Time Game
• Thanksgiving Game – Guess The Thanksgiving Food
• Thanksgiving Quiz – What Am I?
• There Is / There Are Game
• These / Those Game
• This / That Game
• This / That Telepathy Game
• Top Five Quiz 1
• Top Five Quiz 2
• Top Five Quiz 3
• Transportation Vocabulary Game 1
• Transportation Vocabulary Game 2
• Valentine’s Day Game For Kids
• Verb ‘To Be’ Activity
• Weather – How’s The Weather Game
• ‘What Am I?’ Quiz – Easy
• ‘What Am I?’ Quiz – Funny
• ‘Whose Is It?’ – O/X Game
• Winter Clothes Vocabulary Game
• Winter Top Five Quiz

More ESL Games

On Games4esl you can also find many other kinds of ESL games and lesson materials including PowerPoint Games , Online Quizzes , Board Games and Board Game Templates ,

Teach better classes today with Cool English  

Instantly attract students with modern activities . 

Stop using boring material. 

Start using Cool English.

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How  CoolEnglish  Helps

Project your screen during class to use the 600+ interactive activities. 

Share your Zoom screen in online classes for modern engaging activities.

Share links with all your students for them to do homework on any device.

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Interactive Music & Games

With activities for all levels and ages, you can easily find something cool for your classes..

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High-quality material designed by teachers and classroom-tested makes lesson planning much easier..

Modern Videos & Clips

Hundreds of short videos from basic to advanced, all designed for english learners..

Dynamic Reading & Listening

Attract new students with a variety of high-quality reading and listening activities for all levels of classes., 60+ free activities 800+ for members, new ones every week, choose a category below and get started., join today to access all 800+ activities., plus the cool english blog, magazine & podcast, what are other teachers saying.

I just love your site. I have been an ESL teacher for 20 years in Brazil and I've never seen anything as good as your activities.

The site is so engaging, my students love the games and the music. I used the verb tenses with them and it was amazing.

This site is amazing, thank you for all the material. Both my kid and adult classes love them.

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2. Thewordsearch.com

Thewordsearch.com offers a variety of word search games that are tailored to help users learn new words and phrases. We can select from an array of topics and difficulty levels. Best of all, I can create my own word search puzzle with Word Search Maker, which is tailored to the vocabulary list relevant to my lessons.

3. Wordshake – by British Council

This is my student’s all-time favorite. Wordshake presents a random 16 letters in a 4 x 4 grid, and students need to discover as many words as possible between 3 to 7 letters within 3 minutes to get points. One key challenge with this game is that a letter cannot be used twice in the same word. Nonetheless, you can easily replicate this using the school whiteboard and play it offline with your own rules and scoring system. Trust me, it’s lots of fun! 

4. Freerice 

Freerice is an educational trivia game with various topics, including English language learning. Beyond merely building vocabulary, Freerice offers an opportunity for learners to contribute to a global cause. For each correct answer, the platform donates 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme. 

In the English categories, you can find ready-to-play trivia games for ESL vocabulary, English Spelling, English Grammar, English Proverbs and Root Words. 

5. Wordwall.net

Wordwall.net has many templates and community resources for various learning and quizzes. Teachers can create customisable resources that can be used to teach and reinforce ESL vocabulary engagingly. You can sign up for free, and the free plan allows the creation of up to 5 resources at once. Once you login, you will gain access to the community search to use and play all the existing resources created by other Wordwall community members.

Babadum is an interactive game that offers a fun approach to vocabulary building. For instance, the platform offers 1500 words to learn in 21 languages, including English. My students like that the vocabulary learning games are paired with pictures they can easily relate to. Generally, I prefer to use Babadum as a time filler, especially to teach basic vocabulary words to ESL beginners.

7. Baamboozle

Baamboozle is a game-based learning platform with various interesting and trending topics collections. Whether your students are interested in sports, music, or geography, you can find vocabulary games that cater to their interests. This can make learning ESL vocabulary feel less like work and more fun. Each topic is accompanied by fun and engaging pictures and graphics, which gave us so much fun in the classroom. The basic theme that came with the free plan is fun enough for my students.

8. ESL Game Plus

ESL Game Plus is one of the most comprehensive ESL fun learning website that we should all make use of. The content is very well organised, with comprehensive topics and themes-based vocabulary games, such as action verbs, adjectives, animals, body parts, transportation and many more. Other than that, the platform includes various games such as crossword puzzles, word search games, memory games, spelling games and more. Definitely worth exploring. 

9. ProProfs Brain Games

ProProfs Brain Games is popular with entertaining and educational games, with most of the features games relevant in facilitating vocabulary learning. Firstly, you can find pre-built themed-based sets of word searches, crossword puzzles, hangman games, and word scramble ready for use.  Secondly, the platform also allows you to create your vocabulary list games upon signing up for free. 

10. Quizlet

Imagine a digital flashcard platform, but way cooler.  Quizlet brings interactive learning to life, with a variety of features like quizzes, games, audio pronunciation guide. By default, the platform feature 500+ million study sets that are readily accessible. Of course, we can also create customised study sets of flashcards on any topic, perfect for learning new words and phrases. 

Who says learning can’t be fun? With the help of digital apps and online games, we can blend education with amusement, sparking curiosity and fueling a natural journey into ESL learning. In conclusion, by gamifying ESL vocabulary learning, we transform vocabulary-building into a delightful daily adventure. 

English Teaching 101

Related posts.

Activity Ideas for Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Simple Flashcard Games to Foster an Engaging and Engaged Classroom

How to Use Green Screen for Remote Teaching

ESL Games Plus: A One Stop Interactive Teaching Tool for ESL Learners

Culturally Responsive Teaching: 5 Essential Strategies for ESL Teachers

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ESL/ELL Education : Interactive Websites for Learning

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If chat is offline, click here to Ask a Librarian via UW-Madison Libraries general library help chat .

ESL/ELL Interactive Websites for Learning

Instructional videos, including workout videos.  Useful for lesson planning or learning new skills.

• Starfall Great early-literacy practice for English Language Learners.
• Learn English Using Online Resources Free ESOL Websites listed by New York Public Library: These general ESOL websites offer many types of activities (grammar, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, etc.) for language learners of all levels.
• English Media Lab Homepage Exercises for all English learners including online grammar exercises, vocabulary videos, pronunciation exercises, and interactive quizzes for beginning, intermediate and advanced learners.
• American English Resources American English Resources provide materials for teachers' professional development and for students in the classroom. Find classroom activities, audiobooks, MP3s, videos and pedagogical material to assist in learning English as a second language. Students can also explore American culture through various materials. Resources include popular American classics, in-house publications and links to U.S. government websites and podcasts.
• International Children's Digital Library Free digitized picture books in multiple languages. Great for ESL students.
• ESL Videos ESLvideo.com provides educational resources for English as a Second Language Students to improve their listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills. The quiz activities and lessons are created by teachers, and are free to use in class, lab, or at home.
• ManyThings.org ESL Videos This web site is for people studying English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL). There are quizzes, word games, word puzzles, proverbs, slang expressions, anagrams, a random-sentence generator and other computer-assisted language learning activities.
• LearnEnglish Kids LearnEnglish Kids has lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children to have fun and learn English too.
• English Interactive English Interactive provides activities for speaking, listening, reading, writing and more.
• ESL Cyber Listening Lab Includes vocabulary lessons, listening quizzes, and study guides for English Language Learners.
• ESL Fast Includes over 1,000 conversations and scripts for beginning, intermediate and advanced English Language Learners.
• BITS English Language Learning Collection of recorded books, novellas, short stories, speeches, and songs with read-along text.
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Learning english, we found 175 activities for you.

Uses of like

This activity helps you to practise using like in different sentences

I love sports

This activity helps you practice using words to do with time and place

Family holiday

Add some prepositions to a story about going on a family holiday

What a great idea!

Learn about exclamative clauses

See and know

Learn about how to use see in spoken English

Choose which parts of these sentences have been left out

Bank accounts

Practice listening with this activity about bank accounts

Can you understand?

Can you identify what is really being said in this listening activity?

Which animal?

Answer some questions to learn new words to describe animals

Vocabulary for the house and home

Practise using vocabulary about the house and home

Vocabulary for work and jobs

Practise using vocabulary connected to work and jobs

Actually and actual

Learn about the uses of actually and actual

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Welcome to Baamboozle! The platform I wish existed when I was a teacher. The one I had to teach myself how to code to bring to life. The one more than a million teachers now call home. A place where they make the most fun teaching games on the planet! You're gonna love it 😉 Ronan

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eslwriting.org

A panoply of teaching resources.

7 Websites for ESL Students

Great sites for students.

Students often ask how they can improve their English skills. I suggest reading English material. But, they have different interests, not many like newspapers and all of them spend a lot of time surfing the net.

So, I put together links to 7 sites that inform, entertain and build language skills.

Photo by Jaqueline Arashida

If you want to be smart, hang out with smart people. That’s why TED is a great site. Watch videos by some of the innovative people on the planet. Many videos have a transcript, a handy tool for ESL students who want to improve their listening skills.

2. The Gutenberg Project

Who doesn’t like free books? And free audio books? Download both at the Gutenberg Project. There are 33,000 titles plus links to another 10,000 titles.

3. Answers.com

There are lots of online dictionaries. This one is an enormous reference library at your fingertips. The Britannica Video Library has an awesome collection of short videos on subjects ranging from history to travel.

4. National Geographic Channel

National Geographic makes learning beautiful. This outstanding collection of pictures, articles and videos is way more than geography. ESL students build language skills and general knowledge on lots of subjects with something for everyone.

5. How Stuff Works

Are vampires real? How can I download a video from YouTube? Get answers to these and thousands of other questions at this fact-filled site. Spend time reading this stuff and you’ll increase your vocabulary power and maybe find answers to the world’s most perplexing questions.

Learn words with digital flashcards. Enter a vocabulary list; the website makes flashcards and a test. There are also vocabulary-matching games. It takes a little time to set up but it’s a good way to teach yourself important words.

7. Post Secret

Do you want to read about people’s regrets, fantasies and hopes? They are all here in this simple site with postcards from people sharing their deepest secrets. Spend a few minutes reading the cards and you’ll learn unusual slang, as well.

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ESL Activities

ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans, Jobs & More

in Jobs and TEFL Cert · Reading · Speaking · Writing

ESL Websites for English Teachers: Top 25 Resources

If you’re looking for some of the best ESL websites for teachers as well as English learners, then you’re certainly in the right place. We’re going to give you the rundown on the best ESL websites for lesson planning, jobs and forums, along with websites for learning English for kids as well as adults.

Websites for ESL teachers

Top 25 Websites for English Teachers

Let’s get into the best websites for ESL teachers.

Lesson Planning, Worksheets, and Activities

Esl speaking .

If you’re looking for some activities, games or resources for teaching English speaking, then you’ll certainly want to check out ESL Speaking. There is a wealth of these things, along with lesson plans, worksheets and more.

Okay, let’s be honest here. ITESLJ does certainly need an overhaul to take it out of the 1990’s but it’s certainly worth a look, especially if you’re looking for ESL worksheets. In terms of the sheer amount of content, this site rules them all and with a bit of searching, you should be able to find what you’re looking for easily enough.

Breaking News English

If you teach teenagers or adults conversational English , this may be the only website you ever need. There are some excellent lesson plans based on what’s in the news lately. There’s a variety of levels and activities that target various skills ( reading , listening, writing, vocabulary , etc.).

English Listening Lesson Library

A few years ago, I taught a class focused exclusively on ESL listening and to be honest, I was a bit nervous. That’s when I found out about the ESL teaching awesome of ELLO. They have some excellent audio and video lessons that are detailed, interesting, and engaging. Just about everything you need to teach ESL listening.

ESL Writing

If you teach writing, either formal (academic) or informal, then the ultimate website for that is ESL Writing . There are lesson plans, activities and a whole bunch of other resources to help students write more interestingly and creatively. The results? Excellent, if my students are any indication!

I love to use different kinds of media in my classes whenever possible and ESL video makes this super easy. Not only are there curated videos but you can find accompanying lesson plans, quizzes, etc to go along with them. This makes it super easy to plan some interesting ESL lessons.

ESL websites for teachers and students

ESL Job Resources

Profs abroad.

This ESL website is the first and only site dedicated exclusively to university ESL teaching jobs around the world. It’s paid, but totally worth the low fee is you’re serious about landing one of these sweet gigs that don’t involve teaching little kids! New jobs are added frequently so consider subscribing again, even if you have in the past.

Out of all the ESL teaching job websites, ESL Cafe stands a cut above the rest. Not in terms of usability, although it’s a lot better since a recent site overhaul, but just in terms of sheer numbers of jobs. They are divided up into China, Korea, and international ones and this should certainly be your first stop when starting a job search.

Along with ESL Cafe, TEFL.com is a go-to resource for job seekers. It’s been around for years and certainly has a good base of schools that advertise there. It’s less focused on China and Korea than ESL Cafe and can be a good place to find jobs off the beaten track like Puerto Rico, Sweden , or  Finland .

I generally don’t recommend recruiters to find ESL teaching jobs with only one exception, Teach Away. They are super-s0lid, totally above board and filter out all the crappy jobs that you don’t want anyway. If you’re a certified teacher in your home country, Teach Away should also be able to land a solid job in a public school or international school.

The Jet Program

One of the most interesting options for ESL teaching jobs in Japan is the Jet Program. Basically, it places native English speakers in public schools throughout Japan, with the focus on it being a language and cultural exchange. The pay is quite good too but it’s very competitive to get this job. It’s one of the only ways to get teaching English in Okinawa jobs .

EF English First

English First is one of the biggest employers when it comes to ESL teaching around the world. They are currently hiring for China, Indonesia and Russa and one of the best things about this company is that it’s often possible to advance into management or transfer.

This is another big company that has branches in various countries around the world. Hess has locations in South Korea, Vietnam , China, Singapore and Taiwan . Currently, Taiwan has the most available jobs.

Best websites for ESL students and teachers.

Country-Specific ESL teaching Resources

My life teaching in a korean university.

Korean university jobs are some of the most coveted ones in the ESL teaching world. Who doesn’t like 5 months of paid vacation and lucrative overtime opportunities, right? Your first stop for all the information you need to know about how to get this job and what to do once you have it is My Life! Teaching in a Korean University, run by a vet of 10 years teaching in Korean unis.

Waygook.org

If you’re teaching in South Korea, or are considering heading there, head over to Waygook. The forums are filled with helpful people ready to answer just about any question you might have. And, if you’re teaching in a public school and need some lesson planning resources? They’re very well-known for that as well.

Go Overseas

If you’re looking for specific information about teaching in a certain country, Go Overseas should be one of your first stops. They have this general information but also a ton of informative articles about certain jobs to consider, salaries, tips for living and more.

If you’re looking for all things teaching ESL in Japan, including jobs in an Eikaiwa , apartments, studying Japanese, forums, etc., then Gaijin Pot should be your first stop. It’s far and away the best site for English teachers in Japan.

If you’re looking for a forum to get all your questions answered about teaching English in Taiwan, Forumosa should be your first stop. It’s a very active site with lots of people willing to answer any and all questions bout teaching ESL in Taiwan.

International TEFL Academy

I don’t love to recommend websites that sell TEFL courses with one exception, International TEFL Academy. They have a ton of great information about various countries to consider teaching in, particularly the Middle East. There isn’t a ton of information about this but this website is one of the best.

Transitions Abroad

A nice source for general information about teaching ESL in a certain county is Transitions Abroad. Plus, they have jobs, detailed country guides, and specific information like how to travel around a certain place.

Best Websites for ESL Students

Using english.

If I’m going to recommend a single, general resource to my students for practicing their English skills, it’s Using English. This website is designed for ESL students specifically and has idioms, English grammar, quizzes, vocabulary and all the other things in abundance.

ESL Games World

One of the best sources for all things kids practicing English online is ESL Games World. There are a ton of interactive and engaging ESL games for kids here along with lots of things teachers can use like PowerPoint and printable games.

Business English Pod

If you have students who are serious about business English, then you’ll definitely want to recommend Business English Pod to them. It’s a paid site but there is also a lot of free resources to check out. Teachers can use it too when teaching business English! It’s my go-to source for this kind of class.

Need more ideas? Check this out: Business English ESL Activities .

Learn English Kids

The British Council certainly does some great work when it comes to websites for English learners. Learn English Kids has a ton of resources that are interactive and fun. I always like to recommend it to parents and kids who want to get some extra practice for English when not in my class!

Learn English

This is the adult version from the British Council of their kids’ site. It has a ton of excellent resources for learning English and you could literally spend a lifetime cruising around this site, learning new things! This is also the source for all things technical ESL teaching, including examples of discourse .

Did you like this list of the Best ESL Websites? 

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bolen, Jackie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 148 Pages - 03/09/2016 (Publication Date)

Yes? Thought so. Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults . The key to better TEFL classes is a wide variety of games and activities and this book will help you get there in style.

You can find the book in a variety of different formats. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide when planning your ESL lessons. Or, take the digital version with you to your favourite coffee shop for some lesson planning on the go. Finally, consider listening to the audio version on your commute for some ESL teaching inspiration.

Whatever the case, get ready for some serious ESL teaching awesome in your life. Check it out here:

Where Can ESL Teachers Find Resources for Their Lessons?

ESL teachers can find resources for their lessons from various sources. Here are some places to look for ESL teaching materials:

Textbooks and Coursebooks

ESL-specific textbooks and coursebooks provide structured lessons and materials for different proficiency levels.

Online ESL Platforms

Websites and platforms dedicated to ESL teaching often offer free or paid resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, activities, games, and multimedia materials.

ESL Teacher Websites and Blogs

Many ESL teachers and educators maintain their websites or blogs where they share lesson plans, teaching tips, and downloadable resources.

ESL Teaching Communities and Forums

Joining online communities and forums for ESL teachers allows you to connect with other professionals and exchange teaching materials and ideas.

Educational Publishers

Explore websites of educational publishers that specialize in ESL materials. They often provide sample resources, downloadable worksheets, and supplementary materials.

Online Libraries and Resource Centers

Some universities or organizations have online libraries or resource centers that offer a wide range of ESL teaching materials, including lesson plans, activities, and assessments.

ESL Resource Books

There are numerous published books available specifically for ESL teachers, offering a wealth of lesson plans, activities, and strategies.

Authentic Materials

Authentic materials, such as newspapers, magazines, online articles, videos, and podcasts, can be used to supplement ESL lessons and make them more relevant and engaging.

Online Teaching Platforms

If you are an online ESL teacher, the platform you teach on may have a resource library with pre-made lessons, teaching materials, and activities.

Teacher-created Resources

Many teachers share their self-created resources on platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers. You can find a wide range of ESL materials created by fellow educators.

There are a number of common questions that teachers have about this topic. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

Are ESL websites free?

Some ESL websites offer free resources, while others have a combination of free and premium content. It depends on the specific website and the resources they provide.

Can ESL websites help me with lesson planning?

Yes, ESL websites are valuable for lesson planning. They offer pre-made lesson plans, activity ideas, and materials that you can adapt to suit your students’ needs and learning goals.

Can ESL websites help me improve my teaching skills?

Absolutely! Many ESL websites provide professional development resources, articles, webinars, and courses that can enhance your teaching skills and keep you updated with the latest teaching methodologies and strategies.

How do I find reliable and reputable ESL websites?

When searching for ESL websites, consider recommendations from fellow teachers, check for positive reviews, and look for websites affiliated with established educational institutions, reputable publishers, or well-known ESL organizations.

Have Your Say about ESL Websites

What’s your top pick for an ESL website for teachers or an ESL website for students? Is there one that you’d like to include on this list? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.

Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at: YouTube Facebook Pinterest TikTok LinkedIn Instagram

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Best-selling author and English teacher Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL activities and games since 2015. The goal is to bring you the best ideas, lesson plans, and activity recommendations for your TEFL classes.

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WELCOME TO ESL GAMES WORLD - FUN GAMES FOR ESL/EFL LESSONS

This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing Fun esl games for Classrooms , Powerpoint Game & Templates , Printable Board Games , Interactive Games for Classrooms , Games for ESL Kids & Adults , Grammar Games , Vocabulary Games , Reading Games , featuring Snakes & Ladders, Hangman & Wheel Games . ESL Online Games

Fredisalearns.com : is a multi-level English program for children between the ages of 4 to 12 featuring tons of cartoon animated videos, games, tests and worksheets to teach and review vocabulary, grammar, spelling and communicative skills.

Esl, math, science : games, worksheets, videos, animated english videos for kids, games..., free esl interactive games - online fun games.

We provide a variety of interactive games and exercises for total esl fun. Our free ESL fun games here include : Snakes and Ladders, Hangman, Spelling games, Wheel of Fortune, TV Games(Betting Game), Mazes, Memory Games, Matching exercises, Sequencing exercises, Picture Quizzes and more. Follow the links below. This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing fun esl games for classrooms, powerpoint game templates, printable board games, interactive games for classrooms, Games for ESL Kids, Grammar Games, Vocabulary Games, Reading Games

Fun English Activities Online for Kids

Fun English Vocabulary Games, Grammar Games, Sentences Games, Spelling Games, Printable and Powerpoint Games, Games for iPad & Android Devices.

Grammar Games & Exercises

Games for Practising Grammar: Present simple/present progressive games, past tense games, present perfect games, comparative/Superlatives and more.

Games for ESL Classroom Teaching

Jeopardy Quiz Show, Billionaire, Show down and more. I cannot tell you just how excited I am to offer this new section. 26 New Games for Classrooms!

Vocabulary Games & Exercises

Games for practising English vocabulary: Lots of games by topics and game types. (14 New Games Added) - ESL World Cup Football Game & Worksheets

Pronunciation Interactive Exercises

Games to practice English pronunciation, phonetics and phonics.

English Courses for kids

Fredisalearns.com is a multi-level English program for children between the ages of 4 to 12 featuring tons of cartoon animated videos, games, tests and worksheets to teach and review vocabulary, grammar, spelling and communicative skills.

Printable Games, Powerpoint Games & Game Templates

For teachers, these printable and powerpoint games will form the bases of most of your lessons. Easy to play, Easy to customize and create yours. Follow these links below.

Printable Games - Click Here!

Practice a variety of grammar and vocabulary skills using these printable ESL Card & Board Games .

Powerpoint Games - Click Here!

Powerpoint Games for practising English vocabulary, grammar and many language skills.

Game Templates in MS WORD & POWERPOINT FORMATS- Click Here!

Create Games for your teaching using our templates. Very easy with the several video tutorials.

Math Games & Exercises Online

Math4Children.com : Free Math Worksheets , Math Games , Online Quizzes , Video Lessons and eBooks Downloads for Learning and Teaching kindergarten, preschool,1st to 6th grade.

In this category, you will find games that practice: Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Spelling, Pronunciation and Listening skills.

Board games and more games you can print and take to class can be found here.Also you will find templates for building yours.

Easy categorization of the games by levels of students. Browse games by levels. For convenience we have EASY, MEDIUM & HIGH LEVELS

Designed to help you bring fun to the class, our PPT games are excellent classroom games for classes with white boards and computers.

Templates help you to quickly build customized games and activities for your ESL/EFL lessons.

Free ESL/EFL Online & Classroom Games

We have no doubt that you will find this website a handy tool for your teaching and learning of English. Some of the games include: Wheel of Fortune, Snakes and Ladders, Hangman, Memory Games, Spelling Games, Slot Machine, Word Classification Exercises and a host of others. Watch ESL Games tutorials on how to play»

It is total fun and highly engaging fun lessons with these resources. Games have the power or eliminating negative emotions and keeping learning total fun.With the absence of the affective filter, learning is much more effective. Visit this page.

ESL Board & Powerpoint Games Templates

On ESL Games World we do not only aim at providing you with games for your classrooms. We have taken a step further to offer you free ESL games templates to empower you with the tools to make your own exercises. Create Powerpoint and Printable Games in minutes. We understand that you may not have too much time for planning a lesson. This is why we offer you our most precious game templates for free. Create your own exercises using our highly intuitive game templates. With our templates, creating materials have never been easier. You will create customized games to practice the language focus of your lessons.

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42 Excellent ESL Games For Kids

January 19, 2024 //  by  Michelle Mandel

What better way to learn a language than by playing games? Playing games is such an interactive and hands-on way to get your kiddos to speak the language and learn more! Take a look at our fantastic list of 42 amazing ESL games for kids that cover grammar, vocabulary, speaking practice, and much more. From competitive team games to fun fill-in-the-blanks, we’re sure you’ll find a few that you’ll want to try out with your class. Let’s take a look!

1. Fizz or Buzz With Numbers

This fast-paced game can be played at the beginning of the class and at the end of the class to revise numbers! The teacher starts out the round with a number and quickly, the children must say the next number except when they get to any number with a 3 or a 5 they replace it with a Fizz or Buzz. If you make a mistake sit down till the next round!

Learn More: Dr. Mike’s Math Games For Kids

2. Scavenger Hunt

Treasure and Scavenger hunts are so much fun! Let your kiddos work in small groups or pairs and get them running around looking for objects on a list. The great thing about this activity is that you can easily adapt it to fit whatever stage of learning English your kiddos are at! 

Learn More: English Current

Expand your little ones’ English vocabulary with this exciting game! They’ll need to describe their target word or phrase, but avoid using anything that’s on the list of words that they cannot say. Here’s a bunch of ESL learning Taboo game cards; all that’s left for you to do is print them off and get playing!

Learn More: ISL Collective

4. Pictionary

We all love drawing and playing games, so it figures that Pictionary is a fantastic game for vocabulary review! You can download the dictionary cards or make your own, then all you’ll need are some small pieces of paper and pens or a whiteboard! Divide your class into teams then let them have fun with this super activity!

Learn More: The Game Gal

5. Freeze Frame

Explain the basic rules of charades and have the children come up with a verb or concept to act out. Shopping, Swimming, Watching TV – something easy. Then in the middle of their turn, the teacher shouts Freeze! and other children take their places in the exact position and the class has to say what it looks like they could be doing. “They were watching TV but now they are fishing” and then they act it out for a moment. Everyone loves this fun improvisation game !

Learn More: The Teacher Toolkit

6. Last Man Standing

All you’ll need for this one is your learners and a ball. Get your kids to stand in a circle and give them a topic. They’ll then pass or toss the ball around saying words or short sentences that relate to the topic. Encourage them to keep it going, faster and faster; if someone hesitates they are eliminated! 

Learn More: The Ideal Teacher

7. Twenty Questions

This is a classic game that you can use if you have a spare few minutes to kill. Your students will have 20 questions to guess the word you’re thinking of. They can ask any question and you can only give “yes” or “no” answers! This game is the perfect warm-up for a vocabulary lesson and encourages them to get more comfortable asking questions in English!

Learn More: YouTube

8. Stop the Bus

Let’s look at another classic game that’s been played in classrooms around the world for years! Give your kiddies a printout or let them draw a grid with some different categories in it. You’ll then call out a letter and your kiddies have a set amount of time to come up with something for each category starting with that letter. At the end, you can review everyone’s answers and dish out some points!

Learn More: Teaching English

9. Sentence Building

Get your kids to practice structuring some sentences! Prepare a long list of complete sentences and structures with the vocabulary you are learning and print them out in a big enough font that you can cut them out. Shuffle all the words and let your kiddies play in teams to build short or long sentences over and over again!

Learn More: Esl Expat

10. Call My Bluff

This one is particularly popular with tweens and teens. Your little ones will write down in their notebooks two facts that are true about them and one lie. Let the other students then ask a couple of questions to find out which one is the lie! 

Learn More: Free English Lesson Plans

11. Hangman Games

Hangman can be played as a whole class or in pairs with mini-whiteboards. Let your students come up with their own words or they can have help from one of the lists. You could even have them define the word once it’s spelled out. This game is a super way to practice spelling skills !

Learn More: English Club

12. Move Your Body Dice

Use this free printable to get your ESL class up and moving! Roll the exercise die and some number dice too; let the students who rolled call out the exercise and the number. Everyone then has to do that number of the exercises shown before you can roll again!

Learn More: Twinkl

13. Backwards

Learning how to talk backward is a fantastic way to get children to really listen and pick up what you’re saying. You are old how? From you are where? They’ll think it is so silly but that’s what’ll keep them paying attention as they’ll be desperate to correct you! You can easily work this silly game into any lesson for your learners.

14. What Am I Game

Challenge your kiddies to guess what they are in this fun and low-prep game! You’ll assign each of them a noun (for example, a person, an object, or an animal), and without knowing what it is, they must ask their classmates questions to work out what they are! You can use post-it notes with small groups, or have your kids stand with their back to the board and put an answer up there.

Learn More: ESL Active  

15. Singing Grammar

Singing Grammar has been around for a long time and it is still loved by all my kids! Singing Grammar has downloadable worksheets, printable worksheets, and songs that teach all of the tenses in a pretty unique way! This resource is great for all your English learners to practice their listening skills.

Learn More: Hancock Mcdonald

16. Riddle Time and Jokes ESL

Riddles and jokes are things that can be fun and educational for your ESL learners. Inspire your learners to do some investigation and write their own to share with the class after exploring some popular English riddles and jokes. Good vocabulary practice, reading, and writing all in one lesson plan – what’s not to love?!

Learn More: English Post

17. Hidden Picture PowerPoint Game

With this activity, you can discover how to make your own hidden picture PowerPoint game. The children will see one revealed square and slowly they will start to ask questions to work out what the hidden photograph is. This one is perfect for a class warm-up!

18. Jeopardy ESL

Who doesn’t love a game of Jeopardy!? This online game resource is a super activity to play all together as a class or set up on devices for your kids to play in groups after they’ve finished their work. They’ll work in teams to answer as many questions correctly as they can and score the most points!

Learn More: Jeopardy Labs

19. Cup of Conversation

Never mind a cup of joe, how about a cup of conversation? Start by filling some plastic coffee mugs with a bunch of different topics written on small pieces of paper. Then, have your learners in groups or pairs, draw a piece of paper, and have a simple conversation about the topic. When they’re finished, have them swap their cup with another group and start again!

Learn More: ESL Cafe

20. Did You Say Drawing Dictation

Your kiddos will have a blast with this activity that’s the ideal mix between ESL and art! They’ll need to listen closely to the description given of a picture that they can’t see in order to draw it accurately for themselves. You can either select a picture and dictate to the whole class or let your kids work in pairs or small groups for this one. They’ll have a blast trying to draw the dictation!

21. Tic Tac Talk

Put a talkative twist on this classic game! You can start by drawing a simple tic, tac, toe board and writing some prompts in it. Next, ask your students to take turns answering the questions and crossing out their box with an X or an O. Playing Tic Tac Talk is a super simple, yet effective way to get your ESL students conversing in English in no time at all.

22. Phonics Time

One of the best ways to learn English is to know your phonics . Kidz Phonics is a special website that has a bunch of printable worksheets and phonics games to really help your students get to grips with those all-important vowel sounds and consonant blends. By learning their phonics they’ll be building the foundations of some pretty awesome English reading skills!

Learn More: Kiz Phonics

23. Hungry Hamsters

The animal lovers in your class will adore this next activity! Let your kiddos watch this Hungry Hamsters video and hone their listening skills! They’ll need to be listening closely to answer the questions dotted throughout this cute interactive digital video! With these little rodents learning English will be like riding a bike. What a perfect way to start a beginner’s class!

 24. Vowel Hopscotch

Vowel hopscotch combines vowel learning with a classic playground game. Draw out a hopscotch grid and encourage your kiddies to hop from square to square containing different vowels. When they land on a one they’ll need to say a word that contains that vowel. This activity is a super way to reinforce phonetic awareness, but can easily be adapted for more advanced vocabulary or grammatical concepts!

Learn More: Study

25. Word Dominos

In this activity, your children will be exposed to vocabulary as they match them up. As they play, they’ll link the dominos to any matching words or similar words or synonyms to build their language expertise. The game allows them to figure out the relationships between different words all while having fun!

26. Alphabet Race

Ready, set, alphabet race! Ignite the competitive spirit in your classroom with this fun team game. Split your class into teams then have them race, one person at a time, to write out the alphabet from A to Z. What a super exciting challenge for your learners –  they’ll love sharpening their skills in identifying and arranging letters as they build their teamwork!

Learn More: Kids Games

27. Story Builders

Talking and writing is always easier when there’s a purpose for it; story writing is a great purpose! This story-building game is engaging and fun-filled and will help your little ones master language and fan their curiosity! The character, plot, and setting cards will help them to get the bare bones, and they’ll use their English language skills to fill in the rest!

Learn More: TPT

28. Simon Says 

A Simon Says challenge is an extremely fun way to get your kids practicing their vocabulary. Explain the instructions and make sure your kiddies understand only to follow your instruction if you say “Simon says”. This is a fantastic way to consolidate some target vocabulary while getting your kids moving!

Learn More: ESL Ex p at

29. Rhyme Time

The rhyme time activity helps your kiddies build their understanding of how words sound. Grouped in teams, your children will brainstorm rhyming words that match the examples on the free printable worksheet. This is the perfect way to help them grow their vocabulary and theIr phonetic expressions.

Learn More: All ESL

30. Puzzle Piece Matching

Puzzle activities are a fun way to help your learners grow their vocabulary! Let your kids take some time each day at this calming activity where they’ll work to match puzzle pieces with words and their respective images. Not only will this help them internalize and grasp new vocabulary, but they’ll also enhance their cognitive and motor skills at the same time!

Learn More: Kids Club English

31. Act It, Draw It, Sculpt It

Invite your children to become actors and artists for this lesson! Your learners can start by identifying a vocabulary word, and then they’ll act it out. Next, give them some paper or a whiteboard and let them draw a picture that depicts the word! Finally, let them get hands-on using some modeling clay to make a sculpture! This truly is a vocabulary lesson like no other!

Learn More: ESL Printables

32. Verb Charades

Charades is a super fun game but it’s also a fantastic way for your English students to learn verbs! They’ll love the chance to act out different verbs while their classmates try to guess the word correctly. As they act out the words through expressions and body movements, they’ll actually be memorizing the meanings of verbs as they go! 

33. Magnetic Poetry Madness

Show your learners how fun language can be with an exciting poetry lesson! This printout is a list of common and challenging vocabulary that you can either use with magnets or simply laminate. As your kiddies arrange the words to build their poems, they’ll be learning how different words are related all while having the chance to express themselves poetically! Before you know it, they’ll be poets!

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

34. English Language Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe is a versatile game that every kid knows the rules of! That’s what makes it the perfect game for practicing just about any skill. From vocabulary to grammar rules, and even spelling, there’s a whole bunch of ways you can get creative with this simple game to enhance your kiddos’ English learning!

Learn More: Aphro Granger

35. Spelling Bee Relay

Turn up the heat on the classic spelling bee by making it into an even more competitive challenge! In a spelling bee relay, your kids will need to pass a word along the line by spelling it out. Once the child at the front of the line has the spelling they’ll need to spell that word correctly to win the point! What a fun way to get your kids working together while growing their spelling skills!

36. Sentence Scramble

Sentence Scramble is a super online resource that your learners will just love. They’ll be given a bunch of words along with a picture and they’ll need to unscramble the words to create a sentence. Depending on their abilities you could have them complete this one individually or let them take time to arrange the sentences as teams. 

Learn More: Tiny Tap

37. Rhyme and Roll

This rhyming game requires no prep; all you’ll need is some die! Get your kiddos to roll the dice, then encourage them to identify a word that rhymes with the number rolled. For example, if they roll the number three they could use the word “free”. Once they have their rhyming word it’s challenge time! Can they use their rhyming word in a sentence? They’ll surprise themselves as they play this simple game!

Learn More: Story Pod

38. Story Cubes Creation

Kids love creating stories, but sometimes they’re stumped on where to start. Using story cubes, your ESL learners can be inspired to tell a wonderful story as they use their English skills to connect the pictures they’ve rolled! This activity will help them to think on their feet and embrace the spontaneity of spoken language! 

Learn More: ELT Planning

39. Sentence Surgery

We need some punctuation in this sentence, STAT! As the name of this exciting activity suggests, you’ll have your kiddies perform surgical operations on sentences to improve their grammar. The sentences have different errors, and your little sentence surgeons will work to fix them! Nurse, pass the pencil, please!

40. Grammar Balloon Pop

Reward your kids for all their hard work with a fun online game. This one is a great choice as not only is it great fun, but your learners will still be practicing their English skills as they play. They’ll work to pop balloons that contain target words or phrases to drop them into the train. There are a bunch of different teacher-created versions of this game, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for you can sign up to create your own!

Learn More: Wordwall

41. Vocabulary Auction

Going once, going twice…Vocabulary Auction is a super entertaining activity that’ll bring out your learners’ competitive side while they build their vocabulary skills. With only a finite number of words on offer, they’ll work in groups to bid on the words they want, with the chance to win their money back if they can define the word and use it in a sentence. They’ll be sold on this fun way to consolidate their learning!

Learn More: ESL Speaking

42. Adjective Island

How would your learners survive on a deserted island? This fun ESL speaking lesson lasts for around 45 minutes and focuses on vocabulary and grammar. Your kiddos will discuss what items they’d take with them and even fill in the blanks on items that could be useful! Everything you’ll need can be downloaded in the PowerPoint included!

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Cool websites for esl students.

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Below is a list of ESL websites used by Tutorium teachers and students to practice English. These are great websites to visit if you want to improve your English reading, writing, and grammar. There are also sites on study skills, test preparation, and American culture.

Listening Website Links

• American Rhetoric: Online Speech Bank
• Breaking News English
• English Listening Library Online
• Easy Online RSS Reader for ESL/EFL Podcasts
• English as a Second Language Podcast
• Favorite Poems Project
• Favorite Songs
• National Public Radio
• Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
• Speech Accent Archive: American Accents
• StoryCorps: Listen to Stories
• Use Music to Practice Listening
• Voice of America Learning English

Writing Website Links

• BBC Schools: Dance Mat Typing
• Cambridge Dictionary: Punctuation
• Capital Community College: Punctuation Marks
• GrammarBook.com: Punctuation Rules
• How to Format and Write a Simple Business Letter
• LEO (Literacy Education Online)
• The Punctuation Guide
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab
• Spelling City
• Writing Tips: Sentence Builder
• Writing Tips: Paragraphs
• Writing Tips: Essays

Reading Website Links

• ELC Study Zone
• Extensive Reading Central
• Poetry and Literature
• Reader’s Digest Magazine Articles
• Reading Exercises
• Strategies for Critical Reading and Writing
• Speed Reading: Self-Pacing Methods
• Time for Kids

Speaking Website Links

Pronunciation

• English Accent Coach
• Eva Easton’s Authentic American Pronunciation
• Sounds of Speech
• World Wide Words’ Pronunciation Guide

Speaking (General)

• English Central
• Lyrics Training
• Presentations in English
• Public Speaking: An Online Resource Guide
• Presentation and Speaking Skills for Students
• Toastmasters

Grammar Website Links

• The 30 Most Common Grammar Mistakes
• English Grammar for Non-Native Speakers
• Test your English level
• English Club English Grammar
• English Learner
• English Grammar Guide

Vocabulary Website Links

• 20-Minute ESL Lessons
• The Barton English Vocabulary Test
• BBC World Service Words in the News
• Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary
• Dictionary of English Idioms & Phrases
• ESL Slang Page
• The Idiom Connection
• Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
• Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary
• Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
• Self-Study Vocabulary Quizzes

Test Prep Website Links

• IELTS Preparation
• TOEFL: Prepare and Practice

Study and Flashcard Apps Website Links

Culture website links.

• American Folklore
• The American Experience
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago History Museum
• Differences Between British and American English
• Edward S. Curtis’s North American Indian
• The Encyclopedia of Chicago
• The Field Museum of Natural History
• Internet Movie Database
• Library of Congress
• The Museum of Contemporary Art
• The Museum of Science and Industry

Research Website Links

• Finding Information on the Internet
• Online Study Skills Workshops
• UIC Library
• USA.gov (U.S. Government Gateway/Search Engine)

Multipurpose Website Links

• 5-Minute English
• Business English: Exercises
• Dave’s ESL Café
• English Baby
• English at Home
• English Club
• English Page
• English Live
• Interesting Things for ESL Students
• Linguistic Funland

News Website Links

• Bangkok Post
• BBC Learning English
• The Boston Globe
• The Chicago Sun-Times
• The Chicago Tribune
• CNN Student News
• News in Levels
• The New York Times
• Reuters News Service
• Time Magazine
• The Wall Street Journal
• The Washington Post

Health Website Links

• Healthfinder
• Mayo Clinic
• Mind Body Green
• UIC Counseling Services

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The 59 Best Free Teaching Tools To Boost Classroom Learning in 2024

Table of Contents

iSpring Free is one of our favorite online teaching tools. It is a lightweight eLearning authoring software for teachers that allows you to turn a boring PowerPoint presentation into a mobile-compatible online course with quizzes. The main advantage of this interactive learning tool is its simplicity. Its intuitive interface enables any novice course developer to create an unlimited number of courses quickly and easily.

Download iSpring Free now →

Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that is great for creating content such as fun activities and learning games for students. You can make quizzes on any topic and in any language, and customize those quizzes with videos, diagrams, and images. Students participate in “kahoots” (games) by logging the game codes on their device or application.

3. Edpuzzle

With Edpuzzle , you can create interactive lessons with embedded audionotes, assessments, and quizzes. Its analytics tool enables you to track how students are watching your videos and if they understand the content, great for an online class.

4. Starfall

Starfall is an online service that was initially designed to teach kids to read. Its phonics-based learning model supports online games and print series, which can be downloaded for use at home and in the classroom for little students. Now, it also features animated songs, movies, and mathematics activities for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 to 3.

5. CommonLit

CommonLit is a database of literary educational materials that you can access to develop lessons or just find ideas. You can choose a lesson from the digital library, share it with your students, assign them text-based questions, and analyze their performance.

Quill is a platform that has a set of creative tools for teaching writing, vocabulary, and grammar and includes over 400 exercises. These classroom activities help by inviting students to learn by reconstructing sentences, proofreading passages, creating new passages, and more.

7. Plickers

Plickers is a card activity that lets you poll your class, without the need for a student device. You just need to give students cards (“paper clickers”) and use your Android smartphone or tablet to scan them to do instant checks for understanding, exit tickets, and impromptu polls.

8. Powertalk

Powertalk is a presentation enhancement tool that automatically speaks your PowerPoint slides. When compared to other common ‘text-to-speech’ programs, Powertalk can speak text as it appears and can also speak hidden text attached to images.

9. JeopardyLabs

JeopardyLabs is an online service that enables you to build Jeopardy games for students without PowerPoint, by using a simple editor. You can also choose from ready-made games created by the platform users on such subjects as foods, cities, countries, books, and hygiene.

10. Edgames

Edgames is an edutainment tool that provides educational activities, including board games, scrambled word games, sports-based games, and cards. You can help your students learn and understand personal hygiene, nutrition, current affairs, and many other things through playing games.

Teaching Tools for Classroom Management

A teacher’s tasks include planning lessons, marking attendance, assigning homework, and grading. This is where you can benefit from classroom tools for teachers. Here you’ll find online platforms and add-ons that can help you streamline all these processes and improve communication and the learning process.

11. ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a classroom management tool that enables schools to bring parents, teachers, school administrators, and students into classroom communities so they can track and enhance classroom behavior in real-time.

12. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a free educational software for teachers that allows them to conduct online classes, invite your students, and assign homework. You can also discuss assignments online and track student progress. Google Classroom seamlessly integrates with other Google apps such as Google Slides, Docs, Sheets, and Drive allowing you to seamlessly work on different documents.

13. Class123

Class123 is one of the online platforms for classroom management that contains a chalkboard, seating chart, timer, random name picker, and many other interactive educational tools necessary for efficient class management. You can also keep track of students’ attendance and behavior, share stories and photos on boards, and let students interact in private messages.

14. Flubaroo

Flubaroo is a Google Spreadsheets Add-on designed for you to simply create multiple-choice and fill-in assignments, grade and analyze online student performance, share scores with students, and assign stickers and badges on completed tasks.

15. Show My Homework

Show My Homework is free technology software that allows teachers to administer, and control homework much easier. A teacher can quickly assign homework and record student submissions and grades on the go with its mobile app.

Lesson Planning Tools

Planning classes is one of the core parts of a teacher’s work. And it’s not easy. However, there are some solutions and resources that can make lesson planning a bit more convenient and effective. Check out the best tools for teachers that let you organize classes for free.

16. Planboard

Planboard is one of the teaching tools for lesson planning. It is designed for creating lesson plans on iPhone, iPad, or Android, and allows teachers to add files, photos, and videos, and view them during an offline or online class. Plans can be edited, archived, and shared with colleagues.

17. PlanbookEdu

PlanbookEdu is one of the best free platforms for teaching online and planning lessons. It functions like a printed book but can be filled in with texts online. With this software, creating, sharing, and printing lesson plans become easy for teachers. The free version doesn’t let you attach images and files to your plans.

18. Evernote

Evernote wasn’t designed specifically for teachers, yet its free version is one of the best tech tools that many teachers use for learning and daily lesson planning. You can collect ideas, articles, images, to-do lists, and more in a single place and access them anytime. A teacher can also use this software for personal development and organizing their life.

19. IL Classroom

IL Classroom doesn’t let teachers create their own lesson plans, it’s a website that offers teachers a free library of interactive math and language arts classes, as well as some other educational resources, like videos and assignments for students. There is learning content for different grade levels. All lessons are Common Core aligned.

20. ReadWriteThink

ReadWriteThink also isn’t technological software but a collection of free lessons and resources developed by the International Reading Association and The National Council of Teachers of English. A great advantage of this website is that all lesson plans are engaging, research based, and align with standards. You can browse lessons by grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) and by areas of literacy practice: learning through language, learning language, and learning about language.

Tests and Exams Makers

Assessing students’ knowledge in distance learning seems to be more difficult than during in-person sessions of traditional education. But with the right online tools, you’ll see that it is actually even easier and even much more engaging for students and teachers.

21. Free Quiz Maker

Free Quiz Maker is an educational tool that lets a teacher build interactive assessments and exams for students from 3 question types: multiple-choice, multiple response, and short answer questions and conveniently gather studentresponses. You can also set scoring parameters, the number of attempts allowed, and time limits. The ready-made quizzes can be uploaded to any LMS, including Moodle and Blackboard. The tool also lets you create surveys.

22. SpellQuiz

SpellQuiz is another service for distance learning that is mainly focused on helping kids and adults to understand phonics. The platform contains English spelling lessons for individuals from Grade 1 to Adult, as well as fun quizzes and word games.

23. Quizizz

Quizizz is one of the free tech tools for teachers that allows them to present quizzes on science, social sciences, computer science, technical education, and art to students as a timed test or homework with a specified deadline.

24. FreeOnlineSurveys

FreeOnlineSurveys is a teaching assessment tool for building online tests, surveys, and forms. You can create quizzes using the drag-and-drop builder and 22 question types and fields, share them with your students and staff members, and analyze student progress with its data reporting tool right from your mobile device.

Plagiarism Checkers

If you need to check your students’ essays and theses for plagiarism, you can do this online with the free resources that are listed below.

25. Check Plagiarism

Check Plagiarism is an easy-to-use plagiarism checking website utilized by teachers and students. You just need to paste text or upload text files to check them for plagiarism. With a free account, you can get detailed reports that include exact matches and sources. However, there’s a limit of 200 free plagiarism queries – if you’re going to use the tool for a long time, you might need a paid subscription.

26. Dupli Checker

Dupli Checker is one of the educational tools that let you check texts for plagiarism. Without a free account, you can check only one text a day. And if you create one, you still have a limit of 1,000 words per search. To check larger texts, a free tool isn’t enough — you’ll need a paid account. The website supports many formats, including Microsoft Word and PDF documents.

27. PapersOwl

PapersOwl is primarily a website that offers services, such as essay and thesis writing, that some students use to cheat. However, this recourse also has a free tech tool for checking texts for plagiarism that teachers can use for free. You can either paste texts in or upload files.

28. Plagiarism Detector

Plagiarism Detector is a great tool for educators who need to check texts written not only in English, but also in French, Italian, German, and other languages. A free account lets you paste texts of up to 1,000 words and there’s no need to create a free account for that.

29. QueText

QueText has one of the most intuitive and clean interfaces, which makes it much more pleasant and convenient to use when checking texts for plagiarism. The tool generates pretty insightful reports, thus making sure you know exactly what parts of texts students copied and from where. However, a free account allows only up to 2,500 words a month, so to use the tool often, you’ll need a paid plan.

Content Sources for Teachers

With the enormous amount of educational digital content on the web, teachers can make their lessons even more useful and enjoyable. However, it is crucial to find trustworthy websites that provide valuable content. Here are a few sources of digital content and remote teaching tools you might find helpful in the attempts to make students engaged.

Ted-Ed is a platform that enables you to create lessons. You can build a lesson around video content and create assignments to assess how well your student understands the material. You can also use ready-made video recordings from the specially curated “TED-Ed Originals” section that features classes made by educators around the world.

31. YouTube Teachers

YouTube Teachers is a YouTube channel that allows you to leverage educational videos to inspire and engage your students. It contains over 400 video playlists created by leading organizations and industry experts such as the Khan Academy, Ted-Ed, and PBS.

32. YouTube Edu

YouTube Edu is another educational YouTube channel that provides extensive playlists on various subjects, from physics and chemistry to filmmaking and public speaking.

33. Ted Talks

Ted Talks are videos from industry experts and innovators on science, tech, business, and education subtitled in over 100 languages. You can integrate Ted Talks into your lessons to spark creativity and innovation in the minds of your students

34. TeacherTube

TeacherTube is a free resource for teachers where they can share video lectures and other materials. You can upload your video tutorials and attach learning activities, assessments, and lesson notes to your videos. You can also browse other teachers’ content and connect with educators with similar interests.

Also read →  The Ultimate Guide to Lecture Capture: How to Get It Right

35. SchoolTube

SchoolTube is a K-12 free video hosting platform that helps you integrate video content relating to subjects or concepts into your lessons without YouTube. The Free plan provides you with unlimited video hosting, video and audio creation apps, unlimited shareable playlists, automatic closed captioning, and a video quiz app.

36. Google Books

Google Books is a service from Google Inc. that provides access to unlimited books, documents, and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text, and stored in its digital database. You can save, bookmark, or download books relating to the concepts you want to teach in class.

37. Readworks

Readworks helps students from elementary school to high school build their background knowledge and enhance their literacy skills. As a teacher, you can create reading groups based on their abilities and interests, monitor reading comprehension, and assign extra-credit tasks for students as they complete reading assignments.

38. Bibsonomy

Bibsonomy is an easy-to-use tool that helps you manage your publications and bookmarks, collaborate with your colleagues, and find new interesting teaching materials for your research. You can tag publication entries and bookmarks to facilitate information searches.

39. Project Gutenberg

Gutenberg is a digital library with over 60,000 free ebooks that you can download or read online. Here you’ll find the world’s quality literature, with a focus on older works in the public domain.

40. Gapminder

Gapminder is a fact tank of animated statistics. The tech platform provides posters, interactive presentations, graphs, and handouts on global facts that can supplement your teaching materials.

Also read  → Best Interactive Tools for Presentations

Audio-Visual Design Tools

Audio-visual content is an effective asset for achieving your teaching-learning objectives. If you want to save time creating graphics, animation, or videos, or don’t have the requisite skills to work on advanced photo and video editing platforms like CorelDRAW and Photoshop, leverage easy-to-use online teaching tools from the list. The exciting thing is you can access them all for free.

Pixlr is a free graphic design software that provides you with full control over your pictures. You can add filters, borders, and perform basic image editing by using over 3000 overlays, 5,000 decorative texts, and 7,000 icons.

42. Animoto

Animoto is a free online video editor that enables you to convert photos and videos into slideshows. You can create your own presentation or just drag and drop your pictures and video clips into a pre-built presentation template to create stunning slideshows that can be used as visual aids for virtual classroom learning.

43. Pic-Lits

Pic-Lits is an eLearning literacy website that uses writing and photography to inspire and spark creative writing ideas. You can create so-called “pic-lits” that are combinations of words placed on a photograph to render some story or the meaning of the picture and share them on your interactive whiteboard during a grammar lesson.

Gickr is one of the free online tools that lets you instantly create animated GIFs. You just need to upload your pictures or grab images from Flickr to make flashy slideshows, cartoons, or banners.

45. Smilebox

Smilebox is one of the web tools for teachers that enables them to create slideshows, collages, greetings, invitations, photo albums, and scrapbooks. For example, as a teacher, you can make newsletters for your student, parent letters, certificates, and school photo albums and share them online.

Pixton is a cartoon creation platform that can help you guide your students on creating comic strips to represent their understanding of concepts. It has numerous characters, different sets of comic strip layouts, and background options your student can use to design comics and storyboards.

47. Chartsbin

Chartsbin  is one of the online teaching tools designed for data visualization and used by teachers to introduce various topics with infographics and diagrams. You can also leverage the software to guide your students on creating infographics from the learning material they have learned to show their mastery of the subject.

48. Tableau Public

Tableau Public is a great free tool for data visualization  that enables teachers to create interactive graphs, stunning maps, and live dashboards in minutes. You can use it to manage in-class exercises and homework assignments and connect with a vibrant community of data enthusiasts.

49. Roxio Photoshow Maker

Roxio Photoshow Maker  is a free online tool that allows you to combine images, video clips, and soundtracks to create presentations (slide stories). You can make them look even more professional and engaging by adding captions, effects, and transitions.

50. Ezvid Wikimaker

Ezvid  is a free video creator powered by quality voice synthesis. It was initially designed to allow researchers and journalists to turn text into video wikis. But you can create video tutorials with images and video clips. You don’t even need to record a voiceover – when you add text, it will be automatically transformed into narration.

51. Free Cam

Free Cam provides a full set of features that allows you to create presentations and professional video lessons. You can easily record screencasts , edit recorded videos, and upload to YouTube or email them to your students.

52. MakeBeliefsComix

MakeBeliefsComix is an in-browser comic creator that provides you with multiple ways to use it in a virtual classroom environment. For example, you can have your student create comic strips to practice new vocabulary, develop conversation skills, or inspire creative writing.

53. Vocaroo

Vocaroo is a free online tool that helps teachers record, send, and download voice notes. You can use it for podcasting, broadcasting, digital storytelling, or giving feedback. Recordings are available for a few months (usually three months).

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Communication and collaboration are important aspects of both teaching and learning. We’ve compiled a list of online teaching platforms that will help you make this process even easier and more efficient. Here you’ll find teaching communities, tools for sharing educational resources and tips, video conferencing software, and apps for conducting online discussions and working on group projects that many students love.

Flip is an online collaboration platform that provides a simple, free, and accessible video discussion experience for Pre-K to PhD educators, kids, students and parents. As a teacher, you can create digital whiteboards or discussion topics and share them with your students. In response, they can record and share their videos with you and other students.

55. Teacheroo

Teacheroo is the only global social network designed specifically for teachers. You can post your resources and educational tips, comment, like, repost other teachers’ learning material, and build professional connections.

Ziplet enables you to gather feedback from your students in real-time. You can type in your questions or pick ones from a library of best practice questions. Students will receive notifications and can reply instantly.

57. Teach Learn Lead

Teach Learn Lead is a community dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and connecting new teachers as they navigate their early careers in the classrooms. It includes the global education library that is a curated epicenter of K-20 research and professional development resources.

58. Google Docs

Google Docs is a free word processor included as part of a Google Docs suite within the Google Drive service. It enables you to create and edit your own documents, check your students’ writings, and add comments to provide them with feedback.

Bloomz is an interactive app that enables a teacher or a school to share classroom updates, events, and photos with parents securely. You can send an alert notification of the next parent-teacher meeting to emails and smartphones with a single click.

1. How many types of teaching tools are there?

While there are many different teaching tools, all with their own unique advantages and applications for teachers and students, we can categorize them in order to better help teachers choose the one that’s right for their needs. We organized our list into 7 categories, which are:

• Tools for building interactive lessons
• Teaching tools for classroom management
• Lesson planning tools
• Test and exam makers
• Plagiarism checkers
• Content sources for teachers
• Communication and collaboration tools

2. Why are teaching tools needed in education?

Teaching, just like any profession or task, can benefit enormously from the use of the right set of tech tools. A teacher can share their knowledge with the students, but software can allow a teacher to create memorable experiences, dynamic lessons, engaging classroom activities, and effective assessments — all things that we know can massively benefit students’ learning potential. 

Just as in every industry, new solutions are developed to improve and, in some cases, revolutionize the way we approach tasks. There is an abundance of innovative teacher tools available nowadays, so don’t let your teaching approach become outdated, and don’t let your students miss out on the newest enhancements.

3. What is the most commonly used teaching aid?

Well, it depends. In simple terms, the answer is probably pen/pencil and paper, or perhaps the whiteboard (or blackboard). All of these are simple teacher aids that help a teacher share ideas. However, if we focus on more modern, online, or digital aids, computers come to mind. In the arena of informatics, the internet is probably the most commonly used teacher aid there is.

Another way to approach this question is to answer with visual aids in mind. Visual aids are some of the most commonly used aids for teachers wanting to engage their students, but don’t get caught up in what everyone else is using. The key to finding the right tools for your needs is exactly that — the right tools for you.

This depends on your needs and those of your students. Whether you require a video conferencing software to run your online sessions, a handy tool for planning lessons, support for finding ideas, or ways to design classroom materials, we trust that you will have found the right tool from this list.

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Content creator:

Helen Colman

She enjoys combining in-depth research with expert knowledge of the industry. If you have eLearning insights that you’d like to share, please get in touch .

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The 5 stages of the 2024 total solar eclipse explained for April 8

On Monday (April 8), a total solar eclipse will sweep across the Americas. Here's how it will play out.

Stage 1: First contact

Stage 2: second contact, stage 3: totality, stage 4: third contact, stage 5: fourth contact.

On Monday, April 8, the 2024 total solar eclipse will sweep through the sky over North America. 

While all of North America and Central America will experience at least a partial  solar eclipse , those within a path with a width of approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) passing over 15 U.S. States. Mexico, and Canada will also witness a totality as the moon entirely covers the disk of the sun.

You can  watch the total solar eclipse live on Space.com . You can also keep up with all the eclipse-related action with our   total solar eclipse 2024 live updates   blog.

Don't be in the dark about the 2024 total eclipse

There are three major types of solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse like that on April 8 occurs when the moon is relatively close to Earth and blocks the entire disk of the sun. 

Because the moon's orbit around our planet is an ellipse, sometimes it is further away and thus appears smaller. An eclipse at these times sees the moon only an obscure part of the solar disk, with the sun appearing as a glowing ring of fire. These events are called annular solar eclipses , and the last one seen over the U.S. occurred on Oct. 14, 2023.

Finally, a partial solar eclipse is an event that happens when the Earth, moon, and sun are not perfectly aligned, resulting in the lunar disk only covering part of our star, making the sun appear as if a bite has been taken out of it. Partial eclipses also happen at the beginning and ending stages of total and annular eclipses.

On April 8, 2024, the moon will be in its new moon phase , and it will look relatively large, meaning it is capable of covering 100% of the sun's disk as viewed from the narrow path of totality. The fraction of the diameter of the sun covered by the moon is known as the magnitude of a solar eclipse . On April 8, 2024, this value will be 1.0566,  according to EclipseWise.com , slightly more than total coverage. 

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NASA has released an interactive map of the total eclipse, which space enthusiasts can use to track the totality as it drifts across the globe. However, location won't be the only factor affecting the appearance of the total solar eclipse on Monday. The eclipse will pass through 5 distinct stages, with each of these phases occurring at different times across different locations.

What are the stages of the annular solar eclipse? 

In the initial stage of the eclipse, the moon will begin to pass in front of the sun, kick-starting a partial solar eclipse. During this phase, the darkened lunar disk of the moon will make the sun appear as if a bite has been taken out of its illuminated face. This "bite" will get bigger and bigger as the totality approaches.

During the first stage of the total solar eclipse, some onlookers will be able to see rapidly moving, long, dark bands called " shadow bands " on the sides of buildings or the ground. Bailey's beads , caused by light streaming through the valleys on the horizon of the moon, may also be visible at the moon's edges during this initial stage. These phenomena repeat during the second partial eclipse that occurs after totality.

On April 8, this stage of the partial eclipse will first be seen near Pu‘uali‘i, Hawaii, at  6:27 a.m. local time (12:27 p.m. EDT, 1627 GMT).

First contact will last for between 70 and 80 minutes, and its conclusion will be marked by a single bright spot, or " diamond ring ," appearing at the edge of the moon. This marks the second contact stage and heralds the oncoming totality. 

On April 8, the total solar eclipse will make landfall at Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, at 9:51 a.m. local time (12:51 p.m. EDT, 16:51 GMT).

Stage 3 and the mid-point of the total solar eclipse is the totality.  At this point, the moon completely covers the solar disk. During the totality of the outer atmosphere of the sun, the corona may become visible as white streamers at the edge of the moon. This region is usually washed out by bright light from the solar surface, the photosphere. The inner atmosphere of the sun, the chromosphere , may be visible as a wispy aura around the edge of the moon.

The totality may also make stars and planets visible in the darkened sky that are usually not visible from America during daylight hours. 

On April 8, the first location to experience totality will be Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico at  11:07 a.m. local time  (2:07 p.m. EDT, 1807 GMT). The first location to experience totality in the U.S. will be Near Florentino Ramos Colonia, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. local time (2:27 p.m. EDT, 1827 GMT).

The duration of the totality depends on the path from which the eclipse is viewed. In Mexico, totality will last for 40 minutes and 43 seconds. Skywatchers in the U.S. will collectively experience totality for 67 minutes and 58 seconds. Onlookers in Canada will experience the totality of the solar eclipse for 34 minutes and 4 seconds.

The fourth stage of the total solar eclipse, third contact, will see the moon start to move away from the disk of the sun, thus ending the totality and starting the second partial eclipse period. Brightening appears on the opposite side of the moon as it did during the second contact period. At this time, skywatchers will get another chance to spot Baily's Beads along the edge of the moon and shadow bands on the buildings and ground around them, with this stage mirroring the second contact stage. 

The total solar eclipse ends on the Atlantic coast at 5:16 p.m. local time (3:46 p.m. EDT, 1946 GMT). 

The fifth and final stage of the total solar eclipse. The moon moves away from the disk of the sun, meaning that at fourth contact, the moon is no longer even partially eclipsing the sun. At this point, 2024's total solar eclipse will be over.

On April 8, on the Atlantic coast of  Newfoundland and Labrador, the partial eclipse phase ends at 6:18 p.m. local time (4:48 p.m. EDT, 2048 GMT).

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— How photos of the April 8 solar eclipse will help us understand of the sun's atmosphere

— How fast will April's total solar eclipse travel?

If you intend to view any of these stages, the most important thing to consider is how to safely view it. Looking at the sun without adequate protection at any time is harmful to the eyes, so eclipse watchers should take precautions on Monday. 

Sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, can't protect the eyes from the effect of the sun, so specialized eclipse glasses made from safe solar filter materials will be needed. If skywatchers intend to watch the event with a telescope, special filters will be needed to make this a safe viewing experience.

Our how to observe the sun safely guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations.

Following the 2024 total solar eclipse, skywatchers in the U.S. will next get the opportunity to see a total solar eclipse on March 30, 2033 . The totality of this eclipse, which will last 2 minutes 37 seconds, will be visible in Alaska. Following this, on Aug. 23, 2044 , a total solar eclipse will be visible from the U.S. states of Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota, as well as from much of Canada.

Under a year later, on Aug.12, 2045 , another total solar eclipse will sweep over the U.S., visible from California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, as well as from the Caribbean, and South America.  

Submit your photos! If you capture a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to [email protected] .

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.

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Total solar eclipse 2024: Where, when, and how to watch

People in North America will be able to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8 as the moon completely blocks the sun.

Millions of people across North America will get the chance to experience a very special natural event on Monday when a total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The total eclipse – which occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun – will darken skies for a few minutes “as if it were dawn or dusk”, the US’s NASA space agency explains.

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It will be visible from a 185km-wide (115 mile-wide) band that stretches from the western coast of Mexico, through the US, and up to Canada’s easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador – what’s known as the “path of totality”.

“Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun,” NASA says on its website.

The path of totality is really “where it’s at” on Monday, said Anthony Aveni, professor emeritus at Colgate University in New York and author of the book, In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses.

“It’s that precious three minutes or so … of totality when you see a whole range of phenomena that you just don’t see in everyday life,” he told Al Jazeera. “It takes your breath away and you stop what you’re doing and gawk at nature.”

So how often do total solar eclipses occur? How long does it typically last? Where and how can you watch safely? Here’s everything you need to know.

Where will the total eclipse be visible from, and at what time?

Monday’s total eclipse will be visible from parts of Mexico, the US and Canada.

It will enter continental North America in Mazatlan, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, at 11:07am local time (18:07 GMT). It will exit the continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16pm local time (19:46 GMT).

In the US, the eclipse will enter the state of Texas at 1:27pm local time (18:27 GMT) and exit in Maine at 3:35pm local time (19:35 GMT).

It will last only a few minutes, and the exact time it will be visible depends on where you are within the path of totality.

For example, in Erie, Pennsylvania, totality starts at 3:16pm local time (19:16 GMT) and ends at 3:20pm (19:20 GMT).

It will reach Buffalo, New York, a few minutes later: there, totality starts at 3:18pm local time (19:18 GMT) and ends at 3:22pm (19:22 GMT).

A partial eclipse also will be visible for about two hours on Monday, before and after totality.

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

While the Earth and moon both orbit the sun, the moon also circles the Earth each month.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun’s light on one side, and casting a shadow on a small area of Earth on its other side.

The dark inner part – the “umbra” – of this shadow creates a narrow track or “path” as the moon orbits the Earth. Areas on this path, and especially on its centreline, which fall directly under the shadow, are the ones from where the total eclipse will be visible.

This track is about 160km (100 miles) wide and 16,000km (10,000 miles) long.

“If it was a lunar eclipse, it would last for a few hours and people around the world could see it. But the difference is that total eclipses only happen over a specific path of that new moon,” said Khady Adama Ndao, a NASA eclipse ambassador.

This eclipse only occurs during a new moon. And the moon’s position in its orbit, relative to the sun and Earth, as well as the angles of all three at a specific time, are what create a total eclipse.

While the moon will be close enough to Earth so as to look as though it entirely covers the sun during an eclipse, in reality the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. It’s the increased distance between the moon and the sun at the time of a total eclipse that makes the moon look like it is big enough to cover the sun.

Meanwhile, people who are close to the path of totality, but not directly in it, may see what’s known as a partial eclipse on Monday. That’s when only a part of the sun is obscured by the moon.

Areas from which a partial eclipse will be visible fall under faint parts of the moon’s wider shadow, called the “penumbra”.

What does a total eclipse look like?

As the moon moves past the sun during an eclipse, it will slowly obscure the sun – creating a dark sky – before reaching the moment of “totality”. That’s when almost the entirety of the sun will be covered, leaving only a faint circle of the sun’s light or the corona.

After a few minutes, people in the path of totality will see a partial eclipse again as the moon moves away. The sun will become fully visible again.

What else happens during the moment of totality?

There is a drop in temperature and animals also start to behave as if it’s nighttime.

The chirping patterns of birds may change, while nocturnal animals such as bats and owls may start to wake up and look for prey.

Stars and celestial objects hanging in the dark sky may also become more visible.

If a person were to stand on the moon or a space station orbiting Earth, they would also be able to see a dark shadow passing over the Earth.

How long will the total solar eclipse last on April 8?

A total solar eclipse can last between two to three hours, from the moment the moon first begins to cover the sun, until the time the moon crosses past the sun and stops obscuring it.

However, the period of totality in most places this year will last only between three and a half to four minutes.

Areas on and very close to the centreline will experience the longest period of totality while totality will last for shorter periods of time in areas farther from the centreline.

The longest period of totality on Monday – 4 minutes and 28 seconds – will occur near Torreon, Mexico. That’s because the area is closest to the point at which the shadow’s path is perpendicular to the Earth’s surface and near the central line of the umbral shadow.

In the past, totality in some places has lasted for as little as a few seconds, and as long as seven and a half minutes.

The durations of the eclipse and the period of totality differ due to a combination of factors, such as the curvature of the Earth and angle at which the moon’s shadow strikes.

Mobile applications such as “Totality” track eclipse start and end times, as well as totality durations for different cities on the total eclipse’s path.

What are some of the cultural and historical beliefs around total solar eclipses?

Total solar eclipses have captivated people for thousands of years. But in ancient civilisations, the phenomenon was often viewed as a bad omen.

In ancient China, for example, people believed that solar eclipses happened because “a celestial dragon” was eating the sun, according to NASA . As a result, people made loud noises during eclipses “to frighten the dragon away”.

The Inca people of South America believed solar eclipses were a sign of the sun god Inti’s anger.

And in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), a solar eclipse was thought to signal that the ruler was in grave danger – leading decision-makers to put a system in place known as the “substitute king”.

In order to prevent the real Assyrian king, for example, from being harmed, a substitute would be dressed up and ultimately offered as a sacrifice “for the evil fate that was destined for the true king”, explained Sarah Graff , a curator in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

According to Aveni at Colgate University, there is a tendency to view people in the past as being less intelligent or more superstitious about eclipses than people today. “But in every case, it’s an occasion to have a conversation,” he told Al Jazeera.

For instance, people made noise in the ancient Andean world during an eclipse “to alert the sun not to believe what the moon is whispering in his ear, which is that we people that live down here on Earth do bad things at night”, Aveni said. “This becomes an occasion to have a discussion about lying – that’s really what it’s about.”

Can you watch a total solar eclipse without glasses?

Experts stress that safety is critical.

During the brief time in which the moon completely blocks out the sun, people can view the total eclipse with their naked eye.

But during the partial eclipse before and after totality, you should use specially designed, protective solar glasses or a handheld solar viewing device.

“If people look without the proper protection, they run the risk of injuring their eyes,” said B Ralph Chou , president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

“And if they get an injury, depending on how often and how long they look at the sun without the protection, they do have a substantial risk of developing a permanent loss of vision.”

This risk is due to a number of factors such as the intensity and radiation of the sun’s light, as well as the absence of pain receptors in the eye, which makes it easier to stare for too long.

Compared with a regular day, pupils may also be less dilated during an eclipse, making the bright light that enters more dangerous. “It’s like being in the dark, when all of a sudden, someone just flashes a flashlight in front of your eyes”, Ndao, the NASA eclipse ambassador, said.

How are people preparing?

Cities and towns across the path of totality have been distributing eclipse glasses to residents in the weeks leading up to Monday’s event. Museums, science centres and other institutions are holding viewing parties.

Schools in the US and Canada have announced closures on Monday to allow students to participate in eclipse-watching events. The closures also aim to avoid safety issues, as schools have raised concerns that the total eclipse coincides with school dismissal times.

Groups of people are also flying in private planes to watch the totality, said Barbara Gruber, assistant director of education and public outreach at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in the US.

While this is permitted, the US Federal Aviation Authority has put out safety advisories about flying during totality.

Are you guaranteed to see the total eclipse if you’re in the path of totality?

Unfortunately not. Weather conditions will play an important factor in what hopeful eclipse-watchers will be able to see on Monday.

In other words, if it’s cloudy, that could ruin the visibility.

If you’re not in North America, several institutions will be hosting live coverage of the total eclipse, including NASA .

How often does a total solar eclipse happen?

While Monday may be the last time the US sees an eclipse for at least another nine years, a total solar eclipse generally occurs every 18 months.

Many total eclipses are only visible at sea and may not be seen by anyone at all, according to Ndao.

Additionally, once a particular area experiences a total eclipse, it may not see the return of the phenomenon for hundreds of years.

“On average a single location will experience a total solar eclipse about every 350 years, but averages can be misleading and some lucky places will get an eclipse in just a few years”, Gruber told Al Jazeera.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Almost exactly a year later, on August 2, 2027, one will be visible from northern Africa, Gibraltar, and the Saudi peninsula.

In the US, the next total eclipse will occur in 2033 but will only be visible from Alaska.

Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota will witness a total eclipse in 2044 and, the following year, people in the US will be able to see a total eclipse from coast to coast, according to NRAO.

Experts say a day will come, however, when total eclipses will stop occurring altogether – but not for quite a while.

As the universe expands with the moon moving further away from the Earth each year, and the sun gets bigger, the moon will eventually become too small in the sky to block the whole sun.

That day is still a distant reality though. A NASA study in 2017 estimated that total eclipses would end in 563 million years.