Ideas for Free-Talking Topics
 

Hi,

Can someone please help me.I am running out of free -talking ideas as the academy that i work for in Korea does not give foreign teachers any materials to use.
Most of my Middle school children are really basic and do not like talking in the class or replying to a list of questions given to them.
All they want to do is play games instead.


Thanx Patrick , will try it for my next class.

Re: Ideas for Free-Talking Topics
 

This game works wonders with my kids and I set it up to include different levels of English.

JHS Textbook Game GuessWho

Of course, the popular people in Korea will most likely be different but I found the kids found it fun.

Re: Ideas for Free-Talking Topics
 

Speaking games can still get the kids to ask loads of questions. The element of competition also adds motivation. Some activities I've had success with:

Interview Bingo
Board Races
Sentence Scramble (Place a bunch of words on pieces of paper, one word to one slip plus some extra words which don't fit. The kids get in teams, unscramble the words (which they talk about in terms of grammar, etc.) and race to the board to write the sentence.)
Board Games (Break the kids into groups, up to five per group. The kids draw cards to ask questions, and other students answer. They progress along a board to the finish. You can quite easily make a gameboard in PowerPoint, and type up a list of questions around the grammar point.)

You should also have a listen to ESL Teacher Talk (ESL Teacher Talk) or look at MES English (http://www.mes-english.com/) for ideas.

Good luck!

Re: Ideas for Free-Talking Topics
 

One of the best free-talking conversation topic websites I have found is http://itelsj.org/questions Good luck getting your Korean cherubs to talk!

Re: Ideas for Free-Talking Topics
 

Thanks Hue and Sirin for your suggestions.

The owner of the school doesn't like the teachers to play games with Middle School students.

Have tried that website before Sirin.
Didnt work out with any of my middle school students.:(