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10 Engaging Conversation Activities for Teaching Low-Level Students Online

Teaching conversation to low-level adult English learners, especially in an online setting, can be a rewarding yet challenging task. However, with the right approach and creative activities, you can help your students develop their speaking skills and boost their confidence in using English for everyday communication. In this article, we will explore some engaging activities tailored to A2-level adult learners that you can use to make online conversation lessons fun and effective.

  1. Picture-Based Prompts:

One effective way to initiate conversations is by using picture-based prompts. Share an image with your students and ask them to describe what they see. This encourages vocabulary use and helps learners communicate their thoughts in simple sentences.

Activity:

  • Share an image of a busy street, a family, or a restaurant.
  • Ask questions like, "What do you see in the picture?" or "Where do you think this is?"
  • Encourage students to respond with descriptive sentences.
  1. Role-Play Scenarios:

Role-play scenarios provide low-level learners with the opportunity to practice real-life conversations. You can create various situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant, asking for directions, or making a phone call. This helps students build confidence and develop essential communication skills.

Activity:

  • Assign roles to students (customer, waiter, etc.).
  • Provide a scenario and key phrases to get them started.
  • Encourage them to engage in a conversation, playing out their roles.
  1. Storytelling with Visual Aids:

Storytelling is a great way to foster conversation skills and creativity. Use visual aids like simple drawings, flashcards, or images from storybooks to help students construct short narratives. This activity also enhances their vocabulary and narrative skills.

Activity:

  • Show an image or drawing with basic elements (e.g., a house, a cat, a tree).
  • Ask each student to contribute a sentence or two to create a collaborative story.
  • Encourage them to take turns adding to the narrative.
  1. Everyday Dialogues:

Teach your students everyday dialogues that they can use in common situations. For instance, practice greetings, ordering food, asking for the time, or introducing themselves. Understanding and using these phrases in context will give your students practical conversational tools.

Activity:

  • Provide dialogues for various scenarios.
  • Break the dialogues into manageable parts for practice.
  • Encourage students to engage in dialogues with you or their peers.
  1. Picture Description Games:

Engage your students in a fun and interactive picture description game. Share an image with several objects, and have students take turns describing what they see. This not only improves vocabulary but also encourages speaking.

Activity:

  • Display an image with multiple objects, people, or animals.
  • Ask students to take turns describing one element in the picture.
  • Encourage them to use adjectives and simple sentences.
  1. News and Current Events:

Discussing news and current events can be an engaging way to improve conversational skills. Select simple news articles or topics of interest to your students and facilitate discussions around them. This activity enhances comprehension and encourages opinion sharing.

Activity:

  • Choose a news article with straightforward language.
  • Summarize the key points or vocabulary.
  • Engage your students in a conversation about the topic and their opinions.
  1. Digital Storytelling:

Harness the power of digital tools that teenagers enjoy. Have them create digital stories using platforms like StoryMap JS or Canva. They can write a short narrative, include visuals, and present their stories to the class, fostering creativity and technology skills.

Activity:

  • Provide a basic storyline and guidelines for creating a digital story.
  • Allow students to present their digital stories and discuss them with their peers.
  1. Current Events Debates:

Teenagers are often interested in current events and social issues. Choose age-appropriate news articles or topics and engage your students in discussions and debates. This helps improve comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills.

Activity:

  • Share a current event or news article.
  • Encourage students to discuss their thoughts, opinions, and potential solutions related to the topic.
  1. Everyday Challenges:

Engage your teenage learners in everyday challenges that encourage them to use English conversationally. For example, have them create a "day in English" where they must describe their daily activities and interactions in English. This promotes active language use.

Activity:

  • Ask students to document a "day in English" using written or spoken descriptions.
  • Share their challenges and experiences in an online discussion.
  1. Movie or TV Show Discussions:

Many teenagers enjoy movies and TV shows in English. Select age-appropriate clips from popular films or series, and engage your students in discussions about the characters, plot, and their opinions. This not only enhances conversational skills but also improves listening comprehension.

Activity:

  • Share a short video clip from a popular movie or TV show.
  • Encourage students to discuss what they saw, their favorite characters, or what they expect to happen next.
  1. Emoji Storytelling:

Teenagers are well-versed in the world of emojis. Use this familiarity to encourage storytelling. Start with a simple sentence or scenario and ask students to create short stories using emojis to represent the action and emotions. This activity promotes creativity and vocabulary development.

Activity:

  • Share a sentence like "She found a treasure in the forest 🌳🔍💰."
  • Ask students to respond with emoji stories and then verbally share their stories.

Teaching conversation to low-level adult English learners online can be enjoyable and effective with the right activities. These interactive exercises not only build essential language skills but also create a supportive and engaging learning environment. By incorporating these activities into your online lessons, you can help your students improve their conversational abilities and boost their confidence in using English in everyday situations.

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