Jackie Bolen - ESL Writing Activities, Games & Teaching Tips: Practical Ideas for the Classroom

ESL Writing Activities, Games + Teaching Tips:

Practical Ideas for the Classroom

Jackie Bolen

(www.eslactivity.org)

Copyright 2019 by Jackie Bolen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher/author at the address below.

Jackie Bolen:

Table of Contents

About the Author: Jackie Bolen ............................................................................................... 4

Jackie Bolen around the Internet .................................................................................. 5

Tips for Teaching ESL/EFL Writing ....................................................................................... 6

Tip #1: Student-Centred Teaching is ALWAYS Best ................................................... 6

Tip #2: Use a Grading Rubric for Evaluating Writing ................................................ 8

Tip #3: How Much Feedback to Give when Teaching Writing .............................. 11

Tip #4: Which ESL Writing Textbook Do you Recommend? ................................... 12

Tip #5: How Do I Prevent Cheating in a Writing Class? .......................................... 13

Tip #6: All About Teaching Writing to ESL Beginners ............................................. 14

Tip #7: How Can I Foster Student Autonomy in Writing Classes? ....................... 16

Tip #8: Include Writing in Speaking and Conversation Classes ........................... 18

Tip #9: Reasoning and Critical Thinking are Also Important ................................. 19

Tip #10: Teach the Writing Process ............................................................................... 19

Tip #11: All About Writing Style ..................................................................................... 20

Tip #12: Mistakes are Unavoidable ............................................................................... 21

Writing Activities for All Levels ............................................................................................ 23

3 Things ................................................................................................................................... 23

Conjunctions and Transitions: Don't Forget About Them ........................................ 24

Dictation Practice ................................................................................................................. 26

Picture Prompt ...................................................................................................................... 28

Postcards ................................................................................................................................ 30

Practice Writing Fluently ................................................................................................... 31

Proofreading Practice ......................................................................................................... 32

Word of the Day ................................................................................................................... 34

Words in Words .................................................................................................................... 35

Writing Activities for Upper-Level Students .................................................................... 36

5 Senses .................................................................................................................................. 36

Association ............................................................................................................................. 37

Boggle ...................................................................................................................................... 38

Bucket Lists ........................................................................................................................... 39

Fill out an Application Form ............................................................................................. 40

Freeze ...................................................................................................................................... 41

Movie Subtitles ..................................................................................................................... 41

Only 1 Question .................................................................................................................... 43

Plan a Trip .............................................................................................................................. 44

Paraphrasing Practice ....................................................................................................... 45

Reverse Writing .................................................................................................................... 46

Scrabble .................................................................................................................................. 47

Translation ............................................................................................................................. 49

Vocabulary Square ............................................................................................................... 50

Write an Email ...................................................................................................................... 51

Writing Activities for Lower-Level Students .................................................................... 53

Adjective or Adverb Modifier Posters ............................................................................ 53

Alphabet Game ...................................................................................................................... 54

Correction Relay ................................................................................................................... 56

Do you _____? ......................................................................................................................... 57

-er Dictionary Activity ......................................................................................................... 58

Give a Reason ....................................................................................................................... 60

Mixed Up Sentences ............................................................................................................ 61

Q&A .......................................................................................................................................... 63

Synonym/Antonym Brainstorm Race .............................................................................. 63

What's That Called? ............................................................................................................. 64

What's the Question? .......................................................................................................... 65

What Can Students Write About? ....................................................................................... 67

A Short Story ......................................................................................................................... 67

A Picture ................................................................................................................................. 67