Online Resources & ESL Games for Teachers 2025 — KET
Are you an ESL teacher looking for fun games and resources to make your English classes more engaging? Whether you’re teaching online or in a classroom, having a collection of ESL games and resources is essential for lesson planning. Games not only make language learning enjoyable but also help students practice vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills in a stress-free environment. From young learners to advanced students, ESL activities can be adapted to various proficiency levels, ensuring every student benefits.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best ESL games, teacher resource websites, and interactive activities to energize students, review vocabulary, and teach language skills. We’ll also cover how to customize games to align with your curriculum, use games for review, and employ interactive homework activities to help students learn at home. Let’s make teaching English fun and effective with these ESL resources and games!
Why Use ESL Games in Your Classroom?
Benefits of ESL Games for Language Learning
ESL games are more than just fun activities—they’re powerful tools for language skill development. Here’s why you should incorporate them into your lessons:
Stress-Free Learning: Playing ESL games creates a stress-free environment for learners, reducing anxiety and making language learning more approachable, especially for new students or quiet students.
Adaptable to Proficiency Levels: ESL games can be adapted to various proficiency levels, from young learners to advanced students, ensuring all students can participate and learn.
Games Energize Students: Playing games in ESL classes helps energize students, particularly for difficult subjects like grammar or sentence structure, keeping them motivated and engaged.
Encourages Participation: Engaging in games encourages quiet students to open up and practice speaking English, fostering a whole class dynamic where everyone contributes.
Interactive Challenges: Online games convert abstract language concepts (like word order or grammar rules) into interactive challenges, aiding comprehension and retention.
How Games Support English Teachers
English teachers also benefit from using games in the classroom:
Games for Review: Including games in an English class helps review recently learned topics, reinforcing new vocabulary or grammar in a fun way.
Game Customization: Teachers can customize games to align with their curriculum, ensuring activities target specific language points or skills.
Interactive Homework Activities: Interactive activities can be employed for homework, allowing students to learn English at home while keeping the process engaging.
Top Teacher Resource Websites for ESL Materials
LanternFish (BogglesWorldESL)
LanternFish is a valuable site for learners of all age groups. With hundreds of worksheets, lesson plans, and flashcards, it’s a helpful resource for ESL teachers. You’ll find great resources for teaching vocabulary, grammar, and writing, with ideas to engage your students better.
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ESL Printables
ESL Printables is a fantastic website for teachers who need grammar worksheets or vocabulary activities. It offers a community-driven library where teachers share their creations. However, you must submit contributions (e.g., your own worksheets) before you can download them, ensuring a collaborative environment.
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BusyTeacher.org
BusyTeacher is an excellent site for ESL teachers, offering a vast library of free worksheets and activities. You can download resources immediately—no signing up, membership, or fees required. For a small cost, you can purchase the entire library, which includes materials for language skills like listening, speaking, and writing.
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Additional Resource Websites
ESL Galaxy: A great resource for free worksheets, board games, and flashcards, perfect for young learners and students at higher levels.
MES English: Offers printable flashcards, games, and worksheets for kids, focusing on target vocabulary and sentence structure.
Teach-This: Provides engaging ESL activities and games for teachers, with a focus on language learning and classroom dynamics.
ESL KidStuff: A go-to site for kids and young learners, offering songs, flashcards, and lesson plans to make teaching fun.
ISLCOLLECTIVE: Another community-driven site where English teachers can share and download free worksheets and materials for all age groups.
The Best ESL Games to Play While Teaching
Memory Game: Build Real-World Awareness
Students may memorize spelling words or math facts, but applying that knowledge to everyday life can be challenging. The Memory Game helps students practice vocabulary and comprehension in a practical way.
How to Play:
Present a picture with various objects on the screen for students to view.
Set a timer for two to three minutes and encourage them to remember what they see—they cannot write anything down.
Remove the photo and ask them to write down as many objects as they can recall.
Go through the list together, discussing the objects and using adjectives to describe them (e.g., “The red apple is shiny”).
Why It Works:
This game helps students review vocabulary and practice describing items, improving their language skills in a fun way. It’s especially effective for kids and young learners who need to connect words to real-world concepts.
Adaptation for Advanced Students:
For more advanced students, use abstract concepts (e.g., emotions, professions) instead of physical objects, and ask them to describe the concept in a full sentence (e.g., “A teacher helps students learn”).
The Bragging Game: Practice Comparatives and Superlatives
This activity helps students develop their vocabulary, practice using comparative and superlative adjective forms, and be more imaginative.
How to Play:
Start by saying a simple sentence, like, “I live in a house.”
The first student must “brag” by saying something more exaggerated but within the same topic, such as, “Really? I live in a bigger house with a pool.”
Continue this bragging game by going back and forth, trying to top each other’s claim. For example, you could counter with, “Well, I live in a mansion with a pool and a tennis court!”
The game ends when a student cannot think of anything to top the last student’s example.
Why It Works:
The Bragging Game encourages students to use grammar (e.g., comparatives like “bigger” and superlatives like “best”) while fostering creativity and speaking confidence. It’s a fun activity that students love, especially in a whole class setting.
Adaptation for Young Learners:
For young learners, simplify the sentences (e.g., “I have a small dog,” “I have a bigger dog”) to focus on basic vocabulary and grammar.
Word Chain: Expand Vocabulary and Pronunciation
This simple but fun online game for teaching English is excellent for developing vocabulary and checking pronunciation.
How to Play:
Provide a category (e.g., food, animals).
The first student says any vocabulary word in that category (e.g., “tomato” for food).
The next student says another vocabulary word in the same category, but it must begin with the last letter of the previous word (e.g., “orange” because “tomato” ends with “o”).
If a student takes too long to think of a word, they forfeit and take a challenge (e.g., sing a song, talk about a topic, or allocate a points system).
Why It Works:
Word Chain helps students think quickly, learn new vocabulary, and practice pronunciation, making it a fun activity for the whole class. It also reinforces word order by encouraging students to think about letters and sounds.
Adaptation for Advanced Students:
For advanced students, use more complex categories like “adjectives” or “phrasal verbs” (e.g., “run away” leads to “yell out”).
Tell Me 5: Boost Speaking and Vocabulary Skills
This game is suitable for practicing speaking skills and vocabulary, especially for young learners or new students.
How to Play:
List categories such as colors, food, transportation, or zoo animals.
Ask the student to choose a category.
If they select the food category, the teacher can ask, “Tell me five vegetables” or “Tell me five desserts.” The student must name five items in less than one minute.
Tell Me 5 Variations:
Write five letters that the items in the category should start with (e.g., “Tell me five vegetables that start with T, L, C, E, and K”).
For advanced students, ask for more complex categories like “Tell me five phrasal verbs” or “Tell me five adjectives for emotions.”
Why It Works:
This game encourages students to think on their feet, practice speaking, and review vocabulary in a fun way. It’s adaptable for any age group and skill level.
Interactive Homework Idea:
Assign “Tell me five” as homework by asking students to write down five items in a category and share them in the next class. This keeps language learning engaging outside the classroom.
Find Something: Enhance Listening and Thinking Skills
This ESL game for teaching kids online is excellent for practicing students’ listening and thinking skills while revising vocabulary.
How to Play:
Ask students to look around their room or house and find something of a particular color (e.g., “Find something red”).
Give the student a minute or two to find a red object, like a pen.
Alternatively, ask them to find something that begins with a specific letter (e.g., “Find an object that starts with the letter P,” like a pillow or pen).
Why It Works:
Find Something helps students practice listening, vocabulary, and quick thinking, making it a fun activity for kids and young learners. It also reinforces comprehension by connecting words to real-world objects.
Adaptation for Advanced Students:
For more advanced students, ask them to find objects related to a language point (e.g., “Find something you can use to learn English,” like a book).
Simon Says: Teach Listening and Following Instructions
This classic game is perfect for teaching listening skills and vocabulary while keeping the class active.
How to Play:
The teacher acts as “Simon” and gives instructions, like “Simon says touch your nose.”
Students must only follow the instruction if it starts with “Simon says.” If the teacher says, “Touch your nose” without “Simon says,” students who follow the instruction are out.
Use vocabulary related to body parts, actions, or classroom objects (e.g., “Simon says pick up a pencil”).
Why It Works:
Simon Says helps students practice listening and comprehension while reinforcing target vocabulary in a fun way. It’s a game that students love, especially in a classroom setting.
Adaptation for Young Learners:
For young learners, use simple actions (e.g., “Simon says jump”) to keep the game accessible and fun.
Pictionary: Encourage Creativity and Vocabulary Use
Pictionary is a great game for teaching vocabulary and encouraging students to think creatively.
How to Play:
Divide the class into teams (or play one-on-one for online classes).
The teacher gives a word or phrase (e.g., “elephant,” “playing soccer”).
The student has one minute to draw the word on a whiteboard or digital tool while their team guesses.
Award points for correct guesses and switch roles.
Why It Works:
Pictionary helps students learn new vocabulary, practice speaking, and engage in a fun activity that students love. It also encourages creativity and teamwork in the classroom.
Interactive Homework Idea:
Ask students to draw a vocabulary word at home and bring their drawing to the next class for a mini-Pictionary session.
Grammar Games: Target Sentence Structure and Word Order
Grammar games are perfect for addressing common mistakes and reinforcing grammar rules like sentence structure and word order.
How to Play (Scrambled Sentences):
Write a sentence with the words in the wrong order (e.g., “Dog big the runs fast”).
Ask students to rearrange the words to form a correct sentence (e.g., “The big dog runs fast”).
For advanced students, include more complex sentences with grammar elements like past tense or conditionals (e.g., “If I had studied, I would have passed”).
Why It Works:
This game helps students practice grammar and sentence structure in a fun way, making abstract language concepts more concrete.
Adaptation for Young Learners:
For young learners, use simple sentences with familiar vocabulary (e.g., “Cat the sleeps”).
Charades: Boost Speaking and Acting Skills
Charades is a fun game that encourages students to use body language and speaking skills to communicate vocabulary.
How to Play:
Write down words or phrases on slips of paper (e.g., “swimming,” “doctor”).
The first student picks a slip and acts out the word without speaking while the class guesses.
Set a timer for one minute and award points for correct guesses.
Why It Works:
Charades helps students practice vocabulary and speaking while adding a physical element to the classroom, making it engaging for all age groups.
Adaptation for Advanced Students:
For advanced students, use phrases or idioms (e.g., “kick the bucket”) to challenge their language skills.
Bingo: Reinforce Vocabulary and Listening Skills
Bingo is a classic game that helps students practice listening and vocabulary in a fun way.
How to Play:
Create bingo cards with vocabulary words (e.g., animals, colors).
Call out words or definitions (e.g., “A big gray animal with a trunk” for “elephant”).
Students mark the word on their card if they have it. The first to get a line shouts “Bingo!”
Why It Works:
Bingo reinforces target vocabulary and listening skills, making it a fun activity for kids and young learners.
Interactive Homework Idea:
Provide students with a bingo card to play at home with family, using vocabulary from the class.
Tips for Using ESL Games Effectively
Adapt Games for Different Levels
For young learners, use simple categories and vocabulary (e.g., colors, animals).
For advanced students, incorporate grammar rules (e.g., “Tell me five past tense verbs”) or sentence structure challenges.
For higher levels, focus on language points like idioms or phrasal verbs to challenge their skills.
Use Games to Avoid Common Mistakes
Focus on common mistakes like word order or grammar by designing games that target these areas (e.g., a sentence structure game where students correct errors). For example, in Scrambled Sentences, students can fix sentences like “I to school go” to “I go to school.”
Incorporate Board Games and Flashcards
Use board games like Snakes and Ladders with vocabulary prompts (e.g., “Name a fruit to move forward”).
Create flashcards for quick review sessions or as part of games like Pictionary.
Board games can also be used to practice grammar (e.g., roll a die and make a sentence in the past tense).
Set Up a Points System
Add a points system to make games more competitive and engaging. For example, in Word Chain, award points for each correct word and bonus points for creativity. In Bingo, give extra points for the first student to shout “Bingo!”
Create a Fun Classroom Environment
Use games and activities to break the ice with new students, helping them feel comfortable in the classroom.
Encourage students to suggest their own games, fostering a sense of ownership in their language learning journey.
How to Create Your Own ESL Games
Design Custom Games for Your Curriculum
Teachers can create their own games to target specific language skills or vocabulary. Here’s how:
Identify the Language Point: Decide what you want to teach (e.g., past tense, adjectives).
Choose a Format: Use a familiar game format like Bingo or Charades and adapt it (e.g., Bingo with past tense verbs).
Add a Fun Twist: Incorporate a points system or challenges (e.g., “Sing a song if you guess wrong”).
Use Everyday Materials
Turn classroom objects into game props (e.g., use a pencil in Simon Says).
Create flashcards with vocabulary words using paper and markers.
Use a whiteboard to play Pictionary or Scrambled Sentences.
Involve Students in Game Creation
Ask students to create their own bingo cards with vocabulary they’ve learned.
Have students suggest categories for Tell Me 5 or Word Chain, making the game more personal and engaging.
Interactive ESL Games with Twinkl
I’m so excited to share a fantastic resource from our friends at Twinkl.co.th: Twinkl’s Interactive ESL/EFL Games. Whether you’re a teacher in Thailand or anywhere else, these games are a game-changer for young learners.
Twinkl offers a treasure trove of interactive games designed specifically for ESL and EFL learners, which you can explore at their dedicated page: Twinkl ESL/EFL Interactive Games. From vocabulary builders to grammar challenges, their resources help students apply their knowledge in a playful way. I’ve seen how much my students light up when they get to use tools like these—it’s like bringing a bit of technology magic into the classroom.
What I love most is how Twinkl organizes games by age and type, making it easy to find the right fit for your class. Whether you’re teaching in Sukhothai or beyond, these activities can help students build confidence in English communication.
If you’re looking to add some joy to your teaching toolkit, I highly recommend giving Twinkl a try. It’s a resource that’s as warm and welcoming as Thailand itself, and I’m thrilled to share it with you all!
ESL Games Conclusion
These ESL games and resources are just a starting point. By incorporating fun games, interactive challenges, and great resources into your lessons, you can create an engaging classroom environment that students love. Take the time to explore more games and activities, customize them for your curriculum, and make teaching English a rewarding experience for both you and your students!
Final Thoughts
We hope this post has inspired and empowered you on your teaching journey in Thailand! Kids English Thailand is here to support you with tips, insights, and resources to make your experience truly amazing. Want to dive deeper or have questions? Check out our related posts below, or connect with our community of educators making a difference in Thailand. Let’s keep thriving together!
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