Comprehension Activities for ESL Beginners
- Give students a simple text consisting of short sentences, with no more than 10 words each. It can be an imaginative story with princesses and dragons for kids or just an everyday experience for adults. Allow students to read the text and answer simple questions, such as "Where does _________ (the character) go?" or "How is the weather?" Explicitly mention the answers in the text so that it is easy for the students to spot them.
- Pick a topic popular among students, such as sports, games or vacations. The text must be concise and contain only words previously taught. Provide students with declarative sentences, and then make a statement about the text. Ask them if your statement is right or wrong. The answer must be easily identifiable in the text and it has to be clear whether it confirms or refutes your statement. You cannot expect ESL beginners to interpret the text to figure out the answer to ambiguous questions.
- If your class consists of young children, songs are a pleasant way to help them practice their early listening comprehension skills. Kindergarten songs, such as "Old McDonald" or "Bingo" are suitable for ESL beginners. Encourage children to sing along on the first repeat. After listening to and singing the song, ask children questions relating to the song, such as what type of animals are on Old MacDonald's farm or what type of noises do they make.
- Adult ESL beginners aren't so keen on singing kindergarten songs, but they can enjoy watching short clips of popular TV shows and trying to answer simple questions about the shows. Record a program and replay a small part in class or use the short clips on the LearnEnglishFeelGood.com website. Have the students answer simple questions about what they hear, not what they see (e.g., do not ask what kind of hat an actor is wearing).
