Author: David Deubelbeiss

David is an author, professor of TESOL and teacher trainer with over 25 years of teaching experience. You can find him on ELT Buzz or LinkedIN ELT Professionals. Home page - https://ddeubel.me

Writing Tag

A piece of paper, a chalkboard and a pair of scissors are a teacher’s best friends.  Tr.uly, let me explain with this one activity.

1. Give each student a blank piece of paper.

2. Ask them to fold it “hamburger”, … Read More ....

Can Pigs……? PROVERBS

Here’s a unique way to learn and practice proverbs for a higher level class (and probably high school or univ/adults).

Put a few common proverbs on the board without the ending. You can bring a horse to water but……….

Solicit … Read More ....

Choosing Students – Chants

Mickey Mouse is the perfect way to choose a student in class. Unlike Einie Meanie Minie Moe, it  allows the students to actuall participate in choosing themselves, so the teacher can avoid any “blame”.

It goes like this. For each word, point … Read More ....

Not like the other things


Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

I am a BIG fan of not only teaching English but teaching thinking skills. We have to do both (and always spice with happiness!).

This game really gets students thinking and … Read More ....

Stories – Predicting

  Stories are great in the classroom. A good narrative, really provides ideal context to learn language, even better if they have pictures.

The best and easiest way to “teach” a story is to tell it through prediction. Get the … Read More ....

Story reTelling

Retelling is a powerful way for students to learn language. They retell in their own words and using the context of “the story”, acquire language.

1.  Find a set of stories for students to read. One for each student. (I … Read More ....

Whiteboard Soccer

Soccer is an international game and all kids are crazy about it – even girls! Whiteboard soccer is a great way to make review and quizzes fun.

    Draw a soccer pitch on the board. A magnet will be the … Read More ....

Pop-Up Cars

Pop-up-Car-1Children, especially young boys, love cars!

Pop up cars are great for talking about colors and car vocabulary. Get the children coloring their cars and then cut them out, fold and show and tell to the whole class! They will … Read More ....

Heads Down, thumbs up!

This game is also known as 7 up.

Select 4-5 students and give them a flashcard/picture.

All other students put their heads down and one thumb up. The other students go around the classroom and gently squeeze one student’s thumb. … Read More ....

Sky Writing / Body Writing

This is a fun way to teach English “physically”.

Students spell words on the back of their partner who must guess what they wrote! 

Also, do the same thing but this time, they write on the palm of their partner … Read More ....