Easy English-as-a-Second-Languague Lesson Plan for a Sick Teacher

So, you're sick (or have a hangover) today, but you are a hard worker (or you have no sick days left because you used them all up on your other hangovers, and you go to school anyway). You have a great English-as-a-Second-Language lesson plan prepared for your ESL students, but you don't have the energy to deal with putting on the show, which is your ESL class. Here is a great, fun, easy, no copies, no prep ESL lesson plan you can use in your ESL classroom. The ESL students do all the work and you get to sit down and rest the entire class.

Ages: Children to adults.
ESL Proficiency Level: Advanced Beginner and up.
ESL Class size: Large or small class size.
Purpose: Give the ESL teacher a rest.
Materials: Chalk or dry erase marker, white or black board, the ESL student's English book or vocabulary list.
Preparation: NO PREPARATION ! ! !
Desk Arrangement: No movement of desks required

This ESL game is not a secret; it's simply the, now politically incorrect, classic kids game "Hangman". Yea, yea, I know this is now an unacceptable classroom game to play in the United States, and indeed I sympathize. However, many of us ESL teachers live and teach overseas (Korea, China etc.) where fortunately (thank goddess) the lynching of African Americans has never taken place and the term "Hangman" does not have any cultural significance and is not offending anyone. Besides, all the ESL students (especially the Korean ones) love this game and request it all the time.

Procedure: 1) Tell your ESL students they are playing "Hangman" and give them a minute to cheer with glee.

2) Your ESL students already know how to play "Hangman". Ask for a volunteer to be first or hand one of your ESL students a piece of chalk and invite them to the front of your ESL classroom.

3) If your ESL students need it, tell them this is open book and to choose a word from their English book or a recent lesson or vocabulary list.

4) Have a seat and relax. You will be amazed at how well behaved and respectful of each other they are. The ESL student that guesses the correct answer goes up to the board next.

In the past I was not a big fan of "Hangman" as I thought it had no pedagogical value for the ESL classroom. But, perhaps it does. During the game your ESL students get to practice their listening and leadership skills and they are thinking about English. Also, if you have a large ESL classroom and you teach too many ESL students to recognize them all, this ESL game let's you get a look at some of your ESL students that do not otherwise stand out on a daily basis. And that makes you a better ESL teacher.

*If you enjoy teaching this ESL lesson plan, please see my other fun and easy no prep lesson plans here on Associated Content. Just look at the top of this page and click on my name "Tesl Goddess".