January always feels like a reset. New routines. New goals. New students—or familiar students who suddenly feel a little rusty after the holidays.
If you’ve ever sat there thinking, “I want them to write… but I don’t want this to turn into a struggle,” you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why simple, level-appropriate ESL writing prompts work so well in January. They help students ease back into English without pressure—and they help teachers get meaningful output without overplanning.
Below you’ll find low-prep ESL writing prompts for January, organized by CEFR level, so you can grab what fits your class and use it immediately.
Why January Is the Perfect Time for ESL Writing
January writing works best when it:
- Feels personal (but not overwhelming)
- Connects to familiar routines
- Allows short answers or expansion
- Can be reused for speaking or homework
These prompts are designed to:
- Work in online or in-person ESL classes
- Fit into 5–10 minute writing blocks
- Support Cambridge-style exam preparation without feeling exam-heavy.
A1 ESL Writing Prompts (Beginner)
At A1, writing should feel achievable. One or two sentences is enough—and sentence frames are your best friend. Students can draw a picture
January Writing Prompts (A1):
- My favorite food in winter is __________.
- In January, I like to __________.
- This year, I want to learn __________.
- My favorite day in January is __________ because __________.
- In winter, I wear __________.
Teaching Tip: Have students say the sentence first, then write it. This reduces anxiety and improves accuracy.
A2 ESL Writing Prompts (Elementary)
A2 students are ready to explain why and add simple details.
January Writing Prompts (A2):
- What do you usually do after the winter holidays?
- Write about a winter activity you enjoy.
- What is one thing you want to do better this year? Why?
- Describe your favorite winter day.
- How is January different from December?
Teaching Tip: Let students choose a prompt. Choice = better writing.
B1 ESL Writing Prompts (Intermediate)
B1 writing benefits from structure but allows creativity.
January Writing Prompts (B1):
- Write about a goal you have for this year and how you plan to achieve it.
- Describe how your daily routine changes in winter.
- Do you think setting goals is important? Why or why not?
- Compare winter in your country to another season.
- Write about a winter memory you will never forget.
Teaching Tip: Ask students to underline linking words (because, and, but, so, therefore, since) after writing. This is an excellent opportunity for students to add additional linking words if they haven’t used any.
B2 ESL Writing Prompts (Upper-Intermediate)
At B2, prompts can encourage reflection and opinion—perfect for exam prep.
January Writing Prompts (B2):
- Some people believe January is the best time to make changes. Do you agree?
- Write about a challenge you faced last year and what you learned from it.
- Do routines help people succeed? Explain your opinion.
- Describe how winter affects people’s mood and daily life.
- Write an article giving advice on how to stay motivated in winter.
Teaching Tip: Have students plan their writing with bullet points first, then write. This mirrors preparation they should do before writing on an English exam.
Bonus: 5 Flexible ESL Writing Prompts (Any Level)
These can be adapted up or down easily.
Flexible January Writing Prompts:
- Write about something that makes winter special for you.
- Describe your favorite place to relax in winter.
- What is one habit you want to keep this year?
- Write about a small moment that made you happy recently.
- Describe a winter day using all five senses.
Teaching Tip: For lower levels, allow lists or sentence starters. For higher levels, require paragraphs and opinions.
How to Use These Prompts Without Adding More Prep
These prompts work beautifully as:
- Lesson warm-ups
- Exit tickets
- Homework tasks
- Speaking → writing follow-ups
- Journal entries
If you’re already using structured ESL lessons, these types of prompts work best when students know what to expect—write, share, improve.
That’s why in Florentis Learning lessons, writing tasks are built into predictable lesson routines, so teachers can focus on feedback instead of formatting.
Want This Done-For-You?
If you’d like:
- Writing tasks already aligned to CEFR levels
- Built-in sentence frames
- Writing → speaking extensions
- Homework versions ready to assign
You can explore the Florentis Learning ESL curriculum, where writing is already integrated into lessons across levels.
Florentis Learning’s Complete Classroom ESL Curriculum is designed for independent online teachers who want to save time, engage students, and deliver real results.
When you join with our Lifetime Membership, you get:
✅ A six level core curriculum with engaging topics
✅ A complete phonics progression from letter sounds to advanced spelling patterns
✅ Interactive slides ready for online teaching – currently more than 650 lessons
✅ Conversation curriculum with FOUR levels of speaking lessons
✅ Test Preparation Lessons to help prepare students for English exams
✅ Writing Lessons – Two levels, beginner and intermediate
✅ Built-in games and activities that keep learners engaged
✅ Seamless integration with reading, writing, speaking, and listening tasks
✅ Access to all levels, all units, and all future updates—forever
You can join with a Lifetime Membership (one payment, forever access) or choose a Monthly Plan if you’d prefer to spread it out. No commitment. Cancel any time.
Save This Post for Later
This post will still work:
- Next January
- With new students
- For exam prep refreshers
- As part of a monthly writing routine
📌 Bookmark it—or share it with another teacher who needs an easy January reset.