Reading is a crucial skill for ESL learners, helping them expand vocabulary, improve comprehension, and develop fluency. However, many students find reading challenging or even intimidating. The key to success? Making reading interactive, enjoyable, and level-appropriate! In this post, we’ll explore engaging reading activities for ESL students that can help them develop strong literacy skills.
Anna’s Reading Journey
Anna, a 12-year-old ESL student, struggled with reading in English. She found textbooks overwhelming and quickly lost interest. Her teacher introduced her to interactive reading activities, and everything changed. Instead of just reading words on a page, she started participating in story predictions, acting out dialogues, and discussing books with her classmates. Over time, Anna’s confidence soared, and she began reading English books for fun.
What worked for Anna can work for your students, too!
Why Reading Activities Matter in ESL Learning
Reading isn’t just about recognizing words—it’s about understanding meaning, making connections, and engaging with texts. By incorporating varied reading activities, teachers can:
- Enhance speaking and writing skills
- Boost student confidence in reading
- Improve comprehension skills
- Encourage a love for books and storytelling
- Develop vocabulary in context
Engaging Reading Activities for ESL Students
Pre-Reading Activities: Building Interest
Before students start reading, set the stage with activities that spark curiousity:
Picture Walks
- Before reading, have students look at pictures in the book.
- Ask them to predict what the story will be about.
- This builds anticipation and activates prior knowledge.
- Try some of these prompts:
- “What do you see?”: Ask students to describe what they see in the illustrations and what they think might happen.
- “What do you know?”: Encourage students to share any prior knowledge or experiences that relate to the story’s theme or setting.
- “What do you wonder?”: Prompt students to ask questions about the story and the illustrations.
- “What will happen next?”: Encourage students to make predictions about the story’s plot.
For more tips on using picture walks with different types of texts, check out this article.
Vocabulary Preview
- Introduce keywords with flashcards or word maps. This helps prepare students for the reading and aids them in understanding the story.
Discussion Questions
- Ask students about their experiences related to the book’s topic. This helps to activate prior knowledge and make them ‘ready’ to read.
Interactive While-Reading Activities
Keep students engaged as they read with these strategies:
Guided Reading with Sentence Strips
- Write key sentences from the text on strips of paper.
- Have students arrange them in order as they read.
- This activity reinforces sentence structure and comprehension.
Read and Act
- Choose a dialogue-based text and assign students different roles.
- Have them read and act out the scenes.
- This enhances fluency, expression, and engagement.
Harriet the Hamburger
One of the activities that I have used a few times in a grade 11 biology class is a dramatic play about the path of a hamburger named Harriet as it travels through the digestive system.
One year, one of my more ‘challenging’ students to engage was insistent about playing the role of ‘Harriet’ which had the most lines in the play. I agreed provided that he was present in class the next day when we would perform the play. He ‘swore’ he would be there. The next day, I was ready to start class and my ‘Harriet’ was not present. All of the students said he was coming and to wait.
The high school was located fairly close to a fast food restaurant and students often went there at break. I looked out the window and I saw the student high-tailing it down the hill to the school. He arrives at the door and asks for tape. I told him he was late but he was insistent. When he walked into the classroom he was ‘dressed in his costume’ with fast-food hamburger wrappers taped all over his clothes.
Sometimes you don’t know what will engage a student and inspire them to be interested in a topic. That year, every single one of my students could still draw the path of ‘Harriet’ through the digestive system at final exam time. It was certainly an example of when I successfully engaged even the most difficult students.
Prediction Pause
- Stop at key points in the reading and ask students to predict what happens next.
- Discuss their ideas before continuing.
- This encourages critical thinking and engagement.
Jigsaw Reading
- Divide a text into sections and assign a piece to each student.
- Have them summarize their section to the group.
- This improves summarization skills and collaborative learning.
Read Aloud & Echo Reading
- Read a passage aloud while students follow along.
- Have them repeat after you, focusing on pronunciation and intonation.
Post-Reading Activities: Deepening Understanding
After reading, reinforce comprehension and critical thinking:
Story Retelling with Visual Aids
- After reading a short story, give students pictures that represent key moments.
- Have them retell the story using the visuals.
- This builds comprehension and sequencing skills.
Alternative Endings
- Encourage students to write or discuss a new ending
Book Discussions
- Organize small groups to share their opinions about the story
Conclusion
Reading doesn’t have to be a passive activity! Using a variety of reading activities makes reading more accessible and enjoyable for ESL students. These strategies help learners build confidence, develop comprehension skills, and engage actively with texts. Try these activities in your next lesson and watch your students thrive!
For more tips and ideas to help you engage students, check out my recent blog post.
What are your favorite ESL reading activities? Share in the comments!
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