How to Turn Any ESL Topic Into a Speaking Activity

💬 Introduction:

Speaking practice is one of the most important — and often underused — parts of an ESL lesson. The good news? You can turn almost any topic into a speaking activity with the right strategies.

🧠 Why Speaking Practice Matters

Speaking allows students to:

• Reinforce grammar and vocabulary in real time

• Gain confidence and fluency

• Engage with content in a meaningful way

  
  

🔁 3 Strategies to Turn Any Topic into Speaking Practice

1. Information GapGive pairs different pieces of information they must share to complete a task. Great for vocabulary and real-world communication.

2. Opinion ExchangeAsk students to give personal opinions related to the topic. For example, after a food vocabulary lesson: “What’s your favorite meal and why?”

3. Role PlaysDesign short role plays around the lesson theme — whether ordering food, giving directions, or describing a weekend.

   
   

🧰 Pro Tip:

Always model the activity first and provide a word bank or sentence stems to support lower-level learners.

Speaking shouldn’t be saved for the end — it should be built into your lessons from the start. With a little creativity, any topic can get your students talking.