a collection of ESL Writing and Speaking Resources

Here are a few writing and speaking activities that I have collected:

Writing Activities (or Activity Types)
- Jigsaw readings with jigsaw writing responses being read by students
- Have students write in a project over the course of the semester... one topic, building a set of research and/or personal thought on the topic.
- Multi-genre writing - acrostic poem, limericks, diamante poems, biographical and character sketches, a letter to me in the future, newspaper style

- a writing needs assessment
- Ping Pong Word Association
- Cubing - described here
- writing a fairy tale
- research paper
- journal entries
- publish a magazine/newspaper
- class blog
- Plagiarism and Patchwriting: Purdue OWL “Summary, Plagiarism, and Quotation in Context” site, and OWL “Anonymous Paraphrasing”
- videos on writing strategies BBC / VOA

Speaking Activities (or Activity Types)
- Information gap & Jigsaw activities (Thornbury 56) - using "tango seating" - shoulders touching, facing opposite directions
- Role plays and simulations
- Contact assignments - interviewing outsiders
- video production by students on their cell phones, based on a script they write and have checked
- Missing Bag lesson - baby items, father items
- Speaking Needs assessment