23 Best ESL Speaking Activities for Teens

Teenagers are in a phase of discovering their identity and exploring their interests, which makes their learning preferences unique. Speaking Activities for Teens need to be interactive and relevant to their lives to engage them effectively.

Because of these unique needs, traditional speaking activities might not always capture their attention. Teens benefit from activities that challenge them and align with their interests, making learning both engaging and effective.

In this post, you’ll find 20 creative and practical speaking activities tailored specifically for teenagers. These activities are designed to improve fluency, build vocabulary, and boost confidence in speaking English.

Each activity aims to make speaking practice enjoyable and address the specific challenges that teens face in language learning. With these activities, you can help your students communicate more confidently and effectively.

Who Are Teens?

Teens, also called teenagers, are people who are between 13 and 19 years old. This stage of life is called adolescence. During this time, they are growing from children into adults.

Teenagers experience many changes, both physically and emotionally. They are learning to become more independent and are often exploring their own interests and identities. In school, they are usually preparing for future careers or further education.

Because they are at a stage where they are developing their own opinions and learning to communicate more effectively, specific activities designed for teens can help them practice and improve their English speaking skills in a way that suits their unique needs and interests.

Why Are These Activities Helpful for Teens?

These speaking activities are great for teens because they help in many ways. First, they boost confidence. When teens practice speaking in a fun and safe environment, they become more comfortable using English in real life.

These activities also make learning creative. Teens get to use their imagination through games and role-plays, making the learning process enjoyable. This creativity helps them learn better and stay interested.

Improving speaking speed and fluency is another benefit. Activities like Speed Speaking help teens practice speaking quickly and clearly, which makes them better at talking smoothly and confidently.

Moreover, these activities help teens think more critically. Tasks like Paraphrase Challenge and Fact or Fiction make them analyze and explain their thoughts clearly, improving their critical thinking skills.

Lastly, many activities involve teamwork, which helps teens develop social skills. Working with others in these activities improves their communication and ability to work together. Overall, these activities make learning English fun and effective for teens.

Also read: Best ESL Speaking Activities for Beginners

1. Speed Speaking

In this activity, students practice fluency by speaking on a given topic for 30 seconds without pausing. It helps teens think quickly, express ideas clearly, and build confidence in speaking. This activity works well with groups of 5-10 students and takes around 10 minutes.

Materials Needed

• A timer or stopwatch
• A list of topics suitable for teens

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare a list of topics that are relevant and interesting for teens, such as hobbies, favorite movies, or current events. Divide the class into small groups of 5-10 students and give each group a timer.
2. Execution: Instruct each student to pick a topic and speak about it for 30 seconds without pausing. Encourage them to keep talking, even if they repeat themselves or go off-topic. The other students in the group listen and note any pauses or hesitations.
3. Example: For example, if the topic is “My Favorite Hobby,” a student might say, “I love painting because it allows me to express my creativity. I usually paint landscapes and sometimes portraits. I use oil paints and watercolors…”

This activity can be adapted by increasing the speaking time as students become more confident or by having them speak on more challenging topics. It can also be extended by asking students to provide feedback on each other’s fluency and give tips for improvement.

2. Round Robin Story

This activity encourages creativity and collaboration by having each student add a sentence to a group story. It helps teens practice cohesion in storytelling and builds their ability to think on their feet. Ideal for groups of 6-8 students and takes about 15 minutes.

Materials Needed

• A starter sentence for the story
• A timer (optional)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Begin by providing the group with a starting sentence for the story, such as “Once upon a time, a mysterious package appeared at the school door.” Have the students sit in a circle.
2. Execution: The first student starts by adding one sentence to the story. The next student continues the story with another sentence, and this pattern continues around the circle. Encourage students to be imaginative and build off of each other’s ideas.
3. Example: If the starter sentence is “A stormy night made everything look different,” the first student might say, “The trees swayed violently in the wind,” followed by another student adding, “Suddenly, a loud crash was heard from the basement…”

This activity can be adapted by allowing students to write their sentences before speaking to improve the story’s structure or by adding specific vocabulary words that must be included. It can also be extended by having students rewrite the story later, incorporating feedback on coherence and flow.

3. Paraphrase Challenge

The Paraphrase Challenge helps teens improve their listening and speaking skills by encouraging them to express the same idea in different words. This activity is ideal for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 10-15 minutes.

Materials Needed

• A list of sentences to paraphrase
• A timer (optional)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare a list of sentences ahead of time. These can range from simple statements like “The cat sat on the mat” to more complex sentences like “Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time.”
2. Execution: Read a sentence aloud to the group. Each student takes turns paraphrasing the sentence, saying it in their own words while keeping the original meaning. Encourage students to listen carefully and avoid repeating previous paraphrases.
3. Example: If the original sentence is “She was thrilled to receive the award,” a paraphrase could be “She was very happy to get the prize.”

To make this activity more challenging, use longer or more complex sentences. You can also ask students to paraphrase in pairs, comparing their sentences for variety and accuracy. This activity helps students think critically about language and improves their ability to rephrase ideas effectively.

4. 20 Questions

20 Questions is a fun speaking game where students ask yes/no questions to guess an object one student is thinking of. This activity enhances questioning and critical thinking skills, ideal for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 10-15 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Choose one student to think of an object, such as “a car” or “a book,” without telling anyone else.
2. Execution: The other students take turns asking yes/no questions to guess the object. For example, they might ask, “Is it something you can eat?” or “Is it found indoors?” The student thinking of the object can only answer with “yes” or “no.” The game continues until someone guesses the object or the group reaches 20 questions.
3. Example: If the object is “a car,” students might ask, “Is it a form of transportation?” or “Does it have wheels?” The answers guide the guessing process.

For variety, you can set a time limit or challenge students to guess in fewer questions. You can also rotate who thinks of the object so everyone gets a turn. This activity is great for developing critical thinking and speaking skills in a fun and engaging way.

5. Picture Prompt Discussions

Picture Prompt Discussions involve showing students a picture and having them discuss what’s happening or create a story about it. This activity is excellent for enhancing speaking skills, creativity, and group interaction, ideal for groups of 3-5 students, and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• A collection of pictures or images (magazines, printed photos, or digital images)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Select a picture that shows a scene with people, objects, or an event. It could be anything from a busy market to a peaceful park.
2. Execution: Show the picture to the students and ask them to discuss what they see. They can describe the scene, guess what might be happening, or invent a story based on the picture. Encourage them to use their imagination and add details.
3. Example: If the picture shows a family having a picnic, students might discuss what each family member is doing, what food they might be eating, or create a story about how the family prepared for the picnic.

You can rotate pictures among groups or let each group choose a picture to discuss. This activity helps students practice speaking in a structured yet creative way, making it a fun and engaging experience.

6. Story Cubes

Story Cubes involve using dice with pictures or symbols to generate ideas for a group story. Each student adds to the story based on the pictures they roll, promoting creativity, fluency, and collaborative speaking. Ideal for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Story cubes (dice with pictures or symbols)
• Alternatively, you can create your own using blank dice or printable story cubes

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Provide each student with a set of story cubes. If you don’t have story cubes, use dice with pictures or symbols you create yourself.
2. Execution: Students take turns rolling the cubes and then add a sentence to the story based on the picture or symbol they rolled. For example, if a student rolls a picture of a cat, they might say, “The cat found a magical key.” The story continues with each student adding to it.
3. Example: Start with a basic sentence, such as “Once upon a time, there was a small village.” Students roll their cubes and add to the story based on the images. If someone rolls a picture of a castle, the next sentence might be, “In the village, there was a mysterious castle.”

Encourage students to be imaginative and build on each other’s ideas. This activity fosters teamwork and helps students practice speaking in a fun, creative context.

7. Role-Playing Jobs

Role-Playing Jobs involves simulating different job scenarios where students practice job-related conversations. This activity helps students use English in real-life situations and improves speaking skills. It works well in groups of 3-5 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Job role cards or job scenario descriptions
• Optional: props related to the job roles (e.g., a toy phone for a receptionist)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare job role cards or scenarios. Examples include a waiter taking orders, a shop assistant helping a customer, or a doctor talking to a patient. Give each student a card or scenario description.
2. Execution: Students take turns role-playing their job scenario. For instance, if a student is a waiter, they practice taking a customer’s order. Other students play the roles of customers or colleagues.
3. Example: If the scenario is a doctor’s office, one student acts as the doctor and another as the patient. The “doctor” might ask, “What seems to be the problem today?” while the “patient” responds with their symptoms.

Students can switch roles or scenarios to practice different job-related conversations. This activity makes speaking practice engaging and relevant to real-life situations.

8. Opinion Corners

Opinion Corners is an activity where students express their opinions on different topics by moving to designated corners of the room. This helps students practice speaking and develop their ability to explain and justify their opinions. Ideal for groups of 6-12 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Signs or labels for different opinions or topics (e.g., “Agree,” “Disagree,” “Neutral”)
• Optional: markers and paper for students to write down their thoughts

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Place signs or labels in different corners of the room, each representing a different opinion or topic. For example, labels could be “Agree,” “Disagree,” and “Neutral.”
2. Execution: Present a statement or question to the class, such as “School uniforms are a good idea.” Students move to the corner that best represents their opinion. Once in their chosen corner, students discuss their opinions with others in that corner.
3. Example: After discussing in their corners, each group shares their opinions with the class. A group in the “Agree” corner might say, “Uniforms help create equality among students,” while a group in the “Disagree” corner might argue, “Uniforms limit students’ freedom of expression.”

This activity encourages students to practice speaking and listening in a structured, yet interactive way. It also helps them learn to articulate and defend their views.

9. Describe Without Saying It

In the Describe Without Saying It activity, students describe a common object without naming it, while others guess what it is. This helps build descriptive language skills and encourages students to think carefully about how they use words. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Objects or pictures of common items (e.g., a pencil, a chair)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Choose several common objects or use pictures of them. Ensure that the objects are familiar to all students.
2. Execution: One student picks an object and describes it to the group without naming it. For example, if the object is a pencil, they might say, “This is something you use to write or draw. It has a wooden body and a point that can be sharpened.” The other students guess what the object is.
3. Example: If the object is a chair, the student might describe, “This is something you sit on. It usually has four legs and a backrest.”

Students take turns describing different objects, which helps them practice using descriptive language and improves their speaking clarity.

10. Reverse Interview

In the Reverse Interview activity, students take turns being the interviewer and interviewee on random topics. This helps students practice asking and answering questions and improves their conversational skills. Ideal for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• List of random topics or questions (e.g., favorite hobbies, dream jobs)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare a list of topics or questions for the interviews. Topics could include “What is your favorite hobby?” or “Describe your ideal vacation.”
2. Execution: Divide students into pairs. One student starts as the interviewer, asking questions about the topic, while the other student answers. After a few minutes, students switch roles.
3. Example: In a topic about hobbies, the interviewer might ask, “What do you like to do in your free time?” The interviewee responds, “I enjoy painting and drawing.” After a few minutes, they swap roles.

This activity allows students to practice both questioning and answering in a conversational setting, making it a valuable tool for enhancing speaking skills.

11. Mystery Role Play

Mystery Role Play involves assigning secret roles to students, who then act and speak according to their roles without revealing them. This activity encourages creativity and spontaneous speaking. It works well in groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Role cards with different scenarios or characters

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare role cards with different scenarios or characters. Each card should include a brief description of the role or situation.
2. Execution: Hand out the role cards to students, making sure they do not reveal their roles to others. Students act out their roles in a given scenario without disclosing their identity. For example, in a scenario where students are detectives solving a mystery, they might ask each other questions and provide clues based on their roles.
3. Example: In a role play about a party, one student might be a surprise guest, while another is a party host. The surprise guest might talk about their unexpected visit, while the host reacts accordingly.

This activity helps students practice speaking in various contexts and enhances their ability to think and speak on their feet.

12. Fact or Fiction

In the Fact or Fiction activity, students make statements, and others guess whether they are true or false. This exercise helps students practice their speaking skills, critical thinking, and listening comprehension. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None, just imagination and knowledge

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Explain to students that they will make statements about various topics, and their classmates will guess if the statements are true or false.
2. Execution: Each student takes turns making a statement. For example, “Cats can fly” or “The Earth orbits the Sun.” The other students guess if the statement is true or false and discuss their reasoning.
3. Example: A student might say, “Sharks are mammals.” The other students will guess and explain that it is false because sharks are fish.

This activity encourages students to use their speaking skills to share information and practice making clear, persuasive statements.

13. Chain Stories

In the Chain Stories activity, one student starts a story, and each subsequent student adds a sentence to continue it. This promotes creativity, coherence in storytelling, and teamwork. It works well in groups of 4-6 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Gather students in a circle or seated in a way they can easily hear each other.
2. Execution: The first student starts with an opening sentence for a story. Each student then adds a sentence in turn to build on the story. For example, “Once upon a time, there was a magical forest.” The next student might add, “In this forest, animals could talk.”
3. Example: If the story starts with, “A dragon lived in the mountains,” the next student might continue with, “The dragon loved to collect shiny rocks.”

This activity helps students practice speaking fluidly and creatively while working together to build a coherent story.

14. Silent Speaking

In the Silent Speaking activity, students read each other’s lips to guess what they are silently mouthing. This fun game improves students’ ability to convey and interpret messages clearly. Ideal for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Explain that students will try to guess words or sentences by watching their classmates’ mouth movements.
2. Execution: One student silently mouths a word or sentence while the others watch and guess what it is. For example, if a student silently mouths “apple,” others might guess the word based on the lip movements.
3. Example: A student might silently mouth “book,” and the others guess it by observing how the lips move.

This activity helps students improve their ability to articulate words and enhances their observation skills.

15. One-Word Story

In the One-Word Story activity, students build a story, one word at a time, focusing on collaboration and spontaneity. This activity fosters creativity and teamwork. Suitable for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Arrange students in a circle or seated in a way they can easily contribute to the story.
2. Execution: The first student says a word to start the story. Each student adds one word in turn to continue the story. For example, the first student might say “Once,” the next “upon,” and the next “a,” continuing to build the story one word at a time.
3. Example: If the first student says “Once,” the next might say “upon,” and so on, creating a sentence like “Once upon a time, there was a dragon.”

This activity encourages quick thinking and helps students practice sentence structure and creative storytelling.

16. Pass the Question

In the Pass the Question activity, students pass a question around the room, with each student giving a different answer. This exercise helps improve speaking fluency and encourages students to think on their feet. Works well in groups of 4-8 students and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• List of questions or prompts (e.g., “What’s your favorite season?”)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare a list of questions or prompts. Ensure they are simple and relevant to the students’ level.
2. Execution: Start by asking a question to one student. They answer and then pass the question to the next student, who provides a different answer. Continue until all students have answered the question.
3. Example: If the question is “What’s your favorite food?” one student might say “Pizza,” the next “Sushi,” and so on.

This activity encourages students to think quickly and practice speaking about a variety of topics.

17. Who Am I?

In the Who Am I? activity, each student picks a famous person and gives clues about them without revealing their name. This helps students practice descriptive language, questioning, and deduction skills. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• None

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Explain to students that they will give clues about a famous person for others to guess who they are. The famous person could be an actor, historical figure, or fictional character.
2. Execution: One student starts by giving clues about their chosen person, such as “This person was the first president of the United States.” Others guess who it is based on the clues given.
3. Example: If the clues are “This person is known for a famous speech about freedom” and “He was a leader during the American Civil War,” the answer would be Abraham Lincoln.

This activity promotes speaking skills and critical thinking by requiring students to describe and deduce information.

18. Dialogue Switch

In the Dialogue Switch activity, students start a dialogue and switch roles midway. This helps practice adaptability and encourages fluent conversation. Suitable for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Dialogue prompts or scenarios

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare simple dialogue scenarios or prompts, such as “Ordering food at a restaurant” or “Asking for directions.”
2. Execution: Students start a dialogue based on the prompt. After a few minutes, signal them to switch roles, continuing the conversation from the new perspective.
3. Example: For a scenario of “Buying a concert ticket,” one student might start as the ticket seller and the other as the buyer. After a few minutes, they switch roles.

This activity helps students adapt quickly to different speaking roles and enhances their conversational skills.

19. Impromptu Role Play

In Impromptu Role Play, students are given random scenarios to act out without any preparation. This improves spontaneous speaking and creativity. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Scenario prompts on paper or slides

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare slips of paper or slides with different scenarios, such as “A job interview” or “A surprise party.”
2. Execution: Give each student or group a scenario. They have a few minutes to think, then act out their scenario in front of the class.
3. Example: If the scenario is “A customer returns a product,” students might role-play a customer and a store clerk discussing the return.

This activity encourages quick thinking and helps students practice speaking in various situations.

20. Pictionary Descriptions

In Pictionary Descriptions, students draw an object or scene and then describe it to others, focusing on clarity and detail. This supports vocabulary building and descriptive language. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Paper and markers

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Each student or group gets paper and markers. Prepare a list of words or phrases for students to draw.
2. Execution: Students draw one of the words or phrases and describe their drawing to the group. Others guess what it is based on the description.
3. Example: If the word is “beach,” the student draws a scene with sand and water and describes it as “A place with sand, waves, and sun.”

This activity helps improve descriptive language and enhances students’ ability to communicate clearly.

21. Reaction Role-Play

In Reaction Role-Play, students practice responding to different situations in real-time. This activity helps improve quick thinking and speaking skills. Suitable for groups of 4-6 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Situation cards or prompts

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare cards or prompts with various scenarios, such as “You find a lost puppy” or “Your friend is late for a meeting.”
2. Execution: Each student draws a card and has a few seconds to react to the scenario as if it were real. They speak out their response to the group.
3. Example: If the scenario is “You receive an unexpected gift,” the student might express surprise and gratitude, practicing spontaneous speaking.

This activity helps students practice quick, natural responses and improves their ability to handle unexpected situations in conversation.

22. Picture Detective

In Picture Detective, students describe a picture with missing elements, and others guess what is missing. This activity enhances descriptive skills and attention to detail. Suitable for groups of 4-8 students and takes about 20 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Pictures with missing parts (either printed or on slides)

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Choose pictures with one or more parts removed or obscured. Prepare these pictures for students to describe.
2. Execution: Show the picture to the class. Students take turns describing the visible parts and guessing what is missing based on the descriptions.
3. Example: If the picture shows a park with a missing slide, students might describe the park and infer that a slide is missing from the playground.

This activity sharpens students’ descriptive abilities and encourages careful observation and speaking.

23. Debate in Pairs

In Debate in Pairs, students discuss a given topic or issue from different viewpoints in pairs. This activity builds argumentation skills and fluency. Suitable for pairs or small groups of 2-4 students and takes about 20-30 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Debate topics or prompts

Detailed Instructions

1. Setup: Prepare a list of debate topics or prompts, such as “Should school uniforms be mandatory?” or “Is technology making us more connected?”
2. Execution: Assign each pair a topic. They prepare and debate their assigned viewpoint, practicing structured arguments and counterarguments.
3. Example: For the topic “Should homework be banned?” one student argues for banning homework while the other argues against it, each presenting their points clearly.

This activity helps students develop their speaking skills in a structured format and improves their ability to articulate and defend their opinions.

Conclusion

Using fun and engaging speaking activities helps teens improve their English skills. These activities make learning more enjoyable and boost their confidence.

By choosing activities that fit their interests, you keep students motivated and excited. This makes speaking practice more effective and enjoyable.

Tailor these activities to your students’ needs, and you’ll create a lively classroom where teens feel comfortable speaking English.

FAQs on ESL Speaking Activities for Teens

Question 1: What are speaking activities for teens?
Answer 1: Speaking activities for teens are exercises that help them practice speaking English. These activities are designed to be fun and engaging, focusing on fluency, vocabulary, and confidence.

Question 2: How can speaking activities benefit teens?
Answer 2: Speaking activities help teens improve their English speaking skills, build confidence, and learn new vocabulary. They also make learning more enjoyable and interactive.

Question 3: How do I choose the right activity for my class?
Answer 3: Choose activities based on your students’ interests and skill levels. Make sure the activities are engaging and relevant to their lives.

Question 4: How long should each activity take?
Answer 4: Most activities should take between 10 to 30 minutes. Adjust the time based on the complexity of the activity and the students’ engagement.

Question 5: Do I need special materials for these activities?
Answer 5: Some activities require simple materials like pictures, cards, or story cubes. Check the instructions for each activity to see what materials you need.

Question 6: Can these activities be used with large groups?
Answer 6: Yes, many activities can be adapted for large groups by splitting students into smaller teams or pairs to ensure everyone participates.

Question 7: How do I keep students motivated during these activities?
Answer 7: Keep students motivated by choosing activities that match their interests and by providing positive feedback. Encourage participation and make the activities enjoyable.

Question 8: What if students are shy or hesitant to speak?
Answer 8: Start with simple, low-pressure activities to build their confidence. Create a supportive environment where mistakes are okay and everyone feels comfortable speaking.

Question 9: How often should I use these activities?
Answer 9: Use these activities regularly to provide consistent practice. You can include them in your weekly lesson plans or as a part of special language practice sessions.

Question 10: Can these activities be used for online classes?
Answer 10: Yes, many activities can be adapted for online classes. Use virtual tools and platforms to facilitate interaction and keep students engaged.