Let's discuss first-day activities for ESL. Do not worry if you need assistance planning what to do on the first day of ESL class. Here are a few top suggestions for first-day ESL activities from Allright.com.

You've come to the correct place if you're seeking ESL getting-to-know-you games for the first day of class. I'll share my top ten first-day ESL activities with you so that you can kick off your semester successfully.

I refer to the great manner that students and teachers begin getting to know one another in a fun, engaging, and interactive way as starting out on the right foot. On the first day, establish the tone for the remainder of the semester and establish a productive English classroom.

First day of ESL class

These are my top ESL icebreakers for the first day, without further ado. Some are appropriate for adults and teenagers, while others are fantastic for young students. Of course, some first-day English class exercises are appropriate for students of all ages.

The objective of the first day 

of an ESL session should be for the students to feel comfortable and to get to know the teacher and other students. The teacher can also go over the expectations for the upcoming school year, the rules of the classroom, and information on tests and homework.

1.Ball toss

The game of ball tossing can be used to discuss virtually any subject or situation. Also, it functions particularly well as a first-day-of-class ESL activity. Depending on the age and academic level of your pupils, use icebreaker questions to get to know one another. Yet, younger teenagers or children are better suited for this pastime than adults. Youngsters adore it!

In a large class, you can divide the students into two teams and give each team two balls to play with.

Quick advice: To avoid injuries, a beach ball is perfect for this! In order to make sure that every kid has had a turn, you can also ask players to sit down.

Another quick tip: Use a permanent marker to write the word on the ball, or it’ll rub off too easily when the ball gets thrown from student to student.

2. Group Therapy

Group Therapy for English learners is a fun way for adults to introduce themselves. It’s done in the “AA” style, where students have to say something like, “My name is ______, and I _______.” The last part of the sentence is what students struggle with in English. We usually give students a minute or two to think of their idea so that we don’t put anyone on the spot on the first day.

It’s ideal for helping students feel like they’re not alone in their struggles with English. Don’t forget, you can have a turn too, with whatever language you’re studying.

3. Find Someone Who Bingo

One of my favorite ESL learning games is this one. It's a great enjoyable approach for kids to get to know you and their peers a little better.

Find Someone Who Bingo is a traditional first-day introduction activity. It's a fantastic exercise for both adults and kids. However, because very low-level pupils can find it difficult to comprehend English instructions, it is not recommended for them. It's not that difficult to describe, but learning how to play it does require some attentive attention.

There are no restrictions on the vocabulary that students can use to describe each square. Either let them choose on their own or let them pick from a list of options.

4. Toilet Paper Icebreaker Activity

You've probably used the well-known Toilet Paper Icebreaker before. Even ESL pupils enjoy it! The purpose of asking them to select a certain number of paper squares will be a mystery to your students. It's pretty intriguing and entertaining, straightforward to set up, and simple.

I like to give it a twist and encourage the pupils to offer their own questions. See the link below to see how I accomplish this. Learning is more interesting when you play games like this.

Skills: Speaking/Listening
Time: 5-30 minutes
Level: Beginner-Advanced
Materials Required: Toilet Paper

Bring in a roll of toilet paper, and depending on the size of your class, tell the students they can take a certain number of pieces (big classes 1-4, small classes 4-8). Don’t give them any other information except for that.

Once everyone has their paper, tell them that they have to tell the class one thing about themselves for each square of paper that they have. For each sentence, they “throw-away” one square until they’re done.

The first person tells one thing about themselves and throws away a square of toilet paper. Someone (whoever is the fastest) can ask a follow-up question. They also get to throw away a square of toilet paper. The next person in the circle says their statement and so it continues with one follow-up question, etc.

5. Just a Minute ESL Speaking Activity

This speaking exercise that emphasizes fluidity lends itself to practically any subject imaginable. On the first day, though. You can request that students make introductions.

Next, in order to encourage entertaining conversation and to make it more than simply a speaking exercise, mandate that the other kids in their group ask the person at least a couple of follow-up questions (also requires close listening). You can then ask each participant to introduce a member of their group to the class at the conclusion of the session (works best for smaller classes).

You can find out more about Just a Minute, suitable for a variety of topics, in this short video:

In conclusion, the first day of an ESL class is a crucial opportunity to set the tone for the entire semester and foster a positive and productive learning environment. The activities chosen for this day should focus on building rapport, encouraging interaction, and helping students feel comfortable in their new English learning journey.

Among the top ESL icebreakers for the first day, ball toss and group therapy stand out as engaging activities that can be tailored to different age groups. Ball toss allows students to break the ice and get to know each other through fun and interactive questions, while group therapy offers a supportive environment for adults to share their struggles with English.