7: Change partners frequently - Top 10 tips for teaching english conversation

49 ESL Conversation Games & Activities - Jackie Bolen 2020

7: Change partners frequently
Top 10 tips for teaching english conversation

A common thing that happens in ESL classes is that students sit with the same partner every single day. This is not useful for a number of reasons, the main one being fossilization, where errors get entrenched. One way that our students know they are making a mistake is if their partner is unable to understand them. If a student goes with the same partner each time, that partner will get to know their mistakes and be able to understand them, even if nobody else can which isn't useful. Another reason that you need to change it up is that students are usually more motivated to speak in the target language (English!) if they aren't with their BFF. Finally, it simply gets boring to talk to the same person over and over again so changing it up periodically will increase motivation in classes.