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C O N TA C T

35 WAYS TO INTRODUCE YOUR

LESSON TOPIC
Are you fed up with using the same old methods to introduce your lesson t
Here are 35 ways to kick off your lesson. How many have you tried?

1. Using an anecdote
Example topic: idioms
You know I play football, right? No? Well I love it.
Anyway, I went into town to buy some new boots the
other day. I’m in Sports Direct, and I see these Nike
boots that I really like, they’re the new model. The
assistant comes over and is like

“can I help you?”

And I’m “yeah. Can you tell me how much these are?”

She says “They’re £500”

And I said “£500???? That’s an arm and a leg!”

Here’s some example flashcards I made for teaching idioms. These could a
‘dingbats’ warmer (see number 22).

2. Cuisenaire Rods creation

Example topic: Tourist attractions

Give each pair of students a bunch of Cuisenaire rods.

“Work in pairs. Use the rods to create a model of a well-known tourist attra
[town/city/country/continent]. You have 2 minutes”

Students then look at each model and guess the attraction.

 
 3. Cuisenaire Rods model
Create your own model using rods. Elicit what it represents.

(Here is my example of the UK political parties and their share of the vote,
politics)

4. Musical “Guess the topic”

Example topic: family and relationships

Think of 3 or 4 songs which in some way reference the theme/topic of your

Avril Lavigne – Skater Boi (“he was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it any m

The Hollies – He ain’t heavy (he’s my brother)

Baz Luhman – Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen (“maybe you’ll marry, ma

Ozzy Ozbourne – Mama I’m coming home

Play students a relevant segment of the song (where something about the t
Ask them to write notes on what they hear, compare notes, and guess the t

5. Family fortunes (my favourite)

Example topic: British customs and culture / stereotypes

Create a fake family fortunes style question:

“We asked 100 people from England, Scotland and Wales – which things ma

Board the following

1 ________________     2 ____________  3_____________  4____________ 5______

Students work in groups to prepare answers. Make it a little game (they win
correct answer).

Five possible answers for the above: queuing, drinking tea, talking about th
and chips, having bad teeth.

6. Picture parts
Example topic: animals

Make some extreme close-up pictures of animals. Pass them around and ge
guess what they are and hence the topic of the lesson
 

7. Picture association “Guess the topic”

Example topic: ‘once in a lifetime’

Gather pictures of things that people MIGHT do only once in a lifetime.

Examples: drive a Ferrari, skydive, run a marathon, win the lottery(?), see a

Board the pictures or pass them round, students discuss each one and gues

8. Complete the sentence

Topic: Making apologies

Think of a relevant starter sentence and have students complete in their ow

“The most common time to say sorry is….”

Topic: 2nd conditionals

“If I looked like David Beckham, I would…”

9. Me/not me
Example topic: Food and drink

Get students to create a table with two categories

Read a list of different foods/drinks. Students write each word you dictate i
correct category depending on their tastes. They then compare with their p
they are similar or different.

10. What are they saying?

Display a picture of someone on the board. Give students a speech bubble
speech bubble for each group on the board. Students write what the person

Example topic: World Cup

You could also do a caption competition

11. Me and my partner questions

Example topic: hobbies and interests

Make a series of questions or statements related to the topic. Have student

themselves. Then, they ask their partner the questions and compare answe
with two different partners to add more speaking. They could even predict
first, and see if they were right.

12. Classic ‘Find someone who…’ mingle

Students walk around asking questions to classmates to find out informatio
with their partner afterwards, and feedback as a class.

Example topic: fears/phobias

13. Slow reveal…

Start drawing a picture on the board, but only one line of it. Have students

‘A snake’, ‘a line’, etc.

Encourage creativity. Add the next line, encourages guesses, keep doing th
student guesses the picture/lesson topic

Example topic: Castles in Britain

14. Realia
Example topic: hobbies and interests

Bring in 5 items that represent your own hobbies, can students guess pasti
Mine – Bit of wool (knitting), keyboard (blogging), crossword, binoculars (bi
chicken (making jokes)

15. what happens next?

Show a relevant video, pause it at a key point and have students predict wh

Example topic: using modal verbs to express probability

 Parachutist lands on pitch d…

Pause clip after 7 seconds. Students discuss what might happen. Give some
(that player might… it might… maybe… the ball/the player/a fan will… etc)
options for what might happen. Play clip to see if prediction was correct (no
this video has some swearing).

16. Use authentic listening

Play students a relevant short clip of a movie/TV. Only let them hear the so
task relevant to the topic.

Example topic: feelings/emotions

Listen to the following clip. Write down any emotions you feel the speakers

Or

Listen to the clip. Circle all the emotions that speakers show

Excitement         anger       patience              shock      humour      etc

Kat and Zoe Slater | "You ai…

Now let them watch the clip and write down any extra emotions they ‘see’

17. Make your own audio

Create a short listening text as a topic lead in.

Example topic: giving advice

 18. Matching quiz
This is a good way to introduce target language straight away. Teaching En
(Scrivener) gives plenty of examples for how to present target language, I re
look

Example topic: passives

Match the inventions to the inventor…

The light bulb was invented by…               Alexander Graham Bell

 The telephone was invented by…             Tim Berners-Lee                          

               

The internet was invented by…                  Thomas Edison

Etc…

19. Boggle guess the word

Use the letters from the lesson topic to make a little game

Example topic: Solar System – the planets

20. Moving true or false

Check what your students know about a topic with quick fire true or false q
make it more exciting. All students, stand up. If they think the answer is tru
left of the classroom. False, on the right. If they get it wrong, they are out (
Continue until one student remains. They are the winner, reward them with
applause.

21. Moving agree/disagree

This just makes warm up discussion questions more fun and mixes up spea
corners of the room different opinions – e.g.

Stand near the door if you agree

Stand in the corner over there (point) if you strongly agree

Stand near Pedro’s desk if you disagree

Etc

Read a statement, students move to the relevant corner, then give them 1 o
the statement with whoever is in the corner. If there is only one person in a
you could bounce a few ideas from each corner as a class discussion, or se
different opinion over to debate it.

22. Dingbats
These are fun drawings that represent a word.
Example topic: technology.

Draw a few dingbats on the board. Students guess the words then guess wh
lesson might be.

(smart phone)

23. Discussion questions

Example topic: crime and punishment

Q1: Do you agree with the death penalty?

Q2: ‘life means life’. What does this refer to, and do you agree?

Etc.

24. Secret realia

Bring in objects in a ‘santa’s sack’. Put the sack on the table. Allows certain
objects through the sack. They work with a partner/team to guess the obje
theme between each object.

 
 25. ‘Coffeepotting’
This can be done in many ways, but a good one is by providing a short text
is missing, and has been replaced with the word ‘Coffeepot’. Students gues

Example topic: television

Coffeepot was invented in the 1920s, but became popular after World War 2
were black and white, but then it changed to colour. Coffeepot is a form of
days, almost every household has a coffeepot. (etc…)

26. Verbal ‘coffeepotting’

Again the target word has been replaced by the word ‘Coffeepot’. Students
guess what word ‘Coffeepot’ actually is…

Example topic: MacDonalds

Student: is coffeepot a noun?

Teacher: yes…

Student: can coffeepot be a verb too?

Teacher: no

Student: is coffeepot an object?

Teacher: well, you can have a coffeepot, yes.

Student: is it a place?

Teacher: is what a place?

Student: sorry, is coffeepot a place?

Etc…

27. Complete the dialogue (similar to ‘what are they saying’!)

Put pictures on the board of random interactions between people. Have stu
dialogues. Choose pictures that will direct to the topic…

Example topic: how and when to apologise

Man: _______________________________

Woman: ____________________________

28. Mnemonic race

If introducing a familiar topic, a way to activate prior knowledge might be f
Mnemonic from the topic word, using associated words

Example topic: Feelings

F –antastic
E –xcellent

E – lated

L –azy

I – nsecure

N- auseous!

G- utted

S –tupid

29. Whiteboard race

Divide students into two teams, and divide the whiteboard down the middle
two teams. The first person in each line has a pen. When you say the topic,
write a word related to the topic, pass the pen to the next person then join
The next person then writes another word and passes the pen on. Do this f
If one team writes a word that the other team already have they get no poin
knowledge.

30. Categorising
Display a set of familiar words related (or less so) to the topic. Ask students
into at least 3 different categories. Conduct class feedback/discussion and
their categories and explain why they chose them.

Example topic: health and fitness

Smoking, running, drugs, red wine, football, movies, reading, clubbing, vita
vegetables, birdwatching

Possible student created categories:

Things that benefit your health       Things that damage your health        un

(playing) football                                clubbing (too much)                          

Smoking (relieve stress)                    drugs

Reading (relaxation)                                       etc

With this activity, you’ll be surprised at some of the categories. Also, it lead
discussion:

‘Snakes are not unrelated, they could seriously damage your health’

‘Smoking is good for you?! No way!’

Etc

31. What does that mean?

Board the lesson topic. Have learners write a short definition of it. I did this
happened:

Example topic: lookalikes

Definitions…

Group 1: like a look (?)

Group 2: to look like something or someone

Group 3: look and act like something

Group 4: be person not you famous (?)

32. Organise and discuss

Think of a statement related to the topic. Get lots of small slips of paper. W
statement on each slip. Jumble up the words. Hand one set of the words to
group work together to put the statement in the correct order, then discuss

If the topic is particularly familiar or the learners are high level, get them to
statement and create the organisation task (statement minimum 8 words o

33. odd one out

For general discussion…
Board 4 or 5 common words related to the topic. Have students decide whic
out and why. Example topic: jobs/ambitions

Fireman               Doctor                  Teacher                                Nurse

Student: the odd one out is the teacher as the others save lives

For guessing the topic…

Same thing, but include one word that is not related at all, and see if stude
when they share their opinion!

Example topic: Endangered animals

T-rex                     dodo                     rhino                     woolly mammoth

Student: rhino is the odd one out as the others are extinct

(leads into a discussion on things like threats rhinos might face and introdu
‘endangered’.

34. A conundrum
Pose a difficult question to the students which may be a topic of debate.

Topic: giving opinions

Recently, a teacher recommended the ‘do or die’ videos by National Geogra

of these on youtube. Choose one relevant to your topic.. here’s an example
 DO OR DIE: Trapped Under …

35. Hangman!
I really hope you’ve found 1 new idea here. Please comment and add your o
a topic, let’s get from 35 to 100!

Update: I’ve added some further ideas in this new post.

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40 Comments

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40 COMMENTS

Pingback: 35 WAYS TO INTRODUCE YOUR LESSON TOPIC | Little delicate wo

krishnabohora
June 23, 2015 at 7:36 am

Reblogged this on अनुभव र अनुभूित (Experience and PERCEPTION) an

Really useful one

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY
meganharcourtefl
June 23, 2015 at 3:35 pm

Reblogged this on Class Website and commented:

This is really useful – thank you!

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY

su mon
June 24, 2015 at 3:43 am

Thank you very much!That’s what i need.It is very useful

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY

Shocked Guest
June 24, 2015 at 12:44 pm

Is the teacher saying “… and is like…”? Really?! I guess that expla

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY
 punster30
June 24, 2015 at 4:46 pm

Yep, I’m like, saying it

 Like
REPLY

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TEFL Training College

June 29, 2015 at 8:34 am

Reblogged this on TEFL Training College and commented:

We like this post! Very handy.

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annforeman
July 6, 2015 at 6:58 am

Hi Peter,

Just to let you know that we’ve shortlisted this blog post for this
TeachingEnglish blog award and I’ll be putting up a post about it
TeachingEnglish Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/TeachingEnglish.BritishCouncil, if you
for likes and comments.

Best,
Ann

 Like
REPLY

punster30
July 6, 2015 at 7:12 am

Wow, thanks so much Ann! I think Svetlana’s post has been t

over the last few months for sure though. I always find her p


 Liked by 1 person REPLY

Tanya
July 6, 2015 at 8:34 pm

Awesome tips! Thank you so much! GREAT!!!!!!!!

 Like
REPLY

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Natalie Murray
July 13, 2015 at 6:02 am

Reblogged this on English in Andalucia and commented:

Teaching summer school? Out with the old!

 Like
REPLY

Kevin Nightingale
July 13, 2015 at 7:51 pm

These are fantastic. I will be using some of these this week

 Like
REPLY

Dewi Natalia
July 16, 2015 at 11:22 am

Wow. These ideas are really awesome. I’ll try these in my EFL clas
much!!! 😀

 Like
REPLY

David McFetridge
August 17, 2015 at 7:49 pm

Very useful, thanks!

 Like
REPLY

lessonplansdigger
September 22, 2015 at 5:51 pm

This list is great, interesting to see so many new ideas.

One of my favourite ways of introducing and creating interest in t
some facts and figures. When I teach about TV (or choose this top
classes) I sometimes start by drawing a TV set on the board and w
to it: 4h40mins (has to do with time children spend watching TV
of all married couples have a TV set in their bedroom), 2.4 (this m
per household in the US). My students need to figure out how the
topic. I ask less advanced students to match numbers with their m
This idea is super versatile and might be used with a lot of differe
groups/levels. It’s also a pretty good way to get students talking
(checking whether they are surprised with the data etc.)

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY

punster30
September 23, 2015 at 1:40 am

Great stuff! I use that as an intro for new classes where I writ
numbers/words on the board about me – ’30’, ‘Tortoise’, ‘Sc
tell students these are the answers, but what are the questio
never thought to use it in other contexts, thanks for the idea
blog is great. So many good ideas – thought I was already fo
now!

 Like
REPLY

kristina stella
September 23, 2015 at 4:10 pm

Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing! I’ll be following you!

  Like
REPLY

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Jamie C
October 7, 2016 at 12:00 pm

Reblogged this on Jamie Clayton : thinking, teaching and learning

 Like
REPLY

Jamie C
December 7, 2016 at 8:35 am

Keep coming back to this one when ideas run thin. Absolute netb

 Like
REPLY

Peter Pun
December 7, 2016 at 9:26 am

Ha, glad it’s useful!

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY

FATIMA
March 31, 2017 at 10:01 am

Reblogged this on English Plus Blog.

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY

Cordula Rohrmoser
August 6, 2017 at 1:20 pm

This is a platinum mine of fantastic ideas! THANK YOU!!!

 Like
REPLY

Peter Pun
August 7, 2017 at 9:33 am

Pleasure! Hope you find them useful!

 Like
REPLY

Lila Publishing Consultancy

March 23, 2018 at 5:57 pm

Reblogged this on eltconsultancy.

 Like
REPLY

Sapna
May 31, 2018 at 2:49 am

Interesting ideas!

 Liked by 1 person
REPLY
 krishnabohora
October 5, 2018 at 8:40 am

Great!

 Like
REPLY

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