Engaging Opening Activity for ESL: "Two Truths and a Lie" Game

as a esl teacher propose an opening activity an 11-year-old foreign student before the main lesson

Certainly! Here's a fun and engaging opening activity for an 11-year-old foreign student before diving into the main lesson:

Activity: "Two Truths and a Lie"

Objective: To practice speaking and listening skills, build rapport, and learn more about each other.

Materials Needed:

• None (optional: a whiteboard and markers if you want to write down the statements)

Instructions:

1. Introduction:

   • Greet the student warmly and explain that you will start with a fun game called "Two Truths and a Lie."
   • Briefly explain the rules: Each person will say three statements about themselves. Two of the statements should be true, and one should be a lie. The other person has to guess which statement is the lie.

2. Model the Activity:

   • Start by giving your own three statements. For example:
     1. "I have a pet cat."
     2. "I have visited five different countries."
     3. "I can play the guitar."
   • Ask the student to guess which statement is the lie. (In this example, let's say the lie is "I can play the guitar.")

3. Student's Turn:

   • Encourage the student to think of their own three statements. Give them a moment if they need it.
   • Once they are ready, have them share their statements with you.

4. Guessing:

   • Listen carefully to the student's statements and make your guess about which one is the lie.
   • After guessing, ask the student to reveal the correct answer.

5. Discussion:

   • Spend a few minutes discussing the true statements. Ask follow-up questions to show interest and encourage more conversation. For example, if the student says they have a pet dog, you could ask, "What is your dog's name?" or "How old is your dog?"

6. Transition to Main Lesson:

   • Praise the student for their participation and smoothly transition into the main lesson by connecting something from the game to the lesson topic if possible. For example, if the lesson is about animals and the student mentioned a pet, you could say, "Since you have a pet dog, let's learn more about animals today!"

Benefits:

• This activity helps break the ice and makes the student feel more comfortable.
• It encourages the student to speak in English and practice listening.
• It provides a fun and interactive way to start the lesson, making the student more engaged and ready to learn.

Feel free to adjust the activity based on the