6 Best ESL Games & Activities for Adults

Why Fun Matters in Adult ESL Learning

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that adults only learn best through serious, textbook-driven lessons. Many language learners and even some teachers think games are just for kids. But this couldn’t be further from the truth—fun and engaging activities are essential for adult learners too.

Science Backs Fun

Enjoyment isn’t just a luxury when it comes to learning—it’s an important tool. When we’re having fun, our brains release dopamine, a chemical that plays a key role in motivation, attention, and memory. For adults who often juggle busy schedules and daily responsibilities, lessons that feel rewarding and enjoyable can transform English learning from a chore into something to look forward to. Instead of dreading mistakes, learners become more willing to participate, take risks, and use English in meaningful ways.

Breaking Free from “Old School” Methods

Many adults have spent years memorizing grammar rules, translating sentences, and filling out endless worksheets. While these methods do have their place, they often drain motivation and create stress. High stress levels trigger the release of cortisol, which blocks memory formation and makes it harder to focus. By contrast, friendly competition, laughter, and creative activities reduce anxiety, making it easier for adults to absorb new information and actually use it.

Consistency Through Enjoyment

Group games and shared laughter turn classmates into teammates. A positive classroom environment encourages regular attendance and active participation. Students are more likely to help each other and less likely to feel self-conscious about making mistakes. In other words, fun activities don’t just make classes more enjoyable—they also help your learners stick with the process and make real progress.

6 Tried-and-True ESL Games & Activities for Adults

Below are six adaptable games and activities that can bring energy, motivation, and real language practice to your adult ESL classroom. Each one offers unique opportunities for building confidence, practicing communication, and strengthening group connections.

1. Would You Rather?

How it Works:
The teacher provides pairs of interesting or funny choices (for example: “Would you rather travel to space or explore the deep sea?”). Each student selects an option and explains their choice. Other students can ask questions or challenge their reasoning.

Why Use It?
This activity does more than just break the ice—it encourages students to use conditional sentences (“I would rather… because…”), share opinions, and explain their thoughts in detail. It also gives quieter students an easy way to participate because the choices are simple but the explanations can be as complex as needed.

When to Play?
Use “Would You Rather?” as a warm-up at the start of class to get everyone talking or as a conversation activity when practicing giving reasons or making choices. It’s also a great way to introduce new vocabulary related to preferences, travel, jobs, or daily routines.

Tips for Success:

• Start with light-hearted questions to relax the group.
• Gradually introduce more thought-provoking scenarios.
• Encourage follow-up questions for deeper discussion.

2. Two Truths and a Lie

How it Works:
Each student thinks of three statements about themselves—two true and one false. They share all three with the group (in any order), and classmates try to guess which statement is the lie. The student then reveals the answer and often shares a short story behind each statement.

Why Use It?
This game is a fantastic way for adults to get to know each other in a relaxed setting. It helps practice question formation (“Is it true that…?”), listening for details, and asking follow-up questions. It also encourages storytelling and builds trust within the group as students share personal experiences.

When to Play?
Ideal for the first lesson or after forming new groups, but it also works well when introducing new grammar such as present perfect (“I have visited Japan”) or past tense (“I ate insects once”).

Tips for Success:

• Demonstrate with your own examples first.
• Give students time to prepare their statements.
• Encourage gentle teasing and curiosity (while keeping things respectful).

3. Role Play Scenarios

How it Works:
The teacher sets up real-life situations: making a complaint at a store, attending a job interview, ordering food at a restaurant, or resolving a work conflict. Students are assigned roles (customer/shopkeeper, interviewer/candidate) and must act out the situation using target language.

Why Use It?
Role plays help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world use. Students practice functional language (requests, apologies, suggestions), improve their pronunciation and listening skills, and develop confidence in handling practical situations.

Role plays also allow learners to experiment with different approaches in a safe space—if they make a mistake, there’s no real consequence.

When to Play?
Great for practicing functional expressions after introducing new vocabulary or phrases. Also very effective before students prepare for real events (job interviews, presentations).

Tips for Success:

• Provide useful phrases on the board.
• Allow preparation time so students can brainstorm what they want to say.
• After each round, discuss what worked well and suggest improvements.

4. Find Someone Who…

How it Works:
Students receive a worksheet or grid with prompts like “Find someone who has lived in another country” or “Find someone who enjoys spicy food.” They walk around the room asking classmates questions until they find someone matching each description.

Why Use It?
This activity gets learners moving and talking to multiple classmates, practicing question forms (“Have you ever…?” “Do you…?”) and active listening. It encourages mingling between all group members, not just close friends.

“Find Someone Who…” is especially good at helping shy students practice speaking because everyone participates equally.

When to Play?
Perfect at the start of a course as an icebreaker or after teaching question formation in grammar lessons. It’s also useful when introducing new topics like hobbies or travel.

Tips for Success:

• Model the activity with sample questions.
• Encourage complete answers (“Yes, I have. I went to Italy last year.”)
• Set a time limit for added energy.

5. Story Cubes

How it Works:
You’ll need dice with pictures on each face (story cubes) or sets of random image cards. Students roll the dice or draw cards, then use those images as prompts to create a story together—either as a group or in pairs.

Why Use It?
Story cubes spark imagination while reinforcing connectors (first, then, suddenly), narrative tenses (past simple/past continuous), and descriptive language (adjectives/adverbs). Because there’s no right or wrong answer, students can relax and enjoy experimenting with English.

It’s also great for building teamwork as students add ideas to each other’s stories.

When to Play?
Ideal during creative writing lessons, as a review of past tense verbs, or when you want to energize a tired group with something more open-ended.

Tips for Success:

• Encourage students to use new vocabulary.
• Allow them to ask for help if they’re stuck.
• Share the finished stories with the whole class for extra fun.

6. Hot Seat

How it Works:
One student sits facing away from the board or screen while the teacher writes a word or phrase behind them. The rest of the class describes the word without saying it directly—using synonyms, explanations, or gestures—until the student guesses what it is.

Why Use It?
Hot Seat is fast-paced and highly energetic. It sharpens vocabulary recall, paraphrasing skills, quick thinking, and teamwork as students try to help their teammate succeed without giving away the answer directly.

It’s especially useful for reviewing vocabulary before exams or at the end of class when energy might be flagging.

When to Play?
Great for vocabulary reviews (topics: jobs, emotions, travel), team competitions, or anytime you need an interactive break from worksheets.

Tips for Success:

• Set clear rules: no saying parts of the word!
• Rotate who sits in the hot seat so everyone gets a turn.
• Use a timer for extra excitement.

Final Thoughts

Fun isn’t just an add-on; it’s central to effective language learning—especially for adults balancing work, family, and study. Games break down barriers, reduce stress, build confidence, and encourage risk-taking—all things that support better English skills over time.

These six activities aren’t just about passing time—they’re structured opportunities for adult students to practice speaking, listening, reasoning, storytelling, and collaboration in English. When you incorporate them into your lessons regularly, you’ll see improvements in participation, motivation, and language growth.

Remember: adults deserve learning experiences that are challenging and enjoyable. Try these games in your next class—your students will thank you!