{"id":17122,"date":"2023-01-21T12:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-21T19:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=17122"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:59:11","slug":"esl-filler-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"7 ESL Filler Activities for Teaching Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>\n<p>You\u2019ve finally finished teaching your lesson, your students have completed all of their tasks, and then you realize you still have time left before class ends. Uh-oh! Since you don\u2019t want to waste this unexpected time away, you can easily turn it into a fun and educational moment. By having a few ESL filler activities while teaching online up your sleeve, you&#8217;ll never have a wasted moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/micro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Take a Micro-credential course in Games and Activities for the Online Classroom to learn strategies for successfully integrating activities like these into your lessons.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#What_is_a_filler_in_ESL\" >What is a filler in ESL?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#What_ESL_filler_activities_can_I_use_while_teaching_online_classes\" >What ESL filler activities can I use while teaching online classes?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#1_20_Questions\" >1. 20 Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#2_Vocabulary_Race\" >2. Vocabulary Race<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#3_Photo_Hunt\" >3. Photo Hunt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#4_Activities_With_Songs\" >4. Activities With Songs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#5_Quick_Write-Ups\" >5. Quick Write-Ups<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#6_Crazy_Storytelling\" >6. Crazy Storytelling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-filler-activities\/#7_What_Does_It_Mean\" >7. What Does It Mean?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_filler_in_ESL\"><\/span>What is a filler in ESL?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/classroom-management-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">classroom management<\/a>, it&#8217;s important to be ready for anything. You may suddenly end up with extra class time, for instance, and your online learners are left without anything to do. For this kind of situation, it\u2019s essential for you to have a number of ESL filler activities while teaching online. These structured activities will keep the tone light and fun while continuing to incorporate lesson material. ESL activities for young learners and teens center around <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-games-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">games, songs, and rhyme<\/a>. The fun isn&#8217;t limited to your younger students though! There are tons of ESL filler activities for adults as well that encourage <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tefl-speaking-activities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">conversational speaking and intonation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ESL filler activities while <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-from-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">teaching English classes online<\/a> can be especially handy when:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 1.1em; text-align: left; --ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23ff6900&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); --ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-spacing: 0px; \" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-2e993fdf-818b-440c-bcc7-9318c2d666cc\"><div class=\"ub-block-list__layout\" style=\"text-align: left; column-count: 1; --ub-list-mobile-column-count: 2; \">\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-6930deea-4ffd-4836-b6d7-4176e626a59f\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">You\u2019ve covered everything in your lesson plan already and finished too early.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-8dc73ee4-97d3-44fb-8e1b-a3c2098d0b81\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">You run into technical issues during class (e.g., an app fails to load or the internet connection is poor).<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-302aad21-6b82-473b-a3d8-c89fe91bd893\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">You notice that your young learners start to become disinterested or restless during class.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-a1ba7b19-323a-4145-88b1-9b04b5c14019\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">You need to cover another teacher\u2019s class at the last minute.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>In many cases, class fillers have the same benefits as <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-icebreakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ESL icebreakers<\/a>, which are typically meant to make learners comfortable in class and get to know one another better. But, while both activities should be quick and easy to execute, the main goal of fillers is to maximize students\u2019 learning time and engage students if awkward transition periods come up before, in the middle of, or at the end of an online English lesson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-games-activities-kids-young-learners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get young learners interested in English with these ESL games and activities.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_ESL_filler_activities_can_I_use_while_teaching_online_classes\"><\/span>What ESL filler activities can I use while teaching online classes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although fillers can be stand-alone activities in class, you can also use them to complement your lesson plans or use them as extended practice for challenging <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-esl-vocabulary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vocabulary<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-grammar-activities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grammar topics<\/a>. Here are some ESL filler activities to use while teaching online English classes. We&#8217;ve identified which age group the activity will work best with, ranging from young learners up to adult students. Here are our top recommendations for filler activities for students!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"811\" height=\"567\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/juicy-mae-with-glasses.jpg\" alt=\"online English teacher plays a game with student\" class=\"wp-image-9654\" style=\"width:406px;height:284px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/juicy-mae-with-glasses.jpg 811w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/juicy-mae-with-glasses-480x336.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 811px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/juicy-mae-from-the-philippines-teaching-online-with-multiple-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teacher Juicy Mae<\/a> plays a game with her ESL student online.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_20_Questions\"><\/span>1. 20 Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> All ages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a category (e.g., animals, food, sports, etc.) and think of a word that fits into it. Then, the student has to guess the word you\u2019ve chosen by asking a maximum of 20 yes or no questions. If he or she is able to guess the word, the student gets a point. This is great practice for students who are learning to correctly form questions! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teaching-english-online-groups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">teaching English online to groups<\/a>, students can take turns guessing and asking each other questions. For bigger groups, you can divide them into virtual breakout rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Vocabulary_Race\"><\/span>2. Vocabulary Race<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> Young learners<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this game, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/use-realia-esl-classroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">use realia<\/a> or items that are within your reach. Alternatively, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/use-manycam-for-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">use ManyCam<\/a> to show various objects onscreen. If neither of these options works, you can simply describe the items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell students that they\u2019ll have to say (or write in the chatbox) the name of the item that you\u2019re going to show onscreen and that whoever says the correct word gets a point. Make sure to show one item at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bonus game:<\/strong> Aside from eliciting vocabulary for objects, you can also hold a verb race, where students can compete to conjugate verbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Photo_Hunt\"><\/span>3. Photo Hunt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> Teens and young adults<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before starting this activity, let your students know that they will have to look for pictures on their mobile phones or computers. They can also use physical prints if they have any nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once they\u2019re ready with their digital or real photos, think of a category or a kind of photo they\u2019ll have to look for. For example, you can make them look for a photo of their family or of themselves during a recent vacation. Give students a minute or two to choose a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterward, ask each student to show the photo to the class, either by holding it up to the camera or sharing it onscreen. Then, have each one talk about the photo and share where it was taken, who the people in it are, and what they were doing at the time. The class can also ask questions about the photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to make students comfortable sharing their photos, you can share your own photos first and give a model description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-warm-up-activities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out these 10 ESL warm-up activities.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sallie-teaching-online-2048x1478-1.jpg\" alt=\"online English teacher\" class=\"wp-image-41944\" style=\"width:535px;height:386px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sallie-teaching-online-2048x1478-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sallie-teaching-online-2048x1478-1-480x346.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bridge grad Sallie uses flashcards and other versatile props in her online classroom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Activities_With_Songs\"><\/span>4. Activities With Songs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> All ages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are various ways you can <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-songs-kids-teens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">use songs in your ESL class<\/a>. For these activities, you will need to have YouTube or a digital music streaming service like Spotify or iTunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Guess the Title<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose five or ten popular songs, preferably from genres that most of your students are familiar with. Then, play the first few seconds of the song or the chorus and let students race to say the song title!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lyrics Fill Game<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell the students that you\u2019re going to play a part of a hit song and then pause it midway. After you pause it, students have to recite or sing the next line. Then, continue playing the song to check if your learners&#8217; lyrics are correct!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Quick_Write-Ups\"><\/span>5. Quick Write-Ups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> Teens and young adults<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this writing and speaking activity, instruct students to be ready with something to write on \u2013 a notebook, a sheet of paper, or Microsoft Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Come up with various topics they can write about. For instance, they can write about their favorite place, a memorable moment in their life, their life goals, or even the lyrics to their own song! You can also come up with a list of five to ten topics beforehand and have each student choose a number from the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give students two to three minutes to write. Afterward, ask each one to read what they\u2019ve written out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want more ideas? <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/no-prep-esl-activities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try these no-prep ESL activities for the last 10 minutes of class.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jhonny-doing-online-classes-before-the-quarantine-2.jpg\" alt=\"Jhonny, an online English teacher with adult ESL students\" class=\"wp-image-8140\" style=\"width:486px;height:410px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jhonny-doing-online-classes-before-the-quarantine-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jhonny-doing-online-classes-before-the-quarantine-2-980x827.jpg 980w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jhonny-doing-online-classes-before-the-quarantine-2-480x405.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/jhonny-shifting-english-classes-online-during-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teacher Jhonny<\/a> during an online ESL class<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Crazy_Storytelling\"><\/span>6. Crazy Storytelling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with: <\/strong>All ages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the virtual whiteboard or chatbox, write five random words. Then, tell the class that each student has to create a story using all of the words on the list. Give the students some time to think or write before asking each one of them to share their stories with the class. Afterward, you can have them vote on the best \u2013 or the craziest \u2013 story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from coming up with the five words yourself, you can also encourage contributions of additional vocabulary from your students and write the list onscreen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/storytelling-for-young-learners-in-esl-classroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about the importance of storytelling in the ESL classroom for young learners.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_What_Does_It_Mean\"><\/span>7. What Does It Mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Works best with:<\/strong> Adults<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make a list of vocabulary words, phrasal verbs, or idioms that your students may or may not have heard yet. The words can be random ones from the dictionary or vocabulary related to your last lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell the class that you\u2019re going to say a word or expression and that each one of them has to guess its definition. Set a one-minute timer for them to come up with the meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterward, call on each student to define the word. Once everyone has spoken, students who have a similar or close meaning get a point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from preparing lesson plans and materials, these five-minute filler activities for the  ESL classroom are the perfect backup plan to account for the unexpected. Don&#8217;t let a moment or learning opportunity go to waste \u2013 have fun, engage your students, and always feel on top of your teaching game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>By taking Bridge&#8217;s short <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/micro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Micro-credential courses<\/a>, you can get more ideas for games and activities that will make your online English classes exciting every time<\/em>.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve finally finished teaching your lesson, your students have completed all of their tasks, and then you realize you still have time left before class ends. Uh-oh! Since you don\u2019t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10,14],"tags":[50,99,100,102,125,132,136,330,340,348,352,394],"post-language":[],"popular_posts":[],"class_list":["post-17122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-classroom-games-activities","category-pedagogy","category-teaching-english-online","tag-classroom-management","tag-esl-activities","tag-esl-classroom","tag-esl-games","tag-filler-activities","tag-freelance-teacher","tag-games-and-activities","tag-teaching-english-online","tag-teaching-online","tag-teaching-strategies","tag-teaching-tips","tag-tefl-teacher-resources"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ESL-Filler-Activities-for-Teaching-Online-blog-image.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Krzl Light Nu\u00f1es","author_link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/author\/krzlnunesgmail-com\/"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17122"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41946,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17122\/revisions\/41946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17122"},{"taxonomy":"post-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-language?post=17122"},{"taxonomy":"popular_posts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular_posts?post=17122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}