Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Chapter 22: Distinguishing Monolingual and Multi-lingual Classes 323

With a class of students from different language groups and backgrounds,

breaking the ice is key to getting the course off to a good start. By using these

activities, you can help students make friends, feel comfortable and avoid

them gravitating towards speakers of the same language.

Chuck a monkey (or whatever toy you have)

A useful tool in an EFL classroom is a stupid looking cuddly toy (I use a

monkey myself), or if you just can’t bring yourself to have one of those with

you, try a bean bag. I have tried doing the following activity with a pen but

found that one student complained on the grounds of health and safety. She

said I could have someone’s eye out!

The icebreaker goes like this:

1. Arrange the chairs into a circle if possible.

Students can sit or stand for this.

2. Introduce yourself according to the class level.

For example, with absolute beginners you might just say your name and
point to yourself or at advanced level you can explain your background
in teaching and any interests you have.

3. Now throw the toy to someone else and ask them to introduce
   themselves.

Sometimes a raised eyebrow and expectant look does the trick.

4. After the student speaks, indicate that they should throw the toy to
   someone else.


5. Keep going until everyone has introduced themselves, then retrieve
   the toy.


6. This time you throw the toy to someone else and you introduce that
   person.

So, you say their name and whatever you remember about them.

7. Indicate to the student to throw the toy to someone else whose name
   they remember and keep going until you’ve covered everyone.

Encourage the rest of the class to help if someone gets stuck.

8. The activity ends when someone finally introduces you again.

Make a map

Get students working in pairs or threes for the first time.

Draw or point to a map on the board to illustrate your background – where

you’re from, places you’ve lived in and/or countries you’ve visited. Explain

the story with drawings, mimes and dates as necessary. Now get each student

to draw a map too.