conversational Tic Tac Toe

I have used this game many times with beginner level middle school students and they love it! It goes like this.
Draw a tic-tac-toe grid on the chalk board. Write the numbers 1 through 9 on the grid. Each square has one number in it. Then on a piece of paper write nine easy conversation questions such as -Whats your hobby?, What time is it?, How old are you? etc. Number the questions one through nine. Each question corresponds to one square on the tic tac toe grid. Divide the class into two teams, team x and team o. The students choose which square on the tic tac toe grid they want to try to get. When they choose a number then ask them the corresponding question. They get the x or o on that square if they answer the question WITH NO MISTAKES. The pickier you are with this one the more fun it is.
enjoy! (from Dave's ESL Cafe)

Jordan,
South Korea

comprehension activities

I teach elementary, but, we do lots of "follow my direction" activities. 

An example would be that I draw a picture, then I tell the student how to draw the picture, and then we like to see if the pictures are the same. 

We also play simon says but I don't think your high schooler would love that as much as my elementary students do.

use the many short nonfiction movie clips on Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr.

useful ways of using photos with ELLs

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ell-engagment-using-photos

vocabulary games

WHAT'S THE GOOD WORD?

Here are some activities for developing vocabulary acquisition and use.
The ideas could also be used to reinforce sight words.

Vocabulary Parade

Each child chooses a vocabulary word that is new to her. Give children a long strip of paper where they can write their word. Let them decorate their word with markers, stickers, and other art media. Pin these strips to the children and let them parade around the room to music. Ask children to give the definition of their word and tell classmates why they chose it.

Mixed Up Words

Take vocabulary words or sight words and mix up the letters. Children try to write them correctly on their paper.

Secret Code

Write vocabulary words using a secret code. For example, number the letters of the alphabet. (1-a, 2-b, 3-c, etc.) Write the number for each letter in a word. Children act like cryptologists to decode. For example: 3 1 20 (cat)
Action Words

Make a list of action words. Write words on index cards and put them in a sack. Children choose a word and pantomime while their friends try to guess the movement.

from: here

Gimme 20!

For this activity (and for the others), you’ll need to find the right photo first. There are countless websites offering stock images and digital photos, but I recommend using the Creative Commons search tool. With this tool, you can search for images on Flickr, Google Images or Wikimedia Commons, use them in your ESL classroom, and rest assured you won’t be violating any copyright laws. Search for an image that conveys feelings or a mood you wish to explore. I found this one on Flickr. Show this image to your class and ask them to brainstorm and come up with 20 words related to this image. When they’re done brainstorming, they must place these words into categories, for example, “feelings”, “colors”, “nature”, etc.... Finally, give them a writing assignment to complete in class or for homework, like a story based on the photo, in which they must use the words.

from here

Class/Yes

 

Source: Whole Brain Teaching - Chris Biffle

Web: http://wholebrainteaching.com/

Skill Area: Class management

TPEP Criterion:5 - Learning Environment

Procedure:

1) Tell your class you will be using an advanced new system to get their attention. (It's not really that advanced --- but it a makes good sales pitch.)

2) Tell them that you will say "class" in some kind of varying voice, like high pitch, low pitch, rhythmic (class class class) (hey class).

3) Tell them they will say "Yes" in the same voice & style that you say Class. They will also have hands folded and eyes riveted on you.

4) Practice a few times with random conversations topics, like weather, games, etc. Give feedback on how FAST they get back to hands folded, eyes riveted on you.

5) Use only when you really need the full class attention. Vary your voice often.

Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS)

Source: Paribakht, T.S. & Wesche, M. (1996)

Web: http://jalt-publications.org/tlt/departments/myshare/articles/628-using-modified-version-vocabulary-knowledge-scale-aid-vocabular

Skill Area: Vocabulary
TPEP Criterion: 2 - Instruction

Procedure: Ask your kids to scan -- not read -- a chunk of text for words they don't know. Could be new words they've never seen, or just words difficult to decode.
You post the words on chart paper, screen or board.
Ask class to rate the words on a 4 point scale.
4 = I can use the word and tell what it means
3 = I can use the word
2 = I've heard the word but don't really know what it means
1 - I've never heard the word before

This is for words that your text lists as well as any others. It will give you a picture of the group's vocab knowledge beyond the six or so recommended words.