First Lesson ESL Questions: Building Rapport and Engaging Beginner Students

As an ESL teacher, the first lesson with your beginner students is crucial in building rapport and creating a positive learning environment. One effective way to do this is by using engaging questions and conversation topics that help students practice their English skills while also getting to know each other. Here are some common questions and conversation topics that you can use in your first lesson with beginner ESL students:

1. "What's your name?" - This is a simple and common question to start with. Encourage students to introduce themselves by saying their name and spelling it if necessary. Model the question and provide examples for students to follow.

Example answer: "My name is John. J-O-H-N."

2. "Where are you from?" - This question helps students practice talking about their home country or city. Encourage students to answer with a full sentence, such as "I am from Brazil" or "I come from Seoul, South Korea."

Example answer: "I am from China."

3. "How old are you?" - This question helps students practice their numbers and age vocabulary. Encourage students to respond with their age in English, using the correct number words.

Example answer: "I am twenty years old."

4. "What do you like to do in your free time?" - This question helps students practice talking about their hobbies and interests. Encourage students to share their hobbies and interests, and ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.

Example answer: "I like to read books and play soccer in my free time."

5. "Do you have any siblings?" - This question helps students practice talking about their family members. Encourage students to share information about their siblings, such as their names, ages, and occupations.

Example answer: "Yes, I have one brother. His name is David and he is a doctor."

6. What is your favorite food/color/animal/movie?" - These questions allow students to practice talking about their preferences and opinions. Encourage students to express their likes and dislikes, and ask follow-up questions to learn more about their preferences.

Example answer: "My favorite food is pizza, my favorite color is blue, my favorite animal is a cat, and my favorite movie is Harry Potter."

7. "Can you tell me one interesting fact about yourself?" - This question encourages students to share something unique or interesting about themselves. It can be a fun way to learn more about your students and spark conversation.

Example answer: "One interesting fact about me is that I can speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Chinese."

Remember to provide scaffolding and support as needed, and encourage students to use complete sentences when answering the questions. You can also use visual aids, gestures, and real-life examples to help students understand the questions and provide accurate answers.

In conclusion, using questions and conversation topics in your first lesson with beginner ESL students is a powerful way to build rapport, engage students, and practice their English skills. By creating a positive and interactive learning environment, you can set the stage for a successful ESL journey with your students. Happy teaching!