ESL games for one student: 15 games for one-to-one lessons

15 ESL games for one student at a glance

Speaking games come first, then vocabulary and grammar games, then two for kids. Each row gives the level, minutes, materials and how to run it online.

The level is the lowest one where the game works. Most go up to C1 with harder words or topics.

Most of these are group classics turned into games for two. The British Council's guide to teaching one-to-one makes the same point: songs, games and chants adapt to one learner when the teacher takes part.

Speaking games

Speaking games fit the warm-up or the freer practice. Swap roles often, so the student asks questions too, not only answers them.

• 20 questions: think of a person, a place or a thing, and the student finds it with up to 20 yes/no questions. Then swap roles, so they also hear good questions. Great for question forms and as a warm-up.
• Would you rather: ask "Would you rather live by the sea or in the mountains?" and the student answers with a reason. Push with a follow-up: "Why not the other one?" It works at A2 with simple pairs and at C1 with tricky dilemmas.
• Two truths and a lie: the student tells you three things about their week or their life, and one is false. You ask questions to find the lie, then it's your turn. It practises past tenses and questions without feeling like a drill.
• Just a minute: the student picks a topic and talks for 60 seconds without stopping. Note the errors quietly and go through two or three at the end. Repeat the same topic a week later: they'll hear their progress.
• Story chain: you say the first sentence of a story, the student adds the next one, and so on to the end. Give three pictures or words that must appear. Good for past tenses and linking words (then, suddenly, in the end).
• Role play with a twist: act out a real situation from their life (a hotel check-in, a job interview, a call to a client) and add one problem on the role card: the room isn't ready, the client is angry. The problem is what makes them talk.
• Devil's advocate: read an opinion and argue the opposite, even if you agree with the student. They defend their view with reasons and examples. Best for B2 and C1 students preparing for exams or meetings.

Vocabulary and grammar games

Use these to review words from the last lessons, spelling or a grammar point. They work best at the start of the lesson, right after the warm-up.

• Forbidden words: the student describes a word without saying it or the three words on the card (for "beach": sand, sea, summer). Then you describe one. It trains the paraphrasing they need when a word is missing.
• Guess the word: choose five words from recent lessons and write three clues for each. The student guesses them from the clues, then writes clues for you. It's a British Council activity that adapts well to one student.
• Categories: pick a letter and five categories (food, jobs, countries, verbs, adjectives). In one minute, you each write one word per category, then compare. At A1, use fewer categories and no time limit.
• Hangman: a quick classic for spelling and vocabulary review. Now and then, let the student choose the words: they'll have to spell them out for you too.
• Sentence auction: show 10 sentences, some with mistakes. The student gets 100 points to bet on the ones they think are correct. Then check them together: they win the points bet on correct sentences and lose the rest. Great for grammar review.
• Memory game: show 10-15 objects or pictures for one minute, hide them and ask the student to list what they remember. Take one away and ask what's missing. Good for vocabulary at low levels and with kids.

Games for kids

With children, games can fill most of the lesson. Keep each one short, change activity often and let them pick the last game.

• Spot the difference: share two similar pictures and the student describes the differences ("In picture A there is a cat on the sofa"). It practises there is / there are, prepositions and colours.
• Picture dictation: describe a simple picture, the student draws it and then compares it with the original. At higher levels, swap roles. Kids love it, and adults laugh at their own drawings.

The memory game, hangman, categories and 20 questions with animals also work well with children. Keep each game under 10 minutes and finish with their favourite. For lesson length by age and how to keep parents in the loop, see our guide to teaching kids online.

How to play these games online

On a video call you need three things: the chat, screen sharing and a shared whiteboard. With those, all 15 games work online.

• Use a shared online whiteboard for hangman, categories and drawing games.
• Send word cards and role cards in the chat one at a time, so the student can't read ahead.
• Share pictures on screen for spot the difference, the memory game and story chain.
• Ask the student to hold drawings and written answers up to the camera.

Not sure which video tool to use? Compare Google Meet and Zoom for lessons.

Where games fit in a one-to-one lesson

Use one game as a warm-up or as freer practice, not as a filler. Pick it for what the lesson practises: questions, past tenses, new words.

Our one-to-one lesson plan template has a 5-minute warm-up and a 14-minute freer practice stage: both are good slots for a game. For more speaking prompts by level, see our ESL conversation questions.

With adults, say what each game practises before you start. Some adults feel silly playing "games", but they enjoy a role play with a problem or a round of forbidden words once they see how it helps with their meetings, trips or exam.