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ESL Video

ESL Video

9 Ideas for Creating ESL Video Lessons

 

Jump to Friends Video Activities

 

1. Creative Writing Prompt

Play a movie clip without any sound. Students watch the movie clip and create the story. Then, give the students time to write their stories.

 

2. Predicting what will happen next

Play a movie clip. Stop the movie clip at an interesting point, and ask the students to think about what will happen next. Students write the ending to the movie.

 

3. Jigsaw Speaking

Divide the class into two groups: Group A and Group B.

 

Students in Group B leave the room or turn their back to the TV. Students in Group A watch the first-half of the movie clip. Then, reverse. Students in Group B watch the second-half of the movie clip. 

 

Then, students pair up, A and B, and describe the movie to each other.

 

4. Describing Vocabulary

Play a movie clip without any sound. Students pair up and describe the scene in the movie to each other.

 

5. Cultural Discussion

Play a movie clip. Ask students to think about cultural differences, such as scenery, dress, behavior, or language.

 

6. Writing a dialog

Silently play a movie clip with 3 or 4 characters. Ask the students to get into groups with 3 or 4 people, depending on the number of characters in the movie clip. Students create the dialog of the characters.

 

7. Character Role play

Start with #6. Then, have each person choose a character to role play. Ask students in each group to present their role plays to the class.

 

8. Act out the movie

Choose a movie clip with 4 characters and get the script. Divide the script into 5 equal parts (based on 20 students in the class). Put the students into 5 groups, and give each group a script. 

 

Students in the groups take a role and practice their lines. Then, have the students perform the movie clip in front of the class. Finally, play the movie clip for students to watch.

 

9. Using the Friends TV Series

Just because it’s not on the air anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t a good resource of useful expressions and cultural discussion topics.

 

Try these 10 ESL video worksheets using episodes of the Friends TV series.

Try Our Friends Video Activities

Friends: The One With All The Thanksgivings

Friends: The One With All The Thanksgivings

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include the Thanksgiving holiday in America and the past using the grammar "used to do".
Friends: The One With All The Resolutions

Friends: The One With All The Resolutions

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include the New Year's Day holiday in America and the future using the grammar "going to" and "will".
Friends: The One With The Routine

Friends: The One With The Routine

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include the Christmas holiday and New Year's Eve in America.
Friends: The One Where Everybody Finds Out

Friends: The One Where Everybody Finds Out

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include keeping secrets and dating.
Friends: The One With The Halloween Party

Friends: The One With The Halloween Party

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include Halloween and using phrasal verbs. Extended practice phrasal verb activity included.
Friends: The One With The Rumor

Friends: The One With The Rumor

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include rumors and gossip.
Friends: The One With The Tea Leaves

Friends: The One With The Tea Leaves

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include giving advice and using the grammar "should".
Friends: The One With The Male Nanny

Friends: The One With The Male Nanny

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include jealousy and gender in the workplace.
Friends: The One With Rachel's Phone Number

Friends: The One With Rachel's Phone Number

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include dating and small talk, including awkward silence.
Friends: The One With Phoebe's Rats

Friends: The One With Phoebe's Rats

Students learn new expressions from an episode of the Friends TV show. Topics include birthdays and strange pets.
Becki

Hi fellow EFL Sensei!

I'm Becki, the Co-Founder and the one who put up all these great speaking activities. We’re here to provide enjoyable lessons for teachers like you! Learn more

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