There is no day like the first day of the school year or the first day of a training course. The ESL first day activities planned for the first time you meet might have a huge impact on the educational journey that is about to start. All you need to to is get your lessons off to a successful start. The first day is THE day so you’d better make it count!
For students...
Students are likely to experience mixed feelings. On the one end, they have to spend some time sitting in a classroom or at their desks facing a computer; on the other hand, they get to be with their friends or colleagues again; or maybe they are newbies and every single thing is a first for them.
For teachers...
For teachers, it isn’t much different. Activities for the first day of school? – For sure this was not the topic on their minds during summer. But now the time has come and, although the school year is still about to start, they can’t help but feel overwhelmed with all they have to do to ensure that their first lesson is a success.
Simple tips for teachers looking for ESL first day activities
Some planning and the right teaching resources will help you be fully prepared and ensure you have a smooth and rewarding day. Here are some tips to make a great first impression and to get the year off to a successful start. I teach ESL and the samples below are ideas for first day of school or back to school activities for ESL learners. However, some of these activities can be easily adapted to other subject areas.
1
Speed Interviewing
Prepare a quick interview to get to know each other
Do a fun ice-breaking activity to put everyone at ease with a speedy interview. This is particularly important if there are new students in the class. If they are learning a foreign language, it is even better because this ESL first day activity gives everyone the chance to speak in class. However, it is essential to ensure that every student is ready to take part in an interview.
Content:
- Giving and asking for personal information
- Introducing yourself
- Interview
Included resources:
- Worksheet
- PowerPoint Presentation with answer key
- It all starts with a simple sentence: students introduce themselves giving little information (maybe name and where they live).
- Then comes a listening activity: students listen to and transcribe short questions and answers to ensure they all have some backup while interviewing their classmates. These questions and answers will boost confidence and ease fears.
- Ask the students to stand up and interview the person next to them. This way, they won’t have to choose and nobody will feel left out. If there’s an odd number of students, the teacher steps in and takes part in the activity.
- During the interview, students take some notes about the classmates they have had the chance to meet.
- As soon as they finish interviewing their first match, they move to another person and repeat the interview. Repetition is extremely important when learning a new language. However, in this activity, since the students are always talking to different classmates, they won’t feel like they are repeating themselves.
To get detailed information about this activity, read more>>
It is good to keep in mind that the first day of school is also the first day of an academic year. Understanding your students’ abilities is a springboard to a successful school year. up2dateskills’ quick teacher-friendly English Level Test is a must-have for teachers planning ESL first day activities. Because it’s a multiple-choice test, it is designed for every busy teacher that doesn’t want to spend the first days of school grading placement tests, and can easily be used as a stress-free back-to-school activity.
To get detailed information about this activity and how to use it in class, read our blog post on Assessing and teaching English to mixed ability students from day 1.
Back-to-school English Placement Test
Content:
- Multiple-choice language level test
Available resources:
3
Trivia Game
Engaging games with a high success rate
Create a pleasant mood and ease students’ anxieties by playing a trivia game. Although trivia games are fun ESL first day activities, it doesn’t mean we can’t use them productively.
We have two ready-to-use games for English learners, one to review the Past Simple and another one based on common mistakes in English.
We also have templates with blank PowerPoint presentations that you can use to insert the information that best suits your class or subject.
Here are some ideas:
(1) classroom rules and routines – you can introduce important features of the room and the school and present the most important classroom routines in a playful way, thus avoiding handing out a list;
(2) question to review previously taught content, etc.
You can still use the questions in a worksheet to revise the content of your game. The template for an after-game worksheet is also provided.
This is a simple academic activity that can easily be adapted to short reviews and guarantee a high success rate. These will boost confidence and ease fears.
To get detailed information on how to use these games in class, read our blog post on trivia games and trivia game templates.
The resources in the pictures below include a worksheet and a PowerPoint Presentation. They were designed as a back-to-school icebreaker for learners of English. In addition, these resources can be also be used to introduce a discussion on the importance of English in the world. They are simple and engaging for learners of all age ranges.
Content:
- Anglicisms
- English Speaking Countries (map)
- The United Kingdom (map)
- Countries and Nationalities
Included resources:
- Worksheet
- PowerPoint Presentation with answer key
It’s a simple resource to break the ice in classes with students of different levels because even those at the lowest levels will feel confident to take part in the lesson.
Although certain answers seem quite obvious, there is always something new to learn about the English-speaking world. At home, students can do some research to find out the other English-speaking countries not identified in class. They can later share the result of their research with the class.
The activity below includes videos, a worksheet and the answer key and it’s FREE.
The lesson begins with a simple video-based discussion designed to help students develop their ability to deconstruct social constructs. Although the activities are straightforward and engaging for learners of all ages, this resource is especially relevant in modern classrooms, supporting students in understanding the importance of inclusion and respect for different cultures.
Content:
- Stereotypes
- DNA
- Cultural diversity
- Deconstructing social constructs
Included resources:
- Worksheet
- PowerPoint Presentation with answer key
The resources below are ESL first day activities for young learners and focus on classroom objects in English. These fun and engaging activities help children recognize, name, and practice using everyday items they see in their classroom, making learning both interactive and memorable.
Perfect for beginners, the activities combine visual aids, games, and simple exercises to build vocabulary while keeping students motivated and excited to participate.
All About Me activities are a popular first-day icebreaker, letting students share about themselves while building a positive classroom atmosphere. They give teachers insight into students’ interests and personalities, encourage speaking and listening skills, and help learners feel seen and valued, fostering a sense of belonging from the very first day.
Build everyday English vocabulary with this Greetings and Farewells Word Search, a no-prep printable worksheet designed for ESL, ELL, and EFL learners. With its clean, age-neutral design, this resource is suitable for a wide range of students, including children, teens, and adult English learners.
Skills covered:
- Greetings and farewells
- Vocabulary development
- Spelling practice
- Word recognition
- Reading fluency
Included resources:
- Worksheet
- Answer key
Starting the school year with engaging, student-centered activities sets a positive tone for the rest of the year. Whether it’s ‘All About Me’ exercises, classroom object games, or a student-led newsletter, these activities help learners feel included, motivated, and ready to participate. Try incorporating one or more of these ideas in your first lesson and watch your classroom come alive!
