Fun Ways to Teach the Alphabet in the ESL Classroom

Teaching your ESL students the alphabet is really important. Although phonics can be tricky because there are so many different ways of making certain sounds in the English language, it remains essential to cover it regularly. Continue reading for five fun ways to teach the letters to your class.


Odd one out

Finding the odd one out can be a great way of recognising which items start with a particular letter. Gather up a selection of objects beginning with the letter A, such as apple, alarm clock, alligator, and then place them on a tray along with a few other items, which do not fit in, like a carrot or bottle. Ask students to go up to the tray, have a look and then decide which of the articles do not belong there. They could write them down on a piece of paper or sort them into two piles, ensuring only the A things remain. You could also use the cut and stick worksheet from our teaching pack for students to consolidate this knowledge.

Word match

Building up vocabulary is a crucial part of learning a new language. Teaching words starting with the letter A can be part of your ESL lessons but be sure to categorise them according to the sound the letter A makes at the start of the word. If you do not cover this, it can be more than a little confusing (English has many rules but even more exceptions to them!). Once you have taught a few words which will be useful to your students, you could get them to match the words to the items. For example, the tray with A items mentioned in point 1 could be utilised once again. Provide students with labels or sticky notes with the names written on, which they can then match up. Alternatively, you could print out the label the A words worksheet from our teaching pack.

Teaching letter sounds to ESL students is an important part of literacy development. The most effective methods involve multi-sensory activities, games, and practice that is tailored to individual student learning needs and preferences. By designing activities that engage all senses and facilitate interactive learning, teachers can help students of all ages to understand the building blocks of reading success: letter sounds.

Make a scene

In this case, we want you to encourage your students to make a scene... an A scene. Get them to explore their inner artists by sketching and colouring in a scene made up of pictures which start with the letter A. For example, your students could create illustrations of an astronaut eating an apple with an ant on top of an alarm clock. The possibilities are endless. You could also use this activity to explore students’ dictionary skills. 

                                                                                   

Alphabetical order

While knowing words beginning with A is a great achievement, having an understanding of the rest of the alphabet is equally important. Being able to put letters into alphabetical order is essential, with it allowing students to use a dictionary properly, which would help with the activity mentioned at the end of point 3. Using the A word flashcards from our teaching pack, you could encourage your students to put them into alphabetical order. Having an understanding that the word acorn comes before the word apple is important. Looking at the second letter should be advised, and then subsequent letters when they both have the same second letter, too. We also recommend adding in the names of people from your class along with their photos or people’s pets to make this activity even more relevant to them.

I Spy

I Spy is the perfect game to play if you have a few minutes spare at the end of a lesson or before break time starts, for example. Look around the classroom and find an object that starts with an A. All of your children should be able to name at least one, so get them to write it down (or draw it depending on the level of their English language acquisition) and then when you say Show me, they should all face their mini-whiteboards in your direction. So much fun and it’s even better when you don’t need any resources at all!

Teachers must make sure that they are using the best method for their students, such as the element of play, hearing activities, and visuals. With a variety of activities to choose from and plenty of resources available online, teachers should have no problem creating a stimulating and engaging lesson plan for their students. By keeping these key tips in mind, you can ensure that all your English language learners are making great strides in their development of letter sounds.

More ideas?

• Hang up a large letter poster in the front of the room.
• Have a weekly letter scavenger hunt.
• Do a letter of the week craft.
• Play letter of the week games.
• Read letter of the week books.
• Sing letter of the week songs.
• Make a letter of the week collage.
• Do letter of the week science experiments.
• Take a weekly letter walk.
• Have students find things that start with the letter of the week around the classroom.
• Have students trace the letter of the week with their finger and then trace it in the air.
• Students take turns writing the letter of the week on the chalkboard or whiteboard.
• Sing the alphabet song and point to the letter of the week when singing it.
• Make a letter of the week collage by cutting out pictures from magazines that start with the letter.
• Write the letter of the week on the board and have the students copy it.
• Write a word that starts with the letter of the week on the board and have the students spell it.
• Have the students find objects in the room that start with the letter of the week and bring them to you.
• Have the students trace the letter of the week on a piece of paper.

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There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to teach the letter of the alphabet in the ESL classroom will vary depending on the age and level of the students, as well as the particular lesson plan. However, some tips that may be helpful include using songs, games, and other creative activities to engage students and help them learn. Additionally, it is important to be patient and keep in mind that some students may learn at a faster pace than others. Remember to be flexible and adaptable, and to have fun with it!