Four ways to keep kindergarten ESL students focused all day

Heath Pulliam
A teacher sat in a classroom with a child, sharing crayons with eachother and smiling
Reading time: 5 minutes

Heath Pulliam is an independent education writer with a focus on the language learning space. He¡¯s taught English in South Korea and various subjects in the United States to a variety of ages. He¡¯s also a language learning enthusiast and studies Spanish in his free time.

Those who have taught children anywhere between the ages of 4 and 8 know that one of the biggest challenges of getting through to them is keeping your presentation style interesting. As someone who taught ESL in South Korea to kindergarteners, there are a few factors that make keeping students engaged a challenge. In countries where students learn English, students often have a heavy courseload and high expectations. As a first-year teacher, I learned a lot about what worked and what didn¡¯t through trial and error. These are four methods that I consistently used to keep my students interested and engaged all day.

Students are quick to lose focus at such a young age. You¡¯re not speaking their mother tongue and some parts of an ESL curriculum are less than exciting. With young students, you can¡¯t lecture your way through the material all day. Kindergarteners have a small window of focus and it must be capitalized on. The following methods are ones that worked for me and can be modified to cover any topic you¡¯ll run into in an ESL curriculum.

Activities to engage pre-primary ESL students all day
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ÃÛÌÒapp can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

1.?The wheel of names

Don't let the simplicity of this tool fool you. The Wheel of Names, which is exactly what it sounds like, is a very simple tool that you can put the names of your students on to randomly (or not) select a student. The Wheel of Names crushes hand-raising and it¡¯s a constant struggle to get everyone raising their hands. (We can¡¯t let the quiet ones just slip through the cracks!)

The beauty of the Wheel of Names is the guaranteed excitement on every spin. They¡¯re kindergarteners. The nature of randomizing who¡¯s going to answer the question, come up to the board, or go first in a game is so exciting to them. Use it however you want. The suspense has kids excited to see who will be chosen and has them cheering on whichever classmate gets chosen.

I used this tool mostly during review sessions to choose students to answer questions. It can also be used for creating small groups, making sure everyone gets a chance to speak during activities and seeing who¡¯s going to get to do the next fun thing in the classroom. You¡¯re teaching kindy, have fun with it.

2.?Team-based review game

We never came up with a good name for this game, but we used it a lot. Every Friday, during our chapter review, this was undoubtedly the best compromise between fun and effectiveness for reviewing material. It also fosters speaking, one of the most important parts of learning a language.

Here¡¯s how it works. The class is separated into two teams. (For a little extra fun, use the wheel of names or a cup of popsicle sticks with students¡¯ names on them to select the teams.) The teacher has a set of review questions or vocabulary words. On each turn, one person from each team has a chance to answer the question. You can do hand-raising or a randomization method to pick who answers.

If the student representative from the team gets it right, they earn a point. If they get it wrong, the opposing team gets a chance to answer for a point. Alternating between each team, the first to a certain number of points wins. A simple game, but at this age many students are just getting used to team-based activities.

This game is so effective because it makes use of children¡¯s natural competitive spirit. When one student is up, the rest of their team cheers them on. Learning material is important, but a big part of teaching young students is teaching them social skills, too. This game gets everyone excited and gets the material to stick. It also teaches them the importance of teamwork and how to win and lose gracefully. (Not everyone can win every time).

3.?Creating super sentences

At the end of the year, the students in my class ended up being the best writers in their respective age groups. I think this activity, making ¡®Super Sentences¡± a few times a week was a big contributor to that. Inspired by a textbook we had, here¡¯s how this activity works.

We¡¯d create sentences with this formula:

Who or what ¨C The owl

Did what ¨C hunted for mice

Where ¨C in the forest

When ¨C at night

The owl hunted for mice in the forest at night.

Before students got to work on their own, We¡¯d fill out a little table on the board as a class that looked something like this ¨C but changed every time.

Who or what?

(noun)

Did what? (verb)

Where?

(prepositional phrase)

When?

(prepositional phrase)

The dog

The raccoon

Joey

Mr. Heath

Chloe

The thief

Ran

Slept

Attacked _______

Found _________

Learned to ________

sneaked

On top of __________

Under __________

Through the ________

Next to the? ________

Inside of the _______

Behind the ________

At sunset

At 4:00 PM

In the middle of the day

In March

In the evening

After this, students can get to work making their own sentences and drawing what is happening below. After a few times, many students began to make up their own nouns, verbs and prepositions that were not listed on the board. And when everyone gets comfortable writing sentences, you can add a ¡®Why?¡¯ section at the end.

This activity is one of my favorites because it helps bring out children¡¯s natural creativity. In an ESL curriculum, there¡¯s a lot of material that¡¯s less than exciting, so any way to give the kids a little freedom can be a game-changer. It¡¯s also great for vocabulary, grammar and writing practice.

To finish off the activity, have each student read their sentence and have the class vote on their favorite for a prize!

4. Vocabulary bingo

Something to know about teaching ESL in non-English-speaking countries is that often, no time is allowed to be spent not learning. This is definitely the case in South Korea. Even after lunch and towards the end of the day, students are rarely allowed to do anything if it isn¡¯t enriching. Because of this, playing games that are fun and learning-effective is a must.

Now, I¡¯m certainly not the first one to play Bingo. This version however, is slightly modified to be as enriching as possible. We played this version often at the end of the day, because focus runs low around that time.

Essentially, this is just vocabulary bingo with a little bit of charades mixed in. For this activity, make a basic bingo board with some of your current vocabulary words or target language. There are plenty of sites that make this easy.

What makes this version different is that on each turn, rather than telling everyone the word, describe it to the class and try to get them to guess what the word is. So, if the word was ¡®teamwork¡¯, you might say something like ¡°This is what it¡¯s called when everyone works together to help their team win.¡± You can even have a student helper that helps facilitate the game by giving the descriptions.

After the word is guessed, reiterate it to the class and proceed with Bingo as usual.

Conclusion

Part of being an effective teacher, especially with the younger ages, is harnessing kids¡¯ natural excitement, energy and innate curiosity to their own benefit. Instead of suppressing it, it¡¯s essential to adapt your teaching style to work for your students.

Teaching ESL to young children has its own set of challenges. They can hardly sit still for an hour of lecture, let alone a whole day. Make use of, or draw inspiration from these methods and see how they can work for you.

Teaching young learners? Read our posts '8 first lesson problems for young learners' and 'Effective classroom management routines for very young learners'.

Explore our pre-primary and primary courseware

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • A teacher holding a tablet in a classroom with students around her also looking at the tablet smiling

    How to motivate and engage students with authentic video

    By Sue Kay
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Sue Kay has been an ELT materials writer for over 25 years. She is the co-author of ÃÛÌÒapp's Focus Second Edition and is one of the co-founders of . In this article, Sue takes us through her experience of using video in the classroom and shows us how to motivate and engage students with authentic video.

    Videos are no longer a novelty

    When I started teaching in the early 80s, video was a novelty in the classroom. We only had one video player for the whole school and had to book it a week in advance. There was very little published material available, but thanks to the rarity factor, the students lapped it up.?

    There was no problem with getting them motivated, even if the lessons accompanying the videos were not particularly exciting and consisted mainly of comprehension questions. Lucky for me, our school had a very dynamic Director of Studies who gave great teacher training sessions and I was very taken with a presentation he did on active viewing tasks.?

    I was, and still am, a big fan of the Communicative Approach and I embraced the more interactive video tasks enthusiastically: freeze frame and predict, watch with the sound down and guess what people are saying, listen with the screen hidden to guess the action, etc.?

    When I¡¯m preparing a video lesson, I still try to include at least one of these activities because the information gap provides an ideal motivation for students to watch the video and check their ideas.?

  • A man sat outside smiling working on a laptop

    Balancing work, life, and learning: How adult learners navigate English language learning

    By Dr. Le Dinh Bao Quoc
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Dr. Quoc is an author, educational solutions provider and AIED expert with over 20 years of experience in ELT and education in Vietnam. He is the Founder and CEO of Pro.Ed Education Solutions and Chief Officer of EduVerse, a global network supporting lifelong learning for educators. Dr. Quoc is also the author of The Art and Science of ChatGPT in Education and was named a LinkedIn Top Educational Leadership Voice in 2024. His work focuses on integrating AI into education to support personalized and flexible learning for teachers and learners.

    For many adult learners, mastering English isn¡¯t just about gaining a new skill¡ªit¡¯s about unlocking opportunities in work, family and social spheres. But juggling English lessons alongside work, family obligations and social commitments is a challenge that can feel overwhelming.

    This guide explores the unique challenges adult learners face and how educators can support them with empathy, flexibility and effective strategies.

    The challenges of learning English as an adult

    Meet Le, a 35-year-old Vietnamese project manager who dreams of working for an international company. With a demanding full-time job and two young children, finding time for English lessons feels impossible. Missing classes and struggling to complete assignments leads to frustration and self-doubt¡ªan all-too-common experience among adult learners.

    Many adults face similar challenges:

    • Balancing work, family and personal commitments leaves little time and energy for study.
    • Fatigue after a long day makes it difficult to concentrate or retain information.
    • Progress feels slow, which can be demotivating.

    Without practical support, the goal of English proficiency can seem out of reach.

    Strategies for overcoming challenges

    1. Setting SMART Goals

    Educators can guide learners to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals. Breaking down larger objectives into small, measurable milestones gives learners a sense of achievement. For example, ÃÛÌÒapp¡¯s Global Scale of English (GSE) provides actionable ¡°Can-do¡± statements, such as:

    • Reading (GSE 37/CEFR A2+): Can understand simple personal emails.
    • Speaking (GSE 44/CEFR B1): Can give a short talk with visual support.

    These manageable goals create motivation and help learners like Le stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

    2. Offering flexible learning options

    Flexibility is key for adult learners. Teachers can adopt strategies such as:

    • Modular lessons that can be completed in short sessions.
    • Micro-learning, including 10-minute daily practices using apps or quick grammar exercises.

    For learners like Le, micro-learning can easily be integrated into a work commute or lunch break.

    3. Blending learning with real-world scenarios

    Teaching English through practical, real-life contexts makes lessons more relevant and efficient. Using authentic materials like emails, meeting notes, or presentations mirrors learners¡¯ daily lives and creates immediate applications for their new skills. For instance:

    • Help learners role-play workplace conversations.
    • Develop speaking proficiency for social interactions or workplace scenarios.

    This approach saves time and reinforces the usefulness of learning English, keeping learners motivated.

    4. Encouraging weekly reflection

    Reflection allows learners to monitor their progress, stay motivated and adapt their strategies. Teachers can:

    • Encourage learners to set weekly goals (e.g., learning new business vocabulary or practicing pronunciation for 15 minutes daily).
    • Use reflection journals to track achievements, identify challenges and adjust learning plans.

    This habit reinforces a growth mindset, helping learners make consistent progress amidst their busy schedules.

    Implementing the strategies

    Here¡¯s how educators can apply these strategies effectively:

    1. Assess and set goals

    Work with learners to set realistic, measurable goals based on their personal motivations and schedules.

    2. Create flexible study plans

    Develop personalized study schedules that incorporate modular lessons and micro-learning techniques.

    3. Use authentic materials

    Include sample emails, presentations, or conversations that align with the learner¡¯s work or life situations, making lessons more practical.

    4. Encourage accountability

    Implement tools like reflective journals or digital reminders to help learners stay on track and see their progress.

    5. Leverage personalized AI tools

    Use AI-powered tools to recommend tailored exercises, provide instant feedback and enable targeted practice in learners¡¯ focus areas.

    Why It matters

    English proficiency opens doors to better job opportunities, stronger social connections and enriched personal growth. By providing empathetic and flexible support, teachers empower learners to achieve their goals without compromising their work-life balance.
    For educators seeking further resources, ÃÛÌÒapp¡¯s GSE framework offers valuable tools to help adult learners succeed. Teachers can use these aids to track progress and personalize lessons for maximum impact.

    Celebrate education

    To mark the incredible work of educators helping learners balance work, life and study, we encourage you to share your own experiences and tips to others. Together, we can continue to empower lifelong learning and celebrate the role of education in transforming lives.

  • English is the language of AI - why teaching it matters

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    In the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence (AI), language plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology. English, in particular, has emerged as the dominant language in the AI domain, driving innovations, collaboration and accessibility. As we delve deeper into the digital age, the importance of teaching English becomes increasingly evident. Here are some key points that underscore why English is essential in the realm of AI and why its teaching matters.

    Global collaboration and research

    AI is a field that thrives on collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. Researchers, developers and engineers worldwide contribute to the collective advancement of AI technologies. English is the common linguistic thread that binds this global community together, enabling seamless communication and collaboration among these diverse professionals.

    By teaching English, we empower individuals from various linguistic backgrounds to participate in global research projects, attend international conferences and publish their findings in widely accessible journals. This global exchange of ideas not only accelerates the pace of AI innovation but ensures that advancements are inclusive and representative of a wide array of perspectives.

    Access to educational resources and technical documentation

    Many AI research papers, educational materials, textbooks, online courses and technical documents are published in English. Leading AI platforms, libraries and frameworks, offer extensive documentation and support primarily in English.

    By equipping individuals with English language skills, we empower them to access these invaluable resources. This democratizes the learning process, allowing aspiring AI practitioners from non-English-speaking regions to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to contribute effectively to the field.

    Enhancing communication and language learning with AI systems

    As AI systems become more integrated into our daily lives, the ability to communicate effectively with these systems is paramount. Many AI-driven applications, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to customer service chatbots, operate predominantly in English. Teaching English ensures that users can interact seamlessly with these technologies, maximizing their utility and enhancing user experience.

    Moreover, as continues to advance, proficiency in English allows individuals to better understand and contribute to the development of more sophisticated and intuitive AI communication interfaces.
    ?