Jokes are often difficult for non-native speakers to grasp because they rely on nuances of language and shared cultural experience. Because of this, mastering jokes can help learners of English to improve their conversational skills. Choose several jokes that your students will understand. Make sure to avoid puns, which may rely on subtleties of language too complex for language learners to grasp. Give each student a written joke or two, and ask the students to rephrase the jokes and tell them to one another.
Many English learners want to master the language to improve their work situation. Encourage work-related vocabulary by having the students discuss their current jobs and the jobs they would like to have once they are fluent in English. Have them discuss what is important to them in a job, including topics such as a boss that they like, opportunities for advancement and travel, and working conditions. Have them role-play the part of a boss trying to decide which employee to hire, and discuss characteristics of a good employee.
Have students think about an interesting anecdote from their own lives. Ideas might include an embarrassing moment, a vacation or travel experience, or their memory of the best day of their lives. Pair your students up, and have each student tell his personal story to his partner. After all students have shared their own stories, ask each student to describe his partner's anecdote to the whole class. This activity allows students to focus on an extended narrative and forces them to rephrase it in their own words.
English learners need basic vocabulary and conversational skills to be able to cope in an English-speaking world in the event of an accident or dangerous situation. Have your students role-play basic accident scenarios in English. Sample situations might include how to deal with a child who has drunk a poisonous substance, something catching on fire in your house, someone falling and injuring himself, weather emergencies, or auto accidents. Make sure to introduce appropriate vocabulary into each circumstance.