aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	English as second language
What age group	Adult courses
What topic	Personal information
Quantity	1
Any other preferences

Engaging ESL Lesson Introduction: Personal Information

Objective

To create an inviting start to an English as a Second Language (ESL) lesson focused on personal information, fostering a comfortable environment for adults to share and learn.

Lesson Starter: "The Personal Information Web"

Materials Needed

• A whiteboard or flip chart
• Markers
• Sticky notes (optional)

Time: 10-15 minutes

Setup

1. Whiteboard Space: Begin by drawing a large circle in the middle of the whiteboard. This circle will represent the class as a community.

2. Connection Lines: Draw several lines radiating out from the circle to represent connections.

Instructions

1. Introduce the Topic: Start by welcoming your students and introducing the topic of personal information. Explain that sharing personal information is key to building connections and understanding others.

2. Choose a Prompt: Write one of the following prompts in the center circle and invite students to think about their responses:

   • "What is one interesting thing about you?"
   • "What is your favorite hobby?"
   • "What is a unique tradition in your culture?"

3. Share and Record: Ask students to take a moment to think about their answers. Begin with yourself to model the activity. For instance, share your unique tradition and write it in the circle. Then, invite students one by one to share their responses, creating a vibrant tapestry of personal information that connects everyone in the room.

4. Connect the Web: For each student who shares, draw lines from the center to their personal response, illustrating the connections as they unfold. Each personal statement will have lines connecting to others that are similar in theme (e.g., hobbies, traditions), showing how diverse yet similar personal experiences can be.

5. Encourage Participation: If students are hesitant, encourage them to write their personal information on sticky notes first, which can later be shared anonymously to create a non-threatening environment.

Conclusion

Once everyone has had an opportunity to contribute, step back and admire the "Personal Information Web" you've created. Highlight the diversity in personal experiences, and use this as a stepping stone to transition into the main content of the lesson, focusing on vocabulary surrounding personal information, sentence structure, and techniques for asking and answering personal questions.

This engaging activity not only breaks the ice but also lays the foundation for important communication skills in English, making the learning both relevant and personal.