Online Communication ESL Worksheets and Activities
ESL Online Communication Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Unscrambling, Matching, Gap-fill - Pair Work - Intermediate (B1) - 20 minutes
In this chat abbreviations worksheet, students learn and practice instant messaging abbreviations and acronyms that people often use in online chats and text messages. Students begin by reading an instant messaging conversation between two friends. Students then unscramble words to reveal the words and phrases that the abbreviations and acronyms in the chat represent. Next, students write the chat abbreviations next to their definitions. Finally, students complete sentences with the chat abbreviations from the worksheet.
ESL Online Communication Games - Vocabulary: Matching, Gap-fill, Betting - Pair Work - Intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
Here are two text message abbreviations and acronyms games for intermediate students. First, students play a pelmanism game. In pairs, students take it in turns to turn over one phrase card and one abbreviation card. If the phrase matches with the messaging abbreviation or acronym, the student wins, keeps the two cards and has another turn. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins. Next, students play a betting game using the text message abbreviations and acronyms. Working alone, students read sentences and decide which messaging abbreviation or acronym from the pelmanism game can be used to complete each sentence. Afterwards, students bet on their answers, depending on how confident they feel about their decisions. Students bet between 1 to 10 points on each sentence and write their bet in the 'bet' column. Next, elicit the correct answers from the students. If students guess correctly, they transfer the amount written in the 'bet' column to the 'win' column. If they guess incorrectly, they transfer the amount to the 'lose' column. The student with the most points at the end is the winner.
ESL Online Communication Activity - Vocabulary and Writing: Gap-fill, Identifying, Guided Writing - Pair Work and Group Work - Intermediate (B1) - 30 minutes
In this online advertisements activity, students read and write descriptions of items for sale. First, students use words from a box to complete descriptions of online items for sale. Students then identify useful phrases for selling items online in the advertisements. Next, in groups of four, each group member chooses a different hobby from the worksheet. After that, students write an advertisement for each classmate based on an item that someone with their hobby would want to buy. For example, if one student chooses fishing as a hobby, a group member might choose to write an advertisement for a fishing rod. Finally, students take turns reading their advertisements to their classmates who choose the item they most want to buy based on the three descriptions.
ESL Online Shopping Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Listing, Matching, Gap-fill, Categorizing - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Pair Work - Intermediate (B1) - 30 minutes
In this free online shopping worksheet, students practice vocabulary associated with shopping online. First, in pairs, students list popular online shopping sites and then ask and answer conversation questions about shopping online. Students then read a conversation between two friends about online shopping and match words in the dialogue with their definitions. Next, students match verbs with endings to make imperative statements about shopping online. Students then move on to complete sentences using online shopping vocabulary. Following that, students decide whether statements about online shopping are advantages or disadvantages and categorise them accordingly. Lastly, students discuss whether they prefer shopping online or in-store with their partner.
ESL Online Transactions Activity - Vocabulary: Running Dictation, Matching, Table Completion - Pair Work - Intermediate (B1) - 30 minutes
This online transactions activity helps students practice language for transacting online. In pairs, one student is the reader, and the other is the writer. The reader runs to their sentence sheet on the wall outside the classroom, reads the first sentence, runs back and dictates it to their partner, who writes it down. This continues until all six sentences have been fully dictated. Students then swap roles, and the process is repeated with another set of sentences. Next, pairs refer to the information they wrote down and race to complete a table about online transactions people made, matching each person and the item they bought or tried to buy with a problem. The first pair to correctly complete the table wins. Afterwards, check the answers as a class and review the vocabulary and phrases related to online transactions.
