As ESL students work to master English, they require constant practice; teachers can provide students with this practice by engaging them in drama activities. Role playing and acting allow students to enjoy their English-language practice while they imagine themselves in a variety of settings. By integrating drama activities into their teaching, ESL educators can provide applicable practice situations, allowing students to perfect their English skills.

Press Conference
Start out the year by engaging students in a get-to-know-you drama activity. ESL students, in particular, have interesting stories to tel; from stories of their homeland and explanations of their trips to their new home in America, these students have a wealth of experiences to share with classmates. Use a podium or small table to create a press-conference stage. Students take turns answering questions from "members of the press," using their best English to describe themselves and their life experiences.

Everyday English
As you discuss different sets of English words, engage students in role play activities in which they pretend to be in a setting in which the words would be used. For example, if your students are learning about grocery store vocabulary, have one studen act as a store clerk and another as a customer. These students can engage in conversation about grocery store products or where to find a particular item. Allow your students to lead the role plays, or provide them with scripts, depending on their comfort with English and their fluency. Either way, the practice will help students prepare to apply their learning to real-life situations.

Puppet Show
With the aid of puppets, ESL students can practice their English skills and put on an entertaining show. If dealing with a large class, divide your students into groups of three or four. Provide each group with several puppets, or allow them to create their own puppets using socks or paper lunch sacks. Using an old refrigerator box or table with tablecloth, create a stage.

Have students write a skit that they will perform using their puppets. By allowing students to craft their own skits, you are giving them extra practice composing in English. Once students have composed their skits, allow them ample practice time so they can wrap their tongues around the sometimes unfamiliar English words.

Once students have perfected their performances, have them put on a show for the rest of the class, and even perform it for kindergarten or first-grade students in their school or a neighboring elementary school.