If you teach ESL, you can do a conversation activity that you can get ready in five minutes and use for several types of practice. You can keep your class engrossed without the need to photocopy or even use a computer.

Brainstorm a list of six to 10 conversation questions relevant to your topic or structure for the day. For example, if you are teaching the simple past tense, you can make up 10 questions on past-tense topics. Make sure the vocabulary is within range of your students. These could be "yes-no" or "wh" questions such as "What did you eat for lunch yesterday?" and "Who was your ESL teacher last semester?"

Dictate the questions to your students. Read them slowly twice, then read them once at normal speed.

Ask a different student to write each one on the board and check them together.

Put the students with a partner or small group and have them ask one another the questions.

Have students stand up, walk around the room and discuss the questions with different partners. They can ask a different person each question or talk to one person for a few minutes. Then ring a bell and have them change partners.