Likes/Dislikes, Routines, Interests and Hobbies Brainstorming, Listening and Speaking Activities

Elementary English language listening and speaking activities generally focus on likes/dislikes, hobbies, interests and routines. These topics allow students to get used to practicing the present simple tense with topics that relate to their daily lives.

1 Likes and dislikes speaking activity (with audio, video and  answers)

This is a great  listening/speaking activity to get an elementary language class speaking and practicing the present simple tense. Students have to be able describe each person’s likes and dislikes in the pictures. Or listen to the audio and write their answers.

Elementary likes/dislikes speaking activity (PDF) (View as Youtube video mp4)

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2 Basic gerunds for likes/dislikes (answers and audio)

Basic gerunds vocabulary and listening/speaking exercise for talking about likes and dislikes. Students write sentences about the pictures and then answer questions using gerunds.  It can also be a listening activity. Students listen to the audio and match Item (A/B/C….) to the pictures.

Basic gerunds likes/dislikes (PDF)

(Basic gerunds video on YouTube)

3 Short dialogues discussing hobbies worksheet (with audio and answers)

This is an English speaking skills and fluency exercise . Students try to complete the short dialogues using the speech bubbles. Or they can listen to the audio and complete the speech bubbles with the answers that they hear.

Discussing hobbies (PDF)

4 Common conversations

This is an elementary ESL exercise for practicing and reviewing basic questions and answers necessary for basic socializing. Students look at the pictures and fill in appropriate questions and answers.

Common conversations (PDF)

5  Likes and dislikes speaking activity (more advanced) (with possible answers)

This is another slightly more advanced version of the above speaking activity. Students need to use their critical thinking skills to interpret the pictures and describe each person’s likes and dislikes.

Likes/dislikes speaking activity (PDF)

Related Resources:

9 Super Elementary Speaking Exercises

5 Elementary Create a Conversation Exercises for Speaking Classes

5 Elementary Conversational Expressions Exercises

5 First Day Activities for an ESL Class

10 Really! Elementary ESL classroom icebreakers

7 Essential Speaking Activities for ESL Classes

12 Great Icebreakers to Start a Class

8 Invitation and Request Dialogues for Everyday Scenarios

ESL Listening Activities Guide

 6 Free time activities speaking lesson

This is an elementary ESL speaking exercise for talking about free time activities. Students match the vocabulary to the pictures and then interview a classmate about their favorite free time activity. Click on the image below to download the printable PDF file.

Free time activities speaking lesson (PDF)

7  Brainstorming routines/daily activities

    An elementary ESL exercise for brainstorming language to describe routines & daily activities in the present tense.. Students  can brainstorm individually, in groups, or as a class. Students use the verbal and visual cues  to fill in the worksheet.  

Brainstorming routines and daily activities (PDF)

 8 Do or Make ?? collocations exercise for daily routines (with answers)

Students match the verbs  “do” or “make” with the nouns in the center of the worksheet.Then they match the collocations to the appropriate pictures. Once they have done this they use the collocations and their own ideas to write sentences at the bottom of the page

Do or make collocations (PDF)

 9 Things I like to do

Another good icebreaker and  elementary ESL exercise for getting an elementary ESL class started by brainstorming language  for the things students like to do on a daily basis.

“Things I like to  do” graphic organizer (PDF)