Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
If you’ve ever tried to get a room full of ESL teens talking, you know it can be a bit of a challenge. There’s hesitation, fear of making mistakes, and sometimes just plain silence. But when you find the right speaking prompts—the kind that match their level and feel fun or familiar—everything starts to click.
Over the years, I’ve found a few go-to A2 ESL speaking prompts that consistently help my students open up. They’re simple, teen-friendly, and built to support students who are still developing confidence with spoken English.
Below are three of my favorite ways to use speaking prompts that actually get teens talking—and maybe even enjoying it a little.
1. Would You Rather… (With a Twist)
“Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet robot?”
“Would you rather eat only pizza for a year or never eat pizza again?”
These questions never fail to get a reaction. They’re silly, creative, and—most importantly—accessible. I provide sentence starters like:
- I would rather ______ because…
- I think it’s better to ______ since…
Even quiet students start jumping in. I use a set of A2-level Would You Rather task cards with sentence frames and teen-relevant topics to keep the energy up and the pressure low.
2. Everyday Situations They Can Actually Relate To
Prompts that feel real-life and relevant tend to work better than hypothetical ones. My students respond more to things like:
- “What do you say when you’re late to class?”
- “How do you ask someone to borrow a pencil?”
- “What do you usually do after school?”
These aren’t just speaking prompts—they’re language survival tools. I build these into task card sets that feature daily routines, classroom scenarios, and social questions, all scaffolded for A2 students. They’re great for warm-ups, partner practice, or quick speaking centers.
3. Picture Prompts with Built-In Support
Pictures are amazing for sparking language, but too much freedom can leave A2 students stuck. That’s why I pair images with:
- A short question
- A sentence starter
- 2–3 keywords to support their response
This works especially well in pairs or small groups. I’ve created picture-based A2 ESL speaking prompts that are printable or digital, and I use them weekly in my classroom—they’re a student favorite.
Wrap-Up: Speaking Prompts That Actually Build Confidence
When it comes to A2 ESL speaking prompts, what matters most is giving students a safe, structured way to speak—and encouraging them when they try. Confidence doesn’t happen overnight, but it absolutely grows with practice.
If you’re looking for no-prep, teen-friendly speaking activities, I’ve created a collection of A2 ESL conversation starters and speaking task cards that are ready to print or assign in Google Slides. They’re scaffolded, engaging, and built to support real growth—without overwhelming students.
The more our students speak, the more they believe in their ability to do it. And that belief is what keeps them moving forward.
