Icebreaker

What is icebreaker?

An icebreaker is an activity, game, or event that is used to welcome and warm up the conversation among students in the class. Any activity that requires students to comfortably interact with each other.

Why ESL teachers would  use icebreaker?

The Center for Teaching and Learning at Lansing Community College lists these benefits on their page of icebreaker activities:

• Reduces both students and instructors anxiety prior to introducing the new course.
• Foster in a powerful way both student- student and faculty- student interactions.
• Create an environment where the learner is expected to participate and instructor is willing to listen. 
• Actively engage students from the onset.
• Conveys the message that the instructor cares about getting to know the students.
• It makes it easier for students to form relationship early in the semester so they can work together both in and out of the classroom.

For me preparing for a new school year as a teacher takes time and energy. Get to know the students and encourage them to get to know each other. One way to do so is with icebreakers in the classroom. It  allows students to learn about one another.

I believe ice-breaking activities should be the first day of the class and should be after every few days, so teaching will not be boring routine for the students. It is a good idea to use icebreakers that can be connected to the topics that must be taught in that class, so there will be a link between the icebreaker and the "real" class. In this way, the class will be motivating, pleasant, interesting and funny for both teacher and students.

Even in an adult ESL class playing icebreakers opens people up and let them talk. Ice-breaking activity in an adult ESL class builds relationship in and out of classrooms. Outsides of the classroom benefits can lead to getting conversation partners and practice their English.