This guide is part of our master collection: The Ultimate Guide to 50 ESL Conversation Activities for Adult Learners. Bookmark the main page to access all 50 activities.

Overview of 5 Mixed-Level ESL Conversation Activities for Adult Learners

For multi-level classes — the reality of most adult ESL programs. The activities here are designed so A2 and B2 learners can work in the same group without either being bored or lost.

M1. Expert and Novice

Level: Mixed A2–B1 · Time: 20 min · Prep: A simple topic (how to make coffee, how to use an ATM)

How it works: Pairs. One learner is the expert. One is the novice. The novice has 5 minutes to learn how to do the task from the expert. Then they switch roles.

The lesson: Explaining English is a high-level skill. The "expert" — even at A2 — has to sequence, use simple present, and check understanding. The "novice" has to ask clarifying questions. Both skills are needed.

M2. The Modified Press Conference

Level: Mixed B1–B2 · Time: 30 min · Prep: A short news article

How it works: Group of 4. One is the spokesperson (B1). Three are journalists (B2). The journalists prepare 5 questions in English. The spokesperson has 5 minutes to read the article and prepare simple answers. The journalists must adapt their language to ask questions the spokesperson can answer.

The lesson: The journalists learn controlled register — high-level questions phrased accessibly. The spokesperson learns everyday formal English. The skill difference is what makes it work.

M3. The Translation Game

Level: Mixed A2–B2 · Time: 15 min · Prep: A list of 6 short sentences in students' L1

How it works: Pairs of mixed levels. The B2 learner is the "translator." The A2 learner reads a sentence in their L1. The B2 learner has 60 seconds to translate it into simple English. The A2 learner judges whether it's clear.

The lesson: Translation forces simplicity. B2 learners often produce unnecessarily complex English. This is the most efficient way to teach them that simple is better — because the A2 learner is the audience.

M4. The Tandem Story

Level: Mixed A2–C1 · Time: 25 min · Prep: None

How it works: Groups of 3 with mixed levels. They take turns adding one sentence to a story, but each person must add a different grammar target: A2 adds a past simple sentence, B1 adds a because clause, C1 adds a conditional.

The lesson: Each level contributes something unique. No one is bored, no one is lost. The constraint forces real listening to the previous sentence.

M5. Shadow the Native

Level: Mixed B1+ · Time: 20 min · Prep: A 2-minute audio clip (a podcast or TED talk)

How it works: Play a 30-second audio clip. Learners shadow it — speak along with the audio, mimicking the rhythm and intonation. Then pairs: B1 learner describes what they remember. B2 learner rephrases it more precisely.

The lesson: Pronunciation, connected speech, and the specific challenge of listening accurately.
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A 50-activity guide is useless if your class only runs one activity per month. The teachers who get the best results with adult learners use a small number of activity types, rotated regularly. Here's a sample 8-week rotation:
The 4-week cycle is the shape. The activities inside each slot rotate so the class never gets bored. The Friday reflection is non-negotiable — it's where the meta-learning happens.
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Most teachers spend 30+ minutes per lesson writing materials. A good lesson plan tool should cut that to 5.
A tool like GoTeach.io can generate a full ESL lesson plan with the activity type, level, time, and materials list in under 60 seconds. You pick the activity from this guide, paste it into the generator, and it gives you a print-ready worksheet, a vocabulary list, and an assessment rubric.
For a class of 8 adult learners, the difference between planning a 30-minute conversation activity from scratch and pulling one from a tested, level-tagged library is about 25 minutes. That's 2 hours saved per week — time better spent on actually teaching.
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How do I handle a student who never speaks?

Two rules: (1) pair them with someone quieter, never the loudest student. (2) Give them a role in the activity — the timekeeper, the note-taker, the question-asker. Roles give quiet students permission to speak.

How do I handle a student who dominates?

Three rules: (1) the time-box. You have 60 seconds, then your partner has 60 seconds. (2) The "one follow-up question" rule. The dominant student must ask a follow-up they don't know the answer to — which forces them to listen. (3) Reduce eye contact. Look at your notes, not at them.

What if my students have very different levels?

Use §7 (Mixed-level activities). Pair strong with weak strategically — the strong student learns by explaining, the weak student learns by asking. Switch pairs every activity.

How do I give feedback without killing the conversation?

Delayed correction. Take notes during the activity. After the activity, write 3–5 of the most common errors on the board anonymously. I heard these during the activity — let's look at them together. Then move on. Don't stop the flow mid-activity.

What level of English do I need to teach these activities?

All of them. The activities are designed for teachers with strong B2+ English. If your English is B1, start with §4 (low-prep A1–A2 activities) and build up. You can also use the same activity types at any level by adjusting the content (the topic) and the scaffolds (sentence frames you provide).

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The teachers who transform their adult learners' speaking are not the ones with the best materials. They are the ones who show up, run the activity, and reflect on what worked. The activities are just the vehicle. The rest is the practice of teaching.
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About this guide
This guide is written for ESL/EFL teachers of adult learners, by ESL/EFL teachers. Every activity has been tested in real classrooms with real adult learners. The level tags (A1, A2, B1, B1+, B2, C1) follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Last reviewed: June 15, 2026.
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Want a print-ready version of any of these activities, with a vocabulary list, a worksheet, and an assessment rubric? GoTeach.io can generate one in under 60 seconds, tagged to your students' level and lesson length. Try it free.

Looking for more activities? Back to The Ultimate Guide to 50 ESL Conversation Activities for Adult Learners.

5 Mixed-Level ESL Conversation Activities for Adult Learners