No Prep Games Without Materials for ESL/EFL Teachers

If you’re looking for some of the best no prep games without materials for English teachers, then you’re in the right place. These TEFL games and activities require no preparation and no materials. Teach those last-minute classes in style with these no-prep solutions!

No Prep Games Without Materials

Let’s get into the best no preparation, no materials games and activities for ESL or EFL teachers. Here are some of my favourite activities that require no prep. Have a look:

#1: Telephone

I’m sure that you played this game before when you were a kid. You have to pass a message along, down the line and them compare the final result with the original sentence. Try it out with your students. Learn more:

ESL Telephone Game.

#2: What are you Cooking?

If you teach adults and want an activity that’ll take up an entire class but doesn’t require any materials or preparation, check this one out. My students love it!

What are you cooking? ESL Activity

#3: This or That Food Questions

Who doesn’t like talking about food, right? Have some fun with these questions:

This or That Food Questions.

#4: Line Up, A No-Prep, No Materials Activity

#5: Draw a Picture

Have some hilarious fun in your English class! It requires just a pencil and paper, as well as a picture on the PowerPoint or the Internet. Find out more:

Draw a Picture Activity.

#6: Fortunately, Unfortunately

Try out this simple warm-up activity that requires no prep:

Fortunately, Unfortunately Activity.

#7: 71 Absolutely No Prep TEFL Games and Activities

If you want to save a ton of time when planning lessons, you’ll want to check out this book. It’s also ideal for those last-minute classes you might have thrown at you in the few minutes before it starts. Not to worry, just pull out this book!

#8: Phone Show and Tell

If you want to get students talking about some interesting things, do phone show and tell. Each student has to find one picture, and then show a partner the picture and talk about it.

#9: Chain Spelling

A nice no prep, no materials option for English class is this spelling game. It’s ideal for reviewing any vocabulary. Check it out:

ESL Chain Spelling Game.

#10: Hot Debate Topics

Have a last-minute class that you have to prepare for, but have no time! No to worry. Just pull out some of these debate topics and you’ll be sure to have lots to talk about:

Hot Debate Topics.

#11: Round Robin No Prep Writing Activity

#12: Never Have I Ever

If you want to get students talking, and sharing some things about themselves, try out this fun drinking game that I’ve adapted for English class. Check out this fun variation:

Never Have I Ever for English Class.

#13: Just a Minute

A challenging speaking and listening activity for higher-level students is Just a Minute. It also requires no prep, and no materials, and the students really enjoy it. Learn more about it here:

ESL Just a Minute Activity.

#14: Trivia Questions (No Prep Fun!)

Have some fun in your class with these easy trivia questions for kids.

#15: 67 ESL Conversation Topics

How do complete lesson plans at your fingertips sound? Great, right? Pick up a copy of this book, designed for higher-level teenagers or adults and you’ll never run out of things to talk about.

#16: The Memory Circle Game

A fun activity for kids, teens, or adults is this challenging memory one. Choose a theme, or use to it review a vocabulary set, the past tense, or names. Find out the details:

The Memory Circle Game ESL.

#17: Is That Sentence Correct?

#18: Disappearing Text

If you have a few minutes at the end of class with nothing to do, pull out this fun review game. It’s ideal for reviewing tricky grammatical structures. Learn more about it here:

ESL Disappearing Text.

#19: Toilet Paper Icebreaker

One of my favorite icebreaker activities is this one. The best part is that it requires no preparation time or materials, except for a roll of toilet paper which I’m sure you have on hand.

Toilet Paper Icebreaker.

#20: I’m Going on a Picnic

You may have played this game when you were a kid. Students have to figure out the pattern of something in order to come along! Learn more:

I’m Going On a Picnic Game.

#21: A to Z

#22: Speaking Fluency Activity

I love to push my students to speak more quickly. One of the best ways to help them with this is with this activity. Learn more about it here:

ESL Speaking Fluency Activity.

#23: Picture Prompt

This is one of my favorite warmer activities. It does take a minute or two to find a picture that’ll work, but then after that, you have some ESL teaching gold! Find out the details:

 Picture Prompt ESL.

#24: Me Too!

#25: 20 Questions

You probably already know the 20 questions game. It’s fun, interactive, and requires no prep or materials. Have a look:

ESL 20 Questions Game.

#26: English Teacher Emergency

You know the emergency that I’m talking about. A class that you get given to you in the few minutes before it starts. That’s why you’ll want to keep a copy of this book on your bookshelf. Pick up a copy today:

FAQs about Time-Saving ESL Activities

There are a number of common questions that people have about no-prep, no materials ESL games and activities. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.

What are no prep games and activities for ESL?

No prep games and activities for ESL (English as a Second Language) are interactive language-learning exercises that can be conducted without any prior preparation or materials.

Why are no-prep games and activities beneficial for ESL learners?

No prep games and activities provide spontaneous and engaging opportunities for ESL learners to practice their language skills, fostering communication, vocabulary acquisition, and grammar comprehension in a fun and relaxed environment.

Can you suggest a no-prep game for ESL learners?

“Two Truths and a Lie” is a popular no-prep game where each student takes turns sharing three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one is false. The other students try to guess which statement is the lie.

Are there any group activities that require no preparation?

Yes, one example is “Word Chain.” In this activity, students form a circle and take turns saying a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. The game continues, and students must think quickly to keep the chain going.

How can no prep activities be adapted for different ESL proficiency levels?

No prep activities can be easily modified to suit various proficiency levels. For beginners, you can focus on vocabulary-building games like “Charades” or “Pictionary.” Intermediate or advanced learners can engage in discussions or debates on given topics without any prior preparation.

No Prep, No Materials TEFL Activities: Join the Conversation

Do you have any favorite no prep TEFL games or activities that require no materials? Leave a comment and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Last update on 2025-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API