If you’re looking for some fun, engaging, and interactive transportation ESL games and activities, then you’re certainly in the right place. We have lots of student-centered ESL transportation activities, along with lesson plans and worksheets. Keep on reading!

ESL tranport activities
Table of Contents
ESL Transportation Games and Activities
Let’s get to the best transportation ESL activities and games.
#1: Transportation Taboo
I’m sure you’ve played the party game taboo before? It’s where you have to describe a word but you can’t use a list of other related words.
I’ve adapted it to use in my TEFL classes and it’s a great option for transportation words. Have a look here:
#2: Transportation Vocabulary Game
#3: Describing Something Guessing Game
Try out this quick speaking and listening activity to review new transportation words. Students have to describe a word (car, plane, skateboard, etc.) to another student who has to guess what it is. More details here:
Describe Something Guessing Game.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 75 Pages - 05/31/2020 (Publication Date)
#4: Just 1 Question
This is a nice survey type of activity that gets students out of their seats and moving around the classroom. It’s ideal for transportation as there are many interesting questions that students could choose to ask their classmates. Find out how to do it here:
#5: Dictogloss Listening Activity
If you teach more advanced students, you may want to try out this challenging listening and speaking or writing activity. Find (or write) a passage filled with lots of key vocabulary words. In this case, words related to transportation.
Then, put students into pairs and read out the passage at a faster than normal pace. Students have to listen, take notes, and then attempt to recreate what they heard. Read it again and students do the same thing. Finally, they can compare what they have with the original version.
Want to try it out with your students? Learn more about it here:
Dictogloss ESL Listening Activity.
#6: Vocabulary Auction
This is a nice activity that works on building sentences as well as new vocabulary. It does take a bit of preparation so I’ll usually only do it if I can recycle the activity for multiple classes. For example, 3 or 4 sections of the same course.
Students love it though and it’s always worth the effort! Learn how to do it here:
#7: Transportation Hidden Picture Game
#8: Transportation Role Plays
Have fun some with role-plays related to transportation. For example, you could use the following scenarios:
- Someone asking a bus driver how to get to a certain place
- Buying a ticket at the train station
- Asking another passenger which stop to get off at
- Etc.
#9: Charades with Transportation Vocabulary
A fun way to review new vocabulary words is to play charades. For beginners, this could be as simple as having them act out words like train, car, bike, walking, etc. More advanced students can handle phrases like driving a car, getting on a bus, etc.
For more details, have a look here:
#10: Chain Spelling ESL Activity
This is a fun way to review the spelling of transportation-related words with beginners. It’s challenging, fun, and has an element of competition to it to keep things interesting. Try it out for yourself:
#11: Task-Based Language Teaching
I love to include some task-based teaching in my classes. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual communicative style of activities.
A nice option is to put students into groups and have them research one method of transportation. For example, when it was invented and by whom. Then, they can make a poster about it and do a short presentation to the class. Check out this article with lots more ideas:
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 82 Pages - 06/10/2020 (Publication Date)
#12: What am I?
This is a fun game to review new English transportation words. It’s a classic party game that I’ve adapted for use in my English classes. Have some fun with your students! Try it out:
#13: Transportation Song for Kids
When I’m teaching children, I love to include some songs and chants in my classes. The bad news is that I don’t have a musical bone in my body! The good news is that YouTube is a gold mine for all things ESL songs. Here’s a nice one to teach kids English transportation vocabulary.
#14: Running Dictation
I love to use this 4-skills, student-centred activity at least a couple of times throughout the semester. Find (or write) a conversation between two people talking about transportation. For example, how they usually get to school or work.
Then, post the sentences around the classroom. Students have to work together to dictate what’s on those pieces of paper and when done, put the conversation in the correct order. It’s challenging but fun. Have a look here:
#15: Telephone ESL Speaking and Listening Game
This is a fun activity for kids. I’m sure you remember playing this when you were young.
The teacher gives the first student on each team a secret message. In this case, it should be related to transportation. Then, students have to pass the message down the line, from person-to-person. The last one compares what they have with the original.
Try it out for yourself:
Transportation ESL Lesson Plans
If you’re an English teacher, then you’re going to know what a huge time-saver it can be to use lesson plans that other teachers have put together. Here are some of the top picks:
ESL Transportation Worksheets
Another way to save a ton of time is to use these transportation ESL worksheets that other teachers have put together. Here are some of the top ones to consider for your students.
Did you like these Transportation ESL Activities?
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Smith, Jennifer Booker (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 133 Pages - 03/31/2016 (Publication Date)
Yes? Thought so. Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 101 ESL Activities for Kids. The key to better English classes for children is a wide variety of interesting, engaging, and interactive ESL activities and games and this book will help you get there in style.
You can find the book in both digital and print formats. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide when doing lesson plans. Or, take a copy with you when on the go on your phone or tablet by using the free Kindle reading app.
Either way, it’s easier than ever to have better TEFL classes with kids. Pick up a copy of the book today:
Have your Say about ESL Transportation
What’s your top pick for a game or activity for transportation? Is it one of the options from this list or do you have another that you’d like to recommend? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.
Also, be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.

ESL transportation games
Last update on 2021-02-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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