Ten interactive and fun English learning activities for all levels

Learning a new language is often seen as a challenge, but it does not have to feel like a task. English, being one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, opens doors to countless opportunities, from career growth to travel, education and social interactions. The key to mastering it lies not just in grammar drills or endless vocabulary lists, but in fun English learning activities that keep you engaged. 

Games and playful learning are proven methods to boost memory retention, encourage natural conversation and reduce fear of making mistakes. In this blog, we share 10 interactive and fun English language learning activities suitable for learners of all levels. These activities work equally well in classrooms, tutoring sessions or even casual group learning environments at home. We also got the thoughts of Evita, the Director of Studies at EP Birmingham, who recommended her favourites.  

If you are looking for structured yet engaging ways to improve your skills, English Path offers a variety of programmes designed to make learning both effective and enjoyable. 

Simon says 

This classic game is simple, fast-paced and brilliantly effective for language learning. Teachers give commands starting with “Simon says…” and learners must act them out. 

• Why it works: It combines physical movement with listening practice, making it excellent for beginners, especially children. 
• How to play: Commands could involve body parts ('Simon says touch your nose'), actions ('Simon says jump three times’) or even prepositions and directions ('Simon says stand behind the chair'). 
• Skills developed: Listening comprehension, vocabulary building, action verbs and quick thinking. 

Fun tip: For advanced learners, you can complicate instructions by adding multiple steps or using conditional phrases. 

Charades 

Another timeless favourite, charades injects laughter into learning. Players must act out a word or phrase while others guess it. 

• Why it works: It forces learners to think about vocabulary without relying on direct translation, making it one of the most engaging English practice activities for any classroom or group. 
• How to play: Write words, idioms or even short phrases on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Divide learners into teams and one player acts out a word silently while their team guesses. 
• Skills developed: Vocabulary recall, non-verbal communication, teamwork and comprehension. 

This activity suits learners of all levels, from acting out basic nouns like 'dog' to complex idioms such as 'break the ice'. Despite not having to actually speak, Evita believes Charades is a brilliant way to pick up words in English. Give it a try! 

This or that 

'This or that' is an easy warm-up activity that sparks quick conversation and encourages learners to express preferences. 

• Why it works: It promotes speaking fluency while expanding vocabulary, making it one of the simplest yet most effective English language learning activities for classrooms or study groups. 
• How to play: Pose questions such as, 'Tea or coffee?', 'Reading a book or watching a film?', 'Summer or winter?' Learners must choose one option and explain briefly why. 
• Skills developed: Making choices, forming opinions, practicing comparative phrases and conversational English. 

Variation: If you are a higher-level learners, include debates to encourage critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills, making it a fun way to learn English. 

Hot seat 

Hot seat is a lively classroom game where one student sits with their back to the board and has to guess a hidden word while their classmates describe it. 

• Why it works: It builds quick-thinking skills, improves vocabulary and fosters group participation. 
• How to play: Write a word on the board behind the seated player. The rest of the group give hints without directly mentioning the word. The seated player must guess within a time limit. 
• Skills developed: Vocabulary expansion, paraphrasing and listening comprehension. 

It is an ideal English practice activity to encourage learners of all ages to communicate effectively under pressure. “Hot seat builds quick thinking, speaking skills, confidence and teamwork skills. Give it a go with your friends!”, Evita says. 

Riddles 

Riddles sharpen the mind and add a mystery-solving element to your English practice. 

• Why it works: Encourages critical thinking and comprehension by requiring learners to interpret clues carefully, making riddles one of the most engaging and fun English learning activities for students of all ages. 
• How to play: The teacher or a learner reads out a riddle and participants guess the answer. Learners can also create their own riddles as an extra challenge. 
• Skills developed: Vocabulary comprehension, logical reasoning and creativity. 

This interactive English activity builds not only language skills but also encourages fun classroom discussion. 

Pictionary 

Similar to charades, but in Pictionary, drawing replaces acting. Learners sketch words or phrases while others guess. 

• Why it works: Links visual memory with language recall, making vocabulary more memorable. 
• How to play: Write vocabulary terms, idioms or topics on slips of paper. A student draws their slip while others guess. 
• Skills developed: Word recall, creative thinking and quick response. 

Fun ways to learn English often involve visual elements - Pictionary is especially effective for young learners and visual learners. 

Tongue twisters 

Tongue twisters are short, tricky phrases that challenge pronunciation and fluency. 

• Why it works: They improve speech clarity, articulation and rhythm through a playful approach. 
• How to play: Choose a tongue twister and ask learners to repeat it faster each time. For extra fun, turn it into a competition to see who can say it most fluently without stumbling. 
• Skills developed: Pronunciation, rhythm, stress and self-confidence in speaking. 

Evita recommends tongue twisters as a fun way to build confidence and have fun with English. “It’s a great way to improve your pronunciation, fluency, and confidence in English? Try tongue twisters! You'll have a blast!” This activity works equally well for beginners (short, simple phrases) and advanced learners (longer tongue twisters). 

Role-playing 

Role-playing transforms the classroom into real-life scenarios. It is one of the most fun ways to learn English while practising practical communication. 

• Why it works: Learners get to practice conversation in authentic contexts. 
• How to play: Assign situations such as ordering in a restaurant, attending a job interview, shopping or travelling abroad. Learners act out their roles in English. 
• Skills developed: Speaking fluency, cultural understanding, confidence and the use of everyday English phrases. 

At English Path, learners practice real-life English conversations in immersive settings, ensuring even shy students gain confidence. 

For advanced learners, role play can extend to problem-solving scenarios like negotiating an agreement or handling a disagreement at work. 

20 Questions 

A classic guessing game ideally suited to vocabulary reinforcement. One player thinks of an object, person or place and the others can ask up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. 

• Why it works: Encourages learners to form correct questions and practice deductive reasoning. 
• How to play: Start with broad topics ('Is it an animal?') before narrowing down gradually ('Does it live in the sea?'). 
• Skills developed: Question formation, reasoning and vocabulary. 

This is a flexible English practice activity that suits small or large groups and can be scaled from simple nouns to advanced concepts. 

Crossword puzzles 

Crossword puzzles are not just for newspapers; they are brilliant English language learning activities. 

• Why it works: They reinforce spelling, word definitions and grammar. 
• How to play: Create themed crosswords (e.g., animals, jobs, irregular verbs) and let learners solve them individually or in pairs. 
• Skills developed: Vocabulary retention, spelling and problem-solving. 

  Evita believes crosswords are a great tool for learning English solo. "They really help to build on spelling and reinforce word meanings", she said. 

Why interactive English activities make a difference 

Traditional study methods, like memorising word lists and completing grammar worksheets, are useful, but they rarely inspire long-lasting engagement. By integrating fun English learning activities, learners experience English as a living language rather than just a subject. 

These activities work for all age groups and proficiency levels because they: 

• Build confidence by encouraging communication in a relaxed setting. 
• Reinforce vocabulary and grammar naturally. 
• Improve memory retention through movement, visuals and laughter. 
• Cater to different learning styles, including auditory, visual and kinaesthetic. 
• Make lessons more enjoyable, reducing stress or fear of mistakes. 

Importantly, they turn English language learning activities into something learners actually look forward to, rather than a chore. 

Learn English language with English Path 

By trying out these fun English learning activities, students can turn their practice into an enjoyable part of their daily routine. Whether studying in class, at home or online, these activities make learning more exciting, build confidence, and help learners communicate in English more naturally while having fun along the way.  

With English Path, learning English extends beyond textbooks. You will join a global community, experience dynamic lessons and practice in real-life situations that make learning unforgettable. “We are passionate about getting results here at English Path, but throughout our courses we keep learning FUN! " Evita told us. "Be sure to take a look at the courses we offer and check our social media to see more about how the school experience is."