Using pictures in ESL?

In the first place, there 3 main things you can do to explore vocabulary when using real-life pictures in ESL:

Specific Vocabulary Topics

2. Emotional States

3. Opinions

Before all, in this post, I’m going to give you examples for you to use in the classroom.

1. Specific Vocabulary Topics

Firstly, you have to consider the level. The level of your students.

However, I believe you can explore every topic with any age, level or stage of learning.

Start off by looking at these examples.

22 VOCABULARY TOPICS TO TEACH USING PICTURES IN ESL

Clothes (jeans, shirt, pullover, etc)

2. House/Furniture (table, armchair, carpet, cupboard, wardrobe, etc)

3. Family Members and Relationships (mother, father, couple, parents, etc)

4. Jobs and Occupations (carpenter, engineer, plumber, etc)

5. Household Chores (set the table, make the bed, iron, clean the dust, etc)

6. Daily Routines (get up, have breakfast, take a shower, go to school, etc)

7. School (Geography, playground, canteen, break, etc)

8. Travelling (places to visit, public transportation, luggage, check-in, airport, station, etc)

9. Countryside (river, field, hill, bridge, etc)

10. City (street, people, buildings, skyscraper, traffic, cars, pollution, etc)

11. Holidays (seaside, montains, camping, etc)

12. Shopping (buy, pay, clothes, money, credit card, cash, sales, etc)

13. Fashion and Body Image (clothes, accessories, catwalk, anorexia, depression, etc)

14. Favourites (colours, games, films, books, etc)

15. Freetime Activities (watching TV, jogging, playing games, etc)

16. Sports (volleyball, golf, cricket, etc)

17. Food and Drinks (restaurant, take away, meal, breakfast, etc)

18. Healthy Eating Habits (food, containers, tastes, etc)

19. Media and Technology (computer, mouse, login, download, etc)

20. The Environment (environmental problems, environmental solutions, etc)

21. Physical Appearance (tall, attractive, slim, pretty, etc)

22. Personality (shy, easy-going, sensitive, talkative, etc)

2. Emotional States

Secondly, never forget that your learners are people. No matter how old they are. They have feelings too. Just like you do.

So, due to the situation, we are facing around the world, feelings have never been so important. Above all else, they can’t be neglected! They are now even more significant!

Because of this, pictures are good to explore feelings without questioning directly!

I have a post with FREE downloads and resources to explore feelings when coming back to school after so long – How to Beat Your Insecurities As A Language Learner

So, these are 8 emotional states I believe a language teacher can explore with pictures.

8 EMOTIONAL STATES TO SPARK WHEN USING PICTURES IN ESL

Curiosity (making kids to be absorbed by a desire)

2. Urgency (if you want them to take action)

3. Confusion (if you want them to feel a bit puzzled and make them ask questions – useful for WH-questions)

4. Relaxation (when you want to offer mental peace and relaxation)

5. Inspiration (making kids feel like they are capable and in charge)

6. Anger (causing a variety of emotions and driving several actions)

7. Safeness and Satisfaction (building a sense of security when you want them to feel protected)

8. Happiness (when you want them to feel good with life)

Besides Specific Vocabulary Topics and Emotions, talking about Opinions is very important.

3. Opinions

Finally, on top of everything else, provoking opinions is now easier as students receive a lot of online daily information on their social networks.

I can think about 3 main topics when it comes to giving opinions.

3 WAYS OF BRINGING ABOUT STUDENTS OPINIONS

AGREEING

Expressing complete agreement – e.g. “Exactly.”
Indicating conditional agreement – e.g. “I’d agree with you if…”

2. DISAGREEING

Expressing complete disagreement – e.g. “I can’t agree.”
Using irony to express disagreement – e.g. “Come on!”
Dismissing an argument as irrelevant or improbable – e.g. “That isn’t the point.”
Disagreeing diplomatically (through the doubt) – e.g. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Disagreeing in part (appeal to logic) – e.g.“Not necessarily.”

3. GIVING YOUR OPINION ABOUT A TOPIC

Showing a strong opinion – e.g. “In my opinion…”
Expressing certainty – e.g. “In fact…”
Expressing high probability – e.g. “I believe”

At last, if you like reading about ways of using pictures in ESL and vocabulary teaching strategies inside ESL classroom make sure to read these posts:

There are hundreds of websites about vocabulary teaching and vocabulary strategies, nonetheless, I will leave you some which have cool ideas about vocabulary teaching activities: