You know that moment when you need a quick speaking activity and your mind goes completely blank? 😅 Or when you're staring at a classroom full of silent students who suddenly find their shoes incredibly fascinating?
These 10 prompts are your secret weapon. They work across languages, levels, and age groups, and they're designed to get students talking naturally instead of reciting memorized phrases like robots.
"Tell me three things about yourself. Two should be true, and one should be creative but believable."
Why it works: Students love the challenge of being sneaky, and everyone else stays glued to their seats trying to spot the lie. It's like a mini detective game that involves language practice.
"Would you rather fly or be invisible? Explain your choice in 60 seconds."
Why it works: The choice gives them direction, but the explanation is where their personality shines. Plus, you'll be amazed at how creative their reasoning gets.
"Pick three items from this classroom to take to a desert island. Explain why."
Why it works: Looking around the room gives instant visual inspiration. Watch them eye that stapler and somehow justify why it's essential for survival.
"Homework should be banned. Do you agree or disagree? Convince me."
Why it works: Students have REAL opinions about school stuff, so they speak with genuine fire instead of just practicing grammar patterns. You might even learn something about your own teaching!
Switch it up: Try "Social media does more harm than good" or "Pineapple belongs on pizza" for some heated debates.
"You have 30 seconds to convince everyone to try your favorite hobby. Go!"
Why it works: Time pressure kills overthinking, and passion makes people fluent. You'll discover students are secretly amazing at everything from origami to skateboarding.
"What happened 5 minutes before this photo was taken?"
Why it works: Visual prompts rescue students who struggle with abstract thinking. That random photo of a dog wearing sunglasses suddenly becomes the start of an epic adventure story.
Tech hack: Use “Media Area” in your activity on Speakable for instant inspiration.
"Your friend texted you at midnight saying they locked themselves out. What advice do you give?"
Why it works: Real-life scenarios feel meaningful, and problem-solving naturally gets students thinking step-by-step. Plus, you might get some genuinely helpful life advice.
"Describe a time when you felt proud of yourself."
Why it works: Personal stories are easier because students have lived them. Plus, sharing wins creates those warm classroom moments where everyone's cheering each other on.
Sensitive classroom? Try "your best day last month" or "a time you helped someone" instead.
"You're 30 years old. Describe a typical day in your life."
Why it works: Future scenarios let students dream big while practicing different verb tenses. You'll hear everything from "I'm a marine biologist in Australia" to "I own a bakery and have 17 cats."
"Teach us something you know well in 2 minutes."
Why it works: Everyone's an expert at something, even if it's just making the perfect sandwich. Teaching naturally uses explanation skills, and students love showing off their hidden talents.
Lower levels: Give thinking time and focus on communication over grammar perfection. Celebrate brave attempts!
Higher levels: Add time constraints or have students build on each other's responses for natural conversation flow.
Mixed levels: Pair stronger students with those who need support, or let students choose their response length.
Here's what makes these prompts different: they tap into what students care about. When someone's explaining why they'd choose invisibility over flying, they're not thinking about grammar rules anymore. They're just... talking.
And that's when the magic happens.
Pick two prompts from this list and try them this week. Pay attention to which ones make your students' eyes light up, then create variations around those themes.
Want to give every student detailed feedback without spending your entire weekend grading? Try Speakable Free and let AI handle the feedback while you focus on facilitating those amazing conversations.
Because the best speaking prompt in the world deserves better than "good job" scribbled in the margin. ✨
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