Creativity, Connection & Play in the ESOL Classroom

An hour of games, icebreakers, and conversation starters to practise English, feel confident speaking, and have fun.

This participatory workshop explores how creativity, connection, and play can be used in the ESOL classroom to encourage young people to express themselves, build relationships, and feel more confident - skills that are vital in everyday communication and at school, college, and work.

Led by Creative ESOL practitioners from a London-based education charity, the workshop offers a taste of how creative and participatory approaches can be used to support language learning and wellbeing, while helping learners recognise and celebrate the value of their home languages and cultural identities. With a focus on self-expression and sharing opinions, the session aims to support young people to feel more confident being themselves and using their voices at school, work, and beyond. 

Springboard Youth Academy aims to bridge the gaps in provision for newly arrived young people and set them up with the skills and support they need to thrive. We offer year-round creative ESOL programmes for 13-18-year-olds, with a focus on designing relevant, socially engaged curricula and developing critical thinking. Our programmes also include sports, arts, and debating activities, and we share a hot halal lunch each day. Together with the young people, we work to create spaces for joy, care, and agency.

If you are interested in learning more about our work or referring a young person to one of our programmes, you can visit www.springboardyouth.com or find us on Instagram @springboardyouth.

Ellen Gould, Creative ESOL Practitioner and Educational Practice & Impact Lead at Springboard Youth Academy
Sweta Suresh, Learning Support Assistant at Springboard Youth Academy

Young people aged 13-18

ESOL students of all levels and those interested in creative language learning

By invitation only