
Body vocabulary is a crucial aspect of language learning, particularly for adults studying ESL. This was brought home to me on my third day hospitalized in a foreign country where I couldn’t speak the language. The nurses kept asking me questions I couldn’t answer, and they had to resort to bringing in patients from other rooms to try to translate what turned out to be rather simple questions. If I’d known some basic body vocabulary, I probably could have figured out the questions based on the context and saved myself (and everyone else) a lot of frustration.
Keeping that in mind when teaching body vocabulary helped me add context to my lessons and kept me from dismissing this vocabulary theme as “too basic” to spend much time on.
Why Body Vocabulary is Essential for English Learners

Body vocabulary can allow students to communicate their needs in various situations effectively. By learning the names of different body parts, ESL students can better express themselves and understand others. For example, knowing the word “head” allows a student to ask for a headache remedy. Understanding the word “arm” allows them to request assistance lifting something heavy. If any of your students have spindly arms like mine, they’ll occasionally need to say, “My arms aren’t strong enough to do that.”
But hey, it’s not just about improving communication skills. That is so often our focus that we forget how else students might use the vocabulary they learn in our classes. For one, learning body vocabulary can also help students understand and follow safety instructions, follow medical instructions, and describe their physical sensations and conditions. Being able to accurately describe a rash or injury can make the difference between getting a doctor’s appointment squeezed in that day or getting one a week later.
Plus, body vocabulary is a fundamental building block for more advanced language skills. Start with body vocabulary if your students want to discuss advanced health topics one day. Or, dial it down a notch: body vocabulary forms the basis for understanding and using idioms and expressions involving body parts, such as “having cold feet” or “being all ears.”
As you can see, body vocabulary is an essential basic tool for adult ESL students looking to improve their communication skills and fluency in English. By learning and using these beginner words and phrases, your students can more confidently navigate a variety of situations and work toward more fully participating in the language and culture of their new community.
Now, let’s delve deeper into how they can use this vital language skill in their daily lives.
From Visiting the Doctor to Practicing Yoga: The Many Ways Adult ESL Students Can Benefit from Body Vocabulary

A student visiting the doctor can use body vocabulary to clearly describe their symptoms, such as “My head is pounding,” “I have a sore throat,” or “I have a rash on my arm.” They can also use body vocabulary to answer questions, such as “Where does it hurt?” or “Where did the pain start?” This can help the doctor accurately diagnose and treat the issue. Sure, your students can communicate a lot by pointing to a body part and grimacing, but they’ll feel a lot more confident about getting the proper diagnosis and treatment if they can speak to the doctor or nurse.
However, it’s not all about medical settings. Let’s say some of your students are participating in a fitness or exercise class. They’ll use body vocabulary to accurately follow verbal instructions for different movements and positions, such as “Lift your left leg” or “Extend your arms.” Being able to do this can help them improve their form, leading to better results and fewer injuries. Sometimes, such as in a group class setting, you just can’t see the instructor to follow along in that way. You might even injure yourself trying to (like in some yoga poses–ouch, my neck!) Some instructors don’t demonstrate the whole time–they might be walking around to assess everyone or correcting someone’s form.
And what about when your students injure themselves or get sick? They’ll be able to use body vocabulary to communicate their needs and limitations to others, such as “I can’t lift heavy objects because I threw out my back,” or “I need to take breaks every hour, or my muscles will cramp.” This can help them seek the necessary support and assistance to manage their condition.
Then there are those times when a student has specific body needs or preferences. After learning body vocabulary, your students can use it to communicate important things to others, such as “If I eat shellfish, my face will swell up” or “I prefer to sleep on my side.” This can help them ensure that their needs are met and that they feel comfortable and happy.
Have students planning to become a nurse? Or maybe they are going to have a baby and are learning about health and nutrition. They can use body vocabulary to understand and describe the different nutrients and their functions, as well as the effects of different foods and lifestyles on the body. This can help them make informed decisions about their diet and overall health.

Self-care is a hot topic, and your students interested in body and mind wellness can use body vocabulary to explore different practices and techniques, such as yoga poses or meditation positions. This can help them deepen their understanding and appreciation of these practices.
But how can you effectively teach body vocabulary to adult ESL students in a fun and effective way? Here are some creative strategies to get you started.
Bringing Body Vocabulary to Life: Fun and Engaging Ways to Teach Adult ESL Learners
Make Your Lessons Come to Life with Visuals
Visual aids can be a powerful tool in the classroom, helping students to better understand and engage with new body vocabulary. There are many different types of visual aids you can use, depending on your goals and resources. Some options might include:
Life-sized posters or models: These can provide a hands-on way for students to explore and learn about new concepts, especially when it comes to complex subjects like the human body. Having a human model on hand makes it easy to point out specific body parts while maintaining good eye contact with your students.
Photo flashcards: These can be a quick and easy way to introduce new vocabulary. You can create your own flashcards using pictures from magazines or the internet, or if you are short on time (or would rather do something else with your time), you can get a set from my store.
Digital presentations: This is basically the modern-day upgrade of flashcards. You don’t have to use precious color ink, you can easily show a photo to the entire class (even the ones in the back can see it), and a card will never go missing or get damaged by a coffee cup. Use PowerPoint or a similar program to create your own, or grab the one I already made.
Consider cultural differences in the depiction of body parts, as what may seem innocent or harmless in one culture could be considered inappropriate or offensive in another. For example, in some cultures, the upper arm may be considered a private or intimate body part that should not be exposed or displayed publicly. To avoid causing offense or discomfort, it may be helpful to use animal models. Some other alternatives include:
- Using stylized representations of the human body: Instead of realistic depictions of body parts, you could use stylized representations that still convey the desired vocabulary word without being too specific or explicit.
- Using clothing or other coverings to conceal sensitive body parts: If you need to depict a specific body part, you could use clothing or other coverings to obscure it from view. This can help to make the imagery more culturally sensitive and appropriate.
Cultural differences can impact how we depict and perceive the human body. Other body parts considered taboo or private in some cultures include the chest, stomach, legs, and feet. It is always a good idea to be mindful of these cultural differences and to ensure that your imagery is respectful and appropriate for all students in your class.
Move it! Add movement to body vocabulary.

Incorporating movement into the lesson can make learning body vocabulary more interactive and engaging for students. Not only does it help students remember the vocabulary words, but it also helps them understand how to use them in context. Encourage your students to act out different body movements and gestures as they learn the vocabulary. This can include waving, clapping, pointing, and more.
Incorporating movement can be especially helpful for students in real-life situations where they need to use body vocabulary. For example, during a doctor’s visit, a student may be asked to:
- Point to where they are experiencing pain or discomfort
- Demonstrate how they move their arm or leg
- Show the doctor a rash or other visible condition
- Make a fist or extend their fingers to test their muscle strength
- Follow the doctor’s instructions to perform specific movements or exercises
By practicing these movements in the classroom, students will feel more confident and prepared to use body vocabulary in a practical setting. This can help them communicate their needs and concerns more effectively to the doctor, leading to better diagnosis and treatment. It can also help them understand and follow medical instructions more easily.
Encourage Creativity with Student-Made Body Vocabulary Materials

Encourage students to create flashcards or other materials to review and practice the body vocabulary. This can be a fun and creative way for them to engage with the vocabulary and personalize their learning experience. One of my former students was very dedicated to learning body vocabulary. He took detailed photos of his body parts and labeled them with the corresponding vocabulary terms. He used these photos as a study aid and even added some additional vocabulary words to the list I had provided. As a precaution, he included a placeholder labeled “STOP” to block any sensitive or inappropriate images from being visible. (No, I hadn’t included any words like that.)
Guess the body part!

Playing a game of “Guess the Body Part” can be a fun and engaging way for adult ESL students to learn and practice vocabulary related to body parts. Students can have fun by describing a body part using creative and humorous phrases while reinforcing their understanding of the words.
To play the game, you can have students work in small groups or pairs and take turns describing a body part without saying its name. The other students then have to guess the body part based on the clues provided.
You can give them these examples or use them yourself and allow the students to guess the answers if they aren’t ready to write their own:
- You use it to pick your nose, but please don’t do that in class. (finger)
- It’s the thing on your face that you use to smile, frown, and show all sorts of emotions. (mouth)
- It’s the thing on the end of your arm that you use to wave hello and goodbye or to give someone a high five. (hand)
- It’s the thing on your face that you use to breathe but seems useless when you have a cold. (nose)
- It helps you hear but also helps you balance. (ear)
- It helps you speak but also helps you swallow. (tongue)
- It pumps blood throughout your body but also can break if you’re upset. (heart)
- It’s the thing that helps you digest food and holds butterflies when you’re nervous. (stomach)
Don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun while teaching body vocabulary to adult ESL students. With these strategies in your toolkit, you’ll be well on your way to helping your students build a strong foundation in this essential area of language learning.
Want more themes for adult ESL?
- Practical Pet-Themed Activities for Adult ESL Classes: Tips and Ideas
- Lights, Camera, English! 4 Engaging Movie-Based Activities for Adult ESL Learners
- Clothing Vocabulary: 3 Key Important Reasons to Dress up Your Adult ESL Lessons
- Exploring Cultural Differences in Adult ESL Classrooms: Why it Matters




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