If you’re looking for a theme that won’t make your adult ESL students groan and check their phones, try “health.” I know, I know. It sounds about as exciting sitting in a doctor’s waiting room with no data, wifi, or magazines.. But hear me out.
Health is one of those topics that’s both practical AND gets students talking. Everyone’s got an opinion about diets, exercise, or that time they tried to explain their symptoms to a doctor who didn’t speak their language.
Plus, you can sneak in vocabulary about healthcare, nutrition, and exercise without it feeling like vocabulary drills. I’m not saying you need to have debates about using medication meant for diabetes to finally hit one’s weight loss goals (though you could, if your students are advanced).
But health, good or bad, affects everyone. That makes it a great theme.
Here are five activities to get your students engaged instead of counting ceiling tiles.
Activity #1: Role-Playing a Doctor’s Visit (Without the Awkward Paper Gown)
Ever tried to see a doctor in a country where you couldn’t speak the language? I have. It was terrifying, and I was just there for what I thought was the flu. (It wasn’t.)
Your students need to practice this scenario in a space where messing up doesn’t mean they accidentally tell a doctor they’re pregnant instead of nauseous. So set up a role-play.
Give the “doctors” some prompts: “What are your symptoms? How long have you been experiencing them? Do you have any allergies?” You can add nurses or medical assistants to the mix so more students get speaking time and it feels less like amateur theater, more like actual practice.
After they fumble through it (and they will fumble, that’s the point), debrief. What vocabulary tripped them up? What was harder than they expected? Let them share their own doctor visit horror stories. You’ll be surprised what comes up.
Remember that perfect pronunciation isn’t the goal. You want them to gain the confidence to walk into a clinic and not freeze up. Health role plays can help with that.
Activity #2: Creating Health Brochures (Yes, Really)
Want to combine writing practice with something that doesn’t feel like a writing assignment? Have students create health brochures.
Start by brainstorming health topics together: exercise, nutrition, mental health, sleep, whatever they’re interested in. Split them into small groups and assign topics. Then let them loose to research, interview each other, or talk to people outside class about health tips. (This is where you can sneak in those conversational visits if you’re into that.)
Give them some guidelines so they don’t wander off like a lost child in a toy store. What should the brochure include? How long should it be? You can point them to reliable websites if research time is tight.
Here’s where it gets fun: let them design the thing. Show them examples of real health brochures for inspiration, or just turn them loose with Canva. My students got weirdly competitive about whose brochure looked the most professional.
When they’re done, have each group present to the class or post them around the room. Students will share facts they discovered, and you’ll be surprised at how much language practice happens when they’re focused on making something that looks good.
Activity #3: Health-Themed Games (Because Worksheets Alone Are a Crime Against Joy)
Adult students love games. Not in a “let’s play Ring Around the Rosie” way, but in a “let’s compete and win” way. Games give them a break from the grind while still practicing vocabulary and grammar. Here are three you can adapt:
Health Vocabulary Matching Game
Make or buy flashcards with health vocabulary words and definitions. Students work in pairs or small groups to match them. If your students are beginners, start with body vocabulary flashcards before moving to more complex health terms.
Want to make it harder? Have them use the vocabulary words in sentences instead of just matching.
Want to make it MORE competitive? Add timed rounds. I use a song that’s exactly as long as I want the time limit to be. When the song’s almost over, students scramble. It can get loud, frantic, and messy. Fun times.
Or divide the class into teams and have them compete in multiple rounds. Whoever has the most correct matches wins.
Health Vocabulary Snowman Game
Write health vocabulary words on the board as blank lines (one line per letter). Students take turns guessing letters. Correct guesses fill in the blanks. Wrong guesses add parts to the snowman: bottom snowball, middle snowball, head, hat, scarf, eyes, nose, mouth, buttons, stick arms.
To make it more interesting, organize words into categories (medical vocabulary, healthy habits, fitness) and let students choose the category. Or give clues: definitions, sentences with the word blanked out. This shifts the focus from spelling to meaning, which is way more useful.
To make this more challenging, forget about the spelling. Write the word on a card or piece of paper that stays upside down and out of their reach. Give them clues for them to guess the word (definition, riddles, synonyms, antonyms, a sentence where you hum the blank gap, etc. Each wrong guess builds the snowman.
You can also add timed rounds if you want students stressed and motivated in equal measure.
Health Vocabulary Crossword Competition
Create a crossword using definitions or context sentences (with blanks) as clues. Students can work in pairs to complete it, or you can turn this into a full-contact sport.
Tape the crossword to the board. Divide the class into teams. Teams send one member at a time to complete a clue. Add timed rounds with dramatic action movie music to crank up the tension.
If spelling is an issue (and let’s be real, it often is), let students ask their teammates for help.
Health-Themed Board Game
This one takes prep time, but if you make it yourself, you can personalize it with your students’ names and inside jokes from class. That alone makes it worth it.
Create a simple game board with a grid. Students roll a die, move their piece, and land on spaces with vocabulary challenges: use a word in a sentence, draw a picture representing it, act it out. Mix up the challenges on each space so it doesn’t get repetitive. Remember to add LOSE YOUR TURN, GO BACK THREE SPACES, and SWITCH PLACES WITH ANOTHER PLAYER to the game.
Set time limits if you want to keep things moving.
Games lower the affective filter, build camaraderie, and make vocabulary stick better than drilling ever will. Plus, you get to watch your students argue over rules, which is oddly entertaining.
Activity #4: Role-Playing a Pharmacy Visit (More Practical Than You Think)
Here’s another role-play, because if students can handle a doctor’s visit and a pharmacy trip, they’re set.
Pre-teach vocabulary: medication, dosage, side effects, prescription, generic, insurance coverage. Then split students into small groups. One person is the pharmacist, the others are customers.
For beginners, keep it simple: filling a prescription, showing ID, verifying information. For intermediate students, add complications. The customer is allergic to something. They want the generic version. Their insurance won’t cover it. They need to understand the side effects.
After each role-play, give feedback. What went well? Where did they get stuck? What vocabulary do they still need?
This activity isn’t flashy, but it builds real-world confidence.
Activity #5: Discussion and Debate on Health Topics (For Students Ready to Share Opinions)
If your students are ready to move beyond scripted role-plays, give them health topics to discuss or debate.
Organize topics by difficulty level so students can choose something that matches their skills and interests:
Beginner:
- the benefits of daily exercise
- the importance of a balanced diet
- why hand washing matters
- the benefits of good sleep
- the role of water in maintaining health
Intermediate:
- the impact of technology on physical activity
- media influence on body image and self-esteem
- the role of vaccination in preventing disease
- the impact of the environment on health
- alternative medicine: helpful or harmful?
- the connection between mental and physical health
Advanced:
- the relationship between stress and health
- the impact of social support on health outcomes
- healthcare policies and health disparities
- the ethics of healthcare rationing
- social determinants of health
- how healthcare policies could address health inequalities
Students can research and present their views, or you can skip the presentations and just put them in discussion groups . Either way, they’ll practice speaking and listening while exploring different perspectives.
This is where critical thinking happens. Students stop just learning vocabulary and start using language to express complex ideas.
The Bottom Line
Health-themed activities work because the topic is relevant, practical, and personal. Students already care about health. Your job is just to give them ways to talk about it in English.
Role-plays build confidence for real-world situations. Creative projects like brochures combine multiple skills. Games make practice feel less like work. Discussions and debates push students to think critically and express opinions.
Use activities that respect your students’ intelligence and give them reasons to actually use English.
That’s it from me. See you in the next post!
More theme ideas!
- Talking about Hygiene in Adult ESL Speaking Classes: Helpful Tips, Fun Activities, and Cultural Considerations
- Talking about Etiquette and Manners in Adult ESL: Beyond Grammar and Vocab
- Jobs and Careers: Making Adult ESL Speaking Practice Matter
- Fall ESL Activities: 5 Simple Ways to Invoke the Spirit of Autumn
