Infomercial Lesson to Get ESL Students Talking

This exciting, advanced conversation lesson will last one hour and give students the opportunity to practice being a salesman.

Materials

Bring a box of random objects to class. 

Step 1: Watch infomercials (5-10 minutes)

Show students several infomercial videos and ask them to write down any language they hear that’s useful for selling something.

Try watching this classic OxiClean commercial.

Or another classic: Shamwow!

Step 3: Vocabulary (5-10 minutes)

After you’ve watched the videos, talk about them with the students. Create a list of influential vocabulary and phrases they heard on the board.

Some influential vocabulary/phrases examples could be:

1. Incredible! / Amazing!
2. “available for a limited time”
3. must-have
4. “one-time offer”
5. “low-low price”

Step 4: Prepare an infomercial (10-15 minutes)

Pass the random box of objects around. Students take an object and then they have 10-15 minutes to prepare an infomercial. Students can do this individually, in partners, or in small groups.

Step 5: Present in small groups (20-30 minutes)

Split students up into small groups and have them present their infomercials to one another. Once everyone in a group has presented, have students switch groups and present again. The teacher should walk around and make notes.

Once students have presented a few times, have students vote on the best infomercials they heard.

Finally, give students feedback on any good (or poor) grammar that the teacher heard.

Step 6: Extra presentation (30-60 minutes)

Now that students have had some practice presenting an infomercial, then can try a more formal presentation.

If you still have time or if you want to continue this lesson on a different day, then let students work in small groups to prepare and then present a group infomercial to the class. They can grab another object from the box or if you prefer, they can “sell” something of their choice.

Let us know how your conversation class went below!

Click here to try another 1-hour speaking lesson, and let your students tell one another some spooky stories.