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Lanternfish ESL

Sample Information Gap Communication Activity

ESL Information Gap Communication Activities

This is a collection of free, printable teaching resources in the form of scripted information gaps for teaching EAL learners. There are activities on a variety of themes and target language.

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Information Gaps in ESL

An information gap is any activity in which students have some information but not all and have to relay missing information to their partners or get missing information from their partners. Information gaps give students a chance to practice their oral communication skills including confirming what they heard and clarifying information.

Information gaps come in many forms. The ones found here are somewhat scripted and controlled. They are aimed at lower level classes. Other, more complex, information gaps found on the site include role-plays and 'two article' communication activities. Although they are not labelled as information gaps on the website, they would fall under the definition of an information gap.

The information gap activities here come with two sheets. An A sheet and a B sheet. You can print them in PDF or MS Word formats.

Directions Information Gap I

Giving directions based on street names and nearby landmarks. For example, it's on 5th Street next to the bank.

Directions Information Gap II

Giving Directions to a place based on subway or bus routes. For example: Take the blue line to Edmunds Station. Tranfer to the Central Line. Get off at Market Station.

Directions Information Gap III

Giving directions when traveling by foot or by car. For example: Go down Broadway to 5th Street. Turn right on 5th street. It's on your left.

Shopping Information Gap

What did he buy? How much Was it? And How did he pay for it?

Puzzle Information Gap

In this information gap, students use classroom English to describe words and fill in a crossword puzzle.

Haunted House Information Gap

Where are the ghosts? In the kitchen, on the stove. This information gap covers prepositions, furniture and rooms in a house.

Green Tree Town Gap

Where is the bakery? It's next to Jim's Pizza. Covers prepositions such as next to and to the right of and buildings in a city.

Famous Artists Information Gap

It was painted by Van Gogh. It was painted in 1889. It was painted with oil paints. This information gap covers some famour artists and the passive voice.

Shapes Information Gap

This information gap covers 10 basic shapes plus prepositions.

Newspaper Headlines

Students ask each other if they've heard the news and then relay the headlines to their partners.

Did Anybody Call?

Students relay telephone messages to partners who were 'out'.

Did Anybody Call? (Business Version)

Students relay business telephone messages to partners who were 'out'.

Help Wanted Gap

This information gap covers vocabulary found in help-wanted ads. Students communicate the contents of classified ads to each other.

There's a Rumor Going Around Gap (Business)

In this information gap, students report stock price changes and rumors about companies.

Feeling Like Seeing a Movie Gap

In this information gap, students exchange information about movie venues, stars, and showtimes