As the new school year soon begins, it's the perfect time to ease students back into speaking English confidently — and have some fun along the way! To do just that, I’ve created a set of 50 engaging speaking challenge cards designed for B2-level learners. These cards focus on summer holidays, travel, and free time, while revising key grammar and vocabulary in a playful, communicative context.
To make things even more interactive, I’ve also designed a board game that works perfectly with the cards, turning speaking practice into a lively classroom adventure.
What Are the Speaking Challenge Cards?
These are 50 task-based speaking prompts that encourage students to:
Share real or imagined travel stories
Use key grammar (past tenses, conditionals, modals, comparatives, etc.)
Recycle vocabulary around holidays, activities, and free time
Collaborate, debate, and role-play with their classmates
Each card poses a challenge — from “Tell us a story using three past tenses” to “Create a travel app” or “Describe your dream picnic.” Some are quick and fun, others require creativity and storytelling — perfect for building fluency and confidence.
Language Skills Covered
Speaking fluency and accuracy
Grammar in context: past tenses, conditionals, modals, etc.
Vocabulary: travel phrases, activity-related collocations, summer idioms, descriptive language
Functional language: giving advice, making suggestions, expressing preferences, persuading
How to Use the Cards
Here are several classroom-friendly ways to make the most of the cards:
1. Board Game Version (Highly Recommended!)
I created a printable game board where students move around by rolling dice and drawing a challenge card for each stop. You can:
Divide the class into small teams or pairs.
Use tokens or coins as markers.
Set a timer (e.g., 1–2 minutes per challenge).
Award points based on creativity, grammar accuracy, or effort.
I added bonus spaces with instructions like: freeze, pass the question, move forward.
2. Mystery Box Challenge
Put the cards in an envelope, box, or bag. Students draw randomly and complete the challenge solo, in pairs, or as a team. Great as a warmer or filler!
3. Speed Rounds / Stations
Set up speaking stations around the classroom with different cards. Students rotate every few minutes, practicing a variety of skills with new partners.
4. Digital Spin Wheel
For online or hybrid classes, upload the card prompts to a random spinner or digital tool. Have students spin, speak, and interact from their screens.
Teacher Tips
Use as a diagnostic at the beginning of term to assess speaking fluency, vocabulary range, and grammar awareness.
Differentiate by assigning easier or more complex challenges based on group level or confidence.
Gamify with a point system or badges for specific goals (e.g., “Best Use of a Modal,” “Most Creative Story”).
Follow up with writing tasks: “Write a blog post based on your story,” or “Create a poster for your dream destination.”
Why It Works
After a long break, students often need low-pressure, high-interest tasks to get back into the rhythm of English. These cards:
Encourage meaningful communication
Foster creativity and laughter
Provide opportunities for peer interaction
Build confidence through structured spontaneity
