Practice English: Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts are a powerful way to teach students English and I enjoy using them the most with middle school and high school students. It’s really hard to get that age group to open up, but creative writing prompts really inspire them. Adults often really enjoy writing personal narrative prompts, instead.

The Magic of Creative Writing Prompts

ESL students really benefit from responding to creative writing prompts. They help students to develop their language skills in a more interesting and enjoyable way than traditional language exercises.

Also,creative writing prompts are a versatile tool for language teachers because they.can cover a range of language skills, from grammar and syntax to vocabulary and comprehension.

Here are some fun creative writing prompts to inspire your students to start their stories. Also, check these 100 Creative writing prompts for even more great ideas.

When I found out the refigerator opens up to a fairyland, I decided to…
As I was reading in my local park, a squirrel ran up to me and said, “You have got to listen to my story.” Then he told me…
The most surprising thing we have found in our school was…
As I was cleaning the garage in my aunt’s house, I found the genie’s lamp. I made these three wishes…
My best friend and I were in the worst fight ever. It all began when…
Our dream family vacation got canceled so we had to go to…
As the world’s first kid-scientist, I need to share my invention…
My first time flying in a plane didn’t go as per the plan. First…
When I opened my lunch box at school yesterday, I had the biggest surprise. I found a…
This morning, I woke up on Mars, but I could still breathe and then…
I had never spoken to a mermaid until yesterday when…
I woke up today to find I have been turned into the biggest…
Today, my house fell right into the ground and so…
A few years ago, everyone in my town forgot how to speak so we…
I grew an extra arm last week and I had to learn new ways to…
Gravity suddenly stopped this morning and school was canceled because we…
All of the animals in the ocean grew legs and walked onto land today so my family…

For more practice preparing for writing a story, try brainstorming before you begin writing. Mind maps are a great way to generate new ideas to bolster your writing.

Also, IELTS exam writing prompts are a great resource to spur writing.

The Infinity Loop of Creative Writing and Reading

Reading and writing are inextricably interrelated. The more you read, the better you will write. A great way to improve your creative writing, is to increase the amount of creative reading you consume. You can access a lot of texts in the public domain now at Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related content today.

If you are still on the fence about incorporating creative writing prompts, consider that the role of an ESL teacher is not just to tech English; it is to teach English so the student can thrive in the world. This is where creative writing prompts really shine. They develop students’ critical and metal level thinking skills, which will benefit them in all areas of their life.

So, consider giving your students the opportunity to express themselves in a supportive environment through some creative prompts in your class. Watch them build confidence in their language abilities and improve their overall communication skills.

If this interested you, read on for more tips to boost your English classes.

Conversation Prompts and Open-Ended Questions

Best Essays to Prompt Discussion

Writing: Personal Narrative Prompts