Teaching English Through Problem-Solving Tasks
- Michael Brandon
- Nov 16
- 2 min read
🎯 Introduction
Problem-solving tasks push students to use English with purpose. When learners must negotiate, plan, and decide as a group, they naturally produce more language. This post introduces simple but powerful problem-solving activities for any ESL classroom.
📄 Why It Matters / Why It Works
Problem-solving activates higher-order thinking and encourages spontaneous communication. Students practice functional English — giving suggestions, agreeing, disagreeing, and explaining ideas. These tasks support fluency, teamwork, and confidence without feeling like formal study.
📚 Practical Teaching Strategies
1️⃣ “The Lost Backpack Scenario” (Decision-Making Task)
Tell students they lost their backpack while traveling abroad. They must decide what to do first, where to go, and who to ask for help.
Focus: Real-world vocabulary and problem-solving.
Variation: Add time limits for urgency.
2️⃣ “Ranking Challenges” (Negotiation English)
Give groups a list of items (e.g., “10 items after a shipwreck”). Students must discuss and rank them by importance.
Focus: Persuasive language and discussion markers.
3️⃣ “Classroom Escape Game” (Interactive Group Puzzle)
Create 3–4 English puzzles (codes, hidden clues, riddles). Groups must solve them to “escape” the room.
Focus: Vocabulary recognition, teamwork, communication.
Outcome: Extremely engaging for teens and young learners.
4️⃣ “Design a Solution” (Creative Problem Creation + Pitch)
Present real-life issues like noise pollution or school stress. Students brainstorm solutions and pitch their ideas.
Focus: Functional speaking and presentation skills.
💡 Pro Tip
Always provide useful language frames before beginning the task:
“I think we should…”
“What if we tried…?”
“I disagree because…”These boost fluency and reduce hesitation.
📌 Final Thought
Problem-solving tasks turn English into an active tool for thinking. GoTEFL helps teachers design communicative challenges, while TEIK connects you with Korean classrooms ready to collaborate, discuss, and solve together.
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