I use short, funny video clips a lot when I’m teaching ELLs, and you can read in detail about how I use them in The Best Popular Movies/TV Shows For ESL/EFL (& How To Use Them). In short, there are many ways to use them that promote speaking, listening, writing and reading (including having students describe – in writing and verbally – a chronological description of what they saw).

You can see all previous editions of this list, as well as other “Best” lists related to videos, here.

Here are my choices for the past six months (some may be more serious):

I wonder if watching a few minutes of the movie “Flow” every day and having students write/talk about what they saw might be a good ELL activity? Here’s the trailer:

This is a serious, not funny, video that ELLs can watch and then write/talk about what they saw:

This could be an interesting video to show ELLs and then have them write/talk about what they saw – and what message was sent by it:

Mission impossible..

It’s the combat roll for me.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/zZC7nNz1jz

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) February 16, 2025

I’m adding this video to The Best Resources For Using “If This Animal Or Image Could Talk” Lesson Idea In Class:

Arguing on 𝕏.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/RRa7CL3wTW

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) February 9, 2025

Older students, particularly boys, will likely enjoy watching this video and then writing/talking about what they saw:

Timelapse of a bird building a nest and raising its young.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/tcYNM8P3NC

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) December 27, 2024

ELLs could watch this video and then write and talk about what they saw. It could also provoke an interesting discussion about school: