Inside/Outside Circles ESL Game

Description:
Inside/Outside Circles (idea by Spencer Kagan, 1994) is an activity that involves all students in the class. Inside/Outside Circles are particularly useful for: differentiation, kinesthetic learners, conversation practice, and community-building in the classroom.

Method:
Form two circles containing the same number of students- one outside the other. Try numbering the students with odd numbers forming the inside and even numbers forming the outside circle.

Students in the inside circle face a partner standing in the outside circle.

Students from the inside circle, answer a teacher posed question by sharing with their outside circle partner. Other ideas may be summarizing a reading, or content review with questions/answers.

Students reverse roles. The students on the outside circle share with or quiz their partner.

The teacher then instructs the inside circle rotate a few spaces. The students face their new partner. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

There are many variations possible with this. I have also seen this with two parallel lines and students slide one space to the right after each exchange or dialog. Enjoy modifying it to your classroom!