A boring online class is the worst nightmare for the modern teacher. Here are 10 interactive activities that work for any level, any topic, and any platform — dictation, shadowing, fill-in-the-blank, role-play, listen-choose, word order, pronunciation with score, writing with correction, answer question, match columns. How to combine them and how long each should last to keep the class engaging.
Look, the worst nightmare for a teacher giving online classes is silence. You share your screen, show text, ask "Did you understand?", and the student says "yes" without understanding anything, turning the class into a monologue. It doesn’t work. The student pays R$80 an hour to interact, not to listen to you talk.
The good news: teaching interactive online in 2026 is easy. You just need 10 activities in your repertoire and know when to use each one. Here are the 10 that I use and recommend. They work on Zoom + Google Docs, and they get absurdly better on platforms like Lanna Teacher that already has all of them as ready-to-use widgets.
1. Listen Choose (escutar e escolher)
The student listens to a sentence in English and chooses between 3 options. It trains listening comprehension without requiring production. A great warm-up activity — start the class with this to "tune the student's ear" before moving on to more difficult activities. Lasts 3-5 minutes.
2. Fill in the Blank (preencher lacuna)
A sentence with one missing word, the student completes it. It works on vocabulary and grammar at the same time. It can be text or audio (you say the sentence skipping the target word). Works very well to review a specific verb tense — "yesterday I ___ to the market" (went). Lasts 5-8 minutes.
3. Order Words (ordenar palavras)
The student receives scrambled words and needs to form the correct sentence. It trains the natural order of English, which is different from Portuguese and confuses Brazilians. Brilliant for working on inversion in questions ("does she like coffee?") or sentences with adjectives ("the small red car"). Lasts 5-8 minutes.
4. Dictation (ditado)
You say a sentence in English, the student writes it down. Underestimated because it seems school-like, but it’s one of the best activities to reinforce spelling + listening + writing at the same time. Good for any level — you adjust the complexity of the sentence. Lasts 5-10 minutes.
5. Shadowing (imitar áudio)
The student listens to a sentence and tries to repeat it exactly — pronunciation, rhythm, intonation. It’s the technique that polyglots use to unlock pronunciation. Do it with native audio (YouTube video or generated audio). Lasts 5-10 minutes.
6. Pronunciation Score (pronúncia com nota)
The student records a sentence, AI gives a percentage score and shows incorrect words to repeat. This is the only activity that requires a platform with voice recognition (like Lanna or Speechify). Students love it because they see immediate results and have the challenge: "I’m going to get over 90% on this sentence." Lasts 8-12 minutes.
7. Writing with Correction (escrita com correção)
The student writes a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about a topic. You correct it on the spot and explain the mistakes. In an online class, this becomes very powerful when you share the Google Docs screen and edit together. To save time, AI can do the initial correction and you refine it. Lasts 8-15 minutes.
8. Answer the Question (responder pergunta)
You ask a question in English, the student answers in English too. It can be personal ("what did you do this weekend?") or opinion-based ("do you think AI will replace teachers?"). It trains spontaneous production and forces the student to use active vocabulary. Lasts 8-15 minutes.
9. Match Columns (ligar colunas)
Two columns: on the left, words in English. On the right, scrambled definitions or translations. The student connects each word to the correct definition. Excellent for reinforcing new vocabulary. Works well in groups too — one student says the word, another says the definition. Lasts 5-8 minutes.
10. Role-play (simulação de cenário)
You simulate a real situation — ordering food in a restaurant, checking in at a hotel, job interview, conversation on a plane. You are a character (waiter, receptionist, interviewer) and the student responds in character. The most interactive of all, but also the most tiring. Good to end the class with energy. Lasts 10-15 minutes.
How to combine the 10 activities in a 1-hour class
Don’t use all of them in one class. The ideal is to have 5-7 activities per 1-hour session. Here’s an example of a balanced schedule:
This flow covers all 4 skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing), has varied rhythm, and the student never spends more than 12 minutes on a single activity. Result: a class without dead rhythm, engaged students, high retention.
How to create these activities in seconds
Before 2025, creating these 10 activities for each class took 2-3 hours. You would search for texts, record audio, set up exercises in PowerPoint, format tables. Exhausting. Today, Lanna Teacher has all 10 activities as ready-to-use widgets — you drag and drop, choose the content, and you’re ready.
Here’s how it works: you create a "presentation" on the lesson topic, choose the widgets you want to use, the AI automatically fills in the content based on the student's level, and you share the link. The student enters and responds on their phone or laptop. You see the results in real-time.
If you want to understand the entire method of teaching online, I wrote the complete pillar on how to teach languages online in 2026 — covering pricing, platforms, student acquisition, and more.
Most Common Mistakes in Interactive Class
- Activity too long. More than 12 minutes on a single activity and the student tunes out. Vary it up.
- Only passive activities. Listen Choose, Match Columns are light, but if you only use these, the student never produces. Include Role-play and Writing.
- Wrong level. An activity that is too easy is boring, too difficult is frustrating. Calibrate based on the actual student, not the "average B1".
- No feedback. The student responds, and you move on without commenting. Always provide feedback — "good, perfect!" or "almost, pay attention to the verb tense here".
- Same activities every class. Students get tired of the same format. Rotate at least 3 different activities each class.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to keep online class from getting boring?
By varying activities every 8-10 minutes. Mix passive and active.
Do you need special tools?
Not mandatory, but platforms with ready widgets (like Lanna Teacher) save hours.
Does it work for adults?
Yes, with relevant vocabulary and serious design.
How to gamify without being childish?
XP and metrics work for any age. Avoid mascots and neon colors.
How long should each activity last?
5-12 minutes. More than that, the student gets tired.
Does it work in group classes?
Yes, especially small ones (2-5 students). For larger groups, use breakout rooms.
Ready to apply?
In your next class, choose 3 of these 10 activities. If it’s your first interactive class, I recommend: Fill in the Blank + Pronunciation Score + Role-play. This trio covers input, practice, and production in one hour. In 2-3 classes, the student will tell you, "I’m enjoying this much more now."
