EFL Speaking Lesson | Speed Dating | Perfect for ADULTS

In this speaking activity, your students will be able to talk to new people about different topics, and they will practice the art of conversation, asking questions, and follow-up questions. Time will be ticking, so they will have to also have to think on their feet and learn expressions to respond naturally in English.

Lesson Plan

LESSON: Speed Dating
OBJECTIVE: a. Ask questions correctly b. Carry a natural conversation c. Learn something about classmates
LEVEL: Pre-intermediate and Above (Best for classes of 8-12 students)
TIME: 50-60 minutes

Pre-Teach (10-15 min)

ESL Speaking Activity: Speed Dating

· Review or teach how to ask a question, and open and closed questions.
· Review the W question words for lower levels with examples of each
· Teach follow-up questions. (What kind of…?/ Then what happened?/ etc.)

Activity (15-20 minutes depending on group size)

· Line up desks or tables in a row
· Students sit on each side of the row of tables (4-6 people each side)
· Students have a conversation with a partner using questions and follow-up questions 2 minutes.
· After two minutes, one side moves over a chair and do another round.
· Continue going around until they arrive to their original seats.

Pro Tips

· If your class is shy or uncomfortable asking and answering real questions, give them characters or famous people (Madonna, Cleopatra, Steve Jobs, Homer Simpson, etc.)

· Lower-level classes can pre-prepare questions before the activity. 
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· Review glaring mistakes or weaknesses between some rounds when necessary.
 
Good luck! Let me know how it worksfor you and if you have any special touches that I can try in my classes:

Easter Egg Lessons

Conversation Skills - Your students will get to build and grow general conversation skills which will help them in any language.

Talking to someone new - Even if you have a smaller class, chances are there are some students who haven't spoken much with each other. this is their chance.

Build Community - They will hopefully talk about new topics and learn something about each other as they ask follow-up questions.

What else can you find?

Get Material for Your Google Classrooms

Student Worksheet

Name: ______________________                                  Class: ___________________
 
PART I (a)– Follow the question structure and write THREE example questions you could ask somebody.
Question word + auxiliar verb + subject + (verb) + compliment.
Ex. What do you like to do in your free time? 
What is your favorite movie?
 
1. _________________________________________________________________?
2. _________________________________________________________________?
3. _________________________________________________________________?
 
PART I (b)– Write a follow-up question based on the short conversations below.
Jesse:What is your favorite food?
Lucia:I like pizza.
Jesse:What toppings do you like?
 
1. Mario: What do you like to do in your free time?
    Angela: I like to exercise and play sports.
    Mario: ________________________________________?
 
2. Marta: Do you like Semana Santaor Feriabetter? 
(choose 2 festivals in your country: ex. Christmas or Easter)
    Paco: I like Feria better.
    Marta: _______________________________________?
            
 
 
 
PART II– Write down one thing about each partner based on their answers. 
 
Partner 1 - ___________________________________________________________
Partner 2 - ___________________________________________________________
Partner 3 - ___________________________________________________________
Partner 4 - ___________________________________________________________
Partner 5 - ___________________________________________________________
Partner 6 - ___________________________________________________________
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