Personality Adjectives, Vocabulary and Speaking Activities

13 Personality Adjectives/Vocabulary and Listening/Speaking Activities

27th December 2023

A wide range of teaching activities are useful for teaching the vocabulary of personality including: vocabulary-picture matching, personality surveys, word sorting  exercises  and role plays.

1 Describing a businessman (with answers)

    This is an  ESL exercise for practicing the use of adjectives that  might be useful for describing a businessman’s personality and behavour.  Students match the adjectives to the pictures and if possible, try to make a sentence explaining why the adjective matches the picture. 

Personality adjectives for describing a businessman lesson

Adjectives for a businessman (PDF)

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Subscribe to get full access to complete (not just extracts) lessons with picture/vocabulary exercises and answers. Many lessons include and audio and video. There are no ads in the newsletter and you will receive high quality, and up-to-date teaching resources regularly.  And, if you subscribe, you will get access to ideas for creating artificial intelligence prompts , that will enable you to create English language teaching materials quickly! In addition, you will get access to the complete sets of exercises, with a wider variety of exercises and activities. Also, if you take out a paid subscription, you can download large collections of PDF, audio and video materials in zip files.

 2   Personality adjective vocabulary  for friends listening and speaking (with audio and answers)

This is a listening/speaking exercise for personality vocabulary for describing friends and colleagues. Students listen to the audio and match the appropriate vocabulary to the pictures. The audio is a picture/conversation matching exercise. The video is a simpler vocabulary/matching exercise.

Personality for friends listening/speaking and vocabulary exercise

Personality vocabulary for friends (PDF)

(see the YouTube video of this activity)

Personality vocabulary for friends

 3  Create a conversation: personality

Writing a conversation exercises work really well for some topics and personality is one of the best. This works best with lower level students of course, but with advanced students you have to encourage them to build on their ideas.

Write a conversation and speaking activity for talking about personality.

Write a conversation: personality(PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

4 First Impressions (woman)

  This is a listening/speaking exercise for English language learners to talk about personality and first impressions. This exercises focuses on  a woman.  Students look at the pictures and try to create a story about how they got to know this  man.   

(download PDF)

(YouTube video)

First impressions (woman)

5 First Impressions (man)

  This is similar to the exercise above. This exercises focuses on  a man. 

First impressions 1 (man) (PDF)

(YouTube video)

First impressions

6  Elementary personality vocabulary  and speaking

Nearly all the  words used to talk about personality are adjectives. This makes it quite easy to teach. The only problems I have with elementary personality vocabulary are the words “fun” and “funny”. My students often use “funny” when they should be using “fun”. And then there is the problem of “fun”  often being used as a noun. But other than that….teaching  the language of personality  is …a lot of fun!

Elementary personality vocabulary-picture matching and questions.

Elementary personality vocabulary(PDF)

Relationships exercises home

4  romance, love and friendship lessons (PDF)

5 Intercultural Body Language, Gestures and Etiquette Language Exercises

 6  More advanced personality vocabulary  and speaking

The range of personality vocabulary becomes almost infinite the more you look into it. Here is a selection of more advanced vocabulary which can also serve as a pronunciation exercise for better students. Many  students have problems with words such as “enthusiastic” and “conscientious”. And other words that are tricky for some students include “weird” and “suspicious”.

Advanced personality adjectives and vocabulary-picture matching exercise and questions for students.

More advanced personality vocabulary(PDF)

  7 Parts of speech: personality

When you look at the grammar of personality, it is quite interesting that  most of the words are adjectives. But it is worth helping students get to  know  the noun forms of these adjectives too.

Parts of speech for personality vocabulary sorting exercise.

Parts of speech for  personality(PDF)

Comparative Adjective Exercises and Worksheets

10 Adjectives Lessons

10 Jobs and Careers Language Skills Exercises 

6 Describing People and Appearance Vocabulary and Language exercises

10 Role Play Speaking Activities

7 Essential Speaking Activities for ESL Classes

3 Great Icebreakers to Start a Class

 

8 Elementary personality interview speaking lesson

This is an ESL speaking lesson for talking about personality. Students interview each other using the questions on the handout. They also ask for examples of each personality trait. Then they choose a job for the interviewee based on the answers they receive.

Personality interview speaking exercise

Personality interview speaking exercise  (PDF)

 

9 Personality adjectives dictation and other exercises

This is my favorite all-purpose and sustainable (ie. it never gets old and can be repeated endlessly – you just need new vocabulary and new pictures) teaching exercise .  It’s  a listening exercise, a vocabulary exercise and it’s suited to every size of class.  It can be used to introduce vocabulary. It can be used to review vocabulary.

Personality adjective and vocabulary exercises (PDF)

 

10 Personality vocabulary positive/negative sorting

In this vocabulary exercise students have to decide whether the personality adjectives are positive, negative or if they are sometimes positive and sometimes negative depending on the situation.

Personality vocabulary sorting  (PDF)

 

11 Personality vocabulary survey and speaking lesson

  This is an ESL   speaking and writing lesson  for  talking about personality. First,  each student chooses one  adjective. Then they write five survey questions that adjective. There are some examples of  questions at  the top of the first page of the PDF.  When they have written five questions,  they can walk around the class asking  classmates their questions and noting down their answers on the worksheet. Finally, they write a short report from their survey question answers. This is a fun communicative exercise that allows students to mix freely.

Personality survey speaking exercise template

Personality survey  (PDF)

 

12 Leadership potential interview/questionnaire (more advanced)

  Students interview a classmate about their leadership potential and write their opinions at the bottom of the page.

Leadership potential interview speaking exercise

Leadership potential questionnaire (PDF)

Basic Writing Templates, Exercises and Worksheets

12 Essential Paragraph and Essay Writing Skills Exercises and Worksheets

Elementary paragraph  and essay writing skills include brainstorming  and outlining, as well as the ability to write attention getters, topic and support sentences.

1 Elementary academic paragraph writing lesson

 This is a bare bones elementary paragraph writing lesson for English language learners that aims to help them understand paragraph types and the components of a paragraph. It is particularly aimed at students who have vocabulary skills but almost no writing skills.  

Elementary paragraph writing lesson for English language learners.

 Elementary paragraph writing lesson (PDF)

 

2 Brainstorm worksheet cluster diagram

    This is a  brainstorming and academic essay planning worksheet for students writing essays. The best way to get ideas for  a paragraph or essay is to brainstorm with the  aid of  a graphic organizer. Students can freely associate ideas to a topic. This  allows them to be more creative and explore any path their minds might take.

Brainstorming cluster template and worksheet for any topic in the classroom.

Brainstorming worksheet cluster diagram (PDF)

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3 Outlining a basic paragraph

This is a paragraph outline worksheet to help students learn how to write a basic paragraph.

Paragraph writing outline template and worksheet for academic writing students.

Paragraph outline worksheet (PDF)

4 Outlining an essay

This is an essay outline worksheet to help students focus on organization and planning when preparing to write essays.

Essay outline planning template or worksheet for writing students to help them organize their ideas before writing an essay.

Essay outline worksheet (PDF)

6 exercises for writing topic sentences

10 opinion and argument writing worksheets

8 comparison/contrast templates and exercises

10 cause/effect writing activities

3 kinds of exercises for teaching transitions

6 memorable narrative essay writing practice exercises (PDF)

6 delightful descriptive paragraph and essay writing exercises  (PDF)

5 Writing main idea sentences for essays or paragraphs (with possible answers)

In this worksheet students practice writing main idea sentences by looking at the pictures, and writing an appropriate main idea sentence. They should try to express themselves freely.

Writing main ideas practice worksheet for elementary academic writing students.

Main idea writing practice worksheet (PDF)

6 Attention getters (with pictures) for essays

Attention getters are essential at the beginning of a paragraph or an essay when you want to attract the reader’s attention. There are many kinds of attention getters but a few of the most common are anecdotes, quotation, provocative questions and surprising facts or statistics. Students can practice attention getters by looking at the pictures and trying to write an attention getter for each one.

Attention getters academic writing exercise using pictures for elementary writing students.

Writing attention getters  (PDF)

7 Attention getters comprehension exercise

This worksheet is a good way to challenge students’ knowledge of different types of attention getters.

Challenging essay writing attention getter comprehension exercise for writing students.

Writing attention getters  (PDF)

8 Kinds of attention getters writing exercise

This is another worksheet that tries to impress upon students the importance of good openings or attention getters.

Attention getter writing exercise for essay writing students to help them understand the benefits of the attention getter.

Writing attention getters  (PDF)

9 Understanding support sentences

This support sentence writing worksheet can be used to test students’ understanding of both topic and support sentences.

Support sentence writing worksheet and exercise for academic writing beginners.

Writing support sentences (PDF)

Adjectives lessons and exercises for all levels

Adjectives Listening/Speaking/Vocabulary Exercises

The way to teach adjectives is to have a variety of  exercises. These can include:

  • Positive/negative adjective sorting
  • Picture matching: matching adjectives to emotions or situations
  • Personality surveys
  • Audio listening/speaking exercises help  give a better feel of the context

August 28th 2024

Brainstorming Basic Adjectives for Conversation

Matching everyday items and situations with basic adjectives helps students expand their descriptive vocabulary and grasp contextual meanings in English. The exercise presents common experiences for categorization using words like “exciting,” “challenging,” and “dangerous.”

Brainstorming Basic Adjectives

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Basic Adjectives for Conversation

Audio and picture/vocabulary matching makes this exercise multi-sensory, engaging both auditory and visual learning pathways. Students then complete sentences with personal ideas, applying these adjectives to their own experiences.

Basic Adjectives Wrap

  Common adjectives for describing people  (with audio and answers)

Students try to match the vocabulary to the pictures. Then they listen to the audio and match the items to the pictures and check that they matched the correct adjectives to the pictures.

Elementary adjectives for describing people (PDF)

Common adjectives for describing people

Adjectives for the city (with audio and  answers)

       This is an  ESL listening/speaking/vocabulary exercise  for   adjectives for describing the city.   This uses a similar  format to the exercise above.  

Adjectives for the city (PDF)

Adjectives for the city

Adjectives for life (with audio and  answers)

  This is another listening  activity for adjectives worksheet  to help students talk about everyday situations and  behavior through adjectives.      

Adjectives for life (PDF)

Adjectives for life

Adjective icebreaker

      This is  an excellent elementary  icebreaker for a lesson about adjectives.

Adjective icebreaker (PDF)

3 Comparative Adjective Exercises and Worksheets

4 Exercises for Aspects of Nouns

Making Adverbs Beautiful

Ed/ing Adjectives

 Basic adjectives for things  (with answers)

 This is an ESL  exercise to help familiarize students with basic adjectives. Students match the adjectives to the pictures and write short sentences. This worksheet helps introduce, reinforce or review students’ knowledge of adjectives. And it helps improve their skills.

Adjectives for things (PDF)

More common adjectives for people (with answers)

        This is an ESL  exercise to help familiarize students with basic adjectives for describing people. Students match the adjectives to the pictures and write short sentences. Pictures engage the attention of students and they also encourage  students to use critical thinking skills.

Adjectives for describing people vocabulary and picture matching exercise

Adjectives for people (PDF)

 

   Personality Adjective Survey 

  This is an ESL   speaking and writing lesson  for  learning  adjectives. Each student chooses an adjective and writes five survey questions using his/her adjective. They then walk around the class asking their questions and noting down their answers. Finally, they write a short report from their survey  question answers. This is a fun communicative exercise that allows students to mix freely.

Personality Adjective Survey (PDF)


    This is a fun,  creative and communicative ESL  speaking activity for   adjectives. Each student gets one or more slips of paper, chooses an adjective, draws some kind of picture or cartoon about an  adjective (of  their choice or assigned by the teacher) and then writes a multiple choice question about the picture. They can write the correct answer on the back of the slip of paper. When all the students are finished the students can walk around quizzing other students or the slips of paper can be handed around. 

Click here for the Adjective Gallery  PDF file 

Everyday adjectives

    This is an ESL exercise   for  learning and  using common, everyday adjectives . Students match the the adjectives to the pictures is an enjoyable and fun way to learn adjectives. . First, the students match the words to the pictures. Then they try to short conversations using the words. 

Everyday adjectives (PDF)

Adjectives for a businessman (with answers)

    This is an  ESL exercise for practicing the use of adjectives that  might be useful in business English.  Students match the adjectives to the pictures and if possible, try to make a sentence explaining why the adjective matches the picture. 

Adjectives for a businessman (PDF)

First Day of Class Activities

10 First Day Activities for an ESL Class

10th August 2024

Brainstorming Greetings and Introductions

This English exercise focuses on categorizing greetings and introductions. It covers formal and informal expressions for greetings and introductions, as well as conversation starters. Students match phrases to categories and are encouraged to add their own examples.

Download PDF Extract

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Greetings and Introductions Critical Thinking Exercises

The critical thinking exercises consist of two parts: identifying mismatched words in related groups and categorizing expressions as polite, impolite, or neutral. Students learn to recognize appropriate language for different social situations. The exercise helps develop understanding of context and tone in communication. It aims to improve students’ social interaction skills in English.

Download PDF Extract

Greetings and Introductions Pronunciation Practice

This exercise enhances English language learners’ listening and pronunciation skills, focusing on greetings and introductions. It comprises two parts:

  1. A listening discrimination task where students identify specific words from similar-sounding options, improving their ability to distinguish subtle phonetic differences.
  2. A word and syllable stress exercise that helps learners recognize and produce the correct stress patterns in common phrases, which is crucial for natural-sounding speech.

Download PDF Extract

Elementary Vocabulary Dictation

This visual vocabulary/picture matching exercise provides context and allows students to connect vocabulary with real-world scenarios and concepts. It’s an effective way to reinforce language learning, especially for visual learners.

Download PDF

 Introductions conversation (with answers and audio)

This is model dialogue for practicing language useful for greetings and introductions. Students listen and complete the conversation with the vocabulary in the box.

Introductions conversation (PDF) 

(see the YouTube video)

Introductions conversation

“Getting to know you” conversation/ listening exercise (with  audio and possible answers)

  This is another elementary and introductory speaking skills and listening exercise to encourage students to write their own “getting to know  you” questions and answers.

Getting to know you (PDF)

(see the YouTube video)

Getting to know you

Greetings & introductions vocabulary exercise

This is an elementary ESL exercise for practicing language useful for greetings and introductions. Students try to match the greetings and introductions with appropriate pictures.

(download PDF)

Greetings and introductions

Greetings and introductions conversation 2

This is another elementary gap fill conversation exercise.

(Download PDF)

Greetings and introductions 2

Family/relationship survey speaking activity

  A fun and reliable elementary present simple tense speaking activity for a large class.  The great thing about it is that it works at really elementary levels. The teacher models the activity using the survey template drawn on the board.  Students then move around the classroom talking to at least five other students. During the survey part of the activity the teacher is free to monitor the students and also participate, having an opportunity to speak to students individually. As the students are finishing their surveys, the teacher can write a model report on the board.

Family relationship survey (PDF)

Create-a-Conversation Exercises

Eslflow’s listening activities

8 Classroom Language and  Vocabulary Exercises

4  Picture-Based Present Continuous Tense Worksheets

9 Super Elementary Speaking Exercises

5 Elementary Conversational Expressions Exercises

10 Really! Elementary ESL classroom icebreakers

7 Essential Speaking Activities for ESL Classes

3 Great Icebreakers to Start a Class

8 Invitation and Request Dialogues for Everyday Scenarios

 Getting to know you survey speaking activity

  This another fun and reliable survey speaking activity for a large class. It’s a little bit more advanced than the activity above. The teacher models the activity using the example questions and a survey template drawn on the board. Students are then encouraged to write their own questions. During the survey part of the activity the teacher is free to monitor the students and also participate, having an opportunity to speak to students individually. As the students are finishing their surveys, the teacher can write a model report on the board.   

Getting to know you (PDF)

Elementary to Pre-Intermediate Reading Comprehension Exercises

ESL Reading Exercises and Worksheets

Welcome to “Elementary to Pre-Intermediate Reading Comprehension Exercises”, now a multi-media collection of PDFs, videos, listening activities, and reading comprehension exercises designed to engage, inform, and challenge students with topical issues that shape our ever-evolving society. This unique multimedia journey will offer students a window into the fascinating worlds of cultural phenomena, technological advancements, urban development, careers, fashion, and emerging trends.

1 First Day at University (with answers)

I have found that another easy-to-teach topic is a student’s  first day at university. This is a an experience that university students can identify with and  works smoothly in the classroom.

First Day(PDF)

First Day at University

Subscribe to Eslflow

Subscribe to get full access to the latest and best resources from eslflow.com. There are no ads in the newsletter and you will receive entertaining, high quality, and up-to-date teaching resources regularly. And, if you subscribe, you will get access to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, that will enable you become a master of the English as a second language universe! In addition, you will get access to the latest exercises, with a wider variety of exercises and activities. And, if you subscribe, you will be supporting the eslflow website.

2 The Weekend Market (with answers)

This is an English language reading comprehension worksheet about  a visit to a weekend market.  It is an experience that almost every student in the world can relate to and so it’s extremely suitable for an English language class.  Click on the link or the image to download the PDF file. 

Weekend Market (PDF)

The Weekend Market

3 The Intern

This is a reading/listening comprehension exercise about a day in the life of an intern and contrasts it with university life.

(download reading PDF)

(download listening/speaking PDF)

4 Lipstick

A short history of lipstick. This is a reading/listening exercise which is useful practice for teaching the past tense. It’s also pretty interesting as a history of popular culture.

Lipstick (PDF)

Lipstick

5 Online  shopping assistant (with answers)

An online shopping assistant takes online orders and walks around a supermarket or department store and collects items to packed and delivered. This exercise is about the daily activities of a supermarket employee in this  line of work on the age of the coronavirus.  

Online shopping assistant reading comprehension (PDF)

6 Shein: the best, and worst, of fast fashion

The fast fashion industry has become quite topical recently. I think it’s really interesting on many levels. I hope the vocabulary in this exercise is not too difficult but it’s unavoidable with a topic like this.

(download PDF)

7 The Experiment

This is a reading exercise about a scientist or researcher conducting an experiment in a lab. It’s great for any kind of medical/science students learning English, but I think it’s good for English language learners generally.

(download PDF)

The Experiment

8 The History of the T-shirt

The t-shirt is one of those topics that just about everyone can relate to.

(download PDF)

The History of the T-shirt

9 Learning a New Language

Learning a new language has a lot of benefits for the learner.

(download PDF)

10 A day in the life of an online shopper

A fairly elementary reading comprehension exercise about an online shopper.

(download PDF)

A day in the life of an online shopper

11 The Influencer

This is reading comprehension exercise about a day in the life of an online influencer.

The Influencer (PDF)

Instagram influencer

12 The Digital Classroom

The digital classroom is the classroom of the future. This reading explores some of its impacts.

(download PDF)

13 High School vs University (with answers)

This  reading exercise  focuses on the differences between high school students and university students.

High School vs University (PDF)

 

High School vs University

14 Air Tags

This is a reading comprehension about Apple’s latest innovation, Air Tags.

Air Tags (PDF)

Air Tags

15 Inventing a mRNA vaccine to save the world

Katalin Kariko and the story of mRNA

This is a reading comprehension exercise about the people who invented a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Inventing an mRNA vaccine (PDF)

Inventing a vaccine

16  Christiane Amanpour (with answers)

This  reading  worksheet is  about the journalist Christiane  Amanpour.

Christiane Amanpour (PDF)

Christiane Amanpour

17 Autonomous vehicles reading comprehension (with answers)

The arrival of autonomous vehicles is a topical issue of our times. It’s a great way to to engage in a discussion about the impacts of new technologies. 

Autonomous vehicles reading comprehension (PDF)

 

Autonomous vehicles

18 The Huggy Wuggy Chronicles (pre-intermediate and up)

The exercises in the PDF below are based on the fascinating story of Huggy Wuggy, the bizarre and adorable monster that has taken the world by storm. This set of exercises explores the world of Huggy Wuggy, focusing on vocabulary, critical thinking, comprehension, and listening. Get ready to dive into a journey of terror, laughter, and cultural phenomena!

Download PDF

19 San Francisco – a tale of a city

his is a reading/listening comprehension exercise about a bellwether city, San Francisco. It’s a more advanced reading exercise focusing on social issues related to the development of cities and technology in the 21st century.

(download PDF)

See video on YouTube

10 opinion and argument writing worksheets

8 comparison/contrast templates and exercises

10 cause/effect writing activities

3 kinds of exercises for teaching transitions

6 memorable narrative essay writing practice exercises (PDF)

6 delightful descriptive paragraph and essay writing exercises  (PDF)

11 essential exercises for elementary writing students (PDF)

 

20  What effect has technology had on our lives? (with answers)

This is an English language reading comprehension worksheet about the effects of technology.  It is an excellent complement to any lesson focusing on technology and society. It also works well in a class  when the teacher is trying to determine students’ knowledge of computing and internet vocabulary. I used it in a class with Thai ICT students and I could quickly asses the different English language abilities of the students.

What effect has technology had on our lives? (PDF)

Computing, Technology and Innovation Vocabulary and Language Exercises

Speaking Tech: Equipping ESL Students with Language Skills for the Digital Age

25th July 2024

This page consists of vocabulary, listening, reading and speaking exercises that encourage students to discuss the latest advances in technology. The following lessons have recently been added to eslflow’s  Substack site:

Social Media Algorithms

Artificial Intelligence

1 Cybersecurity language exercises

This is an important issue for everyone these days. It’s also interesting and engaging and has everyone has their own experiences and opinions about aspects of cybersecurity. Find all the exercises on cybersecurity here. The exercises include brainstorming, visual vocabulary, listening and critical thinking.

See the video on YouTube

Extract from Cybersecurity

Subscribe to Eslflow

Subscribe to get full access to complete (not just extracts) lessons with picture/vocabulary exercises and answers. Many lessons include and audio and video. There are no ads in the newsletter and you will receive high quality, and up-to-date teaching resources regularly.  And, if you subscribe, you will get access to ideas for creating artificial intelligence prompts , that will enable you to create English language teaching materials quickly! In addition, you will get access to the complete sets of exercises, with a wider variety of exercises and activities. Also, if you take out a paid subscription, you can download large collections of PDF, audio and video materials in zip files.

2 Semiconductors

If you want to understand how the world of technology works, you need to understand semiconductors.

Extract from PDF lesson

See the YouTube video

3 Every day artificial intelligence applications

Artificial intelligence is now a part of everyday life. This is a vocabulary/listening/speaking exploring ideas about AI apps that people use everyday.

(download PDF)

(see the video of this exercise on YouTube)

Artificial intelligence

4 Expressing opinions about virtual reality

Students complete each opinion with the vocabulary at the bottom of the page and decide whether they agree or disagree with each opinion. Also, see the Virtual Reality post for more exercises.

(download PDF)

See the YouTube video

5 Gerunds and infinitives for gadgets and devices ( with audio and answers)

This is a fairly elementary gerunds and infinitives listening/speaking activity. It’s also a pretty good fluency exercise or review as gerunds and infinitives are so commonly used in everyday speech.

Gerunds and infinitives listening/speaking exercise (PDF)

(see the YouTube video)

6 What’s it used for? (with audio and answers)

 This is a listening/speaking  exercise  introducing language and expressions for describing contemporary technological devices used in everyday life .  Students match the vocabulary to the pictures.  Then they can listen to the audio and match a use or several uses to each item. Finally, they can complete the questions  at the bottom with their own ideas and ask and answer the questions with a partner.

(download PDF)

(What’s it used for YouTube video)

What’s it used for?

7 Computing expressions and language exercise (with audio and answers)

Computing expressions listening/speaking and vocabulary exercise. Students listen to the audio and match the vocabulary to the pictures.

Computing expressions and language  exercise with answers (PDF)

Computing expressions

8 Verbs for computing (with audio and answers)

This is a listening/speaking  exercise for verbs and computers (or technology) . Students listen to the audio and match the verbs (or sentences) to the appropriate pictures.

Verbs for Computing (PDF)

Verbs for computing

9 Computer and technology vocabulary exercise (with answers)

Click on the image or the link to download the printable PDF file.

Computer and technology vocabulary exercise with answers (PDF)

10 Dall-e: the revolution will be visual!

This is a reading listening comprehension exercise about the new artificial intelligence text to image application Dall-e.

(download PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

10 Brainstorming the benefits of automation and robotics (with answers)

This is an English language discussion and brainstorming exercise for the benefits of robotics and automation. Students use the pictures to give them ideas .  

Brainstorming the benefits of automated devices (PDF)

(See the YouTube video)

Benefits of automation and robotics

Virtual reality language exercises

Listening and speaking  exercises for ESL classes

8 Business English vocabulary exercises

5 Cool Advertising & Branding Vocabulary & Language Exercises

 5 Describing Graphs  Language Exercises

8 Business English Speaking Skill Worksheets

11 Classroom Debate and Discussion Language Activities

11 More useful vocabulary  for computing and technology (with answers)

This is an  exercise for verbs and computers. Students match the verbs to the appropriate pictures and then write short sentences for the actions taking place in each picture.

More useful computing vocabulary and expressions (PDF)

Computers and the Internet (various language exercises)

Online Reading Comprehension Test about Google

12 Computers and the internet vocabulary and writing exercise (with possible answers)

This is an ESL writing exercise for for some common words used for discussing the internet. Students try to make sentences about the pictures using the words under the pictures.

Computer and the internet vocabulary and writing exercise (PDF)

13 Technology use survey

 This is an ESL speaking and writing lesson for talking about technology. First, students write five survey questions about technology . There are some examples of questions on the first page of the PDF.  When they have written five questions , they can walk around the class asking classmates their questions and noting down their answers on the worksheet. Finally, they write a short report from their survey question answers. This is a fun communicative exercise that allows students to mix freely. 

Classroom technology use survey (PDF)

14  Rise of the robots and automation brainstorming and discussion worksheet (with answers)

This is an exercise to explore the vocabulary and language used to talk about new technology focusing on automation and robotics and encouraging discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of robots and automation.

Rise of the robots brainstorming and discussion  worksheet (PDF)

15  Brainstorming benefits of mobile devices (with answers)

This is an English language speaking worksheet to help English language students brainstorm the benefits of smart phones, Ipads , tablets and other mobile devices .Students write down as many benefits as they can using the pictures and their own ideas.

Brainstorming the benefits of mobile devices worksheet (PDF)

16 Brainstorming disadvantages of mobile devices (with answers)

Another  worksheet to help English language students brainstorm the disadvantages of mobile devices such as smart phones, Ipads and tablets. Students write down as many disadvantages as they can using the pictures and their own ideas.

Brainstorming the disadvantages of mobile devices worksheet (PDF)

17 Brainstorming the disadvantages of automation and robotics (with answers)

This is an English language exercise for brainstorming the disadvantages of robotics and automation. Students use the pictures to give them ideas .  

Brainstorming the disadvantages of automated devices (PDF)

18 Talking about machines, products and services with adjectives (with answers)

This is a business English ESL exercise exploring language used to describe technology and products. Students try to match the vocabulary with the appropriate pictures. Then they write sentences describing the products. The adjectives used to describe products are:

Describing technology with adjectives (PDF)

19 Writing opinions about automated and robotic technologies (with answers)

  This is another  worksheet that can be used  to help students  improve their writing skills and express their opinions about new technologies including driverless vehicles, smartphone payments and smart watches.  

Writing opinions about automated and robotic technologies (PDF)

An English language speaking worksheet for generating discussion about the internet and social trends. Students write the benefits/disadvantages of each issue on the worksheet.

Personal opinions about the internet (PDF)

21 Personal opinions: technology & modern lifestyle

  This is another  worksheet that can be used  to get students  talking about  technology in contemporary society.  Students need to think of a  positive and negative for each issue.   

Personal opinions about the internet and modern life (PDF)

Food and Restaurant Language and Vocabulary Exercises

Fabulous Food and Eating Listening, Speaking and Vocabulary Lessons

January 3rd, 2024

Below are a collection of food and eating related vocabulary, listening, speaking, brainstorming, and grammar activities designed to help students develop English language skills.

1 Restaurant complaints

What is going on in the pictures? What problems do the customers want to complain about?

(download PDF)

See the YouTube video

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2 Shopping list for food role play (elementary)

This is a role play between 2 room mates talking about the food items they need for their house or apartment. It includes basic vocabulary for food, and also countable and uncountable nouns.

(download PDF)

See the video on YouTube

2 Taste and nutrition lesson

This is a lesson that explores the language of taste and nutrition with a variety of exercises including vocabulary and critical thinking exercises.

Download PDF

3 Celebrity chef interview

This is role play and listening/speaking exercise.

(download PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

4 Bad restaurant role play

Bad restaurant is a listening speaking and role play exercise for talking about restaurant food and service.

(download PDF)

(See the YouTube video)

Bad restaurant role play

5 Talking about food conversation

A listening/speaking and writing-a-conversation exercise for upper elementary students.

(download PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

Talking about food conversation

6 Introduction to ingredients

This is a fun way to start a class and introduce the vocabulary for ingredients to English language learners. Get students to watch the video or listen to the audio and write the vocabulary on the pictures on the PDF worksheet. Or you can just dictate the words randomly.

(Teacher’s sheets)

(Student’s worksheet)

(YouTube video)

7 kitchen and cooking vocabulary listening/speaking exercises

Food, Restaurants and Cooking Home

8  Hotel Vocabulary and Speaking Skills Exercises

5  Airport and Airline Vocabulary and Language Skills Exercises with Answers

5 Intercultural Communication Language Exercises and Worksheets

5 Cool Advertising & Branding Vocabulary & Language Exercises

7 Talking about food and eating vocabulary dictation

This is a similar format to the exercise above but it’s for talking about  food and eating.

Talking about food (PDF- teacher)

Talking about food (PDF- student)

(see the YouTube video)

Talking about food vocabulary dictation

 8 Restaurant dialogues speaking and listening worksheet (with audio answers)

This is an English language exercise to help students prepare to work in a restaurant or just learn about common restaurant exchanges so they are prepared to travel abroad or eat out with English language speakers. Students attempt to complete the dialogues. Then they can listen to the conversations and compare their answers.

Asking for information: restaurant dialogues (PDF)

(Youtube video of this exercise)

Restaurant dialogues

 9 Elementary  food conversation listening/speaking worksheet

Students can listen to the audio dialogue and complete the conversation. They can practice the conversation  or create their  own  conversation.

Food conversation dialogue (PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

Elementary  food conversation

10 Ordering in a restaurant listening activity and conversation worksheet (with audio answers)

This is a  fun “Ordering in a Restaurant” gap fill speaking activity for an English language  class.   Students listening to audio and  complete the conversation. Then the students can practice  the conversation, perform role plays and/or write their own “Ordering in a Restaurant” dialogues.

Ordering in a restaurant dialogue (PDF)

Ordering in a restaurant

11 Common expressions for talking about food (listening/speaking with answers and audio)

    This  is a vocabulary, listening  and speaking activity for using common expressions to talk about food and eating. Students match the sentences the pictures and answer the questions.  The listening activity could be done first or last. The students listen to the short conversational exchanges and match the letter of the item to the pictures.  

Common expressions for talking about food (PDF)

Common expressions for talking about food

12 Talking about food and eating vocabulary dictation 2

Another vocabulary and common expressions listening exercise.

Talking about food dictation 2 (PDF)

2 Talking about food vocabulary dictation 2

13 Listening and speaking skills worksheet: restaurant troubles (with audio and answers)

For this exercise students listen to the conversations and match the items (A-I) to the pictures. Then they listen to the short exchanges again and try to complete the speech bubbles. This kind of exercise encourages students to expand their vocabulary and improve their listening skills.

Restaurant troubles vocabulary and speaking exercise (PDF)

Restaurant troubles

14 Types of food sorting

This is a sorting exercise for types of food.

(download PDF)

Business English Speaking Skills Exercises

Business English Speaking and Listening Skills Worksheets for the 2020s

The exercises below are designed for teaching ESL students in the 2020s, focusing on contemporary work trends such as the gig economy and hybrid work. The content addresses key aspects of modern work life, including freelancing, digital platforms, work-life balance, and the use of technology in remote work.

July 15th 2024

1 The Gig Economy

Brainstorming The Gig Economy introduction exercise.

Download PDF

2 The Gig Economy visual vocabulary and classroom discussion listening

Vocabulary and listening exercises that engage students in a discussion about The Gig Economy.

Download PDF

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3 Hybrid Work visual vocabulary and classroom discussion listening

These exercises explore ideas and language used to discuss Hybrid Work.

Download PDF

4 Hybrid work pronunciation exercises

Fun exercises for focusing on pronunciation of words related to hybrid work.

Download PDF

5 The Creator Economy

This is another topic that  is highly engaging and relevant for young adult learners.

The Creator Economy critical thinking (PDF)

The Creator Economy classroom discussion listening (PDF)

The Creator Economy Q and A (PDF)

6 Quantifiers for colleagues

This is a Business English vocabulary and listening/speaking exercise exploring some common Business English vocabulary. It also focuses on the use of quantifiers (all, most, some, a few, none etc.).

(download PDF)

See the YouTube video

 6 Calling to Complain (gap fill and answers)

       This is a “calling to complain”telephoning language exercise  to help English language learners practice expressions and phrases used in everyday phone conversations. Students can try and complete the dialogues and then listen to the audio to check/compare their answers.

(download PDF)

(Calling to complain YouTube video)

Calling to complain

7 Business skills

It’s easy for students to talk about business skills as it relates to their personal preferences and abilities.  Students can listen to the audio or watch the video and complete the worksheet. The video adds more images illustrating the vocabulary related to this topic. The speaking section can also be expanded to include all the skills shown in the pictures.

Business Skills (PDF)

(See the YouTube video)

Business skills

8 New boss meeting

This is an exercise that explores common company office topics and language through the first meeting with a new boss. The worksheet includes vocabulary and speaking exercises. An excerpt from the worksheet is below. The full worksheet can be downloaded by subscribers at Substack (see below).

See the YouTube video

Download lesson extract PDF

9 Conversational practice – present perfect and basic future tense for business

These conversational practice exercises contain sets of  conversational questions, along with multiple potential responses and a follow-up question for each. The questions aim to help ESL (English as a Second Language) students improve their understanding and usage of specific aspects of grammar in English. In my experience, these kinds of exercise are really useful teaching one-on-one online, but they also work really well as pair work activities in the classroom.

Future tense conversational practice

Present perfect conversational practice

If you like these activities, be sure to check out the Substack post:

“Cost of living” and “New boss meeting”

10 The Intern

This is a reading/listening comprehension exercise about a day in the life of an intern and contrasts it with university life. Students need to watch the video and then complete the sentences with the the vocabulary they hear. The pictures match the chronological order of the video.

(download listening/speaking PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

11 Financial crisis vocabulary

These days, you hear and see words such as “inflation” and “bear market” everywhere. So this is a lesson about financial crisis vocabulary.

(lesson extract download PDF)

(see the YouTube video)

Financial crisis vocabulary

12 Create a conversation: starting a business

This is a listening/speaking lesson about starting a business. This is  a surefire topic for classroom discussion and dialogues. Use the worksheet below to brainstorm ideas about starting a business. Then get students to listen to the dialogues and try to complete the gap fill worksheet. Finally, students write a conversation using their own ideas.

Starting a business  (PDF)

Open a laundromat

Starting a restaurant business

13 Ideas for starting a business brainstorming

This is a good topic for business English students. And millennials in general are really sharp on the nuances of strategies for starting a business. Good fun!

Ideas for starting a business (PDF)

14 Asking for information : business English dialogues gap fill (with audio and answers)

Students need to be versatile and flexible when they speak English. This gap fill exercise provides a number of everyday conversations and situations .  It challenges students to complete the short dialogues with the appropriate vocabulary. Or students can listen to the audio and complete the conversations.

Asking for information business English gap fill (PDF)

(see as Youtube mp4 video)

Asking for information audio mp3

9 import/export, logistics and supply chain exercises

4 online shopping and delivery services listening/speaking and vocabulary exercises

8 Business English vocabulary exercises

5 cool advertising & branding vocabulary & language exercises

 8 describing graphs  language exercises

5 intercultural body language, gestures and etiquette language exercises

15   Making requests exercise (with audio and answers)

           This is a  Business English  ESL exercise to help students learn how to make polite requests in English. Students can try to complete the speech bubbles. Then they can listen to the audio and compare their answers. Or it can be used as a stand alone listening exercise.

Business English making requests (PDF)

(see as Youtube video)

Making requests audio

 16 Business problems and solutions (with audio and answers)

Problems and solutions exercises make for good speaking and discussion classes. Here, students match the problems to the pictures and give solutions in answer to the questions. as above, the solutions exercise could be expanded to include all the problems shown in the pictures.

Business problems and solutions (PDF)

(see the video on YouTube)

Business problems and solutions vocabulary audio
Business problems and solutions questions and answers

17 Telephone conversation speaking and listening about a delivery (with audio and answers)

This is a telephoning exercise for English language learners to practice using  the language necessary for making business phone calls. Students listen to the audio and complete the conversation. There are 2 worksheets One is easy and one is more difficult.

Telephone delivery conversation (PDF)

Telephone delivery

18  Office conversations (with audio and  answers)

This is a business English ESL exercise to help students practice common office conversations. First, brainstorm ideas for the conversations. Then students can listen to to the audio and complete the speech bubbles.

Office conversations  (PDF)

Office conversations

15 Elementary business socializing (listening with answers)

This is an elementary business English ESL listening exercise exploring the language and vocabulary used to make short conversations in various business and social situations. Student listen and  complete the short conversations for each situation. Then they can compare answers.

Business socializing language worksheet

Business socializing (PDF)

Elementary business socializing

 16 Business socializing and phoning (with  answers and audio)

       This is similar to the above but more general.  It helps students   become familiar with common office conversational exchanges. 

Business socializing and  telephoning (PDF)

Business socializing and phoning

 

 17 Company activities: What do they do?

The words create, produce, develop, design, invent, build, sell, provide and manufacture are often used interchangeably to describe company activities. This activity focuses on these and related words and the subtle differences between their usage.

What do companies do?(PDF)

 18  Problems and solutions: write a conversation

This is a more personalized and fun exercise in which students write a conversation talking about 2 problems in their lives.

Problems and solution conversation writing (PDF)

4 Working from Home exercises incl. parts of speech and vocabulary

ESL Listening Activities Guide

8 Business English Vocabulary Exercises

10 Super Essential Academic Vocabulary Lessons

5 Kinds of Collocation and Phrasal Verb Exercises

10 Jobs and Careers Vocabulary  and Speaking exercises

4 Money and Finance Worksheets

10 Computing and  Internet Vocabulary and Speaking Activities

19 Talking about office problems

This is an elementary ESL speaking exercise for talking about problems in the office. First, students try to match the vocabulary at the bottom of the page to the pictures. They can then use that vocabulary to answer questions about the pictures.

Talking about office problems (PDF)

4 Tantalizing Telephone Dialogue Exercises for Business English

5 Cracking Complaints and Annoyances Language and Speaking Exercises

20  Discussing business activities speaking lesson

    This is an ESL   speaking and writing lesson  for talking about common business activities and tasks.. First, students match the expressions to the pictures. Then, they can have short conversations discussing the business activities they like and dislike.

Discussing business activities (PDF)

21 Team building

his is a business English ESL exercise exploring the language and vocabulary of team building. First, students match the vocabulary to the pictures. When it is clear they understand the words, they can write questions  about team building. Finally, students can ask each other questions.

(download PDF)

22 Elements of common work conversations (with answers)

        This is an ESL exercise  for teaching common English  expressions in an office setting. Students match the words to the pictures and the sentences. 

Elements of common work conversations (PDF)

10 Role Play Speaking Activities

11 Classroom Debate and Discussion Language Activities

5 First Day of Class Activities

3 Great Icebreakers to Start a Class

8 Invitation and Request Dialogues for Everyday Scenarios

23 Business woman: what is she saying ? (with answers)

This is a business English ESL exercise introducing some common expressions and sentences. Students need to interpret the meanings of the woman’s gestures and match the vocabulary to the pictures.

Business woman: what is she saying (PDF)

 

Classroom Language and Vocabulary Worksheets

Classroom Language and Vocabulary Exercises and Worksheets

1 Brainstorming classroom expressions (with answers)

This is a good icebreaker for talking about classroom language.

Classroom expressions brainstorm worksheet.

(download PDF)

2 Classroom language: rules & commands (with audio and answers)

  The  exercises below are for introducing, reviewing or reinforcing commonly used  classroom language. Depending on the level and ability of the students, a teacher may ask students to listen and write down the rules and commands (imperatives) they hear. I have also used these exercises for teaching teachers who use two languages in the classroom and who generally use their native language for technical subjects such as science and medical technology but like to occasionally communicate in English. This helps familiarize the students with classroom communication in English.

Classroom-rules-language and vocabulary exercise worksheet

Classroom language: rules and commands (PDF)

Classroom language: rules & commands

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3 Classroom instructions – imperatives (with audio and answers)

         Below is another exercise for  expanding the range of ESL students’ or teachers’ vocabulary. These are a collection of common imperatives used in the classroom.

classroom instructions language and vocabulary exercise

Classroom language and instructions  with answers (PDF)

Classroom instructions

4 Classroom requests & queries (with audio and answers)

The elementary exercise focuses on classroom requests.

Classroom requests worksheet w. answers (PDF)

Classroom requests & queries

 

5 Classroom objects (with answers)

Students match the classroom classroom objects to the appropriate pictures. If they are good enough, they can try to make sentences using the words. Then they complete the gap fill exercise with the appropriate words.

Classroom objects vocabulary exercises (PDF)

9 Super Elementary Speaking Exercises

5 Elementary Create a Conversation Exercises for Speaking Classes

5 Elementary Conversational Expressions Exercises

5 First Day Activities for an ESL Class

10 Really! Elementary ESL classroom icebreakers

7 Essential Speaking Activities for ESL Classes

3 Great Icebreakers to Start a Class

8 Invitation and Request Dialogues for Everyday Scenarios

 

6  Elements of classroom communication (with answers)

Students match the classroom expressions and language to the appropriate pictures.

Elements of classroom communication (PDF)

 

 7 Brainstorming instructional vocabulary

This worksheet is a brainstorming exercise challenging students to explore and expand   their knowledge of classroom language. The teacher encourages students to think of any words, expressions or collocations that might be used with the encircled words.

Brainstorming instructional vocabulary for the classroom(PDF)

8 Teacher language: advanced classroom language


The following worksheet is suitable for more advanced learners. It focuses  on word formation.

Advanced classroom language (PDF)

9 Common classroom expressions matching exercise

The exercise below is for helping students to understand and explore classroom language and expressions. Classroom language can often be confusing due to the various ways of using phrasal and two-part verbs. It is often surprising how  far students advance without fully understanding classroom language.   I have also used this exercise for teaching teachers who use two languages in the classroom and who generally use their native language for technical subjects such as science and medical technology but like to give instructions and directions in English.

Common classroom expressions matching exercise (PDF)

 

10 Common classroom language and expressions

The exercise below is another exercise exploring commonly used classroom language with the aid of pictures.

Common classroom language  and expressions (PDF)

 

Picture-Based Present Continuous Tense Worksheets

7 Present ContinuousListening/Speaking Exercises and Worksheets

At a basic level the present continuous or progressive tense is fairly easy to teach. It lends itself to miming activities and  exercises using pictures. At a more advanced level it becomes more difficult and students have to understand that some verbs may be used  differently depending on the context (ie.stative vs progressive).

1 What are they doing ? for routines  (present continuous with audio and answers)

    A worksheet for practicing the present continuous tense for routines. One of the easiest ways to teach the present continuous is with the aid of pictures. Students have to describe the action in the pictures with phrases or sentences. They should feel free to use their imaginations and be creative. This now includes audio so it can also be used as a listening activity)

Picture worksheet for teaching routines and present continuous tense

What are they doing? with answers (PDF)

(see the video version on YouTube)

What are they doing ? for routines

2 What are they doing ? for general situations (with audio and answers)

    This is an elementary ESL listening/speaking exercise  practicing the present continuous tense for general situations. Students make sentences about each picture in the present continuous. This can be done as a listening/speaking or writing activity.  As a listening activity, the students have to match the items to the pictures.

Pictures of general situations for present continuous

What are they doing ?- general situations (PDF)

What are they doing ? for general situations

Daily routines and adverbs of frequency

Present simple verb exercises

Comparative adjective exercises

Teaching Gerunds and Infinitives

Indirect and Reported Speech

Present continuous home

Pic Tac Toe: classroom game for present continuous

Phrasal verbs and the present continuous

7 Essential Speaking Activities for ESL Classes (PDF)

Adverbs Listening/Speaking Exercises

Gerunds/Infinitives Listening/Speaking Exercises

 

3 Have collocations worksheet (with answers)

    This is a sentence writing exercise to help students understand collocations with “have” and also the stative and progressive uses of “have”. Students are often confused about whether to use the verb “have” in the present simple or present continuous/progressive tense. This exercise aims to clarify that a little bit.

Grammar practice using the verb "have" correctly in the present tenses.

Have collocations (PDF)

4 Present simple vs present continuous

    This is an elementary writing and  speaking exercise  to help students understand the differences between the present simple and present continuous tenses.

Present simple vs present continuous (PDF)

5 What is he doing ? with answers (present continuous tense)

    This is an elementary ESL speaking exercise  practicing the present continuous tense. Students make sentences about each picture in the present continuous. This can be done as a speaking or writing activity.

What is he doing grammar worksheet

What is he doing ? (PDF)

6 Stative/progressive verbs sorting worksheet (with answers)

    This is a sorting exercise that helps students learn  when to use verbs in the present simple or present continuous/progressive tenses.  

Stative-progessive-verbs-grammar sorting worksheet

Stative vs progressive (PDF with answers)

 

10  Adjectives Exercises Including Adjectives for People and Things 

3 Parts of Speech Exercises

7 Picture-Based Present Continuous Worksheets (PDF)

8 Preposition Exercises for Location, Time and Movement (PDF)

5 Future Tense Vocabulary and Speaking Exercises

5  Useful Passive Tense Practice worksheets

6  Present Perfect Language and Speaking Worksheets

11  Incredibly Useful Past Tense Simple Teaching Activities (PDF)

8 Preposition Exercises for Location, Time and Movement (PDF)

3 Great Exercises for conditionals (PDF)

 

7 What is happening ?  with answers (present continuous tense)

    This is a more advanced and challenging ESL exercise  practicing the present continuous tense   for actions and events  happening now. Students need to have a broader knowledge of nouns and verbs to be able to complete this exercise. Students have to describe what is happening in the events and situations depicted in the pictures.

What is happening picture worksheet for present continuous

What is happening ? (PDF with answers)

Other Resources