Pick Your Person

How to Use This Activity

Individual Work

Each student reads one card describing a person and their experiences. They decide if this person is suitable for a specific need (e.g. a travel buddy, a volunteer, a language partner) and write a few sentences explaining why — using Present Perfect and Past Simple (e.g. He’s worked as a teacher for three years. He travelled to Italy last year.).

Pair or Group Work

Students work in pairs or small groups. Each student presents their person and argues why they are (or aren’t) the best choice for a given situation. Partners can ask follow-up questions (Has she ever worked abroad? / When did he start volunteering?) or give opinions. Groups can also vote for the most suitable person.

Class Sharing

Invite students to present their choices to the whole class. Encourage them to justify their decision using both tenses and to react to others’ ideas with short comments or questions. The class can vote for the best match and discuss alternative choices.

Optional Variations

Speed Round: Give students a time limit (e.g. 1 minute) to present their candidate using as many examples of Present Perfect and Past Simple as possible.

Switch and Defend: Students swap cards and argue for a new person — even if they don’t think they’re the best option.

Role Play: Students role-play as the people on the cards and answer classmates’ questions about their experiences.