Profile Challenge

How to use:

This activity can be used in both offline and online lessons to engage students in speaking and critical thinking.

• Offline: Print out the profiles and distribute them to students. They can work in pairs, small groups, or individually.
• Online: Share the profiles digitally and use breakout rooms for group activities. For individual lessons, the teacher can play multiple roles or adapt tasks to encourage detailed responses.
  
  

1. Find the Ideal Match

Players analyze the profiles and identify the best pairing between two characters based on their interests, strengths, and weaknesses. They must justify their choice, explaining why these characters would be a good match — whether as friends, romantic partners, or business associates.

2. Practise Describing People

Each participant receives a character and must describe them in detail using their attributes — without reading directly from the list. The other players must guess which character is being described. All participants have access to the profiles (printed or digital).

3. Create the Perfect Team

Participants select three characters who would form an effective team for a specific task, such as a project, a trip, or an adventure. They must justify why these characters would work well together.

4. Quick Interview

One player takes on the role of a character, while the others ask rapid-fire questions based on their profile. The player must respond as authentically as possible, staying true to the character’s traits.

5. Speed Networking (Offline or Mingling in Breakout Rooms)

Students rotate quickly, introducing themselves as their assigned character and finding connections with others. They must ask and answer questions in character, discovering who they would get along with best.

6. Job Interviews

Students role-play as their character applying for a job, while others act as interviewers, asking relevant questions. The interviewers evaluate whether the candidate’s skills and personality fit the role.

7. Personalised Profiles & Q&A

Students fill in the empty template with their own personal information, creating a unique character profile.

Once completed, they work in pairs to ask each other questions based on their profiles, practicing natural conversation skills.

They can discuss their interests, strengths, weaknesses, and future plans, just like in the original character profiles. This encourages personal expression and real-life communication while reinforcing key vocabulary and speaking skills.

8. Storytelling Challenge

Students create a short story where multiple characters interact, incorporating their traits and interests. They must work together to make the story realistic, entertaining, and true to their character profiles.

Example:

• Emma (a baker) is opening a new bakery and needs help designing the shop.
• Mason (an outdoor enthusiast) suggests an eco-friendly layout, while Ava (a science lover) calculates the best lighting for growing fresh herbs indoors.
• Noah (a gamer) comes up with a creative name for the bakery inspired by his favourite game.