First lesson: interview another student

This getting to know each other activity is an ideal first lesson activity. It’s simple to set up and works well for most levels above Beginner.

Sketch or print out this first lesson interview template, I usually use two sides (10 topics).

At the top of each row is a space for a topic title. Think of some topics that might be of interest to the group and write one on the line at the top of each box.

Topics I sometimes use include work, movies and TV, music, free time activities, whatever town you’re teaching in, sport, food, English, holidays, politics, technology, the environment, etc.

Give a sheet to each student and go round the class brainstorming questions for each topic, invite students to write interesting questions on the sheet.

When you have questions for each topic, put students in pairs and get them to interview each other using the question sheet. This is not a writing activity so students should only write keywords and short notes in the smaller space provided to the right of each question.

When the interviews have finished (for ten questions this can take up to 30 minutes) get the students to report what they have found out about their partner and encourage further questions to be asked from the class as and when interesting pieces of information emerge.

First lesson interview printables

• first lesson interview