SPEED DATING—LESSON PLAN
Subject Area: ESL
Grade Level: 9th Grade-12th Grade
Duration: 1 day
OVERVIEW:
Students improve fluency and confidence while speaking as well as learn about a new way of meeting people
and going on dates by participating in several short role playing activities after creating a persona that is
interested in speed dating.
GOALS:
Improve fluency and confidence while speaking. Effectively use adjectives to describe character/personality and
likes and dislikes. Use correct question formation structures.
OBJECTIVES:

Students will:
o Express likes and dislikes
o Ask questions
o Find out as much information as possible within a short amount of time
MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT:



Speed Dating Role Card (one per student)
Timer
Desks and chairs
ANTICIPATORY SET:
Write speed dating on the board. Pause for a moment, after a quick glance around the room ask the class,
"What is Speed Dating?" Some students will be familiar with the topic because of popular movies, pop culture or
a variety global sources that they are exposed to.
After asking the students what speed dating is, give them the following questions to discuss in small groups.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
"Does speed dating exist in your culture?"
"Have you ever been speed dating?"
"Do you know anybody who has ever been speed dating?"
"Do think it is a good way to meet new people?"
"Would you try speed dating if you had the opportunity?"
After the small group discussions open the floor to a classroom discussion, this discussion should only last as
long as the students are willing to talk.
PROCEDURE:

Students fill out the Speed Dating Role Card.
o Have them create a persona, and emphasis on the details. They should create a name,
occupation, hobbies, faults, achievements, educational history, etc., and encourage the
students to be outrageous! The more exaggerated the persona the more fun the students will
have.

Arrange the class room so the desks are in two rows, facing each other like this (example is for ten
students)
[] = one desk
Student 1 [] [] Student 6
Student 2 [] [] Student 7
Student 3 [] [] Student 8
Student 4 [] [] Student 9
Student 5 [] [] Student 10

Students will than start their speed dating, or a three minute conversation getting to know each other.
After three minutes is finished one row of students will rotate their position.
Student 5 [] [] Student 6
Student 1 [] [] Student 7
Student 2 [] [] Student 8
Student 3 [] [] Student 9
Student 4 [] [] Student 10

Now the students have a completely new persona to talk with. This next conversation should last three
minutes as well. After three minutes the students rotate again. With 10 students you will have 5 three
minute conversations. (Adjust the date time to fit class schedule)

The very first thing that should be done when the activity is finished is to tell the students how long they
spoke for, five three minute conversations is 15 minutes. I would say, "Congratulations, you just spoke
constantly and fluently for 15 minutes straight, that is a victory," it helps to remind the students that
they are making progress.

At this point put all the boys in one group and all the girls in another group to discuss, or gossip, about
their dates. The students will talk about what date was the best, what date was the worst, who was the
most interesting, etc.

The students will then choose one persona that they are the most compatible with, and all 10 reveal
their selections to see if there are any matches. *It is important to put an emphasis on persona and
hypothetical characters so nobody gets their feelings hurt, make sure students understand this from the
beginning so they can create a persona that has nothing in common with their real selves.
ASSESSMENT:
Summative assessment—Teacher gives verbal feedback to students as they are participating in the role play
activities.
EXTENSIONS/MODIFICATIONS:

Alternatively you could hand out a photo (not someone well known) cut out from a magazine/brochure
(or even friends or family). Ask students to completely invent a profile using the Speed Dating Role Card.
SPEED DATING ROLE CARD
NAME:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
EDUCATION:
HOBBIES/INTERESTS:
PERSONAL QUALITIES:
ONE STRANGE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF:
ONE CHARACTER FLAW YOU POSSESS:
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DATE:
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF: