1. ESL Lesson Plans
  2. Upper-Intermediate

Describing people and personalities

Free
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Intermediate+/B2
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
People
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
45-60 min
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Low-Resource
Print pdf version of this low-resource ESL lesson plan
Download lesson plan

Overview

Students will enhance their skills in describing people and personalities in this upper-intermediate lesson. They will focus on providing more nuanced descriptions, going beyond basic adjectives to include a range of physical and personality traits. The lesson aims to expand their vocabulary and expression, enabling them to portray individuals in a detailed and subtle manner, an essential skill for moving to advanced English.

The lesson plan begins with suggested boardwork, highlighting example vocabulary appropriate to this level. Following this, students will engage in low-resource activities involving both collaborative speaking and writing tasks. We also include a fun idea for a classroom game, allowing students to apply their new skills and end the session on a high note.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1Famous faces
2Who am I?
3In the family
Games
1First date
Print pdf version of this low-resource ESL lesson plan
Download Lesson Plan
Unlock this low-resource ESL lesson plan
Become a Member

Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

The students look at how to give more nuanced descriptions of people.

Elicit adjectives that describe different physical and personality traits. Add any to the board that you feel are relevant to the level. Use this spider diagram as a guide.

EFL - ESL Lead-in activity | Upper-intermediate | Teaching people and personalities

Low-resource ESL activity

Famous faces

Students will work in pairs to create a detailed description of a well-known celebrity.

Start by dividing the class into pairs. Then, tell them that they have to choose a well-known celebrity and write a description. If you have used the sample board, encourage them to use as much of the new vocabulary as they can. They can use their smartphones to search for images or new vocabulary. When they have finished with their descriptions, each pair will read theirs to the group, who will attempt to identify the famous person.

Low-resource ESL activity idea

Who am I?

Students select adjectives for themselves and a partner and have to justify their choices through discussion.

In the same pairs as the previous activity, students will select three adjectives that best describe themselves and three that they feel strongly match their partner. Inform them that they will be asked to explain each choice. When finished, each student will discuss their selections, then hear what their partner has to say. After a student has listened to their partner's thoughts, ask them to comment on them:

  • Do they agree?
  • Are they surprised by any of them?

 

Low-resource ESL activity idea

In the family

In this speaking activity, students will interview each other about their families.

Start by writing the following question on the board:

  • "Who do you take after?"

Elicit its meaning and correct if necessary.

To take after: To resemble a close, older relative.

Next, tell the students that they are going to interview each other about their families, add the following prompts and try to elicit the type of questions they might ask and add them to the board.

  • Mother/father/grandparents
  • Siblings - Compare and contrast
  • Extended family - Cousins/aunts/uncles
  • Similar personality/physical characteristics.

You might end up with the following:

  • Do you look like/take after...?
  • In what way?
  • In what ways are you similar/different from...?
  • Do you look like any of your...uncles/aunties/grandparents?

When they are clear on the task, the students can take turns interviewing each other. They should be able to talk for between three to five minutes.

Classroom games

Low-resource ESL classroom game

First date

This is a fun role-playing game where two students will pretend to be on a first date.

For each round, you'll give one student three personality traits. Their partner must find out what these are by asking questions. The player who is acting has to do their best to convey these characteristics, without explicitly referring to them. Set a time limit for each round, one or two minutes should be enough. In the end, the interviewing student has three guesses. Give them a score out of three.