ESL Speaking Activity: Positive, Negative and Interesting
Positive, Negative and Interesting is a quick speaking activity that works well with adults and teens. In this activity, the teacher tells the students an idea. The students then analyse the idea by discussing the positive, negative and interesting aspects of the idea. This activity is a great way to get students to think creatively and critically about ideas and express their opinions.
Activity time: 5 – 10 minutes and above
Level: teens and adults (Intermediate and above)
Skills practiced: Speaking. (Conditionals, comparatives, making suggestions.)
Statement Ideas
Police officers should not carry guns.
People should only be allowed to eat meat once a week.
There should be an extra tax on unhealthy food.
Life would be better without government or rules.
The government has the right to monitor phone calls and emails.
All children should have the right to vote.
All students should speak only English in school.
Teachers should be able to use physical punishment.
All cars should be banned from the centres of all cities.
Everyone should receive the same income.
Variation:Â Show students pictures of different products and inventions. Ask them to assess the invention.
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Activity time: 5 – 10 minutes and above
Level: teens and adults (Intermediate and above)
Skills practiced: Speaking. (Conditionals, comparatives, making suggestions.)
Method
- Put students in either pairs, groups or as a class.
- Explain to students that they need to think about the positive, negative and interesting points of an idea.
- Show the students an idea statement (see list/presentation below) and give them some time to think of some positive, negative and interesting aspects of the idea.
Statement Ideas
Police officers should not carry guns.People should only be allowed to eat meat once a week.
There should be an extra tax on unhealthy food.
Life would be better without government or rules.
The government has the right to monitor phone calls and emails.
All children should have the right to vote.
All students should speak only English in school.
Teachers should be able to use physical punishment.
All cars should be banned from the centres of all cities.
Everyone should receive the same income.
Statement Ideas Presentation
Variation:Â Show students pictures of different products and inventions. Ask them to assess the invention.
Â
More Speaking Activities
Questions for teens and adults based on topics – Here you will find a range of questions based on different topics. These activities are designed to be used with interactive whiteboards but can be used with any device.
FCE Speaking Activity – Speaking activity for intermediate  students
Magazine Personalities – Get students talking about their interests
Survivor – Students discuss what they would do in an extreme situation
Liar! – Liar is a simple no-prep speaking activity for teens and adults. Students describe an image while one student describes and image that they don’t have.
Liar, Liar – This activity practice speaking and listening skills with teens and adults.
Picture Profiles –  a simple speaking activity that is a great way to practice describing people’s physical appearance and personality.
Find more games and activities on our YouTube Channel
FCE Speaking Activity – Speaking activity for intermediate  students
Magazine Personalities – Get students talking about their interests
Survivor – Students discuss what they would do in an extreme situation
Liar! – Liar is a simple no-prep speaking activity for teens and adults. Students describe an image while one student describes and image that they don’t have.
Liar, Liar – This activity practice speaking and listening skills with teens and adults.
Picture Profiles –  a simple speaking activity that is a great way to practice describing people’s physical appearance and personality.
Find more games and activities on our YouTube Channel
