Work in groups of two to four. One student chooses one of the cards and makes a personal question about that topic and/ or using that word, using one of question stems below if they like. They then flip a coin. If they get heads (= ask), they can ask someone else that question. If they get tails (= tell), they have to answer their own question. Everyone can then ask follow-up questions, but people can (politely) refuse to answer follow-up questions if they like. Play then passes to the next person. Continue going round the group picking cards and asking questions until you run out of cards or until your teacher stops the game.
When your teacher stops you, look at all of the cards and ask about any vocabulary above which you don’t understand, making questions each time. You don’t need to answer the questions if you don’t want to.
Suggested personal questions
- Are there…?
- Are you good at…?
- Are you happy with…?/ Are you satisfied with…?
- Can you give me an example of…?
- Do you (ever/ sometimes/ often)…?
- Do you have…?
- Do you have any plans to…?
- Do you like…?
- Do you think it’s okay to…?
- Do you think you will… (in the near future/ someday)?
- Do you want…?
- Have you ever…?
- How… are you?
- How did you feel about…?
- How do you feel about…?
- How do you…?
- How important is… (for you)?
- How many…?/ How much…?
- How often…?
- How was your last…?
- How would you describe…?
- How would you feel about…?
- How would you react if…?
- How would you…?
- How would… describe your…?
- If you…, will/ would….?
- Is there anyone in your company who (you think) should…?
- Is there anything negative about…?
- Were you happy with…?/ Were you satisfied with…?
- What is the best way to…?
- What is the most… about…?
- What is your (least) favourite…?
- What/ Who was the best… you have ever…?
- What/ Who was the worst… you have ever…?
- What would be the perfect… for you?
- What would make you…?/ Why might you…?/ Under what circumstances would you…?
- What would you change about… (if you could)?
- What would you do…?
- What would you say to… if…?
- When … you last…?
- Would you be good at…?
- Would you employ someone who…?
- Would you…(if…)?
- Would you like…?
HR topics/ key words to ask questions about
| absent/ skip work | attitude(s) |
| (semi-annual/ end of year/ performance-related) bonuses | career change |
| character/ personality | (pad your/ lie on your/ update your/ type up your) CV/ résumé |
| (bachelor’s/ master’s/ postgraduate) degree | delegate/ delegation |
| (sexual/ age/ racial) discrimination | duties/ responsibilities |
| (female/ direct) boss | (in)efficient/ efficiency |
| (travel/ entertainment) expenses | (relevant) (work) experience |
| freelance(r) | glass ceiling |
| good at | bad at |
| (office) gossip/ rumour(s) | handwriting/ handwritten/ graphology |
| headhunter/ headhunting | (take part in) industrial action (e.g. strike) |
| (job/ second/ fail a/ panel) interview | job hunting |
| job sharing | leadership (skills)/ (a natural) leader |
| (maternity/ annual/ paid/ paternity) leave | (employment/ health and safety) law/ legislation |
| lie (in an interview/ on your CV) | (line/ middle/ top) manager |
| motivate/ motivated/ motivating/ motivation | (unpaid) overtime |
| overworked | (state/ private/ final salary/ company) pension |
| performance (related pay/ related bonuses) | perks (of a job) |
| permanent job/ permanent contract | personal development |
| promotion/ be promoted | (relevant/ vocational/ professional) qualification(s)/ (over) qualified |
| quit (your job)/ resign | (voluntary) redundancy (package)/ (made) redundant/ downsized/ laid off |
| (job/ personal) reference/ recommendation | relationship(s) (with your boss/ colleagues) |
| reputation | retire/ (early) retirement |
| sabbatical/ year off/ gap year | salary/ wage |
| (job) satisfaction/ satisfied | self-employed |
| set up your own company | sick leave/ sick day(s) |
| (computer/ language/ leadership/ interpersonal) skills | social media (e.g. LinkedIn) |
| stress/ stressful/ stressed | (income) tax |
| team(work/ building) | temp/ temporary worker/ temporary job (e.g. summer job) |
| time management/ organisation(al skills) | (re)training (course) |
| (long-term) unemployed/ unemployment | (official) warning |
| (official/ serious/ persistent) complaint | (main) weak point(s) |
| working hours | workplace (e.g. office)/ workspace |
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Related pages
HR vocabulary ask and tell speaking game short version – (as published in English Teaching Professional magazine)
Ask and tell personalised questions coin game (TEFLtastic classics Part 28)
