Speed Matching

Students define criteria for an ideal match (flatmate, travel partner, study buddy, etc.), then rotate through timed interviews to find the best fit.

Procedure

1. Set the scenario: Students need to find a flatmate / travel companion / project partner (adapt to context).
2. List criteria: In pairs or small groups, students brainstorm and rank qualities they want in their match.
3. Prepare questions: Students draft 4–6 interview questions based on their criteria. Optional: display questions on the board for language feedback before the interviews begin.
4. Carousel interviews: Arrange inner/outer circles or desk rows. Students interview each other for 2–3 minutes per rotation, taking brief notes.
5. Decide: After 4–6 rotations, students reconvene and choose their best match, justifying the decision.
6. Report: Groups or individuals present their choice to the class.

Variations

• Celebrity version (teens): Students role-play as fictional characters or celebrities — adds humour and lowers affective filter.
• Match-making: Students describe a friend and try to find a match for them, not themselves.
• Debate pairing: Instead of compatibility, students find someone with the most different opinions for a subsequent debate task.

Tips

• Keep rotations strictly timed — time pressure forces fluency over accuracy.
• Works well as a get-to-know-you activity at the start of a course.
• Question forms are the main emergent language area — worth a brief focus before or after.