🙋 Permission Request Mingle – Fun Speaking Activity for ESL Learners. Practice asking for permission and making polite requests in a fun, movement-based ESL mingle activity!

🙋 Permission Request Mingle – Fun Speaking Activity for ESL Learners

🙋 Permission Request Mingle – Fun Speaking Activity for ESL Learners

Looking for an engaging speaking activity to practice asking permission and making polite requests? This interactive ESL mingle game is perfect for getting students out of their seats, talking to classmates, and using natural, real-world English.

This printable lesson is ideal for A2 to B1 students, and can be used in general English, functional language lessons, or conversation classes.

🎯 What’s the Goal?

Students use prompt cards to ask each other for permission and make requests using a range of polite phrases. The best part? They walk around, speak to everyone, and respond based on their card—so every exchange is unique!

🧩 What You’ll Need:

One printable sheet per 12 students
Each card has a picture or phrase (e.g., “Turn on the light”, “Borrow your phone”)
Half of the cards have a ✅ (tick) on the back, and half have a ❌ (cross)

If you’ve got more than 12 students, just divide the class into smaller groups and print multiple sets.

🗂️ Activity Breakdown

1. Prep the Phrases
Before starting, review permission language with the class:
➡ Can I…?
➡ Could I…?
➡ May I…?
➡ Is it all right if I…?
➡ Would you mind if I…?

And for responses:
✔ Yes, of course. / Sure, go ahead.
✘ Sorry, I’m afraid not. / No, you can’t.

2. First Round – Asking for Permission

Give each student one card.
Demonstrate: One student uses the card to ask for permission, the other checks the tick or cross and responds accordingly.
Students mingle and speak to as many classmates as possible.
After a few minutes, swap cards and repeat—this time students use a different permission structure (e.g., switching from “Can I…?” to “May I…?”).

3. Second Round – Making Requests

Now it’s time to shift focus to polite requests, such as:
➡ Can you…?
➡ Could you…?
➡ Would you mind -ing…?
➡ I wonder if you could…?

Repeat the mingle format, but now students are asking others to do something based on the prompt (e.g., “Could you help me carry these boxes?”)

Responses should also vary:
✔ Sure, I’d be happy to.
✘ I’m sorry, I can’t right now.

Permission Request Mingle