Permission Request Mingle

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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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…?”).

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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.

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Why You’ll Love It:

• Tons of speaking practice
• Easy to prep – just print and cut
• Great for fluency, politeness, and vocabulary
• Works with teens or adults in any general English class
• Encourages movement and interaction

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Teaching Tip:
Keep the energy high by playing some soft background music during the mingle and setting a timer for each round to keep it fast-paced and fun! review!

[Download the FREE “Permission Request Mingle” Worksheet Here]
(Includes teacher instructions, printable cards, and sample phrases)

DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE

Want more free ESL grammar lesson? Share this post with other teachers and let us know how it worked in your classroom!

What other grammar topics would you like? Drop your ideas in the comments!

More ESL Classroom Games & Activities

Looking for more fun grammar activities for your English class? Check out these ideas:
ESL Speaking Games to improve fluency
Grammar Board Games for practicing sentence structures
Interactive Writing Activities for ESL learners