The Job Interview

The Job Interview – ESL Role-Play Activity. Practice Real-World Speaking with This Interactive Job Interview Role-Play Game for English Learners

The Job Interview – ESL Role-Play Activity

The Job Interview – ESL Role-Play Activity

Looking for a practical and real-life speaking activity to build your students’ confidence and fluency? “The Job Interview” is a dynamic ESL lesson that gives learners the opportunity to practice speaking, listening, and critical thinking in a simulated job interview environment. It’s perfect for intermediate to advanced learners and includes a free printable worksheet to guide the activity.

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🧠 Learning Objectives

• Practice job-related vocabulary and question structures
• Improve interviewing and self-presentation skills
• Build confidence in formal communication
• Develop critical thinking and listening strategies
• Foster collaborative interaction through role-play

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🖨️ What You’ll Need

• One copy of the job interview worksheet per student
• A whiteboard or projector
• Optional: name tags, chairs, and props to simulate an interview setting

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🔧 How to Run the Activity

1. Lead-In Discussion

Start by asking your students:

• “What do employers usually ask in a job interview?”
• “What questions would you ask if you were hiring someone?”
• “What kind of job would you like to apply for?”

Write relevant answers and vocabulary on the board (e.g., experience, qualifications, salary, working hours).

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2. Choose a Job

Ask the class which job they find most interesting or realistic. Write the chosen job (e.g., graphic designer, customer service rep, barista, engineer) at the top of the board.

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3. Assign Roles

Split the class in half:

• One half will be interviewers.
• The other half will be candidates applying for the job.

Distribute the corresponding worksheet to each student depending on their role.

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4. Prepare for the Interview

Students work in their groups:

• Interviewers decide:
  • Salary, hours, location, dress code, and ideal candidate qualities.
• Candidates define:
  • Their age, skills, qualifications, previous jobs, and salary expectations.

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5. Create Interview Questions

Students use prompts on the worksheet to create appropriate Wh-questions for the interview. Sample questions include:

• Interviewers:
  • “What qualifications do you have?”
  • “How many years of experience do you have?”
  • “Do you speak any other languages?”
• Candidates:
  • “What are the working hours?”
  • “How much is the salary?”
  • “Would I have to travel often?”

Check questions together as a class and write a few model questions on the board.

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6. Role-Play Time

Pair one interviewer with one candidate. Set a time limit (5–8 minutes per interview). Interviewers assess whether the candidate fits the role, while candidates decide if they actually want the job.

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7. Reflection & Feedback

After each pair finishes:

• Interviewers share what they were looking for and whether they would hire the candidate.
• Candidates reflect on the job and if they would accept it.

Invite a few pairs to act out their interviews in front of the class. Let the class vote for the best overall candidate!

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🔁 Extension Ideas

• Have candidates write a follow-up email thanking the interviewer.
• Rotate roles and simulate interviews for different job types.
• Assign homework: write a CV and cover letter based on their candidate profile.

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👥 Who Is It For?

• Intermediate to Advanced ESL learners
• High school, university, or adult classes
• Business English students
• Career-focused learners

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📥 Download the Free Worksheet

This printable worksheet includes question prompts, planning space, and guided vocabulary for both interviewers and candidates. A simple, low-prep way to add real-world communication to your next ESL lesson!

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