Adult ESL Lessons: Personality Traits (Advanced)

English Level: Advanced
Lesson Topic: Personality traits
Skills: Vocabulary and speaking
Materials: Printable lesson, matching activity, and discussion questions

This is Lesson 30, “Personality Traits,” from ESL Pathways: Frontiers, a book of 48 advanced adult ESL lessons. It includes a personality-traits activity, a matching exercise, and discussion questions. Download the lesson for free.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: Personality Traits (Text-Only Version)

Check the box that best describes your different personality traits.

 

Personality Traits	Very	Tend to be	Somewhat	Can be	A little	Not at all
Hardworking
Lazy
Sociable
Shy
Moody
Serious
Easygoing
Quiet
Generous
Outgoing
Talkative
Filial
Friendly
Selfish

 

Make a sentence:

I’m very  ____________________________.   I can be  ___________________________ ..

I tend to be  _________________________.  I’m somewhat  ____________________ .  

I’m a little  __________________________.   I’m not at all  ______________________ .

 

 

 

Match the personality trait with a behavior.

 

Personality trait	Behavior
Hardworking Lazy Sociable Shy Moody Serious Easygoing Quiet Generous Outgoing Talkative Filial Friendly Selfish Funny	Doesn’t like to share Respects her parents Likes to gossip Always gives presents Doesn’t get angry easily Always thinking about things Likes to go to parties Nervous to meet new people Doesn’t like to work Always works overtime Easily angered Likes to shake hands Has many friends Tells jokes Doesn’t like to talk

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe your personality.  Use the sentences and words from above.
2. Are you shy or sociable?  Give an example.
3. Are you lazy or hardworking?  Give an example.
4. Do you have a good sense of humor?  Give an example.
5. Do people think you are funny?  Give an example.
6. Are you ever moody?  What puts you in a bad mood?
7. Are you neat or messy?  Is your bedroom tidy or messy?
8. Do you think you are a generous person?  Give an example.
9. Are you ever stingy?  Are you ever selfish?
10. Are you a filial person?  What do you do for your parents?
11. What personality trait is most important to you?
12. Would you like to change your personality?
13. If you could, what would you like to be like?
14. What’s more important: personality or appearance?
15. Do you like serious or easygoing people?
16. What personality traits do you like in your friends?
17. Describe your friend’s personality.
18. Do you and your friends have similar personalities?
19. Describe your father’s personality.
20. Describe your mother’s personality.
21. Describe your sibling’s personality.
22. Describe your teacher’s personality.