Adult ESL Opinion Expressions | Agreeing & Disagreeing Speaking Activity

Ever watched a student nod silently through an entire conversation because they only know "I think..." and "I don't agree"? Adult ESL students need MORE natural expressions to give opinions, ask for others' thoughts, and diplomatically disagree because real conversations require more than a couple of basic (and overused) textbook phrases.

Sure, fill-in-the-blank exercises have their place, especially for students who find comfort in familiar formats. But real fluency happens when students stop only thinking about the language and start using it.

This is a speaking activity, not a writing one. Your students will work together to sort expressions into four categories: Agreement, Disagreement, Asking for Opinions, and Giving Opinions. As they debate where each card belongs during the sorting process, they're naturally using the very expressions they're learning! "I think this goes here..." "What do you think about this one?" "I disagree. That sounds more like..."

It's sneaky-good teaching at its finest. Sure, they think they're just sorting cards, but you'll hear them having authentic conversations and building memory for these essential phrases.

What’s Included:

✅ Teacher Instructions: clear, step-by-step guidance for implementing the activity.

✅ Sorting Activity:

• 45 expression cards for sorting into the categories Agreement, Disagreement, Asking for Opinions, and Giving Opinions.
• four category cards to guide organization.
• answer key for easy reference.

✅ Two Worksheet Versions:

• Version A: two pages for less text and more white space (for students who benefit from a clearer layout)
• Version B: a one-page version for students who prefer a compact look
• Answer keys included for both versions.

While designed for high beginner to intermediate adult ESL students, this resource can also be used with other students who need to expand their conversational skills to find smooth ways to jump into discussions, gracefully ask for someone's perspective, and disagree without sounding rude.

EVERYTHING IN THIS ACTIVITY WAS CREATED FOR YOUR ADULT ESL STUDENTS

I created this with adult students in mind, so you won't find cartoonish clipart or children's content.