Convince Me | ESL Speaking Game for Persuasive Arguments & Debate Skills

Convince Me is a fast-paced ESL speaking game that challenges students to defend unusual or controversial opinions in just one minute. The focus is not on whether they agree with the statement, but on how convincingly they can argue their case using reasons, examples, and imagination.

This versatile classroom resource works across levels: lower-level learners can prepare notes before speaking, while higher-level learners can tackle the challenge on the spot. The activity builds persuasive language, critical thinking, and fluency, with variations for pairs, groups, or whole-class play. Teachers can use it as a lively warmer, a fluency exercise, or as a gateway into more structured debate activities.

This resource is also part of our Debates & Discussions | EFL Resource Pack, which is available to download here.

Perfect For:

• TEFL, TESOL, and EAL teachers looking for debate and persuasion classroom activities
• ESL speaking games that build fluency, confidence, and creativity
• Mixed-ability classes where students can engage at different challenge levels

Please Note: Once you have completed your purchase, you will receive a PDF to download and print. This is a digital download. No physical product will be shipped.