Would You Rather

Two dilemmas, one choice. Students pick between two options and — more importantly — explain why. The explanation is where the language lives; the choice is just the hook.

Procedure

1. Pose a "Would you rather..." dilemma. Two options, both plausible, neither obviously better.

   Would you rather have unlimited money but not be able to buy food, or have unlimited food but no money?

2. Each student chooses — they must commit to one.
3. Explain to a partner (60–90 sec): why this option? What would be hard about the other?
4. Partner responds: do they agree? Push back with one counter-argument.
5. Swap. Partner proposes a new dilemma (from a prompt list or their own).
6. Continue 6–10 dilemmas in a session.

Why It Works

• Commitment produces content: the forced binary choice generates reasoning that open questions don't.
• Low-threshold output: the structure is predictable (I'd rather X because Y; with Y I could Z, whereas with X...) — learners can succeed at A2.
• Rich functional language: preference (I'd rather), comparison (than), conditional (if I chose X, I'd...), reasoning (because, since, given that).
• Scalable: same format works for young learners (superheroes) and advanced (ethical dilemmas).

Key Functional Language

• I'd rather X than Y — core structure
• I'd prefer to X because...
• Given the choice, I'd go with X because...
• X would be better than Y because at least...
• The problem with Y is that...
• X has the advantage of..., whereas Y...

Sample Dilemmas (by level/age)

Young learners / low level

• Would you rather be Superman or Batman?
• Would you rather have a pet dog or a pet cat?
• Would you rather eat only pizza or only ice cream for a year?
• Would you rather be invisible or fly?

Teen / pre-intermediate

• Would you rather live near the ocean or near a field?
• Would you rather be famous but poor, or rich but unknown?
• Would you rather have your dream job that pays badly, or a boring job that pays well?
• Would you rather be best friends with a celebrity or have your dream job?

Adult / intermediate

• Would you rather live in a quiet neighbourhood with no amenities, or a noisy area with plenty to do?
• Would you rather always be 10 minutes early or always 10 minutes late?
• Would you rather have a job you love in a city you hate, or a job you hate in a city you love?
• Would you rather know the date of your death, or the cause?

Advanced / ethical

• Would you rather permit stem cell research or prohibit it?
• Would you rather live in a society with complete freedom but no safety, or complete safety but no freedom?
• Would you rather know everyone's deepest secret, or have no-one know yours ever again?

Variations

• Physical version (Four Corners): label room corners A/B; students walk to their choice. See Opinion Line for the sliding-scale variant.
• Justify-then-decide: partner hears only the reasoning, guesses the choice.
• Contrarian round: students must argue for the option they didn't pick. Trains flexibility.
• Chain Would You Rather: each student's answer must spark the next dilemma ("...would you rather live in the ocean, which makes me ask: would you rather be a dolphin or a whale?").
• Written version: each student writes three of their best dilemmas; pooled, printed, used next lesson.
• Use with Red card green card: students agree/disagree with a partner's choice using colour cards before explaining.

Tips

• Insist on the "because" half — a bare choice is not language practice.
• Dilemmas must be genuinely balanced. If one option is clearly better, the activity dies. Test your dilemmas on yourself first.
• Keep culturally appropriate. Avoid religion, family-ethical topics that could embarrass individual students.
• Adjust tempo: short punchy dilemmas as warmer (5 min); deeper ethical ones as a discussion starter (20 min).
• Great 5-minute lesson-ender when time runs short.

Source

Would You Rather as a party game is folk tradition. ESL adaptations documented widely — JimmyESL (120 question bank), ESL Speaking, ESL Expat, ESL Vault. Structural fit with CEFR A2–C1 functional language (preference, comparison, reasoning).