10 engaging ESL interview-style games for kids

Here are 10 engaging ESL interview-style games for kids that combine speaking practice with the fun of interviews. These games are great for classrooms or online ESL sessions and encourage confidence, vocabulary usage, listening, and creativity.

 
1. Hot Seat Interview
Objective: Practice speaking and listening.

One student sits in the “hot seat” as a celebrity or character (e.g., Elsa, Spider-Man).
Other students take turns asking them interview questions (e.g., “What do you eat for breakfast?” “Do you have superpowers?”).
The student must answer in character.
🎯 Skills: Listening, question forms, creative thinking.

 
2. Find Someone Who: Interview Style
Objective: Practice asking and answering yes/no and wh- questions.

Give students a list: e.g., “Find someone who has a pet / ate pizza yesterday / can sing.”
They walk around asking each other: “Do you have a pet?” / “What pet do you have?”
When they find someone who fits, they write their name.
🎯 Skills: Yes/No questions, wh- questions, peer interaction.

 
3. Mystery Interview
Objective: Practice descriptive language and inference.

One student picks a mystery character (real or fictional) without telling others.
The rest of the class interviews them to guess who they are: “What do you wear?” “Do you live in a castle?”
Students guess based on the answers.
🎯 Skills: Vocabulary, logical thinking, speaking.

 
4. Job Interview Role-Play
Objective: Practice professions and common job-related vocabulary.

Students choose a job from flashcards (doctor, chef, teacher, etc.).
Others interview them: “Why do you want this job?” “What can you do well?”
Use costumes or props for extra fun!
🎯 Skills: Speaking, role-play, professional vocabulary.

 
5. Speed Interviewing
Objective: Practice fluency and conversation flow.

Set up desks in pairs, like a “speed dating” layout.
Give each pair 2 minutes to interview each other.
After 2 minutes, one side rotates.
At the end, ask students what they learned about others.
🎯 Skills: Listening, quick thinking, basic questions.

 
6. Alien Interview
Objective: Practice basic questions and imagination.

One student pretends to be an alien who doesn’t understand Earth.
Others ask questions like “Do you eat food?” “Do you have a family?” and the alien gives silly or creative answers.
🎯 Skills: Speaking, critical thinking, fun engagement.

 
7. Reporter Time
Objective: Practice past tense and storytelling.

One student pretends to be a reporter.
Others are eyewitnesses to a funny or imaginary event (e.g., “A dinosaur visited our school!”).
The reporter asks: “What happened?” “What did you see?”
🎯 Skills: Past tense, storytelling, vocabulary.

 
8. Interview the Puppet
Objective: Lower anxiety, especially for shy students.

Use a puppet (or let them make sock puppets).
Students ask the puppet questions or answer through it.
Puppets can be “characters” or “animals.”
🎯 Skills: Speaking confidence, creativity, social interaction.

 
9. Famous Person Interview Chain
Objective: Group collaboration.

One student starts as a famous person.
Others take turns being interviewers, each asking a new question.
The goal is to keep the interview going for 5+ questions without repeating.
🎯 Skills: Question building, listening memory, teamwork.

 
10. Two Truths and a Lie – Interview Edition
Objective: Practice forming statements and critical thinking.

One student gives 3 facts about themselves: 2 true, 1 false.
Others interview them to figure out the lie: “Is it really true that you have 3 cats?”
🎯 Skills: Listening, questioning, personal vocabulary.