This worksheet is built around the classic “Lost at Sea” survival ranking activity, in which students imagine they have survived a shipwreck and are drifting on a life raft in the open ocean. Learners are given a list of 15 items and must decide which are least and most important for survival while waiting for rescue. The task is designed to promote meaningful speaking through comparison, justification, and negotiation rather than simple right-or-wrong answers. The worksheet includes a complete item list with Czech translations to support comprehension and reduce cognitive load for A2–B1 learners, as well as sentence starters that scaffold functional language such as giving opinions, disagreeing politely, and using conditional structures. After completing the discussion, students compare their choices with an expert survival ranking based on Coast Guard logic, which often challenges intuitive assumptions about navigation tools and food. This leads to strong reflection and follow-up discussion. The activity naturally practices comparatives, modal verbs, and first and second conditionals, making it suitable for older teens and adult learners. It works well as a high-engagement speaking lesson, a problem-solving task, or a soft-skills activity focused on teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. The scenario is flexible and can be used as a standalone lesson or as part of a wider unit on travel, emergencies, or decision-making.

lost-at-sea-speaking_166273.docx

LOST AT SEA: Speaking

lost-at-sea-speaking

Let's do English ESL discussion starters, speaking cards. This worksheet is built around the classic “Lost at Sea” survival ranking activity, in which students…