Personality – the unique way a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
Personalities – the different types or characteristics of people’s personalities.
Difference: Personality refers to one person’s character, while personalities refers to multiple people or different personality types.
Starter Questions
How would you describe your personality in three words?
Do you think your personality has changed as you’ve grown older?
Are you more introverted or extroverted?
Do you find it easy to make new friends?
What personality traits do you admire in other people?
What personality trait do you find difficult to deal with?
Do you think people are born with their personality, or does life shape it?
Are you the same person at home, at work, and with your friends?
Vocabulary
Positive personality traits
confident
friendly
outgoing
reliable
patient
generous
ambitious
honest
creative
compassionate
independent
open-minded
optimistic
easy-going
determined
Rational
Negative personality traits
selfish
stubborn
impatient
arrogant
dishonest
pessimistic
insecure
aggressive
unreliable
judgemental
jealous
impulsive
bossy
sensitive
moody
Useful personality vocabulary
personality trait
character
behaviour
attitude
confidence
self-esteem
sense of humour
first impression
body language
social skills
temperament
mindset
character development
personality type
Useful Idioms & Expressions
A people person
Someone who enjoys being around and interacting with other people.
“She’s a real people person, so she’d be perfect for a job in customer service.”
A social butterfly
Someone who enjoys meeting lots of people and going to social events.
“He’s a social butterfly and seems to know everyone.”
A wallflower
Someone who is shy and tends to avoid participating in social situations.
“She can be a bit of a wallflower at parties.”
A creature of habit
Someone who likes doing things in the same way or following a routine.
“I’m a creature of habit and always order the same thing.”
Thick-skinned
Someone who is not easily upset by criticism or insults.
“You need to be thick-skinned if you work in the public eye.”
Thin-skinned
Someone who is easily offended or upset by criticism.
“He’s quite thin-skinned and doesn’t take criticism well.”
A chip on your shoulder
To have a feeling that you have been treated unfairly and remain angry about it.
“He seems to have a chip on his shoulder about his former employer.”
Get on someone’s nerves
To annoy someone.
“Her habit of interrupting people really gets on my nerves.”
Discussion Questions
What makes someone a good friend?
Is confidence always a positive personality trait?
Can someone be too honest?
Is it possible to change your personality?
Which is more important: being intelligent or being kind?
Do opposites really attract in friendships and relationships?
Can you judge someone’s personality from their appearance?
How important is a person’s sense of humour?
Do social media platforms encourage people to create fake personalities?
Are introverts misunderstood by society?
Can a shy person become confident?
What personality traits make someone a good leader?
Do you think people behave differently when they are online?
How much does childhood influence someone’s personality?
Would you rather be extremely confident or extremely intelligent?
Which is worse: being selfish, dishonest, or unreliable?
Do you think personality tests such as MBTI are useful or just entertainment?
If you could change one aspect of your personality, what would it be?
Is it better to be liked by everyone or respected by everyone?
Can someone have a completely different personality depending on who they are with? Why?
