Conversation Questions

http://iteslj.org/questions/

Getting to Know Each Other

 Do you have any pets?

 What was the last book you read?
 Do you like to cook?
 What's your favourite food?
 Are you good at cooking/swimming/etc?
 Are you married or single?
 Do you have brothers and sisters?
o Are they older or younger than you?
 Do you like baseball?
 Do you live alone?
 Do you live in a house or an apartment?
 Have you ever lived in another country?
 Have you ever met a famous person?
 How do you spend your free time?
 How long have you been studying English?
 How old are you?
 How tall are you?
 Tell me about a favourite event of your adulthood.
 Tell me about a favourite event of your childhood.
 What are your hobbies?
 What two things could you not do when you were...?
 What countries have you visited?
 What country are you from?
 What do you do on Sundays?
 What do you do? What's your job?
 What do you like to do in your free time?
 What hobbies do you have?
 What is the nearest bus stop or train station to your house?
 What is your motto?
 What is your religion? (Perhaps not a good question in some situations.)
 What kind of food do you like?
 What kind of people do you like?
 What kind of people do you not like?
 What languages do you speak?
 What two things could you not do when you were a child, but you can do now?
 What's something you do well?
 What's your address?
 What's your father like?
 What's your mother like?
 What's your name?
 What's your phone number?
 What's your telephone number?
 When did you start to study English?
 Where are you from?
 Where do you live?
 Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
 Where were you born?
 Which sports do you like?
 Who do you live with?
 Who do you respect the most?
 Who has had the most influence in your life?
 Why did you decide to take this course?
 Why do you want to learn English?
 Would you like to be famous?
 What do you think you will be doing five years from now?
o Where do you think you'll be living five years from now?
 What is your goal in life?
 Are you a 'morning' or 'night' person?
 When do you feel best? In the morning, afternoon, or evening?
 How many cities have you lived in?
 What jobs have you done?
 Which do you prefer, sunrises or sunsets?
 What could you do as a child that you can't do now?
 Who is your next-door neighbour?
o What is he or she like?
o Did you get along with each other?
 What is the best memory of our country that you will take back home with you?
 What is the worst memory of our country?
 How many times did you move as a child?
 Are you a task-oriented person or a people-oriented person?
 What is the profile of the wife/husband you would meet?
o What kind of woman/man would you like to marry?

Friends

 Are there any famous stories of friendship in your culture?

 Can you describe one of your closest friends.
 Do you have any childhood friendships that are still strong today? Tell us about them.
 Do you have any long-distance friends?
o How do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends?
o How often do you see your long-distance friends?
 Do you think it is a good idea to borrow money from a friend? Why or why not?
 Do you make friends easily?
 Has a friend ever let you down?
 Have you made any friends over the Internet?
o How often do you write to them?
o Have you ever met them in person?
 How are your friendships different now than they were when you were a child?
 How do you maintain a good friendship?
 How do you make new friends?
 How many people do you consider your "best friends?"
 Is it common to have friendships across generations?
o What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types of friendships.
o Do you have any friends from a different generation than you?
 There is a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend."
o How can you be a good friend?
 What do you usually do with your friends?
 What factors may result in the breakdown of a good friendship?
 What is a best friend?
 What is the longest friendship that you have had?
 What makes friends different from family?
 What qualities do you think are important in a friend?
o What is a friend?
 What things should friends never do?
 Why do you like your best friend?
o What are some things you like about your best friend?
 Where is a good place to meet new friends?
o Where is a good place to meet a new boyfriend/girlfriend?
 Do you think it is possible to have a best friend of the opposite sex without becoming a girlfriend or
boyfriend?
 Do you think it would be possible for you still be friends with an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?
 There is a proverb that says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Do you agree?
 Do you believe that there is an end to any true friendships?
 Do you believe your parents should be your friends?
 What do you do if you receive a friend's call but you forgot his/her name?
 Friendship is the most important relationship. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
 What do you like best about your best friend(s)?
 What are some ways your best friend has influenced your life in a positive way?
 How close do you get to your friends?
 Why do you need a friend?
 What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?
 Do you trust all of your friends? Why?
 What is the best time for making new friends?
 What was your best friendship?
o Are you still friends with him or her?
o What life lessons did you learn from this relationship?
 What qualities do you appreciate in your friends? What makes someone special or best friend?
 Why are friendships important for you? Do you still maintain friendships from the past?
 How long have you known your best friend? Where did you meet and what did you have in common?
 What are some good opportunities to meet new people?
 How can you get to better know a person?
 What is the relationship between love and friendship?
 Who is the most interesting person you have ever met?
 Do you think famous people are happier than ordinary people? Why?
 What type of people do you get along with best?
 What quality do you admire most in people and which one do you find the most objectionable?
 What behavior of others hurts you most? When you have upset someone by your actions, what do you try
to do?
 What do you consider to be your good and bad qualities?
 What qualities help you to have good relationships with others?
 What traits or actions make an interpersonal conflict worse?
 Are relationships among people better or worse than a few years ago? Why? Give some examples.
 Do you think that dysfunctional family life contributes to worsening relationships in society?
 Is getting along with others a natural ability from birth or does it have to be learnt?
 How important is forgiveness in human relationships?
 What are friends for?
 Can you be friends with your student if you are a teacher?
 To what extent can you be friends with your child?
 What was your best friendship? Are you still friends with him or her? What life lessons did you learn from
this relationship?
 Do you tell your best friend everything?
 Do you have a close group of friends?
 What do you usually do together
 Is it easy for you to make friends?
 Talk about friends you've made in this country.
 Are you good friends with your family members?
 Do you fight with your friends?
 How often do you talk with your friends?
 What is the difference between friendship and 'kinship' (blood relatives)?
 Do you have different groups of friends who never meet one another?
 *Are you a different 'self' with each group?
 * Do you think these groups would get along if you
 introduced them to one another?
 * Would you want these friends to mix,or do you get
 something different from each set of relationships?
 There is a saying that "to lose a friend you need to start sharing a flat with him/her". Do you agree?
Why/Why not?
 What would you do if your best friend, that never betrayed you and you thought your relationship to be
brother/sister asked you out on a date?
 Do you think you can find eternal friendships through the internet?
 What is your best friend like?

Goals

 What is your biggest goal in life?

 How do you plan to achieve that goal?
 What are your "short term" goals?
 What are your "long term" goals?
 Should parents help their children set goals?
 What are your educational goals?
 What are your career goals?
 What are your financial goals?
 Why are goals important?
 Is having a goal in life effective in becoming successful?
 Is having a goal helpful in motivating a person?
 Do you think people have fewer goals as they get older?
 Do you have any goals that you feel are unrealistic?
 How do people's goals change from country to country?
 What are your goals in your current job?
 What are the main differences between male and female goals?
 Which of your goals have you already achieved?
 How would you feel if you failed to achieve any of your goals?
 Do you think it's a good idea to write your goals down and tick them off as you achieve them?
 How important are goals to you?
 What do you hope to have achieved by the time you're sixty?
 What is a goal?
 Can goals help to change your life? How?
 What goals do you have in your life?
 Is it important to set goals?
 Do you have a five year plan for your life?
 If you can't make your goal, how do you feel?
 What are your families goals?
 Are goals necessary to achieve success?
 How are plans and goals related?
 Are you ambitious enough to achieve the goals you set?
 Do you have spiritual/religious goals?
 Is one of your goals to be able to talk to your children's English teacher?
 Do you think people have less goals as they get older?
 How will you feel,if you fail to achieve any of your goals?
 What is something you never learned to do but wish you had?
 Who is successful in your family? Why?
 Tell me about a goal that you achieved for yourself.
 What success have you had in this English class? What can you do to be more successful?
 Do you believe that people must work hard to become successful? Why or why not?
 Can you think of a successful person from your own county? What do they do? How do you think they did
it?
 What kind of success do you want in the future in your life?
 What can you do now to be successful in the future?
 Do you think that money and fame means success?

School

 Are you allowed to eat in the classrooms?

 Are you allowed to smoke in the classrooms?
 Did you belong to any clubs in high school?
 Did you go to a public high school or a private one?
o What are the advantages of each type of school?
o Which type of school did you want to go to?
 Did you have to wear a uniform in high school? How about elementary school?
 Did you study art in high school?
 Did your high school have a band?
o If so, did you play in it?
o What instrument would you like to play in a high school band? Why?
 Do most of your teachers take attendance?
 Do some of your teachers let class out early?
o What do you think when the teacher lets the class out early?
 Do you carry a dictionary to your English classes?
o How about your other classes?
o Do you have an electronic ditionary?
o Can you and do you access your cellphone dictionary to find the meaning of a word?
 Do you enjoy studying English?
o Math?
o Science?
o Art?
o Biology?
o Chemistry?
 Do you ever skip class?
 Do you have any evening classes?
 Do you play on any of the school's sports teams?
 Do you still keep in touch with your best friend in elementary school?
 Have you ever been absent?
 Have you ever been late for class?
o If so, why?
o When was the last time?
o Did the teacher get angry?
 Have you ever failed a class? (Maybe this is not polite to ask.)
 Have you ever slept in class?
 How do you usually come here?
 How do you get to school?
 How long does it take you to get to school?
 How many times have you been absent from school this year?
 How much homework do you do every day?
 Was your high school strict?
 Were you on any sports teams in high school?
 What classes do you not like? Why don't you like them?
 What did you like best about high school?
 What do you like best about your school?
 What do you like the least about your school?
 What do you think about your English class? Your gym class?
 What do you think of our cafeteria?
 What do you think of this campus?
 What do you want to do after you graduate?
 What is your best memory from junior high school?
o How about high school?
o What's your worst memory?
 What school did you graduate from? What high school? What junior high school?
 What time does your first class begin on Tuesday?
 What was the name of your junior high school?
 What were some of the rules you had to follow at your high school?
o Which rules did you think were unfair?
o Did you ever get caught breaking any school rules?
o Were you allowed to smoke on campus?
o Were you allowed to eat food in the classroom?
 What's your favourite subject?
o Why do you like it?
o Who is the teacher?
o How many times a week does the class meet?
 Which subjects are you good at? (What are your strong subjects?)
 Which subjects are you poor at? (Which subjects are difficult for you?)
 Who is your favourite teacher?
o What course does he or she teach?
o Why do you like him or her?
 What did you find the most surprising thing about the school system in the United States?
 What are the major characteristics you think a teacher should have?
 Do you have to wear a uniform to your school? (Did you have to...)Do you like wearing a uniform?
 Do you think school uniform is a good idea? Why/Why not?
 Are the clothes you wear to school important?
 Do you feel pressure to wear expensive, designer clothes to school?
 How are the customs in the classrooms in the US different from the customs that you have experienced in
other places?
 Who do you like to sit with in your classroom?
 Do you like to be taught by a male or female teacher?
 Do you like to be taught by a female or male teacher?
 Which subjects do you think are not useful or needed anymore?
 What does the term coeducational mean?Did you go to coeducational schools?
 Are boys and girls treated differently by teachers in coeducational schools that you have attended? If so,
how?
 Do you think girls work together much better if there are no boys around? Agree or disagree?
 Do you feel pressure to wear expensive, designer clothes to school?
 Do you think fashion is important at school?
 Is fashion also a kind of uniform?
 What did your school uniform look like in junior high school?

Habits

 Do you have any bad habits?

 Do you bite your nails?
 Do you over sleep?
 sDo you sleep on the sofa?
 Do you sleep in your clothes?
 Do you eat late at night?
 What are some good habits to have?
 What are healthy eating habits?
 What are bad eating habits?
 What are good study habits?
 What are bad study habits?
 Where do we learn our habits?
 What are some of your bad habits?
 Do children learn bad habits at school or at home?
 Do you smoke?
 Do you drink alcohol?
 Do you spit on the street?
 Do you throw rubbish on the street?
 Do you smoke at public places?
 Do you sleep in class?
 Are you extremely lazy?
 Do you cut people off in the middle of their stories and conversations?
 Does your mother or father have any bad habits?
 Is it easy or difficult to get rid of a bad habit?
 Do other people's bad habits get on your nerves?
 Have you been successful in getting rid of a bad habit?
 Is always coming late a bad habit?
 What bad habits bother you the most?
 What good habits do you most admire?
 What unusual habits do you observe in your family members? Do they bother you?
 How can you develop a good habit?
 If someone makes an annoying sound what do you say?
 How can we get rid of bad habits?
 How can we develop good habits?
 Which bad habit do you think would be the most difficult to get rid of? Why?
 Which good habit do you think would be the most difficult to develop? Why?
 Which habit is the most important for parents to set as an example of for their children?
 Is always coming late a bad habit?
 Is your partner's snoring a bad habit?
 Do you cut people off in the middle of there stories and conversations?
 Are we be born with our bad habits? Or do we acquire them from the environment surrounding us?

Sports

 Do you play any sports?

 Are you a good soccer player? Basketball player? Baseball player? Rugby player? Tennis player?
 Are you a member of any sports team? If not, have you ever been?
 Are you good at sports?
o What sports are you good at?
o Do you often play sports?
 Did your high school have a good baseball team?
 Do you ever listen to baseball games on the radio?
 Do you jog more than once a week?
 Do you know how to play golf?
 Do you like to exercise?
 Do you like playing tennis?
 Do you like to snowboard?
 Do you like to watch sports on TV?
 Do you like watching car races?
 Do you like wrestling?
 Do you think athletes earn enough money, not enough money or too much money?
 Do you think everybody should practice sports?
 Do you think playing sports helps people work better as a team at work?
 Do you think that parents are too involved in their children's sports activities?
 Have you ever been skiing?
 Have you ever been to a soccer game? An America football game? A baseball game?
 Have you ever played golf?
 Have you ever been to watch a professional sporting event?
 Have you ever played tennis with your mother?
 Have you ever tried snow boarding?
 How often do you exercise?
 How often do you go swimming?
o Where do you go?
o Who do you go with?
 How often do you go swimming? Is it good that professional sports are so commercial nowadays?
o Go scuba diving?
o Go surfing?
o Go snokling?
 Is it good that professional sports are so commercial nowadays?
 Were you on any sports teams in high school?
o How about junior high school?
o How about now?
 What do you think is the most popular sport in the world?
 What do you think of pro wrestling? Thai kick boxing? Japanese sumo?
 What do you think of women playing hockey professionally?
 What do you think the top five most watched sports are in the world?
 What is the most dangerous sport?
 What is the most expensive sport?
 What is the most popular sport in your country?
 What is your favourite team sport?
 What is your favourite summer sport?
 What is your favourite winter sport?
 What new sports would you like to try?
 What sport do you think is the most dangerous?
 What sport do you think is the most expensive?
 What sports did you do in junior high school?
o How about high school?
o How about now?
 What sports do you watch?
o What sports do you like to watch?
o What sports do you hate to watch?
 What sports do you like to play?
 What sports do you like to watch live?
 What sports do you like to watch on TV?
 What sports do you think are the best?
 What's a sport that you don't like?
o Why don't you like it?
 What's your favourite baseball team?
 What's your favourite sport?
o Why do you like it?
o How often do you play it?
o How often do you watch it?
 When did you start playing tennis?
o Learn to swimming?
o Learning to snowboard?
 When was the last time you went to a baseball game?
 Where is the nearest stadium to your house?
 Which do you prefer, baseball or volleyball?
o Tennis or golf?
o Soccer?
o American football?
 Which sport would you not let your child play? Why?
 Who do you think is the best all around athlete in the world? In your country?
 Who is your favourite professional athlete? Why?
 Who swims better, your mother or your father?
 Would you like to become a champion at Wimbledon?
 Would you rather go swimming or skiing?
 How do you feel about extreme sports?
o Would you like to try any of these?
 Does it bother you that people gamble on sporting events?
 Is fishing viewed as a sport in your culture or solely a way of making a living?
 If you had the opportunity to do away with any sport, what sport would you do away with? Why?
 Do you think professional athletes earn too much money? Why or why not? Which sport's athletes do you
think earn the money money?
 Are people in your country crazy about sports?
 Do professional athletes in your country make millions of dollars a year?
 Sometimes sports teams ask the city to help them build a new stadium. Do you think the city should give
money for this? Why or why not?
 When the city helps build a new sports stadium, who benefits the most - the team, the city, the nearby
businesses, or the sports fans?
 What do you do to keep fit?
 What are some of the benefits of sports?
 How are sports beneficial to you?
 What is your favourite winter activity?
 Do you like to ski?
o Are you a good skier?
o When did you learn to ski?
o How often do you ski?
o Who taught you to ski?

Hobbies

 What is your hobby?

 How long have you had a hobby?
 Why do people have hobbies?
 Why did you start your hobby?
 Can you make money from doing your hobby?
 How many hours a week do you spend on your hobby?
 Is your hobby safe or dangerous?
 What is a hobby?
 Why do people need hobbies?
 What can one do as a hobby?
 How much time can one spend on his/her hobby?
 What is your hobby?
 Does your hobby interfere with your work/study/personal life?
 Do you spend money on your hobby?
 Does your hobby influence your choice of friends?
 Can a hobby save a child from bad peer influence?
 Can a hobby be dangerous?
 Have you got a hobby?
 How long have you had your hobby?
 Which hobbies are the most expensive?
 Which hobbies are the cheapest?
 Which hobbies cost nothing at all?
 Which hobbies are the most popular in your country?
 Is hunting a hobby or a sport in your country?
 Which hobbies are the most popular with women in your country? With men?
 Did you have any hobbies when you were a child?
 Can you think of any hobbies which are popular with children and adults?
 Do you think a hobby is different from a sport?
 Are there any hobbies you would like to try?
 Are there any dangerous hobbies?
 Are there any hobbies you can do in other countries, but not your own?
 Which hobbies do you think are the most difficult?

Home

 Can you describe each room of your house?

 What does the outside of your house look like?
 Where do you park your car at your house
 Do you like the place where you are living? Why or why not?
 What is your favourite room in your house? Why?
 How are homes different in your home country and in this country?
 How have you changed your home since you've started living there?
 How long have you lived where you are living now?
 How many different homes have you lived in?
o Which one did you like the best? Why?
o Which one did you like the least? Why?
 How many rooms are there in your house?
 How much is your rent? (Some people may not consider this to be a polite question.)
 If you could change anything about your present home, what would it be?
 Is your home in a convenient location?
 What changes would you like to make to your home?
 What do you like about your home? What don't you like?
 What do you think is the worst color for a living room?
 What is in your bedroom?
 What things in your home couldn't you live without?
 What things in your house could you easily live without?
 Where would your dream home be?
o What would it be like inside and out?
 Which room do you spend the least time in?
 Which room do you spend the most time in?
 Who are your neighbors?
o Do you get along well with your neighbors?
o How well do you know them?
o What have you done with your neighbors?
 Who lives with you? / Who do you live with?
 Would you prefer to live in a house or an apartment? Why?
 Is every house a home?
 What makes 'a house' into 'a home'?
 Have you ever been homesick?have you changed anything in your house recently? If so, what was that?
 What would you like to change in your house?
 What is the color of your front door?
 What kind of housing would you prefer?
 What is your dream house?
 Do you like to keep pets in your home?
 Are there any parks near your home?
 What strange materials do you know of that have been used to make houses?
 Could you build a house for yourself? How would you do it? (you cannot have a builder help you)
 How could you live without electricity? Could you make your own electricity? How?
 How can houses be made more environmentally friendly?
 Describe how you go about buying a house in your country. Can you borrow money from a bank? Is it
easy to buy and sell houses?
 What would be important to consider when designing a city? Was your city planned? Describe a perfect
city
 Draw/describe your dream house (money is no problem) where, materials, design, interior, landscaping
etc
 Imagine you have arrived in a country where they don't speak your language. You have no money or
friends there. What would you do for accommodation?
 Give some reasons why people become homeless.
 What problems do home owners have? What can they do about them?
 Is it better to rent or buy? Give reasons for your answer.
 What do you think houses in the future will be like?
 How important is security? How do you make a house secure?
 Make a list of the 10 most important things you would look for when choosing a house to live in.
 Some people say houses are too much like boxes or cages. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of a home stay?
 List alternatives to a house or apartment. (e.g. igloo)
o What are the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives? Which alternative would you prefer to
live in?
 Which are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a small house/flat/apartment? And living in a big
one?
 Do you have a nice garden at your home? Do you plant flowers and trees in your garden? Do you help
your mother/father to water those plants/flowers?
 Do you raise fish in your home? If so, what type of fish?
 Which do you like better, a home with a nice garden or a home without one?
 Do you have a mini swimming pool in your home?
o A basket ball court
o A ping pong table?
 Do you help to mow the lawn in your garden?

Television

 What is one of your favourite TV shows?

o Why do you like it?
o When is it on?
o Does you father like it, too?
 Are you going to watch TV tonight?
o If so, what will you watch?
 What did you watch on TV yesterday?
 What is one of your favourite TV shows?
o Why do you like it?
o When is it on?
o Does you father like it, too?
 Do you like ___? (Insert the name of a TV show.)
 Do you prefer listening to the radio or watching TV?
 Do you think it is good for children to watch TV?
 Do you think TV is educational?
 Do you think there is too much violence on TV?
 Do you think that TV is a good thing?
 If you could design a new television show to boost ratings, what kind of show would it be?
 How often do you watch TV.
 What are the advantages of watching TV?
 What are the disadvantages of watching TV?
 What do you usually watch on TV?
 What kind of TV programs do you usually watch?
 What kind of TV shows do you not like? Why?
 What is your favourite program on cable TV.
 What channel is your favourite channel? Why?
 What TV commercials do you like?
o Why do you like it?
o Which ones do you hate?
 What's your favourite commercial?
 What is the purpose of advertising a product?
 Do you think there are subliminal messages?
 When you drive or walk, do you get distracted by advertisements on buses or billboards?
 When you go food shopping, do you buy foods you've seen in TV commercials?
 Do you like the _____ advertisements? If not, why? (You can substitute any company's name.)
 Do you think it's right to see naked women in TV commercials selling beauty products?
 What types of TV program are there?
o Which type do you like best?
 When do you usually watch TV?
 Do you think that TV makes people lazy?
 Do you think too much time is spent watching TV?
 Does TV make a person passive? Does TV take away a person's ability to think for himself or herself?
 Do you think that TV prevents people from communicating?
 What do you think of TV shows that are designed to "discover new talent?"
 If you couldn't watch TV at home but had to stay there, what would you do?
 Could you live without TV for a week?
 What do you think about reality shows?
 Would you participate in one if you were invited?
 Which channel do you like the best?
 Do you like watching TV alone or with your family?
 Who decides what to watch: the parent or the child?
 What do you think about Reality Shows?
 Is television one of the best inventions of all times?
 Why do you think television industry is so successful?
 What do you think of the "rubbish" programs on TV which are only dedicate to gossip about famous or
pseudo famous people?
 There is a famous English saying that goes "you are what you eat." Does this apply to television? Can the
programs you watch affect your behavior?
 What kind of entertainment do children like?
 Do you think children watch too much TV these days?
 What are the benefits of being an EU member?
 What are the drawbacks of being an EU member?
 Do you think that every future politician should be vetted for security reasons?
 Who is the most controversial politician in your country?
 Do you think there are any possible dangers to society from the material broadcast on TV channels?
 How do you feel when watching explicit scenes on TV with your parents? How do your parents usually
react?
 Does violence on TV influence some young people to engage in violent behavior?
 What do you think should happen if a cell phone rings in class?
o In a restaurant?
o In a movie theater?
o During a concert or speech?
Books and Reading

 What is your favourite story?

 Who is your favourite author?
 Who is your favourite character?
 What is your favourite genre?
o Action
o Mystery
o Suspence
o Detective
o Science Fiction
o Children's books
o War
o Non-fiction
o Travel books
o Self-help books
o History
o Biography
o Autobiography
o Gothic
o Classic Literature
o Modern Literature
 What is the longest book you have ever read?
o How long did it take you to read it?
 Have you ever belonged to a book club?
o What books did you read?
 What is the funniest book you have ever read?
 The saddest?
o The strangest?
 How many books have you read in your life?
 Is there a time in your life when you read all the time?
 How many hours do you spend reading in a week?
 Have you ever been to a book signing or met an author?
 Do you have any ideas for a story for you to write?
 Do you read books based on recommendations?
 What are some of the books that were recommended to you?
 Were you ever given a bad recommendation?
 Did it change your opinion of the person who recommended the book?
 What books have you recommended for other people?
 How often do you go to the library?
 How many books do you check out at a time?
 How do you choose the books you are going to read?
 How important is the cover of the book.
 Do you watch the movie that came from a book?
 Most people say the book is better than the movie. Is this true for you?
 Did you enjoy reading books in school?
 What was your favourite book growing up?
 Is there a book that you have read more than once?
o What was the title?
o How many times did you read it?
 Is there a book you just couldn't finish?
o What was the title?
 What is your favourite time of day for reading?
 Where is your favourite place to read?
 Do you listen to music while you read?
 Do you often read book before go to bed?
 What factors are important to you when choosing a book to read?
o Reviews?
o A Recommendation from a friend?
o The front cover?
 What was the last book that you read?
 What is your favourite book of all time?
 Have you ever read a book and then watched the movie? Which was better? Why?
 Who is the most famous writer from your country?
o Have you read any of their books?
o Do you think that they are overrated?
 What genre of book do you enjoy most?
 Have you ever tried to read a book in English?
 Do you think that it is more valuable to read a book than to watch television?
 Have you ever lent books to your friends and never got them back?
 Do you think that the internet and television will eventually make books obsolete?

Chores

 How does your family decide who does various chores around the house?
 Can you name some chores that need to be done everyday?
 What chores are your responsibility?
 Which chores do you not like to do.
 How do you decide on your children's chores?
 Do you get paid for doing chores?
 What is something you hate doing when you get home?
 Do you like to clean up your room?
 Do you wash the dishes in your house?
 Do you wash clothes for your family?
 Do you do the ironing the clothes?
 What are some chores you do outside your house?
 Can you think of some dangerous chores that you can't do?
 If you could buy only one of this two things, would you choose a dishwasher or a washing machine?
 How long do you think you could live without a maid or someone to help you in the house?
 Do you like to go to the supermarket?
 Have you ever had an empty fridge for a long time only because you were too lazy to go grocery
shopping?
 What kind of products does your family buy on the Internet?
 If you could have a robot to do all your chores, what would you choose for it to do?
 What chores do you do that your parents didn't have to do when they were growing up?
 What are some chores that your parents have to do around the house?
 Do your grandparents help with chores?

Travel

 Have you ever been abroad?

 Where have you been?
 Are you planning on going anywhere for your next vacation?
o If so, where?
o Who with?
o How long will you stay?
 Are you afraid of going abroad alone?
 Could you live in another country for the rest of your life?
 Describe the most interesting person you met on one of your travels.
 What was your best trip.
 What was your worst trip.
 Did your class in high school go on a trip together?
o If so, where did you go?
o How long did you stay?
o How did you get there?
 Do you have a driver's license?
 Do you like to travel with children? Why or why not?
 Do you like to travel with your mother? Why or why not?
 Do you prefer summer vacations or winter vacations?
 Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?
 Do you prefer to travel by train, bus, plane or ship?
 Do you prefer traveling by car or by plane?
 Have you ever been in a difficult situation while traveling?
 Have you ever been on an airplane?
o How many times?
o What airlines have you flown with?
 Have you ever been to a foreign country?
 Have you ever gotten lost while traveling? If so, tell about it.
 Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, how many times?
 Have you ever taken a package tour?
 How do you spend your time when you are on holiday and the weather is bad?
 How many countries have you been to? How many states?
 How many times have you traveled abroad?
 How much luggage do you usually carry?
 If you traveled to South America, what countries would like to visit?
 If you went to ___(Insert a country name)__, what kind of souvenirs would you buy?
 If you were going on a camping trip for a week, what 10 things would you bring? Explain why.
 What are some countries that you would never visit? Why would you not visit them?
 What are some things that you always take with you on a trip?
 What countries would you like to visit? Why?
 What countries would you most like to visit?
 What countries would you not like to visit? Why?
 What country do you most want to visit?
o Why?
o Do you think you will ever go there?
 What do you need before you can travel to another country?
 What is the most interesting city to visit in your country?
 What is the most interesting souvenir that you have ever bought on one of your holidays?
 What languages can you speak?
 What place do you want to visit someday?
 What was the most interesting place you have ever visited?
 What's the most beautiful place you've ever been to?
 When was the last time your traveled?
 When you are on a long car journey do you play games or sing songs to occupy your time?
o What kind of games?
o What songs?
 Where are you going to go the next time you travel?
o When are you going to go?
o Who are you going to go with?
o How long are you going to go for?
o What are you going to do there?
o What kind of things do you think you will buy?
 Where did you go on your last vacation?
o How did you go?
o Who did you go with?
 Where did you spend your last vacation? Your summer vacation? Your Christmas vacation?
 Where will you go on your next vacation?
 Would you like to take a cruise? Where to? With who?
 Do you prefer traveling on a hovercraft or a ferry?
 Would you prefer to stay at a hotel/motel or camp while on vacation?
 Would you rather visit another country or travel within your own country?
 Would you rather go to a place where there are a lot of people or to a place where there are few people?
 Do you find more fulfillment from your leisure activities including vacations than from your job?
 Do you think the type of vacation one takes reflects one's social status?
 What are popular tourist destinations in your country?
o Have you been to any of them?
o Which would you recommend if you could only recommend one? Why?
 Do you prefer active or relaxing holidays? Why?
 Which is better, package tour or a tour you organize and book yourself?
 Why do you travel?
o Why do people travel?
 Would you like to go back to the same place?
 Did you find anything of particular interest? / Did you get attracted to anything special?
 What are some benefits of travel?
o Why do people travel?
 What is your favourite mode of travel?
 Have you travelled in business class?
 When you were a child did your family take a vacation every year?
 Do you prefer a budget or first class hotel? Why?
 Do you travel with a lot of baggage or do you like to travel light?
 What is your favourite method of travel at your destination? Train? Bus? Boat? Bicycle? Backpacking?
 What is the best kind of holiday for different ages of people? Children? Teenagers? Adults? Elderly
people?
 Do you think it is a good idea to travel with friends, or alone? How about with your family?
 If you had $100,000, where would you go on holiday? How about if you had $10,000? What about
$1,000?
 Which countries have you travelled to?
 Do you prefer hot countries or cool countries when you go on holiday
 Who makes the decisions when your family decides to go on holiday
 If you could choose one place to go this weekend, where would it be?
 Has the airline ever lost your luggage? What happened?
 On long flights do you usually walk around the plane to avoid health problems?
 Have you ever read an interesting question in an in-flight magazine? What was it?
 Is there any difference between young tourists and adult tourists?
 Do you think tourism will harm the earth?

English Study

 Do you think English is a difficult language to learn?

 Have you ever spoken English on the phone?
 How often do you practice your English?
 What is your favourite way to practice your English? (UK spelling = favourite)
 What is the most difficult thing about English?
 Why are you learning English?
 What do you think you will be able to do in English in the future?
 Do you think that English will completely dominate all the other languages in the future? If yes, how will it
affect the world?
 How much time do you spend looking out of the window during class?
 If you are really absorbed in lessons, do the classroom arrangement matter?
 How do you use the Internet to learn English?
 What search engine do you use most often when you study? Why?
 Do you think English is a difficult language to
 learn?
 What is your favourite way to practice your English?
 What do you think you will be able to do in English
 in the future?
 How can English language help you advance in your career?
 Which country is the best place to study English?
 Are you willing to get a tutor just to further learn English?
 What is the best way to teach vocabulary at the upper intermediate level EFL?
 What kind of dormitory room would you like to stay in?
 In your own teaching environment what forms of pronunciation of English are learners likely to encounter?
 How can I listen to conversations and improve my pronunciation?
 What do you like about your classroom?
 Who cooks Thanksgiving dinner in your home?
 How do you cook the turkey?
 When do you eat?
 Why do you think people celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

Music

 What kind of music do you like?

 Are you a good singer?
 Can you concentrate on other things when you are listening to music?
 Can you play a musical instrument?
o If so, what do you play?
o How long have you been playing?
o Are you good at it?
 Can you play the drums?
 Can you play the guitar?
 Can you read music?
 Do you enjoy music videos?
 Do you ever listen to MP3 files on your computer?
 Do you have an expensive stereo system?
 Do you know the band named Metallica? If so, do you like them?
 Do you like all kinds of music?
 Do you like American rock bands?
 Do you like country music?
 Do you like heavy metal bands like Megadeath, Marilyn Manson, and so on?
 Do you like jazz?
 Do you like to listen classical music?
 Do you like to listen country music?
o Who is your favourite country singer?
 Do you like to listen to Broadway musicals?
o What is your favourite Broadway musical show?
 Do you like punk music?
 Do you like singing karaoke?
o How often do you sing karaoke?
 Do you like to dance?
 Do you listen to music while doing your homework?
 Do you sing while taking a bath?
 Do you think there is a relationship between drugs and music?
o How about violence and music?
 Do you think your favourite music twenty years from now will be the same as it is today?
 Do you watch music shows on TV? If so, what do you watch?
 Does you mother play the piano?
 Have you ever been to a concert?
o Have you ever been to a rock concert?
o Have you ever been to an orchestra concert?
 Have you ever taken part in a singing competition?
 How does music make you feel?
 How many CD's do you have?
 How much time do you spend listening to music?
 How often do you listen to music? (...to classical music, ... to jazz, ...)
 How often do you listen to the radio?
 If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
 If you could start a band, what type of music would you play? Why?
 If you were a song, what song would you be and why?
 Is live music popular in your country?
 Is there any kind of music that you hate?
 Should music lyrics be rated similar to the way movies are rated?
 What are some concerts you have been to?
 What are some special or traditional musical instruments in your country?
 What do you think the world would be like without music?
 What do you think of manufactured bands? Can you name any?
 What is one of your favourite songs?
o Why do you like it?
o When did you first hear it?
o Who sings it?
 What is your favourite karaoke song to sing?
 What is your favourite kind of music?
 What kind of music do you like?
 What kind of music do you listen to to cheer you up?
 What kind of music do you usually listen to?
 What kind of music do your parents listen to?
 What kind of music you like the most?
 What kind of songs do you like to sing?
 What kinds of music do people listen to in your country?
 What kinds of music do you dislike?
 What musicians did you like when you were in junior high school? How about high school?
 What radio station do you usually listen to?
 What was the last CD you bought?
 What was the last concert you went to?
 What was your favourite music five years ago? 10 years ago? How have your musical tastes
changed?
 When was the last time you went dancing?
 When was the last time you went to a concert?
 Where do you usually listen to music?
 Which do you prefer, songs in English or songs in your own language?
 Who is your favourite singer or group?
 Who is your favourite singer?
 Why do you think music is important and how does it affect different people?
 Why is music so important to people and culture?
 Is the image of the group or singer more important than the music?
 Can you think of examples of music calming people or increasing their efficiency?
  Do you mind singing to other people? (Another wording: ...singing in front of people?)
o If you don't mind then how large an audience would be too many?
 While listening to the radio, do you ever want to sing the song that is being played?
 Why do you think some people believe opera singers should be fat?
 Do you ever download MP3 files from the Internet?
 Do you prefer rock music or romantic music?
 Do you think music can heal sick people?
 Do you think that animals can enjoy music? How do you know?
 Do you think that music can help make world peace? How?
 How important do you think a good music teacher is to mastering an instrument?
 What do you think the next piece of music technology will be, after digital technology?
 If you could invent a new instrument, what would it sound like?
 Do you think the use of drugs by some musicians increases their artistic creativity?
 Who is your favourite composer?
 Did you go to the symphony when you were a child?
 Do your brothers and sisters also love classical music?
 What makes a song popular for you, the lyrics of the song or the melody?
 Why is the recorder called the recorder?
 Who is the most famous musician from your country?
 Do you think it is wrong to download music for free?
 Do you ever create (mix) CD's for your friends?
 Does your country have laws against copying CD's?
 Do you prefer listening to songs in your own language or in another language? Why?
 Does music affect unborn children?
 Do you think that people form different cultures react to music in different ways?
 What do you think of when you listen to music?
 What kind or style of music would it be weird for your parents to listen to? Why?
 If you could be any musician in the world, who would you be and why?
 If you could be a musician who would you be?

Would you ever...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Note: You can follow up most of these questions with a why or why not or with the question "In what
situation(s) would you consider doing so?"

 Would you ever donate blood?

 Would you ever consider being a farmer?
 Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?
 Would you ever donate a kidney or another vital organ?
 Would you ever donate an organ in order to save other person's life?
 Would you ever give money to a charity?
 Would you ever marry someone your parents didn't approve of?
 Would you ever drive a car if you had forgotten your license at home?
 Would you ever drive at night with only one headlight?
 Would you ever drive your car with a flat tire?
 Would you ever walk home alone at night?
o In this country?
o In your own country?
 Would you ever lie to your parents?
 Would you ever consider going bungee jumping?
 Would you ever consider going skydiving?
 Would you ever eat rice with sugar?
 Would you ever feed the animals at the zoo?
  Would you ever get hair implants?
 Would you ever give money to a panhandler? (a beggar)
 Would you ever go skinny dipping? (swim naked)
 Would you ever lie to your children?
o To your husband/wife?
o Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
 Would you ever lie to help a friend?
 Would you ever paint your living room black?
 Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker?
 Would you ever slap someone for something they said?
 Would you ever smoke in a no smoking area?
 Would you ever spank your child?
 Would you ever steal from your family or friends?
 Would you ever "take a bullet" for someone else?
 Would you ever walk downtown without any shoes on your feet?
 Would you eat a live cricket for $500? If not, how much money would it take?
 Would you ever consider killing yourself?
 Would you ever eat human flesh?
 Would you ever resort to cannibalism if it were the only option left to stay alive?
 Would you divorce your husband/wife if your favourite celebrity wanted to marry you?
 Would you name your children after favourite characters in movies or books?
o Would you do so if the names were strange, as in science fiction movies or
books?
 Would you ever pull over and help someone on the side of the road?
o Do you think this could be dangerous to do?
 Would you ever say yes to someone even if you meant no?
 Would you ever consider plastic surgery if a friend suggested it to you?
 Would you ever consider writing your own book?
 Would you ever try staying in the jungle for a month?
 Would you ever consider surrogacy?
 Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother yourself?
 Would you ever consider egg or sperm donation?
 Would you ever pretend to be someone (like a policeman, or a teacher, or a survey taker) just
to get something that you wanted?
 Would you ever drink your own urine?
 Would you ever cheat on your husband/wife?
 Would you ever consider being a criminal?
 Would you ever adopt a child?
o Would you ever give your child up for adoption?
 Would you ever defy your boss if he/she asked you to do something you didn't agree with?
 Would you ever eat rat meat?

Would You Rather...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 Would you rather be rich or poor?
 Would you rather be a boy or a girl?
 Would you rather short or tall?
 Would you rather go to California or New York?
 Would you rather live in Europe or Asia?
 Would you rather live in an apartment building or a house?
 Would you rather have glass elbows or glass knees?
 Would you rather have one long finger or 10 short fingers?
 Would you rather have dog's ears or hawks eyes?
  Would you rather sing everything you say, or dance every time you move?

Meeting People

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 Do you enjoy meeting new people?
 What are some good things to ask someone you just met?
 What are some things you shouldn't ask people you just met?
 Is it OK to ask a person's age in your country?
 Are you nervous when you are introduced to someone new?
 What are some ways to overcome being nervous about meeting new people?
 About how many new people do you meet a week?
 Where are some good places to meet people?
 How important are first impressions to you?
 What do you do if you forget the name of someone you've just been introduced to?
 What kind of people do you like to meet?
 Who was the last new person you met and where did you meet them?
 Have you ever experienced being completely wrong in your first impression?
 Do you usually shake hands with when you meet a new person?
 If you want to get to know people at a party would you go first to people of your own age or
people of your own sex?
 What is the favourite topic for new acquaintances in your country?
 If you are looking for a shallow relationship, where do you usually go to meet people?
 If you are looking for a good friend, where do you usually go to meet people?
 In your country, how do you know if you can trust a person that you meet?
o How about in the US?
o How do you know if you can trust a person that you meet here?
 Do you enjoy meeting new people?
o What do you like most or least about it?
 Do you feel you are outgoing or shy around people? How do you usually act?
 What are some good things to ask someone you have just met?
 What are some things you shouldn't ask people you just met?
 Is it OK to ask a person for their age in your country? Why or why not?
 Are you nervous when you are introduced to someone new?
o How could a shy person overcome their fear of meeting new people?
 About how many new people do you meet a week?
 Where are some good places to meet people?
 How important are first impressions to you?
 Have you ever experienced being completely wrong in your first impression?
 What do you do if you forget the name of someone you've just been introduced to?
o What are some things you can say?
 What kind of people do you like to meet?
 Who was the last new person you met and where did you meet them? Have you seen them
again?
 What do people do when they meet a new person in your culture?
 Is it OK to touch another person when you first meet them in your culture?
 Do you ever shake hands with when you meet a new person in your culture?
 Do you like to shake hands when you meet new people?
 If you want to get to know people at a party, would you first approach people of your own age?
o People of your own gender?
 What is a favourite topic for new acquaintances of your age in your country?
 If you are looking for a shallow relationship, where can you go to meet people?
 If you are looking for a good friend, where can you go to meet people?
 In your country, how do you know if you can trust a person that you meet?
 How do you know if you can trust a person that you have met?
  What is one thing that many people don't know about you?
 Do business people exchange business cards in your culture?
o How do they do it?
 How far apart do people stand from each other when they talk in your culture?
 Is it impolite to say "No" in your culture if you don't know someone very well?
 Do people in your culture use a lot of body language when they communicate, or do they keep
their bodies relatively still?
 Do people in your culture show their emotions when communicating with others or do they
hide some feelings?
o How do they show their emotions?
o What kind of feelings might they hide?
 Do you feel comfortable with people here?
o With people from other cultures?
 What can we do to create more understanding and harmony among people in our world?
 Are you a person who approaches someone first?
o Or are you a person who waits for someone to approach you?
 What makes you remember a new person that you have just met? Do you remember them for
long?
 Do you shake hands with someone new always, usually, sometimes, never?
 If you want to get to know people at a party would you go first to people of your own age or
people of your own sex?
o To people who are standing alone or people already in a group?
 The favourite topic for new acquaintances in Britain is the weather, in America it's where you
come from, what is it in your country?
 If you don't really like this new person how do you finish the conversation and make your
escape?
 What does your name mean?
 What are the customary greetings and behaviors for meeting/greeting someone in your
culture?
 How do you introduce two people to each other?
 What are some different ways of making introductions?
 When you introduce people do you use their whole names or just first names?
 What are the advantages of meeting new people when you move to a new country?
 What are the first things you notice when you meet someone?
 How important is it to smile when you meet someone for the first time?
 Do you like to kiss, shake or bow when you meet a new person?

Education

 Where did you go to kindergarten?

 Where did you go to elementary school?
 Where did you go to junior high school?
 Where did you go to high school?
 Did you go to college or university?
o Where did you go?
o What did you study?
o How many years did you go?
o Did you work while you went there?
 Did you enjoy going to elementary school?
 Does your country have middle schools?
o What is the age that children begin school?
o How old are students they when they graduate?
 Did you go to a good high school?
 What do you remember about your teachers?
o Who was your favourite teacher?
 o What teacher impressed you the most?
o Do you still stay in touch with your teachers?
o Did you have any teachers you didn't like?
 How many students were in your high school?
 Describe the students who attended your high school.
o Did they have a good influence on you?
o Did they make your childhood and teenage years harder or easier?
 Were there cliques in your high school? Were there gangs?
 Did you make friends in high school that you still keep in touch with?
 What subjects were you good at?
 What subjects were you bad at?
 Did you study a foreign language in school? Was it taught well?
 Do you know anyone who attended a private school? Do private schools offer higher quality
education or are they just prestigious?
 Did you attend college?
 If you did, what made you decide to go to the college you did?
 Was it a good school?
 How many students attended it?
 How many students were in your biggest class? How many in your smallest class? Did you
prefer small classes or big classes?
 Was it harder to study in college than in high school? How does college compare to high
school? What advice would you give a high school student who is about to go to college?
 What did you major in? Why did you choose the major you did?
 Did you live in a dormitory while you went to college? Who were your roommates?
 Does your country provide a good public school system?
 Does your country have good public universities? If not, why do you think there is a lack of
funding for education in your country?
 What realistic changes would you make to your country's attitude toward education?
 What role do you think human capital plays in the development of countries?
 How many years did you attend college?
 Did you study abroad?
 Do the elite in your country attend one or two universities?
 Do elite universities help or harm your country?
 Where do we learn the skills necessary to become a good student - in elementary, middle or
high school?
 What are the skills that separate good students from bad students?
 Were good grades important to you?
 Did teachers grade students fairly? Did you ever feel like you should have gotten a better
grade then you did in a class?
 Did you procrastinate studying? Did you ever pull an all nighter?
 Did you study with other students?
 Did classmates talk to each other much before or after class?
 Did you skip class very often?
 Do college professors give students syllabuses at the beginning of term? Were you clear on
what professors expected of you?
 Are college tuitions reasonable in your country? Is it easy to get scholarships or government
grants?
 Are there good colleges in your country?
 Do many people in your country study abroad?
 Are there any subjects you wanted to study but they weren't available at your school?
 Are women encouraged to pursue education?
 Are straight-A students smarter than others or just better at memorizing things? Did you really
learn in school or did you just memorize information and pass tests?
 Do you know anyone who does not know how to read or write?
 Do you think teachers are paid enough? Do you think teachers are well educated?
 Do you think your teachers gave too much homework? How much homework should teachers
assign students?
 Did you ride a bus or walk to school?
 Was school ever canceled for a day when you were a child?
 Do you think it is easier to learn as a child or as an adult?
 Is it difficult for people without a college education to get good jobs where you live?
 Does education guarantee a good job?
 What are the qualities of a good student?
 What are the qualities of a good teacher?
 Why do you think people become teachers?
 How much free time does a high school student in your country have?
 Do parents home-school their children in your country?
 What do you think of home schooling?
 Do you know anyone who was home schooled?
 Do you wish you had been home schooled?
 Are teachers the only ones qualified to teach children? What makes someone qualified to
teach children?
 Can parents influence their children's schools? What can a parent do if he or she disapproves
of a teacher's decision?
 Do children have a right to an education? Should education be free?
 Does your country provide a good public school system?
 What improvements does the school system need?
 Do you think your country should spend more money on schools?
 If a school gets more money, will the quality of education always improve?
 What would happen if public schools were abolished? Could children still get an education?
 Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?
 What are some ways a person can continue to learn?
 Are college graduates smarter than people who did not go to college?
 Would you ever vote for a politician who did not attend college?
 Do the elite in your country attend only one or two universities? Do elite universities help or
harm your country?
 What realistic changes would you make to your country's attitude toward education?
 Why do students cheat during tests and exams? How do they cheat?
 What is your attitude towards cheating? How should parents react? How should teachers
react?
 Where do we learn the skills necessary to become a good student - in elementary, middle or
high school?
 Should people go straight from school to a university, or do something different?
 What is a "genius"?
 Do teachers sometimes teach things that are not important?
 Are there things your school does not teach that you think it should?
 Are school uniforms good to have? Why or why not?
 Would you ever want to learn a third language?
 How important is curiosity in a student?
 Can you teach someone who has no desire to learn?
 What do you think about a gap year, is this something you would consider?
 Should people go straight from school to University, or do something different?
 Do you think it is necessary that there are windows in the classroom to provide for a proper
learning atmosphere?
 What do you wish your teachers understood about you?
 Do you think a person can become a genius, or are they just born that way?
 What do you consider to be a "smart" or "slow" person?
 Are things your school teaches that you think are not important?
 Are school uniforms good to have? Why/why not?
 Do prefer school uniforms or casuals better?
 Would you ever want to learn a third language? [To be "trilingual"]
 What do you consider "hardworking" or 'lazy"?
 What is the role of schools in society?
 Do you enjoy going to school? If so, why if not why?
 What does your education mean to you?
 What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of state and private schools are?
 What would you do if you saw someone with a gun at school?
 Are college tuitions reasonable?
 Are foreign languages part of the curriculum? If so, which languages?
 Are most schools coeducational in your country?
 Are there any subjects/classes you wanted to study but they weren't available at your
school/college?
 Do you have difficulty with school work?
 Do you think teachers are paid enough?
 Do you think your school is a good one? Why/why not?
 Do you think your teachers give too much homework?
 Do you think public speaking can improve your english?
 How can we improve our classroom?
 Why English is hard to learn at university level?
 How do you travel to school?
 How long must you go to college to get a degree?
 How much is too much homework? How should the homework load be managed?
 If you have not attended college, do you plan on doing so?
 What are some good ways to learn English?
 What are some important factors in determining which college to attend?
 What classes would you take?
 What do you study? What's your major?
 What is the average age of a high school graduate?
 What is your favourite class?
 What was (or is) your favourite subject? Why do you like it?
 Who selects the college you will attend -- you or your parents?
 Why are you studying a foreign language?
 Why is it helpful to learn a Second language ?
 Why is it sometimes very difficult to speak another language?
 Would you consider studying abroad?
 Do parents home-school their children in your country?
o What do you think of home-schooling?
o Do you know anyone who was home-schooled?
 Do you think that most parents influence what university their child will attend?
 Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?
o What are some ways a person can continue to learn?
 Which is more important, the essential skills in life you've learned to develop on your own or
the artificial structure in college about the "real" life?
 Which high schools and colleges are the best in your country?
 Which high schools and colleges are not so good in your country?
 We should not just prepare for life, but live it. Do you agree?
 What kind of world do you think this would be if people never went to school?
 Should education be free?
 Do the elite in your country attend only one or two universities?
 Does your country have good public universities? If not, why do you think there is a lack of
funding for education in your country?
 Why do students cheat during tests and exams?
 How do they cheat?
 What is your attitude towards cheating?
 What are the dangers of cheating?
 How should parents react?
  How should teachers react?
 What is the role of school and decision makers?
 What skills separate good students from bad students?
 Should people go straight from school to university, or do something different?
 Do you think a person can become a genius, or are they just born that way?
 Are things that your school teaches you that you think are not important?
 Do prefer school uniforms or casuals clothes better?

What if...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?
 If a classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam while the teacher was
not looking, what would you do?
 If someone's underwear was showing, would you tell them?
 If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
 If one song were to describe your life, what song would it be?
 If you bumped your car into another car, but nobody saw you do it, would you leave your name
and address?
 If you could ask God any one question, what would it be?
 If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
 If you could be a bird, what bird would you choose to be?
 If you could be a plant, what plant would you choose to be?
 If you could be a super hero, which super hero would you be?
 If you could be another man or woman for a day, who would you choose?
 If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
 If you could be invisible for a day what would you do and why?
 If you could change one thing about your spouse or significant other, what would it be?
 If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
 If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
 If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose your death to be?
 If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose?
 If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do?
 If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose?
 If you could have only one food for the rest of your life (assuming that this strange situation
would not affect your health), which food would you choose?
 If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?
 If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
 If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
 If you could speak any other language (besides English) which language would you like to
speak?
 If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would it be and what questions would you ask
that person?
 If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world for any length of time, where would you go?
o if you could go anywhere in the world for a holiday, where would you go?
 If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
 If you didn't have enough money to get the bus home what would you do?
 If you discovered a new island, what would you name it and why?
 If you got arrested for murder, whom would you call with your telephone call from prison? And
why?
 If you had an accident and you had to be at home to recover for a long time, what would you
do to relieve the boredom?
 What would you do if you were at home at night alone and you heard a noise in your flat/house
that seemed to be footsteps?
o Would you stay calm or would you panic?
 What would you do if you found the wallet of your next door neighbor who you hated?
 If you could have any car you wanted, which car would you choose? Would it be practical or
flashy?
 If your car broke down on the motorway, what would you do? Would you try to fix it yourself?
 If you could solve the problem of hunger in the third world or repair the ozone, which would
you do?
 If you could stop a bad habit that you have, what would you stop?
 If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go?
 If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for?
 If you were on holiday and you lost your passport, would you know what to do?
 If you were offered a job in another part of the country, would you be willing to take the job,
assuming that the pay is very good?
 If your partner were offered a job in another part of the country, which was well paid, would
you be willing to change places?
 If you were in the bank and somebody started to hold up the bank, what would you do? How
would you react?
 If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
 If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose?
 If only one book existed, which book would you like it to be?
 If you could do any job, what would you like to do?
 If you could move anywhere, where would you like to live?
 If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?
 If you found a wallet with �1,000 in it, what would you do?
 If you had 25-hour days (while everyone else continued to have 24-hour days), what would
you do with the extra time?
 If you had the opportunity to be different, what would you change?
 If you had time machine, where would you go and why?
 If you had to choose between a wonderful romantic relationship that would end after only a
year, or a so-so relationship that would last your entire life, which one would you choose?
 If you had to choose between love and no money or money and no love for the rest of your
life, which would you choose?
 If you had to choose, would you give up your sight or your hearing?
 If you received lottery tickets as a gift at the office party, and you won $30,000.00, would you
share the winnings with the person that gave you the gift?
 If you saw a robbery, would you report it?
 If you saw your zipper was down and people had noticed, what would you do?
 If you speak two languages and your spouse (husband or wife) speaks only one, will you raise
your children to be bilingual?
 If you were candy, what candy would you be?
 If you were a monster, what monster would you be?
 If you were a toy, what toy would you be?
 If you were abducted by aliens, would you tell anybody? Why or why not?
 If you were American/Chinese/Mexican, how would your life be different?
 If you were asked to choose which time period you would like to live in, which century would
you choose?
 If you were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would you say?
 If you were given a chance to go to the moon, would you go? Why or why not?
 If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom or great wealth, which would
you choose?
 If you were given an opportunity to be born again, in which country would you like to be born?
 If you were given an opportunity to be born again, what kind of person would you choose to
be?
 If you were given one million dollars, what would you buy?
 If you were given the opportunity to be born again, how would you change how you lived?
 If you were given the opportunity to mold your partner the way you wanted, how would you
mold your partner?
 If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?
 If you were God, how would you transmit or let people know your message?
 If you were going to a deserted island and could only take three things with you, what would
you take? Why?
 If you were marooned on a desert island with one other person how would you survive?
 If you were invited to have tea with the Queen of England, what would say?
 If you were the leader of your country, what would you change?
 If you were the President of the United States, what problem or concern would you work on
first?
 If you were told that you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?
 If you were walking through the forest and you suddenly saw a tiger, what would you do?
 If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you save
as you ran outside?
 If you worked for a store and you saw another employee steal something, would you tell the
manager?
 If your friend could not have a child, would you carry her child for her?
 If you saw someone in public with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, would you tell them?
 If you could change one thing that you did that was bad, perhaps a crime or some wrong you
did to another person, what would it be?
 If you were told you had a terminal illness and had six months to live. What three things would
be most important for you to do?
 If your doctor has just told you that you have a month to live, what would you do in that stretch
of time?
o If your doctor told you that you had only one month to live, how would you use
the time left?
 What if you have to sacrifice yourself for the sake of saving your mother? What would you do?
 If you could live perfectly well without sleeping, if you had no need to sleep at all, how would
you spend all your nights?
 If you could be married with a foreign (man/woman), how do you think your life would change?
 If you had a chance to choose a poor (man/woman) as a (husband/wife) from your culture or a
rich (man/woman) from another culture, which would you choose?
 If you got into traffic accident, what would you do first?
 If you could be God, what would you do for humanity?
 If you could receive praise from a person, what person would it be?
o What kind of praise would you like to receive?
 If you were a color, what color would you be and why?
 If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why?
 If you had a time machine and you could be transported to any time, the past or the future.
What time would you choose?
 If you could ask an All-Knowing Being one question about life, what would it be?
 If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would you choose, and why?
 If you could live forever on earth as it is now, would you? Why or why not?
 If you could have a free chip put in your brain so that you would automatically be able to speak
and understand another language besides English, which language would it be and why?
 If you were the Queen or King of Britain for a day, what would you do?
 If you were the President of the USA for a day, what would you do?
 If you had to spend 100 days on a desert island, what five things would you take with you and
why?
 If you were down on your luck, would you seek the advice of a palm reader,
 If the U.S. attacked North Korea, what would happen?
 If you lost your bathing suit while you were swimming, what would you do?
 If you woke up one morning to find you had switched bodies with someone you know. what
would you do?
  If you could have any one supernatural power (flying, being invisible), which would you choose
and why?
 If you could say a sentence which the whole world could hear, what would you say?
 If you were a loin would you like to eat a man?
 If you could choose to live anywhere in the world where would you prefer to live?
 If your spouse cheated on you, what would you do?
 If you were given a choice to live as long as you want, how long would you like to live?
 If we could live for 300 years, what would the life be like?
 If you could change sexes for a day, would you? What would you do if you did swap?
 If you were a famous film star, what crazy things would you ask for in your dressing room?
 If you you could stop time, what would you do and why?
 If you you had to kill a highly religious figure to save your terminal son. Would you do it?
 If tomorrow morning when you get up, you can't find people on the streets, in the city, or in the
country and later you discover you are the only human being on the earth.
 If you would have a chance would you change something in the history, risking that, your
parents never will meet with each other and you never will be born?
 If you could relive any moment in your life which moment would it be and why?
 If you were given choice to live as long as you like, how long would you like to live?
 If you could change one thing about your life what would it be and why?
 What if you could relive any moment in your life which moment would it be and why?
 If you could be a character from a movie, who would you be and why ?
 If you could only see three people for the rest of your life who would it be?
 If you were an English teacher, what would you do to improve your students' English?
 If you could be famous throughout history for one thing, what would it be?
 If you had to lose an arm or a leg, which would you choose. Why?
 If you could be famous, but poor forever would you do it?
 If you could know every language in the world, but you would never be able to use your native
language again, would you?
 If you woke up one morning in another country surrounded by people who spoke no english
and with only the clothes you slept in, what would you do?
 If you could have the chance to re-choose your spouse, what kind would you choose?
 If you were a hotdog and you were starving, would you eat yourself?
 If electricity weren't invented yet, how would your life be different?
 If you could neglect one personal hygiene routine (shaving, brushing your teeth, cutting your
nails, etc.) without any adverse effect to your image or health, what would you choose?
 If you were to be killed, what part of your body would you donate and why?
 If you went to the toilet and then discovered that there was no paper, what would you do?
 If you woke up in bed and saw a huge spider walking over you, what would you do?
 If you could have a party and invite anyone (dead or alive), which people would you invite?
 If you could eat only one food for the rest of your what food would you choose and why?
 What if your cell phone fell in the toilet, what would you do?

What would you...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 What would you like to do in the future?
 What would you do if you were rich?
 What would you do if you were poor?
 What would you do if you were the principal of your school?
 What would you do if you could suddenly speak English?
 What would you do if you won a lottery?
 What would you do if you were told you had one month to live?
 What would you do if you lost your passport?
 What would you do if you were kidnapped?
 What would you choose to have written on your gravestone when you die?
When Did You First...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 When did you first go on holiday without your parents?
 When did you first drive a car?
 When did you first have a car accident?
 When did you first go on a date?
 When did you first have a part-time job?
 When did you first give a speech?
 When did you first eat raw fish?
 When did you first travel to another country?
 When did you first ride a bicycle?
 When did you first shoot a gun?

When was the last...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 When was the last time you went shopping?
 When was the last time you travel by train?
 When was the last time you did your homework?
 When was the last time you clean your room?
 When was the time you you last skip class?
 When was the last time you went on a date?
 When was the last time you had a party?
 When was the last time you argued with your parents?
 When was the last time you had your hair cut?
 When was the last time you lost money?
 When was the last time you painted your house?
 When was the last time you screamed because you were scared?
 When was the last time you wanted to forget about the world?
 When was the last time you borrowed a book?
 When was the last time you bought a CD?
 When was the last time you danced?
 When was the last time you dialed the wrong number?
 When was the last time you drank coffee?
 When was the last time you drove for more than two hours?
 When was the last time you dyed your hair?
 When was the last time you fell?
 When was the last time you felt really happy?
 When was the last time you forgot where something important was?
 When was the last time you got a gift?
 When was the last time you had a headache?
 When was the last time you had a nightmare?
 When was the last time you killed a cockroach?
 When was the last time you laughed your head off?
 When was the last time you lent money to someone?
 When was the last time you played a sport?
 When was the last time you saw a very interesting movie?
 When was the last time you studied until late at night?
 When was the last time you swam?
 When was the last time you talked to an old friend?
 When was the last time you told a joke?
 When was the last time you took a day off?
  When was the last time you took a very hot and long shower?
 When was the last time you visited your hometown?
 When was the last time you watched a soccer match?
 When was the last time you went to a good restaurant?
 When was the last time you went window shopping?
 When was the last time you wrote a letter?

Who is the greatest...?

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 Who is the greatest pop singer?
 Who is the greatest leader in the past?
 Who is the greatest country leader today?
 Who is the greatest cook you know?
 Who is the greatest basketball player?
 Who is the greatest football player?
 Who is the all-time greatest athlete in world?
 Where is the greatest place to play in your city?
 Where is the greatest place to play in the world?
 What is the greatest movie from the past year?
 What is the greatest all-time movie?
 Who is the greatest actress?
 Who is the greatest actor?
 Who is the greatest kung fu master?
 Who is the greatest businessman in the world?
 Who is the nicest person in the world?

Silly Questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

 What is your favourite way to eat a cockroach?
 Why did the ghost cry on Halloween Day?
 Do you enjoy swimming when it is snowing?
 Why don't you want Christmas presents this year?
 How did you escape from the alien space ship?
 How did you feel after watching television for 24 hours?
 Would you ever wear your mother's dress to your all boys high school?
 Did your parents ever have children?
 Would you rather kiss a crocodile or a bear?
 What is on your mouse pad?
 If you were a color, what would you be? Why?
 Why do people call "mouse trap" mouse trap?
 Are couch potatoes good to eat?
 What are the names of the eight colors of rainbows?
 Why do you make your bed in the morning?
 Why do you look at yourself in the mirror?
 What planet are you from?
 When was the last time you went to the restroom?
 How much does your imagination weigh?
 What are some of the ways can you ride a bike?
 Who fell out of the apple tree?
 Why do pajamas have pockets?
 How long is a piece of string?
 Could a husband be married to the sister of his widow?
 If the number five is red, what are the colors of the other numbers?
 What are the colors of the numbers 1 - 10?
 What color is the number 3?
 If you were trapped on an island, why were you there?
 If you were given the chance to be an animal, Which animal would you be?
 What do you do when you are in front of the mirror?
 Can we drink soda during coffee breaks?
 Can we use AM Radio during the evening?
 Are squid balls made of the balls of squid?
 Does fire go out of the fire exit?
 Why do people call ''mouse trap'' mouse trap?
 What are the names of the eight colors of rainbows?
 How does a Boeing 747 weigh?
 Do you have an Internet connection?
 Is the basement downstairs?
 If you were a flavor of ice cream, which one would you be and why?
 What is the answer to this question?
 Can you write a conversation between two items in your refrigerator? (For example, what
might the mayonnaise and the pickles be talking about before you open the door?)
 What is a typical day in the life of your dictionary?(pet frog, walking shoes, classroom
blackboard, etc.)
 Would you like to be rich and beautiful or poor and ugly? Why?
 When did you die?
 Do you remember the doctor spanking you at birth?
 Did you hang your stockings at Easter?
 Did you put up a Christmas tree for your birthday?
 Did you bathe in mud this morning?
 Did you brush your teeth last year?
 What kind of leaves do you eat for breakfast?
 When were you released from jail?
 What was the day after yesterday?
 What's the funniest way you ever went to the bathroom?
 Why did you decide to get up this morning?
 Do you ever stick your fingers in your ears? If so why?
 What would life be like if you decided never to open your eyes again?
 Are there days when you just enjoy having a good cry for no reason. If yes, why?
 Why do people ask why?
 Why do we have mirrors and what would life be like without them.
 Why do your hands look the way they look?
 If you could turn into an animal, which animal would you be?
 Why do little children stick their tongue out at people?
 Why do people pretend not to see each other sometimes?
 Can you answer this question with out opening your mouth?
 Would you still learn English if there was no English in the world?