Conversation Questions

Advertising
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What is the most shocking advertisement you have seen?

What is the funniest advertisement you have seen? Describe it.

What makes an ad memorable?

What are the different types of advertising? (Eg. TV)

What types of companies choose each type?

Do you buy products because of advertising?

Do you find advertising persuasive?

Why do you buy one product over another?

Should advertisers be allowed to advertise to children?

Should alcohol or tobacco companies be allowed to advertise? Why or

why not?

What do you think of celebrity endorsements?

Which celebrities advertise which products?

Do favorite or annoying celebrities make you want or not want to buy a

product?

Should there be advertisement-free zones?

Is there truth in advertising?

What kind of advertisements attract your attention?

Why is it necessary to advertise?

Do you think advertising should be allowed to interrupt TV or radio

programs? What are the alternatives?

What is the best way to advertise to children? Adults? Seniors? etc..

Do you think advertising is too expensive?

 What are some effective adverts you have seen lately (on TV,
newspaper, etc)?

What are some ineffective adverts you have seen lately?

Can you remember an advertising campaign that caught your attention?

What are the different methods of advertising?

What is the most popular way of advertising?

Do you think that the Internet and cable/satellite TV have become more
important than national TV for advertising products?

What do you think is the best way of discovering the tastes and interests
of teenage consumers?

Can TV advertising be a force for good?

How easy do you think it is to influence children with advertising?

Do you agree with anti-consumerism organizations that the child will

have watched 350,000 commercials by the time she graduates from high
school?

Do you think the government has he right to ban advertising for junk food
and soda during children's TV programs. What do you think about this?
Why do you think they made this decision?

Do political parties in (country) use TV advertising? If so, should they?

When out walking or shopping in the city, do you accept advertising fliers
or free samples that are offered to you?

What forms of advertising are there?

What would make an advertisement more interesting?

Can you buy something and get something for free in your country?

Do people use coupons where you live?

What is the most advertised product in your country?

What is the best form of advertising?

What gets you interested in an advertisement?

 Describe an advertisement that you have seen or heard on the TV or
radio. What was it about? How long did the commercial last? Did it make
you want to buy the product?

What is the funniest commercial that you have seen? Describe it.

What differences can you notice between commercials from 10 or 15

years ago and commercials today?

Do you think ads influence the choices you make when you buy clothes?

Do you often buy a particular brand when you buy clothes?

Why do you buy this brand?

Does it give status to wear particular brands like Nike or Lacoste?

Do you sometimes want very expensive things which you or your parents
can't afford?

Do you think ads influence the choices you make when you or your
parents buy food?

What brand is the ketchup you or your parents buy?

Is it always the same brand? Why do you prefer this brand?

What brand is the toothpaste you or your parents buy?

Can you name three different ways of advertising? (For example,

different media)

Do you think there are too many ads in television? Why/why not?

Do you know why some channels have ads and others not? If you do
know explain.

Do you think there are too many ads in magazines? Why/why not?

Do you think there are too many ads in newspapers? Why/why not?

Think of an ad you think is good or funny and tell about it.

What kinds of ads do you like and why? What makes a good ad?

Do you think children or young people are easier to influence through

ads compared to adults?
 Do you think it's ok to show ads aimed at children on television? Why/
why not?

When you watch TV, how much attention do you pay to the
advertisements?

Which advertisements do you like most and which least? Why?

How would you advertise something you wanted to sell?

What are the harmful and the beneficial effects of advertising?

Do you think that ads create a desire for more and more material
possessions?

Do you think that commercials on TV are annoying because they

interrupt programs or do you think that many ads are more amusing that the
programs on TV?

Do you think advertising is too expensive? What are the different

methods of advertising?

Conversation Questions
News
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What is the role of newspapers in society?

What sells newspaper?

Why do we buy newspapers?

Do you think that news is censored in some countries?

Is the news censored in your country?

Will newspapers disappear in the future?

How does American news differ from your country's news?

What is your favorite section of the newspaper to read?

How often do you watch the news?

 o Do you make a point of watching the news?

o Do you feel bad if you miss the news?

Which kind of news is the best for you? Why?

o Newspaper?

o Radio?

o Televison?

o Internet?

Do you think that the news is necessary? Why or why not?

What would the world be like without news?

Do you think the news tells us just information without giving its
opinion?

Should the news give an opinion?

Do you think the news influences people too much?

Do you think the news is shocking now?

How has it changed over the years?

Do you think people need to know all of the news?

What do people not need to know?

What do you think is the most important thing the news should
report?

What was the most memorable news you ever watched?

If the news reported your week, what would be the headline?

Think of a news headline for the following countries: America,

Britain, France, China, Australia, Indonesia, Russia, Germany.

Do you read the newspaper everyday?

How often do you read the newspaper?

What newspaper do you read?

 How much does the newspaper cost?

What kind of magazines do you like to read?

What is your favorite newspaper?

What is your favorite magazine?

Are magazines expensive in your country?

Do you enjoy reading a newspaper?

What sections of a newspaper do you like to read?

What are the different sections in a newspaper?

Do you think that reading a newspaper is a good way to improve

your English?

What kinds of information can you get from the newspaper?

Where do you get most of your news?

Do you like to keep up with current events?

If you are someone who usually follows the news, has there been
a time when you decided to stop? Why and for how long?

Do you think it's important to read the newspaper and know what
is going on in the world? Why or why not?

Do you trust the information you get from the news?

you are someone who usually follows the news, has there been a
time when you decided to stop? Why and for how long?

What different types of newspapers do you read?

Do you read newspapers in other languages?

Is your hometown newspaper on the internet?

Conversation Questions
Stereotypes
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Immigration, Discrimination

What are some stereotypes?

How is your country stereotyped?

Do you stereotype people?

Does stereotyping help you in some way?

Why do you think people stereotype?

How can stereotypes be damaging?

Do you think that it is a good idea to stereotype people?

How are various nationalities stereotyped?

How can being stereotyped hurt your job opportunities?

What is the difference between stereotypes and prejudices?

Are stereotypes offensive?

o Funny?

o Realistic?

Conversation Questions
Teenagers
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

As a teenager, what do you think you can contribute to society?

At what age should teenagers leave home?

What type of punishment did your parents use when you were a
teenager?

Do you think teenagers today have it "too easy'?

Did you have a good relationship with your parents? Why or why not?

What do you think are some important things parents can do for
teenagers?
 Do you think teenagers today show respect for adults? Teachers?
Parents? Brothers and sisters?

What do you think about teenagers who dye their hair blue, green, or
another crazy color?

Do you think that wearing uniforms to school is a good idea?

At what age did you leave home?

What would you do if your teenage son or daughter got a tattoo?

What would you do if your teenage son or daughter shaved his or her
head?

How do you feel about swearing?

o Does it matter if teenagers sometimes use bad language?

What do you think about rock videos today?

What do you think parents can do to help teenagers avoid

depression?

Do you believe in anti depression drugs?

Do you think it's a good idea to give teenagers a lot of freedom?

(For example, come home when you like)

Do teenagers in your former country have problems with drugs or

alcohol?

What can you do to keep your teenager away from drugs and
alcohol?

Is teenage suicide a problem?

Why do you think some teenagers do good things and others (in
the same family often) do bad things?

At what age should a teenage girl have her first serious boyfriend?

At what age should a teenage boy have his first serious girlfriend?

How old were you when you had your first serious relationship?

What can society do to help teenagers who have problems at

home?
 Are there more pregnant teenage girls in this country than in your
country? Why?

What is the best advice you could give to a teenager growing up in

this culture?

Do you think that advertising plays an important role in how

teenagers think?

Should teenagers work? Why or why not?

Did you work when you were a teenager?

If you could be a teenager again, would you do anything

differently?

Were you teenage years enjoyable?

Do you think it is better to raise teenagers in the city, a small town,

or the country?

What is it like to be a teenager in your society?

Would you rather be a child, teenager or an adult? Why?

What are the advantages of being a child?

o A teenager?

o An adult?

What are the disadvantages of being a child?

o A teenager?

o An adult?

If you could meet any teenager in the world, who would it be?

At what age should teenagers be allowed to leave school?

At what age should teenagers be allowed to smoke?

At what age should teenagers be allowed to drink?

At what age should teenagers be allowed to drive?

At what age should teenagers be allowed to get married?

 At what age should teenagers be allowed to vote?

Do you know any good role models for teenagers?

Do you know any teenagers who don't act like other teens?

o Why do you think they act differently?

What do teenagers think about?

What do you/will you remember about being a teenager?

Can teens change the world?

o If yes, how?

o If not, why not?

What's the difference between teenage girls and teenage boys?

o What causes those differences?

Would you rather be stuck in a bus with children, teens, young

adults, adults or elderly adults? Why?

When did you start to be a teen?

o How did you know that you were a teenager?

o Do you still feel like a teen sometimes?

What is the difference between the teenagers of 19th century and

the teenagers of the 21st century?

As a teenager, how do you think fashion changed or affected your

life?

Among teenage fashion that is prevalent in the world today, which

do you think is the the best? The most hideous? The strangest?

How much freedom should parents give to their teenagers?

o Should boys and girls be given the same amount of freedom?

Why or Why not?

If you were a parent and your teenage child did something wrong,
how would you discipline him/her?
 What do you think are some of the greatest problems facing
teenagers today?

o How are different from the ones you faced as a teenager?

How do you think can we eradicate or at least lessen juvenile

delinquency?

How does media affect the thinking patterns of the teenagers of

today?

If you could do something differently, which mistake in the past

would you not make and why?

Do you think teenagers today should show more respect for

adults?

o Teachers?

o Parents?

o Brothers

o Sisters?

Art
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Are you a good painter?

Can you draw pictures well?

Do you believe what art critics say?

Do you consider yourself a good artist?

Do you enjoy your art class at school?

Do you like modern art?

Do you like paintings?

Do you like sketching?

Do you like to visit art museums?

 Do you like wood carving?

Do you prefer using water colors or oil paint?

Do you think it is proper to call nude paintings art?

Do you think music and dancing are forms of art?

Do you think of cartoons and comics as art?

Do you visit museums when you go to another city?

Have you ever been to any famous art museums?

Have you ever visited an art museum?

What art form do you like best?

What art museums have you visited?

o Which did you like the best? Why?

o Which did you like the least? Why?

What famous painters do you know? What are they famous for?

What is art?

What is the longest time that you have spend on a painting?

What is your favorite art web site?

What would life be like without art?

When was the last time you went to an art museum?

Who are some famous artists in your country?

Who is a famous potter in your country?

Who is the most famous artist in your country? What kind of art does he do?

Who is your favorite painter?

Do you enjoy taking photographs?

What things do you like to photograph?

Do you consider photography an art form?

Why do artist like to draw women's figures?

 Why do you enjoy art?

Why is art important?

Why do people become professional artists?

Have you ever participated in any art competitions?

Have you ever been jealous of someone else's artwork?

Do you find Picasso's work astonishing or weird?

Do you have a favorite painting?

o If so, what is it?

o Why do you like it?

Do other people ever compliment your artwork?

Do you have a sketchbook?

o If so, how often do you use it?

o What kind of sketches do you make?

Do you feel proud after finishing a work of art?

Do you think graffiti is art?

Do you agree with this statement? Graffiti is a form of art; a form of expressing
one's mind.

Do you like to doodle?

o What kinds of doodles do you make?

o Where and when do you doodle?

Have you ever gone to an exhibition?

Do you know any art galleries? Are there any in the place where you live?

Were you interested in art when you were young?

In your opinion, is design an important part of culture?

Can you tell me the name of a fashion designer you know?

Is design a great importance in your daily life?

 The famous artist and designer William Morris said that you should not have nothing in
your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful'. Discuss.

Do you know any art gallery? Is there any in the place where you live?

Were you interested in art some years ago? and now?

Have you studied any pictorial movement?

Has design a great importance in your daily life

Is your work figurative or abstract?

What is your medium of choice?

What influences your work?

If you could buy a great work of art, what would it be? (style, title, artist's name...)

Do you think performance art should be considered art?

What do you think of shock art?

Have you ever seen performance art?

Have you ever seen shock art?

Does art imitate life?

Are movies a form of art?

Creativity
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What is creativity?

Do you consider yourself a creative person? Why?

What is something creative that you have done?

Is creativity a good thing? Why or why not?

What are some ways that a person can be creative?

Is taking a risk part of creativity?

o Do you like to take risks? Give an example

 Do you often ask question the way things work?

Do you like to improve things?

What are some creative ways to entertain children?

Can you think of a device that would make people's life easier?

How does self-confidence affect a person's creativity?

Can someone who initially seems to lack any ability for a certain
form of art develop his creativity and finally come to master it?

o Have you heard of any such case?

o Do you know anyone who is personally an example of this?

How does early exposure to diverse stimuli, and his involvement

in creative activities affect a child's future creativity?

Do you believe that natural genetical features in a human being

are absolutely determinant to their future creativity, or is interaction and
engagement into self-expression and interaction with the world more
influential than this?

How does a person's standard of living, involving such things as

diet, exposure to chemical or other forms of pollution, active versus
sedentary living, different forms of addiction, or any other aspects you may
think of, affect them biologically regarding their creative capacities?

Does the education system in your country encourage creativity?

How?

Do you think creativity comes with time and thought or you are
born with creative talent?

What creative activities did you do as a child?

What are some incentives for creative people in the workplace?

What is a creative business that you would like to start?

Who are some of history's most creative people?

In which professional field do you think people are most creative?

e.g science

Do you often answer questions by explaining how things work?

 Can you think of devices that would make people's life easier?

Conversation Questions
Drugs
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Do you think alcohol is a drug?

What is alcoholism?

Do you know of any alcoholics?

How do you stop being an alcoholic?

Do you know how much alcohol is in beer?

Do you know how much alcohol is in whiskey?

What are some of the characteristics of drunk people?

Is alcohol addictive? What about tea, coffee, and chocolate?

Should marijuana be illegal?

Do you think marijuana should be legal or illegal? Support your opinion

with facts.

Why do you think marijuana is illegal?

Is marijuana grown in your country?

What are some ways drug users use marijuana?

Do you think tobacco companies would like to sell marijuana?

Why do you think that tobacco is a legal drug?

Are any of your friends addicted to tobacco?

What are the different ways to use tobacco?

Do you know anyone who smokes a pipe?

What is the difference between pipe tobacco and cigarette tobacco?

 What do you think about chewing tobacco?

Is there any difference between "soft" drugs such as marijuana and

"hard" drugs like crack, heroin, cocaine etc?

Is ecstasy a soft or a hard drug?

Should there be punishments for dealing drugs?

Should there be punishments for using drugs?

Should drug dealers get the death penalty?

If heroin were legal, would there be less crime? For example, burglary
and robbery.

Are some people more easily addicted to drugs than others?

Do some people have addictive personalities?

If you are addicted to drugs, what should you do?

What else can people become addicted to?

Why are some drugs more addicting than others?

Why do some people get addicted when others do not?

What happens in the brain of a person that causes addiction?

Do you know how much illegal drugs cost?

Do you think it is easy to buy illegal drugs where you live?

Which is worse, a peaceful drug addict or a violent non-addict?

Should pregnant women be arrested for child abuse if they use drugs
when they are pregnant which may affect the baby?

Should women be prevented legally from drinking any alcohol or smoking

when pregnant?

Do you think it is a good idea to have safe, legal injecting rooms for
intravenous drug users, where they can use clean equipment and sterile
water?

Cancer patients find that marijuana stops their pain. Should it be legal for
them?
 Do you think experimenting with alcohol and cigarettes leads to
experimenting with harder drugs?

Do you think ecstasy is dangerous?

At what age should it be legal to drink and smoke?

Do we use too many prescription drugs?

What are natural remedies?

Are natural remedies like homeopathy and herbal medicine drugs too?

Do we give too many prescribed drugs to children?

Why is the cost of prescription drugs so high?

Have you ever used a prescription drug without a prescription?

What do you think society ought to do about people who spend most of
their time and money getting high on illegal drugs? Why?

Should employers be allowed to "drug test" their employees?

Why do you think people start using drugs?

What should happen to babies who are born addicted to drugs?

What would you do if someone in your family were addicted to drugs?

What do you know about drugs?

o What are some dangerous drugs?

o What drugs do you think are useful?

o What drugs are addicting?

Do you think that marijuana should be legal for medical uses with
a prescription from a doctor?

What does crack cocaine do to your body?

o What does it do to your mind?

o What will happen if you keep on using?

 o How do you stop yourself from using it? / How does an addict quit
using it?

What kind of drugs are the most popular in your country?

o What kind of "legal" drugs are the most popular?

Are we as a society addicted to legal drugs?

In your culture, what are some home remedies for:

o stomachaches <="" children's="" and=""

o Why do people take drugs if there know it is bad for them?

o Who do you think pressure people to do drugs?

o Why do people buy drugs?

o Can you legally use drugs in your country?

o What happens to an addict who goes into a rehab center?

o What is the influence of drugs in your community?

o How can you help a drug addict?

o Do you think that soft drugs lead to hard drug use?

o How can drugs help a person?

o Do you agree that"once an addict,always an addict"?

Conversation Questions
Meaning of Life and Reasons for Living
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What do you think is life all about?

What do you feel most people's lives are driven by?

What image or metaphor has best described your life? A race, a circus or
something else?

What if life on earth is really preparation for eternity, how would people
act differently?
 What is your opinion on why a lot of people have trouble believing in
God?

What is "worship" to you?

Can we make friends with God?

Have you ever prayed to God?

What do you think about religious people worshipping God in churches or

in temples?

Which is easier for people, public or private worship?

Do you think it's appropriate to express anger to God?

What do you think people usually fear when thinking of joining a new
religion?

What image or metaphor has best described your life? (E.g. A race, a
circus...)

Do you think we can make friends with God?

What do you think about people going to churches or in temples

regularly?

Which is easier for people, going to a religious event or praying to God

privately?

Conversation Questions
Personality
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What are some characteristics of your personality?

What makes you happy?

What are some things that make you angry?

Are you happy with your personality?

Would you like to be different?

Are you a determined person? Are you a stubborn person?

 Are you shy ? In which occasions are you shy?

Do you consider yourself selfish ? Why?

Is your personality suited to your job?

In what way has your personality changed? Why has it changed??

Are you more introverted (focused on your inner world) or more

extraverted (focused on other people and the outer world)?

Do you think you can change a major characteristic of your personality if

you try?

Do you think you have an unusual personality? Why?

If you could change any aspect of your personality, what would it be?

What sort of things would you do to amuse yourself during a car journey?

What personality traits do you consider important in a good friend / a

boss / a partner?

Do you consider yourself to be even-tempered?

What is one thing that many people don't know about you?

What expressions include colors when discussing illness? (ex., white or

pale, pink eye, black and blue for bruises, yellow fever)

What expressions include colors and feelings? (ex. I feel blue, green with
envy, red with rage, turning red, black circles under the eyes, you are
turning blue)

What do the colors in your home country's flag represent?

Do you think birth order makes a difference in your personality?

Conversation Questions
Gay Community
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What's the meaning of "homosexual"? And "heterosexual"?

Are there many words in your language to refer to homosexuals?

 o About how many of them would you say are not offensive?

How is it being gay in your country?

Do you know anyone who is gay?

o How about any celebrities?

o Or any historical figure?

o Are there any gay characters on a current TV series?

o Could you tell us about them?

Do you think gay people have enough role models in our society
to identify themselves with?

Do you think those references portrait a positive image of the

gays?

o Do they help the gay community to enhance their self-esteem?

What's the meaning of "homophobia"?

o In your view, is there homophobia in our society? If not, why?

Do you believe that the gay community is being discriminated

against in any way?

o If so, why do you think there is such discrimination?

What problems do you think someone goes through when they

find out they are gay?

Do you think they should try to change?

In your opinion, should they say they are gay?

What do you think your parents' reaction would be if you told them
you are gay?

o Do you think one of them would take it better / worse?

o Do you think their first reaction would persist or would it change?

How about your best friend's reaction?

How would you react if one of your children told you they're gay?
 What are the main problems gays have to face at college?

Is it easier for a gay to live in a village or in a city?

Is being gay more difficult in some countries than others?

In your opinion, can a gay be a religious person?

What main problems do gays have in the military?

In what ways does the gay community try to tackle homophobia?

Are they being successful?

What main achievements have they had in the last 25 years?

How important are gay associations or organizations?

Do you think being lesbian is viewed as being worse, the same or

better than being gay in our society?

o Are they simply ignored?

o Could you name any famous lesbian through history?

Do you believe gays and heterosexuals have the same rights? Do

they have equal duties?

What's your opinion on gay marriage?

What do you think of adoption by gay couples?

o Do you think homosexual families can bring up children as well as

straight families? If not, why?

Is AIDS a major problem for the homosexuals only?

o What do you know about this disease?

o How do you think it is transmitted?

Could you define the word "stereotype"?

o What stereotypes do you know about gays?

Conversation Questions
Gender Roles
 A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Do you see yourself as a typical man or woman? Why or why not?

In your country are the responsibilities of a mother the same as the

responsibilities of a father to their families?

What are the responsibilities of a father to his family?

What are the responsibilities of a mother to her family?

Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice
versa?

Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?

What habits are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for
women?

What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for
women?

What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for
women?

Are more doctors female or male in your country?

Are more nurses female or male in your country?

Are more professional musicians female or male in your country?

Are more teachers female or male in your country?

Are more truck drivers female or male in your country?

Are men and women equal in ability and intelligence?

What things can either men or women do that the other cannot do and
why?

What type of clothing do men wear?

What type of clothing do women wear?

Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing?
Why or why not?

Can men wear pink clothes?

 Is it OK for men to cry?

Is it OK for women to cry?

What do people think of men or women crying?

What would people think of a man who backs down from a fight?

What would people think of two women involved in a fist fight?

Is it OK for men to appear sad?

Is it OK for women to appear angry?

Is it OK for men to appear weak?

Is it common for women and men to take part in sporting activities? Do they
take part in the same type of sporting activities?
In you home, who does the cooking, cleaning and household chores?
Is it possible for women to join the army in your country?
Is it compulsory for men and women to join the army in your country?
Do women swear a lot?
Are there more male or female managers and executives? Why do you think
this is?
What jobs do men do and women not do in your country?
Who is regarded as the head of the family?
Should boys and girls be brought up differently?
Should boys and girls be treated differently on the part of the parents?
What would happen if your parents changed their place for one day?
How would the world look like without men?
How would the world look like without women?
When a woman and a man are together, who does most of the talking? What
makes you think so?
Can a man and a woman be only friends?
Do men/men friendships differ from women/men or women/women
friendships? How?
Who do you think has life easier, girls or guys? Why?
Do you see yourself as a typical man/woman? Why or why not?
What things can men or women do that the other cannot do and why?
In your country
What are the responsibilities of a father to his family?
What are the responsibilities of a mother to her family?
Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice versa?
Who is regarded as the head of the family?
Who do the children go to for emotional support? For financial support?
Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?
Should boys and girls be brought up differently?
What habits are deemed as appropriate for women but not for men?
What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for
women?
 What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
Are more doctors female or male in your country?
Are more nurses female or male in your country?
Are more professional musicians female or male in your country?
Are more teachers female or male in your country?
Are there more male or female managers and executives? Why do you think
this is?
What type of clothing do men wear?
What type of clothing do women wear?
Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing?
Can men wear pink clothes?
Is it OK for men to cry?
Is it OK for women to cry?
Is it OK for men to appear sad?
s it OK for women to appear angry?
Is it OK for men to appear weak?
What would people think of a man who backs down from a fight?
What would people think of two women involved in a fist fight?
Is it OK for women to swear (to cuss)?
Is it common for women and men to take part in sporting activities? Do they
take part in the same sports? Are there famous women athletes?

Do you think it's permissible for a woman to show her face to a stranger?

Conversation Questions
Healthy Lifestyle
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Do you think you have a healthy life style?

o Is it possible to have a healthy life style in modern world?

o Why do many people try to have a healthy life style?

o What is the main purpose of it?

What is healthy food?

o Do you pay much attention to what you eat?

o Do you think it is more important for you to eat healthy or tasty

food?

Do you try to eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner at a certain time
every day?
 Do you have a snack every time you are hungry or do you wait for
the lunch or dinner?

What is better for health?

Do you agree with the saying: "Eat your breakfast, share your
lunch with a friend and give your dinner to your enemy"? Why do people
say so?

What is healthy about not eating after 6 p.m?

Do you try to follow this rule?

o Are you a success?

Is obesity a great problem in where you live?

Why are there so many obese people in the US?

o What are the most efficient ways to loose weight?

Do you think diets are useful or not?

o Have you ever tried to go on a diet?

o What kind of diet was it?

o Did it work?

Is physical activity (jogging, going to a gym, swimming pool) an

important part of a healthy life style?

Can you tell a physically inactive person from someone who takes
care of his\her physical condition?

What are the main differences?

What is your attitude to smoking?

What is the influence of smoking on health?

o What about passive smoking?

Is it hard to give up smoking?

Do you know someone who gave up smoking?

o What is the best way to give up smoking?

 What is a healthy dose of alcohol?

How mush beer, wine or vodka you can drink daily without any damage
to your health?

o What is the damage of alcohol abuse to health?

How many hours of sleep do you need daily?

If you don't sleep enough, how do you feel and look?

Do you try to go to bed and get up at certain hours every day?

What is good about it?

Do you often find yourself under stress?

What are the areas of your life where stress situations take place
more often?

o Work?

o Family?

o Relationships with friends?

o While commuting to work?

How do you usually cope with stress?

Is there any connection between the person's style of life and the
duration of his life?

What do you prefer, to eat everything you like, drink a lot, smoke,
have no physical exercise and die at the age of 60 or lead a healthy life and
live until 100?

Behavior
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Related: Manners

What is good behavior? What is bad behavior?

Were you well-behaved as a child?

 o Why do some children seem naturally well-mannered, while others
seem difficult?

o Were you a well-behaved child?

o How do you raise well-behaved children?

What influences you to make good choices?

Have you ever not tolerated someone's behavior?

o Is there any behavior that you would not find acceptable?

o What are some examples of bad behavior?

o What is he worst behavior you have seen?

Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hit
him?

How can we teach our children good behavior? Are words or

example more important?

Are you influenced by what you see on TV? Or by what you read?

Do friends influence you?

o Can you influence your friends?

o Is it important to surround yourself with good people?

o How can friends have a bad influence on you?

Can music influence your behavior?

Is it important to only watch wholesome TV shows and only read

good books?

How has the media affected society? Has TV made society better
or worse?

How does religion influence people's behavior?

Do you care what other people think of you?

Do you care about the private behavior of a politician?

o Can you judge a politician by how he behaves toward his family?

 o Do you give up your private life when you become a politician?

Should people behave differently with friends than with family? Do

you treat people who are close to you better than strangers, or vice versa?

Does the behavior of well-known people, such as celebrities and

politicians, affect how average people behave?

Does economic status affect people's behavior? For example, are

people more generous if they have more money?

Who do you admire? Do you try to be like this person (or people)?

Are there historical figures you admire?

Who is affected by your behavior?

In what ways have the choices of others affected you?

Does your happiness depend on the behavior of others?

Should you always be on your best behavior?

Will we be judged for our behavior? Do you believe in a God who

punishes bad people and rewards good people?

Does it always pay to be good?

How do you act when you are happy? Do you like being around
happy people?

Should people act on their feelings? If you are in a bad mood, can
people around you tell?

Do you believe we have a moral obligation to act happy, even if

we do not feel happy?

Is it possible to change one's behavior?

Have you changed anything about your behavior?

o Have you started good habits?

o Have you broken bad habits?

o What are some ways to change your behavior?

Do you set goals to improve yourself?

 What behaviors are expected from children towards their parents?

Do the clothes you wear affect your behavior? Should school

teachers wear casual clothes?

What behaviors are expected from university and college

students?

Should corporal punishment be illegal?

Are bad people bad because of circumstances or choices? What

about good people?

Do you think there is such a thing as an evil person, or just a sick

person?

Can bad behavior lead to crime?

Should parents be held responsible for their children's behavior?

What would you do if you saw somebody else's child behaving

badly in public?

Should some parent give medicine to their children to calm them

down?

Can you think of a behavior that is 'good' behavior in one culture

and a 'bad' behavior in another culture?

How would you behave in a hospital?

What is the strangest thing you have ever done?

Should children be punished in public?

What kind of punishment do you think is the most effective ?

What does "misbehavior" mean?

What can we do to prevent or discourage it

Is there a behavior considered a 'good' behavior in one culture

and a 'bad'

behavior in another culture? If yes, give examples.

Can we teach our children good behavior?

How can we teach our children good behavior?

 How do children acquire good behavior?

What would you do if your child behaves badly in public?

What would you do if you saw somebody else's child behaves

badly in public?

Would you spank (To slap on the buttocks with a flat object or with
the open hand, as for punishment) your child for bad behavior?

What would you do if you saw somebody spanking their child

behaves for bad behavior?

What should you do with a child who has very bad behavior?

Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hits
them?

How should we punish children who commit crimes?

What behavior is not acceptable among friends?

How should movie stars behave in public?

Is it OK to show negative types of behavior when you are angry?

What behaviors make you feel good?

What behaviors make you feel angry?

Should children be encouraged to ask questions in class?

How can teachers stop "bullying" at school?

Have you ever got embarrassed by your

friend's/girlfriend's/husband's misbehavior?

What is the right behavior to use in a job interview?

How should you behave when you see someone you don't like?

What is good behavior?

What is the right behavior to use in a restaurant?

o At school?

o At a party?
 Can you think of a behavior that is 'good' behavior in one culture
and a 'bad' behavior in another culture?

Can we teach our children good behavior?

How can we teach our children good behavior?

How do children acquire good behavior?

Would you spank your child for bad behavior?

What would you do if you saw somebody spanking their child for
bad behavior?

Is it acceptable for parents to spank their children?

Conversation Questions
Community
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

What do you like about your community?

How did you decide on your community?

What do you think should be changed in your community?

How can you help your community?

How many of your neighbors do you know?

Are there old people living in your community? Tell me about them.

Are there little children in your community? Tell me about them.

What do the people in your community do for recreation?

What do you think is the most important thing about community?

Does your community have special days to get together?

Does your community have meetings?

Is there a neighborhood watch program in your community?

Would you like to raise your children in a community like yours? If yes,
tell me why. If no, tell me why?
 Is your community afraid of strangers?

How can you live in a community and maintain your privacy?

Does your community welcome strangers?

Have you ever helped a neighbor?