ESL Activities for Speaking Practice
Causative Speaking Warm-up (Pair-work)
Conversation Topics for Advanced ESL Students. Also, try to choose topics that students will be comfortable with, and capable of, discussing. The following topics are broken down by category for easy selection and can be modified according to student comprehension level.
In this sentence transformation activity, students rephrase sentences by using the (active) causative verb form (help/let/have/get/make).
Speaking Activity: Mafia Game (ESL/EAP)
Play mafia in ESL/EAP class to practice justifying opinions, using critical-thinking skills, and to have fun. In the game, citizens and mafia members try to kill each other to save their town. Citizens must provide justification for their accusations and mafia members must use their cunning to survive.
Family Issues & Family Meeting Speaking Activity (General ESL)
In this activity, students think of family problems and then role-play a family meeting. Great speaking practice for giving advice, conditionals, & idioms
Health Problems: Describing Symptoms & Giving Advice (Speaking Activity)
Students tell stories to describe how they got a health problem. Their partner guesses the problem and gives advice. Activity for intermediate ESL class.
Vocabulary Review: Crossword Activity (Jigsaw Pair-work)
Students complete a crossword puzzle in pairs to review vocabulary. This is a 'jigsaw' style activity to allow ESL students to teach each other vocabulary.
Yes/No & Tag Question Bingo Game (Intermediate ESL)
A simple game where students ask yes/no questions to elicit an answer that matches a square on their card (Bingo). For intermediate ESL.
Speaking Activity: Making Plans for the Weekend (be going to)
Students practice 'be going to' for future plans by inviting classmates to an activity they have designed. Free worksheet for pre-intermediate ESL.
Speaking Activity: Giving Advice (Guess the Problem)
Students ask questions to each other to try to guess what problem they have. This activity practices language for giving advice.
Speaking Activity: Asking Questions (Pair-work/Intermediate ESL)
Activity that reviews question forms. In pairs, students guess the question that matches an answer. For intermediate-level ESL students.
Discussion Topics for Agreeing & Disagreeing (ESL)
A list of discussion topics for speaking practice in ESL class. Good for debate, sharing opinions, speeches, or improving English conversation skill.
Reported Speech: Clarifying Questions (ESL)
Speaking activity to practice reported speech. Students clarify questions to each other and then answer. Free download. Upper-intermediate ESL.
Articles Review: Find the Mistake (Speaking Pair Work)
Speaking activity (pair-work) that reviews definite and indefinite article rules (a/an/the). For upper-intermediate ESL class.
Speaking: What Do You Say in These Situations? (General ESL)
Worksheet/discussion questions that asks students to write expressions for everyday situations in English. Good for all ESL levels.
Eavesdropping in ESL Class for Speaking and Listening
Eavesdropping is a great activity for speaking, listening, and writing. Use it to practice idioms, phrasal verbs, and more.
Corrupt a Wish (ESL Speaking Activity)
Fun speaking activity for practicing wish and the second unreal conditional. Good for English speaking and grammar class.
Causative: Family Meeting! (ESL Speaking Activity)
Students role play a family meeting and use the causative to discuss what their parents will let/make/have/get/help them (to) do.
Speaking Activity: Five High Fives (So, Too, Neither, Not Either)
ESL speaking activity to review so/too/either/not either. Students give a high five to students they have something in common with. Intermediate ESL/EFL.
So do I / Me too / Neither do I / I don't either (Speaking Activity)
Game for English students to practice so/too/either/neither. Students ask yes/no questions in order to use a certain addition/response. Intermediate ESL/EFL
Mr. Bean: A Fun Way to Teach Present Continuous (Present Progressive)
Mr. Bean videos are a fun way to teach the present progressive (present continuous) to ESL students. Read about this speaking activity for grammar practice.
Pairwork: Question Review Activity (Intermediate ESL)
Speaking activity to review WH and Yes/No questions with present simple, past simple, and past perfect. For Intermediate ESL class. Free download.
Speaking Activity: Find the Grammar Mistakes (Intermediate ESL)
ESL speaking activity for reviewing common grammar mistakes. Students are divided into pairs and correct grammar mistakes together.
Reported Speech Bingo - Speaking Activity (ESL/EFL)
A bingo game for practicing reported speech (indirect speech). Students report their partner's information to each other. Intermediate.
Speaking Activity: It must have been written by ... (Past Modals)
Using modals of past speculation (must have/might have/may have/could have), students guess which of their classmates wrote certain answers.
Comparatives & Superlatives: Discussion Questions Activity (ESL)
In pairs, students ask discussion questions to practice superlatives and comparatives. A fun speaking (and grammar) activity for ESL students.
Superlatives: Class Awards Speaking Activity (ESL/EFL)
A basic speaking activity in which students give awards to each other using superlatives. Suitable for pre-intermediate or high beginner ESL.
WH-Questions: Speaking Activity (Beginner ESL)
Basic speaking activity for asking WH-questions (what/who/where/why/how). For beginner ESL students.
Job Posting Template for Job Interview Practice (ESL)
A sample job posting/advertisement and a template students can fill out to interview each other. Great for job interview practice for intermediate ESL/EFL.
Speaking Activity: Entrepreneurs' Conference (Passive Causative)
Upper-intermediate / advanced speaking activity about outsourcing services for practicing the passive causative (or active). Business-English focus.
Icebreaker: Two Truths and a Lie (Speaking Activity) ESL
Speaking activity for English class in which students decide which sentences are true or false about their classmates. Good icebreaker for all ESL levels.
Activity: What Do You Have in Common? (Pre-Intermediate ESL)
Students ask each other questions to find out what they have in common. Easy ice-breaker activity for pre-intermediate ESL speaking class.
Telephone Dialog: Ordering Food from a Restaurant Menu (ESL/EFL)
A telephone conversation between a restaurant worker and a customer who is ordering food from a take-out menu. For pre-intermediate English class.
Kids Camp: English Activities & Ideas (ESL)
A list of games and activities for English kids camp. Useful for elementary students in grades 1 to 4 (beginners).
True or False Guessing Game for Children (ESL/EFL Activity)
Play the 'Rope of Death' true or false guessing game with your elementary school class. Fun classroom activity for beginner ESL/EFL students. Rope optional.
Classroom Activity: Shopping for School Supplies Role-play (ESL/EFL)
Shopping ESL role-play activity/game for elementary/Junior high school. Students practice shopping and selling school supplies in English. Fun & practical.
Sheet: Action Cards for Teaching Verbs & Gesture Game (Beginner ESL)
Cards for teaching verbs to beginner ESL students. Great for activities like gesture games, Simon Says, Bingo, etc. 32 basic verbs per page.
English Scavenger Hunt! ESL Activity
How to run a scavenger hunt in school. Great activity for ESL/EFL class (grades 5+). Includes fun scavenger hunt ideas for questions, clues, & riddles.
The Tale of The Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari) English Script
A free English translation of the Japanese fairytale 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter' (a.k.a. Taketori Monogatari, or The Bamboo Princess).
Travel Agency: Class Role-play Activity (Jr. High/High School)
Students role-play as travel agents and customers buying travel tickets. ESL/EFL for Jr. High/High School class. Includes activity worksheets & dialogues.
Classroom Activity: Speaking Marathon (Warm-up)
Speaking activity for English class in which paired students see who can speak the longest. Great for classroom warm-up & building speaking confidence.
Speaking Activity: Meeting of Ministers (ESL/EFL)
Students propose ideas in meeting of cabinet ministers. Fun speaking activity for practicing English for meetings and warm-up.
Speaking Activity: Giving Advice (ESL)
Simple speaking activity for giving advice (making suggestions). For ESL/EFL class. Practices the use of 'should', 'suggest', etc. Good for class warm-up.
Warm-up: Exaggeration Story (Telephone) Activity
ESL warm-up 'telephone' where students exchange exaggerated stories in pairs. Great warm-up for intermediate-advanced ESL conversation class.
Simple Idiom/Phrasal Verb Speaking Activity
Simple role-play activity (pair work) for practicing idioms and phrasal verbs.
Warm-up: Picture Story Using Key Vocabulary
ESL warm-up activity where students make a story in groups using pictures and key vocabulary from the previous class(es). For ESL conversation class.
ESL Conversation Questions (EFL Discussion Questions)
Here is a list I created of hundreds of ESL conversation / discussion questions that you can use in a conversation English class. I will update and expand the ESL conversation questions list on an ongoing basis. For a list of speech topics, please visit this page.
Jump to a conversation question category:
Animals / Beauty / Crime / Drugs / Education / Entertainment / Emergency / English / Environment / Family / Future / Food / Health / Holiday / Homosexuality / Housing / Internet / Money / Philosophy / Politics / Punishment / Relationships & Love / Science & Religion / Sports & Leisure / Travel / Technology / Work / Other
Animals ESL Conversation Questions
Could a chihuahua be a police dog?
If you had to be raised by animals in the wild, what animals would be the best parents?
If you could be an animal, what animal would you choose to be and why?
Beauty ESL Conversation Questions
If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would it be?
What do you find most attractive in people of the opposite sex?
What do you think of tattoos?
Can aging be prevented or slowed?
What’s your opinion of beauty pageants like Miss Universe?
How have our ideas about beauty changed historically? What does this tell us?
What are some common fashion faux-pas people make?
How important is it for your partner to be beautiful?
What message does the media send to young people about beauty?
What message is more important to send to overweight youth: ‘be happy with yourself’ or ‘lose weight’?
Some airlines and restaurants seem to only hire attractive people. Is this discrimination? Should it be legal?
Have you ever bought art? What kind of art interests you?
Crime ESL Conversation Questions
Have you ever witnessed a crime?
Do you trust the police to help you when you’re in need? Why or why not?
Have you ever had to use violence to protect yourself?
Should downloading music (without paying for it) be a criminal offense?
France has banned ‘psychological violence’. What do you think this means?
How would you define terrorism?
What were you doing when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened?
Do you think there is terrorist activity happening in your area?
What is ‘racial profiling’?
Being a patriot: would you go to war to fight terrorism?
The most wanted: who are the most wanted criminals in your country?
Was the US-lead invasion of Iraq in 2003 an act of terrorism?
Personal rights: A month after 9/11, the Bush government signed a law named the US Patriot Act. This law allowed the government to closely monitor telephone calls, emails, and other personal data. Would you support such a law in an emergency?
Have you ever had to take the law into your own hands?
Does your country have jury duty? Have you ever done it?
Is it possible to get rid of corruption?
Would you commit a crime to save your family?
Robin Hood: is it okay to steal from the rich to help the poor?
Should people be able to carry weapons?
Does your country need more or fewer surveillance cameras?
Should hitchhiking be illegal? Have you done it?
Did you get caught stealing as a child?
What reputation do the police have in your country?
Have the police ever wounded or killed an innocent citizen?
What are some proactive ways to prevent crime before it happens?
What characteristics should a good police officer have? What characteristics do they often have?
What measures are in place to protect your safety right now? Are they sufficient?
What are the best strategies for self-defense? Is your country becoming more or less violent?
Who in society should be allowed to carry weapons? What kind of weapons?
Do video games, TV, and movies have a negative influence on youth?
Can criminals such as paedophiles and rapists truly be rehabilitated?
Do you know any unsolved mysteries from your town, city, or country?
Should miniskirts be banned?
Drugs ESL Conversation Questions
When you’re sick, do you use medicine?
Do you support the use of clinical marijuana?
Was drug use a problem in your high school?
Should the legal drinking age be changed?
Should patents held by pharmaceutical companies be bypassed in order to help those in need (e.g. people suffering from HIV in Africa?)
Education ESL Conversation Questions
Is it easy to get a job after graduation in your country?
How can educators and parents promote creativity in children?
How would you compare the quality of education in your country to other countries?
Do you prefer public or private schools?
Should evolution or creationism be taught at schools?
Who should be responsible for teaching sexual education to children and teenagers?
Is a university degree enough in your country to get a good job?
Is ‘the student life’ the best time in people’s lives?
Should researchers at universities also be required to teach classes?
How does your country’s education system rate globally?
Who was your favorite teacher from your school days? Describe him or her.
Should young children be required to learn English? If so, from what age?
What do you think of home schooling?
Language development: what’s the best way to raise a bilingual child?
Your son has just come home from school. He is crying because a bully at school beat him up. What do you tell your son?
What are your fondest (best) memories of high school?
What regrets do you have? What classifications of students existed in your high school (e.g. nerds, athletes, etc.)?Which were you part of?
How would you compare your high school generation to today’s generation of teenagers?
Should children be prohibited from reading certain books? Has reading made you a better person?
Do you have any tips for giving a successful speech or presentation?
Entertainment ESL Conversation Questions
Who is your favorite celebrity?
What genre of books or movies do you enjoy?
What is your favorite science fiction movie about the future?
Will TV exist in 20 years?
What do you think of rap music?
Why do many celebrities have drug and alcohol problems?
What do you think of the paparazzi? How can they be controlled?
What’s your opinion of video games? What are the pros and cons of letting children play video games?
Do video games make people, particularly children, violent?
Emergency ESL Conversation Questions
What is a natural disaster? What are some kinds of natural disasters?
Have their been any major disasters in your area?
What are some major disasters that you can remember?
If you had one minute to leave your home, what would you take with you?
If you lost everything, how would you rebuild your life?
What would you do if you lost all of your possessions?
Would you rather burn or freeze to death?
Could you live in an area that could have a natural disaster at any moment?
English ESL Conversation Questions
How long have you been studying English?
Why are you studying English?
In your experience, what studying methods are most effective for you?
Are English movies in your country shown with subtitles or are they dubbed?
If you could speak English perfectly, how would your life change?
Environment ESL Conversation Questions
Is global warming happening?
Is recycling too much of a hassle?
What happens to recyclable materials after they are picked up from your house?
Should developing countries be required to cut emissions as well?
What is your opinion of nuclear energy? Which kind of energy do you support?
Do you believe overpopulation is a major issue? If so, what can be done about it?
How will the world look in 100 years?
What is your opinion of nuclear energy? Which kind of energy do you support?
Are the rivers and beach areas in your city or town polluted? Would you swim there?
Concerning the production of energy, which is the most important consideration: human value or environmental risk?
Where do you draw the line between worrying about safety and living your life?
Could you live in an area that could have a natural disaster at any moment?
Family ESL Conversation Questions
What household chore do you despise the most? Should men and women share the responsibility for housework 50/50?
What are the advantages of raising a family in your country?
Would you adopt a child?
If you became elderly and alone, would you rather live in a senior citizen’s home or with your children?
Is it common in your country for people to live with their grandparents?
Is it good or bad to be a single child?
What do you think of squatting?
Why do many people dislike their parents-in-law?
Were you ever left alone or lost for a long time as a child? Or have you ever lost a child?
What does “alternative parenting” mean? What are some alternative parenting ideas?
If you could choose, would you rather have a daughter or a son?
Do you plan to spend your life savings before you die or leave it for your family?
It is often said that “what a man does in the privacy of his own home is his business.” Is this true?
Where did your ancestors come from originally? Were they immigrants?
Violence: Is it ever okay to hit a child? What is the custom or law in your country?
Due to population growth and environmental problems, should families have fewer kids?
Is it better for a child to have one parent or two homosexual parents? Is it tradition in your culture for women to adopt their husband’s last name? Is this fair?
In your country, are mother’s allowed maternity leave (from work)? What about paternity leave for fathers?
What is a mid-life crisis? How can one be avoided?
When are children old enough to move out of the house?
What is the best environment to raise a family in (e.g. apartment, village, etc)?
Is there anything funny or different about your family?
Does someone in your family maintain a family tree?
How important is it to you (or your parents) that you pass on your genes, i.e. have children?
What important advice you want to pass on to your children?
Food ESL Conversation Questions
Have you ever had food poisoning?
What do you think of custom of giving an 15-18% tip in North America?
What is the worst thing you’ve eaten?
What do you think of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms)?
Does your country have any ‘strange’ food?
Is the tap water safe to drink in your country? Or do you prefer bottled water?
Do you eat junk food?
Should children be raised to eat everything on their plates?
Would you eat horse meat?
Future ESL Conversation Questions
When you were a child, what did you imagine the future would be like?
Imagine you could live twice as long. How would you use your time?
How do you think human civilization will ultimately end?
Health ESL Conversation Questions
Are you addicted to anything, such as coffee, tobacco?
What is the best cure for a hangover?
What is the ideal amount of sleep to get per night? Are you getting it?
Have you heard of the paleolithic diet? What is it?
What would you do if the doctor told you that you only had a month to live?
Do schools in your countries have cafeterias? Do they serve healthy food?
What’s the best way to lose weight?
How are the health services in your country?
Is evolution still happening?
If you found an elixir that, once drank, would allow you to live forever, would you drink it?
Do you worry about the safety of the food you eat? What won’t you buy?
Fasting: Some people go without food for a long time to improve their bodies or minds. Can not eating make your body and mind healthier and stronger?
Is it expensive to get medicine and treatment from a doctor in your country?
Are you a hypochondriac?
What methods are used in your country to prevent pregnancy?
What important factors should a couple consider before having a baby?
Do you believe today’s generation of teenagers are more sexually active than the generation of 30 years ago? If so, why?
What is something you are not spending enough time doing?
Would you consider being a sperm donor?
What do you think of your country’s health care system?
Do you think our culture is too dependent on medicine? Have you ever had a near-death experience?
Does everyone have a right to free basic health care?
What would you do if you found an unconscious person lying on the street and there were no telephones nearby?
Have you ever given or been given the Heimlich maneuver?
Do you believe people of the same blood-type have similar characters?
Have you ever donated blood? Do you think technology will help humans live longer and longer?
Should some vaccinations be mandatory? Without exemptions?
Would you rather be blind or deaf?
Would you rather be quite short or quite tall? Why?
In what ways, if any, are you superior to a caveman?
What’s your opinion of tanning, and tanning salons?
Holiday ESL Conversation Questions
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Does your country have any special holidays or festivals?
Is Christmas celebrated in your country? If so, how is it celebrated?
What are the best and worst gifts you have ever received? What is the meaning of Christmas?
Do you become a better person every year?
What food is associated with Christmas?
Do you have any funny Christmas stories?
Do you make a New Year’s resolution every year?
Homosexuality ESL Conversation Questions
Does your city have any gay pride events?
Are there any jobs homosexuals should be prohibited from doing?
Do you believe homosexuality comes from genetics or the environment?
Freud argued that most people have both heterosexual and homosexual tendencies. What do you think of this?
What would you do if you found out your son or daughter were gay?
Why are some people against gay marriage?
How would your parents react if you told them you were gay?
Housing ESL Conversation Questions
What things can make an apartment a great apartment?
Which do you prefer — living in the countryside or the city?
What do you know about your neighbors? Do you get along with them?
What is your neighborhood like? Is it becoming better or worse?
What types of disagreements often arise between neighbors?
Internet ESL Conversation Questions
Are the Internet and websites such as Facebook bringing people closer together or further apart?
Should young children be able to access the Internet freely?
Do you support Wikileaks?
Hacktivism: are hacker groups, like Anonymous, heroes? Do you support them?
Are you a pirate? Do you pay for music, movies, software, and textbooks?
What do you think of dating online? Have you ever done it?
What does it mean if someone is a ‘troll’ on an online message board?
Why is there so much hatred on online message boards?
Money ESL Conversation Questions
What’s the best way to invest in your future?
Do you think we will have cashless societies one day?
Do you have any customer service horror stories?
Have you ever found a large amount of money on the street? If not, what would you do if you did?
Can you explain “inflation”?
If you were rich, what would you change about your life?
Banking: Would banking services improve if banks were made public?
What bank do you bank with? Are you satisfied with its service?
Philosophy ESL Conversation Questions
Do you believe you make real choices in life? Or are all your choices determined by previous conditions?
Does morality come from education? Or is there something in humans that makes us view certain things as good and others as bad?
Do you believe there are things universal moral truths; i.e. things that are considered bad by all human beings everywhere?
Why should we care about others?
Do you believe in fate or destiny?
If God exists, why are there so many problems in the world?
Does a person’s love for his/her partner differ from his/her love for a friend, child, or car? How so?
Do you believe in the idea of a soul, separate from the physical body?
Would your view on life change if you were severely handicapped?
“Everything is for sale.” What do you think of this statement?
Are there products you won’t buy for ethical reasons? If so, what are they?
What makes your happy?
Do you believe in karma?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Which idea do you believe in: “Everything in moderation” or “Try everything once“?
Do you think it’s necessary to be a morally good person to succeed in society nowadays?
Political ESL Conversation Questions
Is Democracy the best political system?
If you had your own island to populate, what rules would you make for the people that live there?
What is NATO? What is the role of the organization?
Can democracy work in the Arab world?
Would you be for a one-child policy for overpopulated countries?
Were there any problems with most recent elections in your country?
What role should the international community have in Africa?
Do all countries have the right to have nuclear arms?
Should a country’s leader to limited in serving for only one or two terms?
Do you think countries should share the responsibility of accepting refugees?
Can democracy work in Africa?
Becoming a martyr: Are there any ideals that you would die for?
If you could rebuild your country, what would you change?
What conditions should be required for people who want to legally immigrate to your country?
What is your top complaint about your country’s government?
“History Repeats Itself” – do you believe this? If so, can you give examples?
Do the majority of adults vote in your country?
Do all countries have a right to possess nuclear weapons?
How can a government create jobs?
Punishment ESL Conversation Questions
What was the worst thing you did as a child? Did you get caught?
How did your parents punish you when you were a child?
What was the worst punishment you received as a child? Was it fair?
Should prisoners be required to work?
Can you think of any people who were punished for a crime they didn’t commit?
Is capital punishment (the death penalty) practiced in your country?
Should insane people be punishable by death?
Do you believe capital punishment makes the public not want to commit crimes?
What’s the difference, morally, between capital punishment and torture?
Would mandatory military service be a good idea for your country?
Relationship / Love ESL Conversation Questions
How long should a couple date before they move in together?
Why is the divorce rate so high in many countries?
Should people have fewer children, considering the world’s population and environmental problems?
What are your turn ons and turn offs?
Generally speaking, how do you think the men and women of you country are viewed by foreigners?
Do opposites attract? Or do similar people tend to fall in love?
Are caesarian sections becoming more common in your country?
Would you like to know the gender of your child before it is born?
What is a wedding ceremony like in your country?
How has the idea of marriage changed throughout history?
What do people commonly do on dates in your country?
Do fairy tales create unrealistic expectations for people?
What was the worst date you’ve ever had?
Have you ever tried to set up a friend with someone? Did it work out?
What is the ‘right age’ to get begin dating? Get married?
What do you think about meeting someone through a dating agency or dating website?
Jealousy: is it possible to control this emotion?
Is society becoming more promiscuous? If so, what factors have caused this?
Do you believe in “the one” (does everyone have a ‘perfect match’)?
What are the pros and cons of going out with an older woman (or man)?
Should the man pay on a date?
My Generation: How would you compare your generation to the current generation of youngsters? Would you rather have been born now than when you were?
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back?
Who do you go to when you need advice? What do you think of therapists?
Science & Religion ESL Conversation Questions
Is a scientific explanation of life depressing for you?
Have you ever witnessed a miracle or something supernatural?
“The Survival of the Fittest”: How important are survival skills in our society? Does the term “Survival of the Fittest” still apply?
Is artificial insemination against human nature and evolution?
Are there any strange religious groups in your country?
Nature vs. Nurture: Is intelligence rooted in genetics?
Survival of the Fittest: Do you think society would benefit if we let loose a handful of wild and dangerous animals (e.g. grizzly bears, hippos) into urban areas, e.g. the downtown of your city?
What would life be like if we succeeded in improving the gene pool by 30%?
Should people be allowed to know what their IQ is?
Thou Shalt Not Lie is the 9th Commandment. Do you agree with it?
Do you believe in the distinction between left-brained and right-brained people?
Have you ever witnessed or experienced inexplicable phenomenon? What is déjà vu? Do you occasionally experience it?
Do you believe in stories about out of body experiences?
Sports & Leisure ESL Conversation Questions
Which sports in the Olympics should be added or removed? Who is the most popular athlete from your country? What hobbies would you not let your children do?
What do you know of the history of the Olympics? What are your favorite memories of the Olympics?
Do you envy Olympic athletes? Which do you prefer: the winter or summer Olympics? Why?
Do you think your country should invest more into its athletic programs?
Would you country to be a suitable place to host the Olympics?
If you had to eliminate a sport or several sports from the Olympics, which would you choose?
What is your definition of “sport”? Are synchronized swimming, ballroom dancing, and darts sports?
Do you support investing more money into national athletic programs so your country achieves more Olympic medals?
What do you think of the salaries of professional athletes?
Do you think it’s good for colleges and universities to provide scholarships to athletes?
Technology ESL Conversation Questions
How has technology changed education methods?
Is there a difference between a machine, like a microwave, and a robot? How would you define “robot”?
Is it possible to give Artificial Intelligence (AI) to robots?
Will robots cause rising unemployment in the future?
How are people different from computers?
Are you scared of how much information Internet companies such as Google have about you?
Do you think humans will one day inhabit other planets?
Do you support investing large amounts of money into space exploration?
Has a computer virus ever caused problems for you? What steps do you take to protect your data and privacy?
What are some of the greatest achievements and inventions of mankind? Make a list with your classmates.
Travel ESL Conversation Questions
What’s the best way to find deals on travel?
If you had to immigrate to another country, where would you go? Why?
Do you prefer active or relaxing holidays?
Do you like packaged holiday tours?
What was your worst holiday?
“When in Rome, do as the Romans” — do you agree with this idea?
Does your country have many tourists? What do you think of them?
What are the best places to visit in your city or town?
If you could only pack five things for a trip to an unknown place, what would you take?
Who are the worst tourists?
What are some common travel scams? Have you been the victim of a travel scam?
Work ESL Conversation Questions
What is the worst job you have ever had?
What is your dream job?
Do you think human beings need to work to be happy?
What are the minimum things you need to do your work effectively? Do you have them?
What do you believe are the top predictors of job performance?
Do people commonly work from home in your company? What do you think of this?
Do you think 40 hours a week is too much for humans?
What do you see yourself doing in your retirement?
Do you have a pension or adequate savings for retirement?
What motivates you to work hard?
Other than increasing salaries, what can employers do to make their workers happy?
Do women often face discrimination in the workplace in your country?
Have you experienced sexual harassment in the workplace?
What is your best achievement?
Do you get any perks (or fringe benefits) from your employer?
What is the retirement age in your country?
Is it true that ‘no job is perfect’?
Have you ever had a manager or coworker that you couldn’t get along with?
What are some inappropriate questions to ask in job interviews?
What are some tough job interview questions? How would you answer them?
What would you do if you were fired from your job?
How is the economic recession affecting your field?
If you could go back in time, would you study something different?
Work Hours: Can countries that have a shorter workweek stay competitive?
Stereotyping: Do national stereotypes hold any truth? If so, how much?
Retirement: Should women who’ve had children be allowed to retire earlier?
Are jobs in the public sector sought after in your country? Why or why not?
Do you have any interesting job interview stories?
Should interviewers be prohibited from asking about age, marital status, residency, etc?
Do you know companies that have bad reputations? What for?
What companies do you feel overcharge or abuse their customers?
If you had your own company, what type of policies, dress code, workspace, etc would you have?
What are some things you should and should not do if you are organizing a business dinner?
What are some important factors to consider for starting a small business?
If you had your own business, what kind of business would it be and how would you run it?
Other ESL Conversation Questions
Which of your possessions could you not live without?
Do you have any regrets?
If you could travel in time, to what time would you go and why?
What are some things you would like to accomplish before death?
If you had the power to make a new law, what law would you enact?
Have you ever used Groupon? What do you think of it?
Why do people sing in the shower?
Have you ever had a near-death experience? (note: please avoid telling extremely sad stories) What are potentially deadly things that you encounter every day?
What makes you feel better when you’re angry or depressed?
If you could be a child again for a day, what would you do?
– Matthew Barton / Englishcurrent.com