esl conversation topics education

ESL discussion questions about education.

Other topics you may be interested in...

General topics.

Air Travel , Animals , Appearance , Art , Childhood , Cinema , Crime , Eating Out , Education , Environment , Ethics , Fame , Family , Fashion , Food , Football (Soccer) , Friendship , The Future , Globalisation , Health , History , Holidays (Vacations) , House and Home , The Internet , Language , Language Learning , Life , Literature , Marriage , The Media , Money , Music , Personality , Politics , Religion , Romance , Science , Shopping , Smartphones , Sport , Technology , Time , Town and City , Transport , Travel , University , Video Games , War , Weather , Work .

Business Topics

Advertising , Brands , Building Relationships , Change , Communication , Competition , Consultants , Crisis Management , Cultures , Customer Service , Employment Trends , Ethics , First Impressions , Human Resources , International Marketing , International Markets , Job Satisfaction , Leadership , Management Styles , Marketing , Mergers and Acquisitions , Money , New Business , Online Business , Organisation , Project Management , Raising Finance , Risk , Strategy , Success , Team Building , Training , Travel .

Grammar Topics

Present Simple , Present Continuous , Present Perfect , Present Perfect Continuous , Past Simple , Past Continuous , Used to , Have to , Going to / Pres. Continuous , Going to / Will , Comparatives , Superlatives , First Conditional , Second Conditional , Third Conditional , Mixed Conditionals , Should , Should have , Can , Could , Can / Could / Be able to , Is done / Was done , Being done / Been done .

How to use the education ESL discussion questions

It is recommended that you download the education ESL discussion questions in PDF format using one of the links above. The best way to encourage classroom interaction is to download and print the education discussion questions in the 'pairs' or 'threes' PDF format and then divide the questions by cutting along the dotted lines. This allows students to take turns asking and answering the education discussion questions in groups of two or three. Alternatively, you could use the 'cards' format to distribute the questions to any number of students to ask and share.

It is advisable to prepare students for using these discussion questions by first introducing them to the topic of education in an interesting and engaging way. An anecdote, quiz question or a related image or video could all be used to achieve this. Depending on the level, it may also be necessary to pre-teach any challenging vocabulary related to education contained in the discussion questions.

For more ESL discussion questions, see this site's main page. There are discussion questions on a range of topics including general, grammar and business English topics.

For further information about the site and its author, see the about page.

Conversations

Talking about School: 15 Best English Conversations for Practice

A H M Ohidujjaman

Affiliate Disclosure : ESL Info participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Associate Program. This means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through links on our site, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting us! Access our full disclosure .

Talking about school is an important skill your ESL students must have. They should be able to discuss their academic life confidently in English. And you can certainly help them achieve this goal.

ESL students often struggle with starting school-related conversations in real life. They may make mistakes in grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation that make it hard to communicate effectively.

How can ESL teachers help students talk about school in English without difficulties?

When you’re teaching talking about school, you want your students to be confident in discussing class schedules, introducing themselves at a new school, asking for directions, seeking homework clarification, having lunchtime conversations, discussing extracurricular activities, talking about class projects, discussing study techniques, discussing future plans, planning a field trip, discussing college applications, discussing academic research, discussing teaching strategies, discussing academic conferences, discussing educational policy, etc. 

While teaching ESL students talking about school, using practice conversations on these subtopics can make your job easier. This post offers 15 conversations suited for different English levels. With these resources, students can gain confidence and overcome communication challenges when talking about school in English.

Table of Contents

Discussing class schedules (informal).

Level: Low intermediate

Context: Two high school students comparing their course selections for the semester.

Emily : Hey, Mark, what classes are you taking this semester?

Mark : Oh, hi Emily! I’m taking English, math, and history. What about you?

Emily : Cool! I have English and science.

Mark : Nice! Do you like your English teacher?

Emily : Yeah, she’s really nice. How about yours?

Mark : He’s okay, I guess. Anyway, gotta run to my next class. See you later!

Emily : See ya!

Mark : Oh, by the way, are you free after school?

Emily : Yeah, I’m free. Why?

Mark : Do you want to study together for the math test?

Emily : Sure, that sounds like a good idea.

Introducing at a New School (Informal)

Context: Two students meeting for the first time in a new school environment.

Sophia : Hi, I’m Sophia. What’s your name?

David : Hi Sophia, I’m David. Nice to meet you.

Sophia : Nice to meet you too! Are you new here?

David : Yeah, I just moved here last week.

Sophia : Cool! Which grade are you in?

David : I’m in tenth grade. How about you?

Sophia : I’m in eleventh grade. Do you like the school so far?

David : Yeah, it’s pretty nice. Everyone’s been friendly.

Sophia : That’s good to hear. If you need any help finding your classes, just let me know.

David : Thanks, I appreciate it.

Asking for Directions (Informal)

Context: A new student seeking assistance locating a classroom.

Lisa : Excuse me, can you help me? I’m looking for room 210.

Tom : Sure thing! I’m Tom, and I think it’s down this hall, second door on the left.

Lisa : Thanks, Tom! I appreciate it.

Tom : No problem! Are you new here?

Lisa : Yeah, it’s my first day.

Tom : Well, welcome to the school! Hope you find your class okay.

Lisa : Thanks, me too.

Tom : If you need help with anything else, just ask.

Lisa : Will do, thanks again.

Seeking Homework Clarification (Formal)

Context: A student requesting clarification from the teacher regarding an assignment .

Mrs. Johnson : Good morning, class. Today, we’re going to start our new lesson.

Emily : Excuse me, Mrs. Johnson, can I ask a question?

Mrs. Johnson : Of course, Emily. What do you need?

Emily : I didn’t understand the homework from last night.

Mrs. Johnson : No problem, Emily. Let’s go over it together after class, okay?

Emily : Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson : You’re welcome, Emily. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need further help.

Emily : Okay, I will.

Lunchtime Conversation (Informal)

Context: Two friends chatting during their lunch break .

Michael : Hey Sarah, what did you bring for lunch today?

Sarah : Hi Michael! I brought a sandwich and some fruit.

Michael : Sounds yummy! I brought some leftovers from last night.

Sarah : Cool! Did you have a good weekend?

Michael : Yeah, it was fun. I went to the movies with my friends.

Sarah : Nice! I just stayed home and relaxed.

Michael : Did you watch anything interesting?

Sarah : Yeah, I watched a new series on Netflix. It was really good.

Michael : Oh, what’s it about?

Sarah : It’s about a group of friends solving mysteries in their town.

Michael : That sounds exciting. I might check it out.

Discussing Extracurricular Activities (Informal)

Level: High intermediate

Context: Two high school students chatting during lunch break .

Sophie : Hey Alex, have you decided which clubs to join this semester?

Alex : Hi Sophie! Yeah, I’m thinking of joining the drama club and maybe the photography club. How about you?

Sophie : That’s cool! I’m considering joining the debate club and the environmental club.

Alex : Nice choices! What do they do in the environmental club?

Sophie : They organize clean-up events, plant trees, and raise awareness about environmental issues.

Alex : Wow, that sounds meaningful. I might check it out too.

Sophie : Yeah, you should! It’s always good to give back to the community.

Alex : I’ve also heard about the chess club. Do you play chess?

Sophie : Yeah, I used to play with my grandpa. Maybe we can join together and challenge each other!

Alex : That sounds like fun. Let’s give it a try.

Talking about Class Projects (Formal)

Context: Two students discussing a group project in the library.

Mr. Patel : Good morning, Lena. How’s the progress on our science project?

Lena : Good morning, Mr. Patel. We’ve divided the tasks among the group members.

Mr. Patel : Excellent. Have you decided on the topic yet?

Lena : Yes, we’re exploring the effects of pollution on local wildlife.

Mr. Patel : That sounds like a relevant and important topic. How will you conduct your research?

Lena : We plan to interview local conservationists and collect data from environmental agencies.

Mr. Patel : Impressive. Make sure to keep me updated on your progress.

Lena : Will do, Mr. Patel. We’re aiming to present our findings next week.

Mr. Patel : Sounds like a plan. Let me know if you need any assistance along the way.

Discussing Study Techniques (Informal)

Context: Two classmates chatting after school.

Juan : Hey Sophia, do you have any tips for studying for the history exam?

Sophia : Hi Juan! Yeah, I find making flashcards really helpful.

Juan : Flashcards, huh? I’ll give that a try. How do you stay focused while studying?

Sophia : I like to set specific goals for each study session and take short breaks in between.

Juan : That makes sense. Thanks for the advice, Sophia.

Sophia : No problem, Juan. Good luck with your studying!

Juan : Thanks, Sophia. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Discussing Future Plans (Formal)

Context: Two students meeting with their guidance counselor.

Counselor Smith : Good afternoon, Emma and David. How can I assist you today?

Emma : Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith. We’re here to discuss our post-graduation plans.

Counselor Smith : Of course. Have you considered your career goals and college options?

David : Yes, we’ve been researching different universities and career paths.

Counselor Smith : Excellent. Have you taken any aptitude tests to help guide your decisions?

Emma : Yes, we’ve both completed career assessments and are exploring our interests further.

Counselor Smith : That’s a proactive approach. I’m here to support you throughout this process.

David : Thank you, Mrs. Smith. We appreciate your guidance.

Emma : Yes, thank you for all your help.

Planning a Field Trip (Informal)

Context: Two students discussing their upcoming field trip.

Maria : Hey Jack, have you heard about the upcoming field trip to the science museum?

Jack : Hi Maria! Yeah, I heard about it. It sounds like it’ll be fun.

Maria : Definitely! Have you submitted your permission slip yet?

Jack : Not yet, but I plan to do it tomorrow.

Maria : Don’t forget, the deadline is Friday.

Jack : Thanks for the reminder, Maria. I’ll get it done.

Maria : No problem, Jack. It’ll be great to explore the museum together.

Jack : Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never been to that museum before.

Maria : Me neither. I heard they have some really cool exhibits.

Discussing College Applications (Formal)

Level: Advanced

Context: A meeting between two high school seniors and their guidance counselor to discuss college applications.

Counselor Ramirez: Good morning, Sophia and Ethan . How are your college applications coming along?

Sophia: Good morning, Ms. Ramirez. We’ve been working on our personal statements and gathering recommendation letters.

Ethan: Yes, we’ve also been researching different universities and their application requirements.

Counselor Ramirez: That’s excellent to hear. Have you considered applying for any scholarships or financial aid?

Sophia: Yes, we’ve been exploring scholarship opportunities and filling out the necessary forms.

Ethan: We’re also planning to schedule campus visits to get a feel for the atmosphere of each university.

Counselor Ramirez: That’s a proactive approach. Remember to submit all your applications before the deadlines.

Sophia: Thank you, Ms. Ramirez. We’ll make sure to stay organized and on track with our applications.

Ethan: Yes, we appreciate all your guidance throughout this process.

Counselor Ramirez: You’re welcome, Sophia and Ethan. I’m here to support you every step of the way.

Sophia: Thank you, Ms. Ramirez. We’ll keep you updated on our progress.

Ethan: Have a great day!

Counselor Ramirez: You too. Good luck with everything!

Discussing Academic Research (Informal)

Context: Two graduate students chatting in the university library while working on their research projects.

Emily: Hey Jacob , how’s your research paper on quantum mechanics going?

Jacob: Hey Emily! It’s coming along, but I’m struggling to find enough scholarly articles to support my arguments.

Emily: Yeah, I know what you mean. Have you tried searching through online databases like JSTOR or PubMed?

Jacob: I’ve been using them, but I still haven’t found enough relevant sources.

Emily: Maybe you could try narrowing down your topic or focusing on a specific aspect of quantum mechanics.

Jacob: That’s a good idea. I’ll try that approach and see if it helps.

Emily: Also, don’t forget to check out recent conference proceedings and preprint archives for the latest research.

Jacob: Thanks for the advice, Emily. I’ll give those sources a try.

Emily: No problem, Jacob. Let me know if you need any help with your paper.

Jacob: Will do. Thanks again, Emily.

Discussing Teaching Strategies (Formal)

Context: A faculty meeting at a high school where teachers are discussing innovative teaching strategies.

Principal Nguyen: Today, we’ll discuss new teaching strategies to enhance student engagement.

Ms. Johnson: I’ve been experimenting with incorporating project-based learning into my lessons.

Mr. Lee: Could you provide some examples of how you’ve implemented it?

Ms. Johnson: Instead of traditional book reports, students create multimedia presentations.

Principal Nguyen: How have the students responded to these projects?

Ms. Johnson: They’ve been more motivated and enthusiastic about their assignments.

Mr. Lee: I’m considering trying out project-based learning in my science classes as well.

Principal Nguyen: Let’s continue to explore different teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of our students.

Discussing Academic Conferences (Informal)

Context: Two professors having a conversation during a coffee break at an academic conference.

Dr. Patel: Hey Rachel , have you attended any interesting sessions at the conference so far?

Dr. Thompson: Hi, Dr. Patel! Yes, I went to a fascinating panel discussion on artificial intelligence in healthcare yesterday.

Dr. Patel: That sounds intriguing. Did they discuss any potential applications or ethical considerations?

Dr. Thompson: Definitely. They talked about using AI algorithms to analyze medical imaging data and diagnose diseases more accurately.

Dr. Patel: Wow, that’s groundbreaking. I’ve been focusing on machine learning applications in environmental science.

Dr. Thompson: That sounds like an exciting area of research. Have you made any significant discoveries?

Dr. Patel: We’re still in the early stages, but we’re hoping to develop predictive models for climate change impact assessments.

Dr. Thompson: That’s impressive. Let’s catch up later and exchange ideas.

Dr. Patel: Absolutely. It’s always valuable to collaborate and share insights with colleagues.

Dr. Thompson: Indeed. Enjoy the rest of the conference, Dr. Patel.

Dr. Patel: You too, Dr. Thompson. Take care.

Discussing Educational Policy (Formal)

Context: A panel discussion among education policymakers at a national conference.

Moderator: Today, we’ll be discussing the impact of educational policy on student achievement.

Dr. Garcia: Investing in early childhood education is crucial for narrowing achievement gaps.

Dr. Chen: We also need to address systemic issues such as inadequate funding in underserved communities.

Ms. Rodriguez: All students should have access to high-quality instruction regardless of their background.

Dr. Johnson: We need to focus on implementing evidence-based practices and supporting professional development for educators.

Moderator: How do you propose we navigate the political landscape to enact meaningful policy changes?

Dr. Garcia: Collaboration between policymakers and educators is essential for building consensus.

Ms. Rodriguez: Grassroots movements can exert pressure on policymakers to prioritize education reform.

Dr. Chen: Ultimately, it’s about fostering a collective commitment to educational equity.

Learning basic vocabulary and expressions for talking about school in English is important for ESL students. These 15 conversations help them improve their English skills and feel more confident discussing their academic life. Practicing these conversations will make students better at speaking English and help them succeed in learning the language.

Share this:

Discover more from esl info.

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Type your email…

FREE E-Book

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Would you like to help?

ESL Conversation Questions about Education

ESL conversation questions about education. These questions are designed for students of intermediate to advanced level of English. Click here for more topics.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

29 ESL Conversation Topics for Adult Students

One key goal almost every adult ESL student shares is  gaining the ability to speak English with others.

What better way to learn to speak English than to speak about the very same things that you speak about on a daily basis ?

ESL speaking activities work even better when someone speaks about their own personal recollections, thoughts and ideas on these topics.

Use these topics and questions to get conversations started!

8. Television

11. first dates, 13. motivation, 19. restaurants, 20. cooking, 22. shopping, 26. learning, 28. computers, 29. problems.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Everybody has hobbies, and everybody loves talking about them. Hobbies could be passions too, you know. Some simple questions to ask include:

• What are your hobbies?
• Why do you like your hobbies so much?
• How often do you do these hobbies?
• How long have you been doing these hobbies, and how did you get started?
• What hobbies did you used to have, but now do not?
• Is it important to have hobbies? Why/why not?

Lots of people work and have lots to say about it. I mean, if you’re spending about a third of your waking hours at work, you may have lots to say.

Some good questions are:

• What work do/did you do?
• Do/did like your job? Why or why not?
• What is your dream job?
• What work is common in your city/area/country?
• What is your general view about work? Why?

Food is possibly the most universal topic of them all and everyone loves to discuss what they eat. Food-themed ESL activities are always a hit with students.

This is also an ideal topic for beginners because the vocabulary is usually pretty simple. You could use questions like:

• What is your favorite food? Why?
• What food do you eat a lot?
• What food comes from your country?
• How do you feel when you eat food?
• What foods do you dislike? Why?
• Where do you usually get food from?

This is a topic that many people get very excited about. If someone is passionate or emotional about a topic, they can be more motivated to speak and understand things related to it.

A few good example questions are:

• Do you like sports? Why/why not?
• How often do you exercise/play sports?
• Did you play any sports as a child?
• What sport/physical activity is popular in your country?
• What is your opinion on professional sports?

As people get older, their perceived value of time increases, so it’s a practical topic that everyone has something to say about.

You could ask questions like:

• How much free time do you usually have?
• How important is time to you?
• If you had more free time, what would you do?
• “Time is money.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• How do you feel about time that is wasted?

As people get older, they start to appreciate a good night’s sleep more and more. This topic is often a favorite.

Some example questions are:

• How much sleep do you usually get?
• Why do some people sleep well while other people do not sleep well?
• What do you do when you have trouble sleeping?
• What time do you usually go to sleep? What time do you usually get up?
• Have you ever slept in a strange place that was not a bed?

Everybody loves music and most people feel very strong emotions toward it—especially when it comes to the music that they love (or hate) most. Some simple questions to ask could be:

• What types of music do you like/dislike?
• How do certain kinds of music make you feel?
• What types of music come from your country?
• What’s your favorite song/album/artist?
• What music is popular in your country right now?

Listening to music with English lyrics can be fun and engaging activity that can also start conversations.

Watching music videos with subtitles will help students remember the vocabulary they hear in a song.

Television is one of those topics that everyone has an opinion about.

TV will enable you to showcase native English forms and provide some great context before diving into discussion questions. Good questions include:

• How often do you watch TV?
• Should everyone have a television in their home?
• What is the best way to watch television: On a television set, computer, tablet or phone?
• What television programs are popular in your country?
• What do you think will be the future of television?
• What is your opinion on television?
• If you had your own TV show, what would it be like?

If your students enjoy learning from TV and other native content, you can try a media-focused resource like FluentU .

This website and app teaches English with authentic videos, including clips from TV shows, news segments and commercials.

The video dictionary also links to other videos that use the word for additional context. Students can also take quizzes based on the videos and their flashcard learning.

The pop-culture content on FluentU is more interesting to students than more traditional materials, and it increases the motivation to understand the dialogue.

Authentic media lets students hear English the way native speakers use it and helps them recall the meanings of words better by creating memorable associations with stories and characters.

The FluentU program is available both for schools and for individual learners .

Like television, movies are a popular conversation topic. I mean, who doesn’t watch movies? A few good questions to be asked could be:

• What was the last movie you saw? How was it?
• What is your favorite movie? Why?
• How are the movies in your country? What are the best ones?
• How often do you watch movies in English?
• If there were a movie about your life, what kind of movie would it be? Why?

Travel can be a great discussion topic – it encourages storytelling in the past tense and inspires students to talk about culture and similar topics.

Here are some possible questions:

• Where have you traveled?
• What countries have you been to?
• Where would you like to travel to in the future?
• When you travel, what safety precautions do you take?
• Do you like to prepare a lot before you travel, or just wing it?
• What are some cultural issues that you have experienced while traveling? Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories?

Talking about first dates gets everybody interested. We’ve all been there.

• How many first dates have you had?
• How do you feel about first dates?
• What is a common first date like in your country?
• What is the best/worst first date experience you’ve ever had?
• What makes a good first date in your opinion?

Everyone feels a certain way about risk. Some are risk-oriented, others are risk-averse. Talking about risks seems to generate some good conversation. You could ask questions like:

• What is your definition of risk?
• Are you a risk taker? Why/why not?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of taking risks?
• What risks do you come across in your work/life?
• What risks have you taken in your life?

Whether or not the students are a motivated bunch, motivation is a good topic to discuss in order to inspire your students.

• How motivated are you in general?
• What motivates you to do things?
• What is the best motivator to succeed?
• What do you do when you feel unmotivated?
• What is a good way to motivate others?

Anyone can appreciate beauty in all its forms, and anyone can recognize the importance of the concept of beauty in our cultures, societies and behaviors.

This makes it a good topic to discuss to get some opinions and various views within a group.

• What is “beauty”?
• What/who do you consider beautiful?
• What does “inner beauty” mean to you?
• Do you consider artificial beauty (cosmetic surgery) to still be beauty? Why/why not?
• How do you feel about the emphasis that people put on beauty these days?
• What would you tell your children about beauty?

Crime may not be on the top of people’s lists of favorite topics but it’s something that’s talked about.

Depending on someone’s life experiences, it may be something that has affected their lives. Learning to discuss it could help in the long run.

Good discussion questions are:

• Is crime a big problem in your city/country?
• Have you ever been a victim of crime?
• What crime is common in your city/country?
• What would you do if you noticed a crime being committed?
• How is the law enforcement in your city/country?

Most people have had some firsthand experience with love that they’d like to talk about. It’s another one of those universal topics that gets the conversation going.

Even if it’s not about romantic love and heartbreak, students can talk about familial love with their parents and children, as well as love between friends.

Questions like these are good:

• What is love?
• Who/what do you love?
• What good/bad experiences have you had with love?
• Can you be too young to be in love? Why/why not?
• How do you feel about love?

We all have goals and talking about them actually gets us more encouraged to do something about them. Sharing goals is also a good way to help get them achieved.

A good set of questions is:

• What are your current goals in life?
• How do you plan to reach your goals?
• How often do you set goals for yourself?
• What goals have you set and achieved in the past?
• How do you feel when you reach your goals?

We all have dreams, sometimes on a nightly basis, and they can make for a great discussion topic as it inspires students to be creative and even whimsical.

Great questions for this topic include:

• What kinds of dreams do you have?
• What do you think dreams mean?
• How much of your dreams do you remember? Why?
• What is your opinion on premonitions? Are they real?
• What are examples of memorable dreams you have had?

Along with eating, people love talking about their favorite eateries and restaurants. Some students might even relate to each other with their choices and views.

Good questions include:

• How often do you go to restaurants?
• What is your favorite restaurant? Why?
• What do you usually order at a restaurant?
• What is the restaurant experience like in your country?
• Have you ever worked in a restaurant?
• If you owned a restaurant, what kinds of food would you serve?

Cooking is another topic that may allow for some good conversation. Most people in most countries do a good amount of cooking.

A few good questions could be:

• In your home, who usually cooks?
• How often do you cook?
• How well do you cook? What can you cook well?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of cooking?
• What food would you like to learn how to cook?

Recipes can be a fun way to introduce students to assorted cooking vocabulary and phrases. And in addition to written recipes, there are tons of recipe videos on the web if you want to work on listening comprehension as well.

FluentU has lots of videos about food and cuisine, as well as several captioned recipe videos.

If there is one topic that affects everyone, it has to be money. People love talking about money.

Well, they may not if they’re broke—but even then it’s a relatable topic that gets conversations going.

Great questions include:

• How well do you manage your money?
• Why do some people have money problems?
• What are some good ways to make money?
• What would you do if I gave you $20/$2,000/$2,000,000?
• How often do you save money? Why?

This one is a personal favorite for many. Shopping just brings out the zest in some people.

Others feel strongly the other way—very few people are completely neutral on this topic.

A few good questions are:

• Do you enjoy shopping? Why/why not?
• What is your favorite shop? Why?
• In your city, where is a good place to go shopping?
• How do you feel about online shopping?
• What do you think shopping will be like in the future?

Everybody makes plans and discussing them could even influence the class to start making plans of their own! A few example questions include:

• How often do you plan things? Why?
• What are your plans for (________)?
• What are your plans for your English?
• What do you think of this quote? “Having no plan is a plan to fail.”
• Do you have any back-up plans?

Books make for a good conversation topic because most people enjoy a good book.

When you read, your mind is filled with new images, feelings, ideas and thoughts. It can be immensely satisfying for someone to share how they feel about reading.

Some questions to ask are:

• Do you like books/reading? Why/why not?
• What kind of books do/did you like?
• What is your favorite book? Why?
• What was the last book you read?
• Do you believe reading books/literature is more important than reading stuff online? Why/why not?

Life discussions go on in all languages and English is no exception.

Life is a good topic since everyone has their own views and thoughts on this universal subject.

You could bring up questions like:

• What is the meaning of life?
• How is your life going up to this point?
• What do you think happens after death?
• What important life lessons have you learned?
•  If tomorrow was your last day to live, what would you do?

Learning is like nature—it’s all around us, even on a subconscious level. Our brains are built to absorb, filter and store information.

A conversation about learning could actually stimulate some English learning!

A few questions that are suitable are:

• How important is learning? Why?
• Besides English, what are you currently learning?
• What things are you good/bad at learning? Why?
• What would you most like to learn?
• What is the most difficult part of learning? Why?

Games are fun and everybody enjoys fun, no?

But in all seriousness, talking about games tends to gear the conversation more toward past tense, which can bring students a fond sense of nostalgia.

Some simple questions could be:

• What is your favorite game ever?
• What games did you play as a kid?
• What games are popular/came from your country?
• How competitive are you when it comes to games?
• What games do you still play now? Why?

It’s hard to go a day without talking about computers. This universal topic could have students discussing quite a few things, much of which could relate to real life too!

Great questions on this could be:

• Describe your computer at home/work.
• What do you usually use a computer for?
• Do you like computers? Why/why not?
• What was the first computer you ever had like?
• What do you think will be the future of computers?

Even though nobody likes to talk about problems per se, everybody still talks about their problems to other people!

Problems are actually a good topic for discussion since they could help others relate to each other and even present solutions too.

A few fine examples of questions are:

• How do you deal with your problems?
• What problems do you come across in your work or life?
• Do you feel that problems are opportunities? Why or why not?
• What was the last problem you solved and how did you do it?
• “Problems don’t matter. Solutions do.” Do you agree or disagree?

Discussion questions like the ones above—questions about everyday things—work well because they really get the brain thinking.

These topics relate directly to students on a familiar level and can even spark some fascinating discussions.

You could even mix up the example questions any way you’d like.

These topics may even inspire you to come up with some of your own, as you begin to understand what works and what doesn’t.

Happy discussing!

For more tips, check out this post next: 

Wondering how to teach ESL to adults? While your lessons might be a bit less chaotic than with younger students, they don’t have to be dull or boring. Everyone enjoys…

Related posts:

Enter your e-mail address to get your free pdf.

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

 English Discussion on  Education

 esl discussions.com.

   HOME: More Discussions

   PDF | Word | Help my site

THE DISCUSSION ON EDUCATION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to Student B.)

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to Student A.)

Copyright © 2008-2023 by Sean Banville | Privacy Policy | Links

Improve your English. Speak with confidence!

• Free Mini Course

• Posted in in ESL Conversation Questions

100+ ESL discussion topics for every English level

• Posted by by Cameron Smith
• Updated 1 year ago

Struggling to come up with the right ESL discussion topics for your lesson plans? In this guide, we’ve included a list of 100+ ESL discussion topics along with our best tips and tricks for choosing the right topic for every English level.

You’ll also find links to printable lists of ESL conversation questions for each of the conversation topics below. If you use these lists to save time and choose the right conversation starter for each class, you’ll find that the conversation possibilities are endless.

List of ESL discussion topics

• AI and Artificial Intelligence
• Daily Routine
• Environment
• Football & Soccer
• Friends & Friendship
• Intelligence
• Games & Gaming
• Gender & Gender Roles
• Small Business
• Social Media
• The Olympic Games

What are ESL discussion topics?

ESL discussion topics are teaching tools that help English learners practice their speaking skills. It’s important to select suitable-but-interesting discussion topic for your students if you’d like to facilitate engaging conversation in your classroom.

ESL discussion topics vs ESL conversation questions: what’s the difference?

ESL discussion topics are discussion categories whereas ESL conversation questions are lists of questions that focus on a particular discussion topic. Discussion topics and conversation questions go hand in hand ; you will need to choose a discussion topic and to formulate conversation questions based on that topic for your students.

How to choose the right ESL discussion topics for your classroom

Choosing the right ESL discussion topics for your lessons is an art unto itself. You’ll need to consider consider the following criteria before creating your speaking lesson plans.

• English Level. Basic discussion topics for beginners. Advanced discussion topics for experienced English students.
• Age. Some topics are better suited to younger English students, while other topics are better suited to Adult learners.
• Culture. Cultural norms may rule out . For example, if it is culturally unacceptable to discuss relationships or money in public, then these discussion topics should be avoided.
• Conflict and Controversy. Some discussion topics may . For example, politics and religion. Of course, healthy debate is possible! But if you wish to avoid conflict and controversy in the classroom, then it may be better to avoid these discussion topics altogether.

What is a good topic for ESL students to discuss?

The best topic for ESL students to discuss will depend on each student’s English level and other factors that we listed above. Here are some discussion topic suggestions with links to printable conversation questions for each topic.

ESL discussion topics for beginner students

• Countries  

ESL discussion topics for intermediate students

• Fashion and Clothes
• The Olympics

ESL discussion topics for advanced students

• Dating, Relationships, and Marriage
• AI & Artificial Intelligence

ESL discussion topics for children and teenage students

Esl discussion topics for adult learners, what are some controversial esl discussion topics.

• Football and Soccer
• Gender and Gender Roles

List of ESL discussion topics books

Want to save yourself some time? ESL discussion topics books can reduce the amount of planning you need to do before class. These books contain lists of printable ESL discussion topics and conversation questions that can be used to facilitate English speaking practice with your students.

The best ESL discussion topics books are:

• 500 Grammar Based Conversation Questions
• 67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More
• 1005 ESL Conversation Questions: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want to Have Better TEFL Speaking and Conversation Classes

What are your students’ favorite ESL discussion topics?

Every English learning group is different. And some classes tend to prefer certain English discussion topics over others.

Whether you’re asking students to practice English with another conversation partner or engaging entire classrooms in speaking practice exercises, yow are you choosing ESL conversation topics for each of the groups that you teach? And what topics are they responding to the most?

Share your experiences in the comments below. And tell us how you’re using ESL discussion topics in the classroom.

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith is an English Communication Coach based in Vancouver, Canada. He's the founder of Learn English Every Day, and he's on a mission to help millions of people speak English with confidence. If you want longer video content, please follow me on YouTube for fun English lessons and helpful learning resources!

Post navigation

1500+ ESL conversation questions for your classroom

• April 17, 2023

25 ESL conversation questions about religion

• April 20, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

50 ESL Conversation Topics for Adult Students.

For adult ESL learners, the ability to converse comfortably in English is not only a skill but a gateway to opportunities and connections.

Perfect for teachers and learners alike, these starters promise to invigorate your English classes and practice sessions.

Conversation in Adult Language Learning

These learners often bring a wealth of life experience to their language journey, and conversational practice provides a platform to share these perspectives, making learning more relevant and engaging.

By focusing on conversation, we not only improve fluency but also bridge cultural gaps, build confidence and make friends.

How to Use Adult ESL Conversation Topics

50 conversation topics for adult learners.

From discussing global issues to sharing personal achievements, these conversation starters are designed to cater to a wide range of interests and provoke thoughtful dialogue.

Adult ESL Conversation Starters

Facilitating engaging discussions.

Use these conversations as opportunities to teach nuances of language, cultural references, and varied expressions.

Benefits of Regular Conversation Practice

It’s not just about fluency; it’s about the ability to express thoughts, opinions, and emotions effectively in a new language.

Regular practice also sharpens listening skills and improves pronunciation , making it an invaluable tool in learning English

Creating a Community of Learners

Creating a community atmosphere helps in reducing anxiety and makes language practice a more enjoyable and supportive experience.

More ESL Conversation Topics

Don’t forget to download the full list and start exploring the endless possibilities of language learning today.

Additional Resources

Share this:, making english fun, similar posts, grade 2 and 3: christmas reading passages, what is the difference between 12 am and 12 pm, free pre – k dolch sight word worksheets – ‘for’, free sight word worksheets – ‘one’, separate or seperate which spelling is correct, free printable grade 2 sight word worksheet – “its”, always welcome thoughts and comments, new blogs can be lonely cancel reply.

Check out our Premium Products in the shop today Dismiss

Discover more from Making English Fun

EnglishPost.org

The Largest Library of ESL Conversation Questions

ESL Classroom Conversations

Speaking is a skill that teachers want their students to develop, one of the ways to improve their speaking skills is by asking learners to think about relevant questions.

Relevant ESL Questions

Making relevant questions strengthens the learning process, fosters a stronger sense of participation, and helps learners become more involved in the learning process.

Wordwall Games

If you need to use ESL conversation questions, you might want to give these Wordwall games to make your communication classes even more interactive.

In this post, you will finds tips to help you use discussion questions in the classroom, a sample of different conversation and the catalogue of all ESL questions by topics.

How to use These ESL Conversation Questions

Using conversation questions in the classroom has lots of benefits:

• Teachers can provide conversation questions to students in advance so students have time to think about it after classes. This is recommended when you are teaching low-level students.
• Students can make groups and practice with their peers in classes so they can learn about their weaknesses and strengths when interacting with others.
• Teachers can reduce teacher talking time since students are the ones doing the interaction with others. Teachers can make contributions to the conversation but they don’t have an active role in them.

ESL Conversation Game

I have chosen different ESL conversation questions from different categories and included them in this set.

Conversation Questions by Topic

These are some examples of ESL Conversation Questions by topic that you can use right but remember that you will find posts that explore these topics and other topics thoroughly

Let’s begin with sports

• Who is your favorite soccer team?
• Who do you think will win the next World Cup?
• Who is the best soccer player in the world right now?
• What is your favorite soccer memory?
• Have you ever met a sports celebrity?
• Would you like to play sport for a living?
• Have yo ever attended a soccer match?

Time to discuss movies

• How often do you watch movies?
• How often do you go to the movies?
• Do you usually watch movies on pirate sites?
• What’s better for you? Going to the theaters or streaming a movie at home?
• What do you think about superhero movies?
• Have you ever cried during a film?
• Have you watched any Tarantino movies?

Time to talk about Dreams

• Do you remember your dreams?
• Do you try to interpret your dreams?
• Do dreams have any influence on your life?
• Do dreams influence desires and thoughts?
• Do your dreams ever affect your moods?
• Do dreams predict the future?

These are some conversation questions about minimalism :

• What’s minimalism?
• Do you know people who try to live a minimalist life?
• How can you simplify your life?
• Do you accumulate a lot of stuff?
• What aspects of minimalism don’t you like?
• What are some of the benefits of living a minimalist life?
• Are you trying to live a minimalist life?

Let’s explore what some of your favorite things are:

• What’s your favorite food?
• What’s your favorite fast-food restaurant?
• What’s your favorite kind of music?
• What is your favorite kind of movie?
• What’s your favorite department store?
• What’s your favorite anime?
• What are some of your favorite YouTube channels?

Let’s analyze hypothetical situations

• What would you do if somebody stole your car?
• What would you do if you saw a man trying to steal your car?
• Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
• If you were powerful enough to change the world, what would you change?
• If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?

Check these “have you ever conversation questions”

• Have you ever lost your wallet?
• Have you ever shot a gun?
• Have you been abroad?
• Have you ever broken a bone?
• Have you ever skipped classes?
• Have you ever had a car accident?
• Have you ever get lost in a mountain?

Love is a very powerful thing

• How do you define love?
• Can you define love in 5 words?
• How romantic are you?
• Have you been in love?
• How can you be sure that you love someone?
• Do you love someone?

These are some questions to talk about how often you do things.

• How often do you go to the cinema?
• How often do you play soccer?
• How often do you watch horror movies?
• How often do you Play video games?
• How often do you go running?
• How often do you go to bed past midnight?

Let’s learn about your thoughts on Thanksgiving

• What do you know about Thanksgiving?
• Is Thanksgiving celebrated in your country?
• What foods do you usually eat for Thanksgiving?
• What time do people start eating during Thanksgiving?
• What do you do after Thanksgiving dinner?

I love different types of entertainment, how about you?

• What were some of the TV Shows or cartoons that you watched when you were a child?
• Who don’t you like to be with while watching television?
• What is your favorite TV Show character?
• Do you watch soap operas? Does anyone in your family do it? If so who?
• What do you think about sports channels?

Let’s talk about social media

• What social networks do you usually use?
• What social networks did you use to have?
• How much time do you spend on social media?
• What are some benefits of having social networks in our lives?
• What are some bad points of having social networks?

You love music, don’t you?

• What kind of music do you like?
• What type of music do you dislike?
• How often do you like to music?
• Where do you listen to music?
• Do you listen to music on Spotify?
• Do you usually go to concerts?
• Have you ever paid for Spotify or YouTube Music Premium?

Let’s talk about friendship

• Are you a social person?
• What’s a friend?
• What makes a good friend?
• What makes a bad friend?
• Do you make friends easily?
• Have you ever met a person and become friends very quickly?

Are you scared about Death?

• What do you believe happens to us after we die?
• How do you think death affects those left behind?
• Are your life-after-death beliefs linked to a particular religion?
• How do you think our understanding of death has changed over time?

Latest Posts

ESL Conversation Questions Collection

These are the latest updated or published ESL conversation question posts so you can make the most out of your speaking classes.s

30 Hotel Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

These and other questions about hotels is what you will find in this post so you can have a good classroom conversation in the ESL classroom

Advertising Discussion Questions for the ESL Classroom

Advertising Discussion Questions for the ESL Classroom: Do you think there are too many ads in television?, Do you buy products because of advertising?

Website Conversation Questions for Classroom Use

Website Discussion Questions: What is the purpose or goal of your website? , How frequently do you update your website, and why?

Learning English Discussion Questions

In this post, we will explore some common questions about learning English. How long have you been learning English?

Challenges Discussion Questions for the ESL Classroom

Whether you’re currently facing a challenge or not I hope these challenge discussion questions help you and make you think

Video Games Conversation Questions for Classroom Use

examples of video games conversation questions: What are some of your favorite video games? – What could be the positive effects of gaming?

Discussion Questions about Names

Discussion Questions about Names: Do you think names shape our personality? – Will you ever change your name? – How did you choose your children’s names?

Personality Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

Personality Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom: Are you more of an introvert or extrovert in social situations?, How do you express your creativity?

TikTok Conversation Questions for Classroom Use

TikTok Conversation Questions for Classroom Use: What type of content creators do you follow? , What are some concerns or criticisms of TikTok?,

Appearance Conversation Questions for Classroom Use

In this post, we will be discussing a variety of questions related to physical appearance, including self-perception, societal norms, and body image.

Discussion Questions about Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence Discussion Questions: Do you think AI will create more job opportunities?, What advancements in AI do you foresee in the next decade?

Swimming Conversation Questions

Here you will find all the swimming discussion questions you need to have a great conversation with your classmates and friends: How often do you swim?

Questions about Procrastination for an Insightful Discussion

Questions about Procrastination: Do you consider yourself a procrastinator? Do social media prevent you from completing assignments?

Questions about Stereotypes for an Insightful Discussion

Questions about Stereotypes for an Insightful Discussion: What is an stereotype?, How is your country stereotyped?, Do you stereotype people?

Valentine’s Day Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

Valentine’s Day Conversation Questions: hat is Valentine’s Day? – Do you believe in love at first sight? – What is Valentine’s Day like for singles?

ESL Discussion Questions about Luck

Discussion Questions about Luck: 1. Do you believe in luck? – Are you a lucky person? – How do you differentiate between luck and probability?

ESL Discussion Questions about Respect

ESL Questions About Respect: 1. What does respect mean to you? 2. How do you show respect to your family 3- How can parents teach respect?

Conversation Questions about Pets for the ESL Classroom

Conversation or discussion questions about pets: Do you own a pet? Are you a dog person or a cat? Have you ever had a rabbit as a pet?

Discussions Questions about Happiness

In this post, we will explore a series of questions that delve into happiness, encouraging students to articulate their experiences, and perspectives.

Stress Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

Let’s learn some more about stress and have a conversation that can help you learn more about this topic

Conversation Questions about Ethics

Conversation questions about ethics: What is your definition of ethics?, When is stealing justifiable?, Should there be limits on free speech?

Questions about Money for the ESL Classroom

Conversation Questions about Money: How do you keep track of your expenses?, How do you save money?, How do you feel about mortgages?

Conversation Questions About Death to Get You Thinking

Questions about death: What do you believe happens to us after we die?, How do you think death affects those left behind?, Are you scared of death?

Questions about Countries for the ESL Classroom

Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom. What country would you like to visit? What country would you like to live in and why?

Questions about Lies for the ESL Classroom

In this post, we will provide a list of thought-provoking questions that can be used to spark discussion and reflection among ESL students on the topic of lying

Would you Ever Questions for the ESL Classroom

This is my list of the best Would you Ever Conversation Questions for the ESL classroom: Would you ever try skydiving?, Would you ever go on a safari?

Conversation Questions: Are you Good At…?

Are you good at…? conversation questions for the ESL Classroom: Are you good at making people laugh? , Are you good at swimming?

Would you Rather Questions for ESL Conversations

Improve your ESL conversations with fun and thought-provoking Would You Rather questions. Questions Perfect for ESL students of all levels.

List of Controversial Questions for ESL Conversations

In this post, we will be providing a compilation of controversial questions that can be used to spark interesting and engaging conversations

50 Sport Conversation Questions

Sports Conversation Questions are a great way to generate conversation since most people like some type of sport whether is mainstream or not.

Movies Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

Conversation Questions about movies seem like the right way to start since conversation questions maximize student talking time.

Discussion Questions about Soccer

Discussion Questions about Soccer: Why do soccer players fake injuries?, Who is your favorite soccer player? Do you want to attend the next world cup?

Discussion Questions about Colors

Questions about colors: What color is your favorite? What are the colors of your clothes in your closet? How many colors can you name on a rainbow?

Discussions Questions about Honesty

Questions about Honesty: What’s your definition of honesty?, Is it ever okay to lie?, How do you know when you can trust someone?

Discussion Questions about Languages

Questions about Languages: What language is spoken the most in your country?, Do you have a second language in your country?

50 Discussion Questions about Crime

These are all important questions about crime to discuss with your students so let’s keep exploring: Is your country a safe country?,Have you ever been robbed?

Beach Conversation Questions

List of beach conversation questions: When was the last time you went to the beach?, What beach did you go to?, Who did you go to the beach with?

Christmas Conversation Questions

These are some good questions so you can have a conversation about Christmas with your students, family or friends. Do you go to Christmas parties?

Discussion Questions about Dreams

In this post you will find the best questions to have a conversation about dreams with your students and friends. Do dreams predict the future?.

Conversation Questions about Books

Here are some questions about books that you and your friends will enjoy. Do you give books as presents?, Do you enjoy reading aloud?

70 Questions about Love: Dating & Marriage

In this post, you will find all the questions that you need to know and answer to have a meaningful conversation about love.

50 Questions about Minimalism for Classroom Discussions

These are some great and interesting questions about minimalism so you can have an interesting discussion with your students or Friends

Discussion Questions about Fashion and clothing

Here are a few more questions about fashion and clothing to have an interesting conversation around the topic

Discussion Questions about Shopping

The questions below can be used to discuss the positive and negative things about shopping. How often do you go shopping?

Discussion Questions about God for the ESL Classroom

These are the best discussion questions about God to make sure that you have an interesting conversation with friends and classmates.

100 Great Health Conversation Questions

This is a list of health conversation questions that you can use to promote speaking in the English classroom. Have you ever had an accident?

40 Thanksgiving Conversation Questions

In this post, you will find the best Thanksgiving conversation questions. What are you most thankful for? what did you enjoy the most about this year?

100 Getting to Know You Questions

These are some of the questions that you can include in getting to know you conversation activities. Do you want a family of your own?, How often do you go out?

100 Conversation Questions about Careers and Jobs

The duration of a job may range from temporary to a lifetime. These are some common questions to have an interesting conversation about careers and jobs

30 Technology Discussion Questions

In this post, you will find the most common questions that people have about technology. What are some computer operating systems?

Discussion Questions about Feminism

These are some common questions to discuss what feminism is and possibly understand it better. What is a feminist? Do you call yourself a feminist?

Discussion Questions about Goals

Let’s explore some of the most common questions about goals to have an interesting discussion with your students and friends

30 Social Networks Conversation Questions

These questions explore what social media is exactly and how it affects our lives today. Should a minor use Facebook? Is Facebook safe for minors?

Discussion Questions about Transportation

Questions about transportation can range from simple to complicated, but there are constant questions within every field. Some frequently asked questions

Discussion Questions about Poverty

Here are some questions about poverty for you to know more about those people who do not have enough resources for food, shelter, or a job.

50 Conversation Questions About Celebrities

in this post, you will find the best discussion questions to have a great conversation about celebrities. What celebrities do you follow?

My List of Favorite Questions

In this post, you will find tips and ideas to have an interesting conversation around your favorite questions

32 Immigration Discussion Questions

In this, we will learn more about immigration terminology and some common questions people have regarding this topic.

Discussion Questions about Religions

This blog post will explore questions about religions to help us understand why most people feel inclined to join one of them

50 Conversation Questions about Computers

Let’s explore what you know and how much you know about computers with this comprehensive list of questions

50 Holidays Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

In this blog post, you will find the most common questions people ask about holidays! What’s your favorite holiday? What holiday food do you like?

30 Great Black Friday Conversation Questions

These are some pretty good questions to have a great conversation about what Black Friday means to you and other people.

30 Discussion Questions about Pollution

Let’s raise awareness about the problems that pollution is causing with the help of the questions about the different types of pollution.

30 Nature Conversation Questions

These are the best questions about nature to help you have a great conversation in the classroom, What’s deforestation?, What’s forest degradation?

Discussion Questions about Hobbies

In this blog post you will find the most interesting questions about hobbies for you to have an interesting conversation in the ESL classroom

Discuss Questions about the Environment

Questions about the environment can raise awareness about the importance of protecting the planet we live in.

50 Conversation Questions about Entertainment

In this blog post you will find the most interesting questions about entertainment for you to have an interesting conversation in the ESL classroom

50 Personal Information Questions for the ESL Classroom

You need to know personal information questions to learn more about others and create relationships.

70 Conversation Questions about Family

In this post, you will find lots of family conversation questions to have interesting conversations.

70 Food Conversation Questions

These food conversation questions will help you and your learners to engage in an interesting conversation.

70 Music Conversation Questions

In this post, you will find lots of questions about music to have interesting conversations in the ESL classroom.

50 Have You Ever Conversation Questions

In this post you will find lots of have you ever conversation questions that can help you promote conversations in the ESL classroom.

70 School Conversation Questions

In this post you will find the school conversation questions you need to make ESL classroom conversations more interactive

50 Friends Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

In this post, you will find some friends conversation questions, very useful sets to help spark a classroom conversation

25 Neighborhood Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom

A Neighborhood, is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town, suburb or rural area.

60 Travel Conversation Questions

One of the dreams that people have is to travel around the world and know more places, meet new people and enjoy some adventures.

50 Questions about Facebook for ESL Classroom Discussions

Questions about Facebook can help teachers listen to opinions about a topic which is familiar to all of us

30 Great Mass Media Conversation Questions

Mass Media General Questions · Should media outlets be punished for false information? · How can the media be helpful to people? Do you listen to podcasts?

• Imagen de pikisuperstar en Freepik
• Image by Freepik
• Imagen de pch.vector en Freepik

250+ Fun conversation topics

Conversation topics.

If you are looking for something to talk about or a specific discussion subject, then you are in the right place! Here are hundreds of conversation topics with thousands of questions on all manner of things. You are pretty much guaranteed to find a theme of discourse that you like.

Originally these conversation topics and their questions were designed for English learning activities but they have since evolved to become a comprehensive list that can be used by all English speakers. They can be used amongst friends, family, work colleagues, dating partners, and anybody who just wants something to chinwag about.

By clicking on one of the desired topics below you will be brought to a related page that has questions on the subject. Each page also has a free printable PDF of conversation questions along with some ideas to supplement the discussion with things like idioms.

This list and its contents have taken several years to assemble and is ever expanding. It is hoped that you will find the themed questions both useful and engaging in your quest for meaningful communication!

The discussion topics have been arranged in alphabetical order to make it easy and straightforward to find what you are looking for. The list of topics has also been broken down into 3 separate sections to make it even easier to navigate.

Conversation Topics A - E

Advertising

Artificial Intelligence

Body language

Books and reading

Bucket list

Communication

Comparatives

Construction and building

Consumerism

Daily Routines

Decisions and choices

Desert Island

Electricity

Entertainment

Environment

Extreme sports

Conversation Topics F - N

Fall and Autumn

First conditional

Global warming

Health and sickness

Healthy living

Honesty and lies

How much how many

Motorcycles

Natural disasters

Natural wonders

Nuclear energy

Conversation Topics O - Z

Past continuous

Past perfect

Past simple

Personality

Photography

Phrasal verbs

Predictions

Present perfect

Restaurants

Social Media

South America

Superlatives

Superstition

Thanksgiving

Unemployment

Video games

Water Sports

Would you rather

Zero conditional

Notes on using the conversation topics

The sheer volume of discussion topics and related questions here means that you can find something that the person or people that you are talking to feel interested in and passionate about. This in itself gives you a head start in having a rich and enjoyable conversation.

Try to approach your chosen subject with some freedom. Not all the questions provided need to be asked, or debated. You should also try to add some more questions of your own and even put a twist on those provided to make them more appropriate for your audience.

The questions are not intended to be met with Yes/No responses or short simple answers. Try to ask follow-up questions and inquire more about the replies you are given to stimulate more discourse. The more language you exchange while you are speaking, the more successful and beneficial your conversation will be.

You might also like these

Free printable animal tracks matching game

Family Feud for the classroom

54 free pictionary cards (PDF)

Free ESL  and English teaching resources, no sign up required. Just find what you like, download it and head to class!

Privacy Policy

Share ESL Vault with your friends!

• Writing Worksheets
• Vocabulary Worksheets
• Pronunciation
• Kids worksheets
• Idioms and Expressions
• ESL Puzzles
• ESL Pair Work Activities
• ESL Conversation Questions
• Coloring Pages
• Articles, Lists and Ideas
• Art and Craft Activities

• Click here - to use the wp menu builder
• Debate Ideas

60 Controversial Discussion Topics with Teaching Ideas

Fostering discussion in the classroom is an age-old question for every teacher. For TEFL/ESL teachers the key is to bring real-world concerns into the classroom through debate. They get to talk about subjects that matter and you get to steer them with better vocab and expressions.

The key to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat is to use a variety of strategies to maintain the momentum of the discussion, and where possible, lead them to where they can maximize their own learning

Jump to the topic list: 60 Controversial Discussion Topics with Teaching Ideas

6 tips to teach controversial subjects in the ESL classroom

1. do they know the topic.

Before proposing a debate/discussion topic it is probably best to make sure the students know something about the topic beforehand. Are you able to provide supporting material to get them thinking about the topic? Using Youtube, newspaper cutouts, and audio broadcasts (think Soundcloud) to inform them . But even so, if you are teaching adult or more mature students, they might be able to inform each other. You could be surprised by what they already know, given their own life experiences. Encourage them to volunteer information and have them share what they may have already read.

2. Let both sides be heard

Everyone has their own biases and during a classroom discussion try not to let your own opinions manifest themselves . Your role as the moderator requires you to be impartial while moving the discussion along. Bringing in all views and opinions keeps the talk fast-moving and engages all the students. Allow for time for each point to be explored and give time for students to think of a counter-point . As the debate rages on don’t forget to seed new vocabulary and phrases when they need it.

3. Encourage discussion

Once each side of the debate has been made known you can use comprehension check questions to ensure the students have understood the core of the debate. If your debate topics are about cloning you can ask the following questions; Are designer babies needed? The answer would be ‘no’. Could they be made? The answer would be ‘yes’. Before the ‘main debate’ you can have students gather into groups and create a list of points to support their side of the topic. Once completed they should be able to take part in a class debate as they have a working understanding of the issues. If you feel they are not confident enough to do this then they can remain in groups and as a class simply review the points. You can use word maps and debating phrases while you do this. Lastly, don’t forget to step in if two students dominate the discussion or seem to bully others. Don’t be afraid to take control when needed.

4. Let your opinion be known

Once the students have had their turn you can try to give your ‘final thought’, this can be a combination of the most appropriate answer to the topic or simply what your personal view is. You would be surprised by how revealing your own viewpoint can simply polarise the students or make them jump aboard your train of thought. By letting the students show their opinions first reduces the pressure to conform to their teacher’s point of view. This strategy eliminates this common student dilemma. Stress the importance of standing within your own truth and having them feel comfortable expressing their own ideas. Giving them the freedom and support to be themselves can help them acquire newfound confidence.

5. Make a case

Sometimes thinking abstractly about an idea that has no real bearing on your life is daunting – especially in a time-sensitive environment, like a class. To help things move along you can use case studies. A good case study is unambiguous and has a clear line of logic. Case studies bring the topic to life and allow for a more realistic representation of choices that people have made. It is also a great way to have students share their thoughts through the lens of their own lives. How would women and men, Westerners and Easterners, and city folk and country folk view the topic?

6. Oxford Style debating

Now that you have heard all possible thoughts on the subject you can now return to the original question presented to the group. Now, taking a leaf out of the Oxford Style of debating you can have students think about how their opinion has changed over the course of the class. By comparing their ‘before’ and ‘after’ viewpoints they can become more aware of how discussion can sway or persuade them.

• Using animals for medical research should be continued.
• Gay marriage is wrong (free starter debate available:How People React to Gay Adoptions)
• Women will never be equal to men in the workplace .
• You can’t have a happy family life and a successful career at the same time .
• Marriage is an outdated institution .
• Citizens should be allowed to carry guns (free starter debate available: Gun violence) .
• The death penalty is acceptable in some extreme cases.
• Non-citizens should should be allowed to vote in the country of residence (this includes short term tourists).
• Sex education should be taught to children under 12 years of age .
• Women are not paid the same as men (30 Debates On Women and Gender Equality) .
• Bribery and corruption is acceptable [for either governments or for companies].
• Music which glorifies violence towards women should be banned.
• Condoms should be distributed in schools for free (junior schools).
• Nuclear weapons are a necessary weapon.
• Teachers should be allowed to carry guns.
• Sporting personalities earn too much money.
• Beauty contests should be banned.
• Cosmetic surgery should be outlawed.
• Social deprivation causes crime.
• Military service should be obligatory.
• War is never an option for solving international disputes.
• Torture can be acceptable in some cases.
• Curfews keep teens out of trouble.
• We are becoming too dependent on computers.
• Smoking should be banned worldwide.
• Single-sex schools are bad for childhood development (free starter debate available: Single-sex schools is good for education) .
• Homework is harmful.
• The United Nations is a failed organisation (premium lesson plan available: The United Nations).
• Intelligence tests should be given before couples can have children.
• A woman’s place is in the home.
• The internet must be censored to protect society.
• Genetically modified foods or GMOs have no ill effects on our health (premium lesson plan available: Genetically modified foods).
• A man should have a wife for the family and a mistress for pleasure.
• Soft drugs should be legalised.
• Electric cars do not help the environement. (free Starter Debate Are Electric Cars Environmentally Friendly? ).
• You will be happier if you stay unmarried .
• Software piracy is not really a crime.
• We do not really need religion.
• Veganism is the key to solving climage change.
• The police force is institutionally racist (Amazon book recommendation: Are British Police Institutionally Racist?: Memoirs of an Accused Conman ).
• Democracy must be imposed on nations.
• The war in Iraq was justified.
• Chinese style government is superior to western democracies.
• Your race affects your intelligence.
• The world is over populated and steps must be taken to reduce births.
• Euthanasia should be legal (free starter debate available: assisted suicide should be legal).
• Cloning is a valuable scientific cause
• Obesity is a disease and not a lifestyle choice
• Video games contribute to youth violence
• Drinking age should be lowered
• China will be a world superpower [this implies western countries have given their lunch for China to eat]
• Drugs should be accepted in sports
• Self-driving cars are not going to make our lives easier .
• Climate change does not exist.
• Carbohydrates are more damaging than fats.
• Terrorism can be justified. (premium lesson plan available: Terrorism)
• Prostitution should be legalised. (premium lesson plan available: prostitution should be legalised)
• Prenuptial agreements make families stronger.
• Corporal punishment should be allowed in schools.
• Prisoners should be allowed to vote.

Did you teach any of these topics? How was it for you? Share your lesson ideas and experiences below.

Need more ideas? Try  5 Sensitive Debate Topics and Why They Are a Taboo

Further reading

Words That Win: How to win the debates that matter

The Noisy Classroom: Developing Debate and Critical Oracy in Schools

The Slave Trade Debate: Contemporary Writings For and Against

RELATED ARTICLES

Navigating the AI Revolution: 45 Debating Topics on the Future of...

Debating the Future: 145 Debates Critical Conversations on Technology, Innovation, Privacy,...

Exploring Education: 92 Diverse Debate Topics for Critical Conversations Across Academia...

No comments, leave a reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Intermediate
• All Conversation Types Grammar  (1) Idioms and Phrases  (1) Videos  (2) Case Studies  (1) Reading  (3) Vocabulary  (79)
• All Topics Animals  (2) Books  (1) Business  (16) Children  (4) Education  (8) Entertainment  (1) Environment  (1) Exercise  (1) Family  (3) Food and Drink  (1) Health  (7) History  (1) Internet  (9) Languages  (1) Law and Order  (14) Leisure  (3) Life  (22) Money  (8) Movies  (1) Politics  (16) Random  (5) Relationships  (1) Religion  (1) Technology  (4) Shopping  (2) Spirituality  (2) Work  (13)
• All Levels Beginner  (55) Intermediate  (267) Advanced  (87)

Urban Gardening

Government Propaganda

Prostitution

Planet of The Apes

Affirmative Action

Overpopulation

Ethical Discussions

Unusual Conversation Questions

Procrastination

Unemployment Benefits

Raising Finance

Cultural Awareness

Student Loans

The Digital Workplace

Negative Questions

The Stress of Gen Z

Mugged at Knifepoint

Ponzi Scheme

Milk It Dry!

Florida’s School Book Ban