ESL Discussion Questions

ESL

DISCUSSION TOPICS

 

 

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh B. Fox III

 

 

1.0	COLORS
2.0	ANIMALS & PETS
3.0	BEAUTY AND PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS
4.0	CRIME & PUNISHMENT
5.0	FAME
6.0	EDUCATION
7.0	THE ENVIRONMENT
8.0	FASHION
9.0	MALE & FEMALE ROLES
10.0	MARRIAGE
11.0	THE MEDIA
12.0	SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
13.0	MARTIAL ARTS
14.0	MOVIE
15.0	EARTHQUAKES
16.0	ENGLISH LITERATURE
17.0	ENTERTAINEMENT
18.0	POLLUTION
19.0	SOCIETY
20.0	SPORT
21.0	TRADITIONS
22.0	TRANSPORT
23.0	TRAVEL
24.0	VIOLENCE
25.0	WORK
26.0	YOUTH & OLD AGE
27.0	ACCIDENTS AT HOME
28.0	ADOPTION
29.0	AIRPLANES
30.0	ANNOYING THINGS
31.0	ART
32.0	BEHAVIOR
33.0	CHARITY
34.0	CHILDREN
35.0	CITIES
36.0	CLOTHES & FASHION
37.0	FASHION STEREOTYPES
38.0	GHOSTS
39.0	SUPERSTITIONS
40.0	PSYCHICS, FORTUNETELLERS AND KNOWING THE FUTURE
41.0	THE UNEXPLAINED
42.0	UFOs
43.0	ALIENS
44.0	FEARS
45.0	COMICS
46.0	COMPUTER
47.0	CONFLICT
48.0	CRIME
49.0	CULTURE
50.0	DEATH
51.0	DIET
52.0	DISASTER
53.0	PREPARATIONS FOR A DISASTER
54.0	DISCRIMINATION
55.0	DREAMS
56.0	DRUGS
57.0	PERSONALITY
58.0	POLICE
59.0	MONEY
60.0	MOTIVATION

 

1.0	COLORS
1.1	What’s your favorite color?
1.2	Has your favorite color changed, as you’ve grown older?
1.3	Do you have a color that you hate?
1.4	Do you think colors affect your mood?
1.5	What’s a “black and white” matter?
1.6	What does it mean to “see red”?
1.7	What does it mean to “feel blue”?
1.8	What does it mean to “be yellow”?
1.9	What’s a “black tie affair”?
1.10	What does it mean to be “blacklisted”?
1.11	What does it mean to be “the black sheep in the family”?
1.12	What’s the best color for a car?
1.13	What’s the best color for a house?
1.14	What’s the color for passion?
1.15	What’s the color for hatred?
1.16	What’s the color for happiness?
1.17	What’s the color for sadness?
1.18	What’s the color for anger?
1.19	What’s the color for death?
1.20	What’s the color for jealousy?
1.21	What is the color of envy?
1.22	What’s the color for cowardice

 

2.0	ANIMALS & PETS
2.1	Are there animal rights groups where you live?
2.2	What kind of animals do humans ride?
2.3	Are you afraid of snakes?
2.4	Are you frightened of spiders?
2.5	Are your pet(s) healthy?
2.6	Can you name some endangered species?
2.7	Can you ride a horse?
2.8	Do you consider yourself an animal lover?
2.9	Do you ever go bird watching?
2.10	Do you ever talk to your pet? If so, what do you say?
2.11	Do you have a cat?
2.12	Do you have a dog? If so, what’s your dog’s name?
2.13	Do you have any pets?
2.14	Do you know anyone who has a horse?
2.15	Do you know anyone who keeps their dog in their house?
2.16	Do you know someone who owns an unusual pet?
2.17	Do you love your pet?
2.18	Do you prefer dogs or cats?
2.19	Do you talk to your pet sometimes?
2.20	Do you think it is acceptable to test cosmetics on animals?
2.21	How do you feel about the use of animals for medical research?

 

3.0	BEAUTY AND PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS
3.1	Who do you think is the most beautiful person in your country?
3.2	Who do you think is the most beautiful person alive today?
3.3	Who was the most beautiful person in history?
3.3	Who is the most attractive in your family?
3.5	Does beauty affect one’s success in life?
3.6	Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent?
3.7	Is it better to be physically attractive or wealthy?
3.8	Is beauty related to power?
3.9	Do people spend too much time and money on beauty?
3.10	How much time should be spent on making yourself look better each day?
3.11	Who would you say is beautiful that others maybe wouldn’t?
3.12	Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks?
3.13	If so what is the minimum age when someone should have plastic surgery?
3.13	How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
3.15	What is the most popular feature for cosmetic alteration?
3.16	Do you think self-esteem affects beauty?
3.17	Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
3.18	How important is beauty in your daily life?
3.19	Have you ever noticed anyone ever feeling pressured to be more beautiful?
3.20	What do you think of the proverb, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?”
3.21	Do you have any proverbs or idioms from your country about beauty?
3.22	What are some beauty tips that you could share?
3.23	How do you define beauty, using your own words?
3.23	Would you ever date someone who was not conventionally attractive?
3.25	What makes one person more attractive than another?
3.26	Do you think people from different countries than you see attractive the same way?
3.27	Is there someone famous that is considered beautiful, that you think is not?

 

4.0	CRIME & PUNISHMENT
4.1	Should the death penalty exist as a punishment for murder or terrorism?
4.2	Should the main purpose of prison be punishment or rehabilitation?
4.3	What is the best way to deal with juvenile crime such as joy-riding, vandalism and graffiti?
4.4	Is it ever right for political activists to break the law?
4.5	How strict should the law be with people who drink and drive?
4.6	Which is the more serious problem in your country – tax evasion or social security fraud?
4.7	Should the law respect the rights of homeless people to squat in unoccupied property or shop doorways?
4.8	Should smoking cannabis be a criminal offence?

 

5.0	FAME
5.1	Have you ever seen a celebrity in person? What did you do?
5.2	Which celebrity would you like to meet?
5.3	What would you do if you could spend a day with this person?
5.4	Do you think famous people have the right to have a private life?
5.5	Do you think it’s moral to sell your private life to the media?
5.6	Do you approve of people who become famous as a consequence of appearing again and again in the media and not because of having an artistic career?
5.7	What do you think of the paparazzi?
5.8	Why do you think there is such a high demand for gossip magazines and gossip TV programs?
5.5	What are the pros and cons of being a celebrity?
5.10	What do you think of fans and fan-clubs?
5.11	Did you have any heroes when you were a teenager?
5.12	Why do you think adolescents need to have heroes?

 

6.0	EDUCATION
6.1	Would you prefer to send your child to a mixed or single sex school?
6.2	Is day school always a better alternative to boarding school?
6.3	Should rich people be permitted to buy educational advantages by sending their children to private schools or should all schools be run by the state?
6.4	Should corporal punishment be permitted in schools?
6.5	Do you think the teacher should assign seats to students?
6.6	What kind of classroom setting is the best for you?
6.7	What are five things you like about your classroom?
6.8	What are five things you don’t like about your classroom?
6.9	What are five things you would like to change in your classroom?
6.6	Do you enjoy changing classrooms for different classes?
6.11	What is the ideal seating plan or arrangement in a classroom?
6.12	Is there any air-conditioning in your classroom?
6.12	Is your classroom a nice place to study?
6.14	Do you like the location of your desk in your classroom?

 

7.0	THE ENVIRONMENT
7.1	Does the environment belong principally to the human race?
7.2	Do your consumption habits destroy the habitats of other species?
7.3	Do you think that developers should be permitted to build big hotels and tourist complexes in the most beautiful places in your country?
7.4	Should the private motorist be made to pay more heavily through higher road tax, petrol prices, parking fees and motorway tolls?
7.5	Should cars be banned from city, town and village centers?
7.6	Are you for or against nuclear power?
7.7	Does your country need stricter laws to punish noisy neighbors or discos, which play loud music late at night?
7.8	Are your country’s seas, rivers and / or lakes clean to swim in?
7.9	What government and private campaigns are there in your country to protect and improve the environment? Are these campaigns motivated by concern for the lives and habitats of species other than our own?

 

8.0	FASHION
8.1	Have you ever bought something because it was fashionable? If so, what?
8.2	Does the fashion industry exist mainly to persuade people to spend money on things they do not really need?
8.3	Is fashion selfish in a world where many people have not got what they need?
8.4	Do you think fashion models should be used to sell products such as cars?
8.5	Some fashion models refuse to advertise products involving animal cruelty such as cosmetics and fur coats. Would you buy such products?
8.6	Would you like to be a fashion model if you were offered the opportunity?
8.7	Is your country famous for any fashion products?   Which ones?  How are they marketed?
8.8	Which countries have the best and worst fashions in clothes?
8.9	Which products advertised on TV in Britain/USA/Australia and in your country represent (a) women’s fashion (b) men’s fashion?

 

9.0	MALE & FEMALE ROLES
9.1	In your country, do women have equal opportunities in the work-place e.g. the same pay and promotion opportunities as men?
9.2	Is it easy for women to continue their careers after taking time off work to start a family?
9.3	Do companies provide day care?
9.4	Do parents and teachers in your country encourage girls and boys to grow up differently?
9.5	Do they play with the same toys?
9.6	Do they receive the same education at school and university?
9.7	Do you think women and men should perform the same or different roles?
9.8	Are men usually the breadwinners and women usually the homemakers in your country?
9.9	Are there any “women’s or men’s rights” groups in your country?

 

10.0	MARRIAGE
10.1	Are you for or against trial marriages i.e. living together outside marriage to test your compatibility?
10.2	Do you think that marriage should be for life?
10.3	Should divorce be made easier or more difficult?
10.4	Why do you think that the divorce rate has become so high in Taiwan and many other countries?
10.5	Is it better to marry someone of the same educational, social, cultural and racial background?
10.6	Is it better to marry someone of approximately the same age?
10.7	Should the man be older than the woman?
10.8	How important is the religious aspect of marriage to you?
10.9	Should it be legal to marry more than one partner at the same time?
10.10	Should it be legal to marry someone of the same sex?

 

11.0	THE MEDIA
11.1	Do reporters and photographers respect the private lives of famous people in your country?
11.2	How much freedom should the press be allowed by law?
11.3	Is the media in your country mainly owned by a few large monopolies?
11.4	Should the law allow ownership of several newspapers or TV channels?
11.5	Is there a bias towards any particular political party or interest group in your country’s media?
11.6	Should governments act to control the Internet or should it be uncensored?
11.7	Have you ever used the Internet? What did you use it for?

 

12.0	SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
12.1	Is science is more important than religion in today’s world?
12.2	What do you think are the main dangers of scientific advances?
12.3	What laws do you think we need to protect societies from these dangers?
12.4	Have computers changed society for the better or for the worse?
12.5	Are you computer literate? Which software applications do you know?
12.6	Did you have lessons in Science and Technology at school? Were they well taught?
12.7	Would you prefer your child to study Arts or Science subjects?
12.8	Do you think Science will (a) end the world (b) save the world or (c) do neither?
12.9	Are most scientists in your country working on defense assignments or on non-military projects?
12.10	Which invention would you most like to have invented?
12.11	Are there more men scientists than women scientists in your country? If so, why?

 

13.0	MARTIAL ARTS
13.1	Have you ever studied a martial art?
13.2	Can you name any Japanese/Chinese/Korean martial arts?
13.3	Which martial art is best in your opinion? Why?
13.4	Do you like fighting?
13.5	Do you often fight?
13.6	Have you ever been in a fight? Did you win?
13.7	Do you think it’s useful to study martial arts?
13.8	Who is your favorite kung fu movie actor/actress?
13.9	Do you like Hong Kong kung fu movies?
13.10	What is your favorite kung fu movie?
13.11	Do you know anything about martial arts history? What?
13.12	Do you think it’s important to preserve tradition in martial arts?
13.13	How many different kinds of kung fu have you heard of?
13.14	Do you know how to use any traditional weapons?
13.15	Which traditional weapon do you think is the coolest?
13.16	How does kung fu/tae kwon do/Aikido compare to western boxing?
13.17	Do you ever watch martial arts on TV?
13.18	Do you know any good martial arts websites?
13.19	Are there any martial arts schools in your area?
13.20	What’s the difference between traditional kung fu and modern wushu?
13.21	What age is best to start training in martial arts?
13.22	At what age do you think it is best to begin training in martial arts?
13.23	How much should you train?
13.24	Do you know of any interesting training methods?
13.25	Do you know the names of the different kicks/punches/stances?
13.26	Which martial art uniform do you like best?
13.27	What are belts and sashes for?
13.28	What are forms or katas for?
13.29	What’s your favorite fighting technique?
13.30	What’s the most important thing in a fight?
13.31	What’s the coolest kung fu animal style?
13.32	What do you think “the art of fighting without fighting” (Bruce Lee) means?

 

14.0	MOVIE
14.1	What is your all-time favorite movie?
14.2	What is your favorite movie?
14.3	Are there any kinds of movies you dislike?
14.4	If so, what kinds?
14.5	Why do you dislike them?
14.6	Do you like to watch horror movies?
14.7	Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction books? How about movies?
14.8	Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?
14.9	Have you ever seen the same movie more than once?
14.10	If yes, name it (or them).
14.11	Have you ever seen ___? (Insert the name of a movie.)
14.12	How often do you go to movies?
14.13	How often do you rent videos?
14.14	If a book has been made into a movie, which do you prefer to do first, see the movie or read the book? Why?
14.15	What do you think of people who talk during movies at a movie theater?
14.16	What is the worst movie you’ve ever seen?
14.17	What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen?
14.18	Which do you like better, action movies or comedy movies?
14.19	What movie star would you most like to meet?
14.20	Who is your favorite actor or actress?
14.21	What do you think of reality shows?
14.22	Do you think that films can be educational?
14.23	Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?
14.24	Who’s your favorite director?
14.25	See any good movies lately?
14.26	How much does it cost to see a movie in your country?
14.27	Do you usually rent DVD’s or videos when you rent movies?

   

 

15.0	EARTHQUAKES
15.1	Have you ever experienced an earthquake?
15.2	When was the last earthquake that you remember?
15.3	Has your house been damaged by an earthquake?
15.4	What preparations should you make before the earthquake hits?
15.5	What happens during an earthquake?
15.6	Were you frightened the first time you experience an earthquake?
15.7	What areas of the world have many earthquakes?
15.8	What preparations should you make before the earthquake hits?
15.9	What kind of injuries are caused by earthquakes?
15.10	How do you treat these injuries?
15.11	What frightens people most after an earthquake?
15.12	How can you prepare for a possible earthquake?
15.13	How can you deal with posttraumatic stress resulting from an earthquake?
15.14	Where is the best place to go during an earthquake?
15.15	Is it possible to know in advance that an earthquake is coming?
15.16	What kind of strange phenomenon occurred just prior to the Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe, Japan?
15.17	Is an earthquake always followed by a tsunami?
15.18	What causes a tsunami after an earthquake?
15.19	How do you measure earthquakes?
15.20	Is your home built to withstand earthquakes?
15.21	Where in your house would you hide if there were an earthquake?
15.22	What causes aftershocks?
15.23	Do you live in an area that has earthquakes?
15.24	Are you afraid to be living in an earthquake prone place?
15.25	Have you thought about moving?

 

16.0	ENGLISH LITERATURE
16.1	How many English authors can you name?
16.2	How many of Shakespeare’s plays can you name?
16.3	Have you read a translation of any English books in your language?
16.4	Have you ever read an English translation of a book originally written in your language?
16.5	What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
16.6	Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
16.7	What is your favorite book?
16.8	Who is your favorite writer?
16.9	Have you ever read a book and then seen a film of that book?
16.10	Did you read books when you were a child?
16.11	Do you like science-fiction books?
16.12	Do you like love stories?
16.13	Do you like historical stories?
16.14	Has seeing a film ever made you read the book it was based on?
16.15	Do you know any American writers?
16.16	How many books by Charles Dickens can you name?
16.17	Who are the most famous writers in your country?
16.18	How many books do you read per year?
16.19	What makes a ‘classic’ book?
16.20	How do you believe literature can help you to get familiar with a culture?
16.21	Do you think that books are a thing of the past?
16.22	What are some of the main differences between a novel and a short story?
16.23	How many books do you read per week?
16.24	About how many books do you have in your house?
16.25	Do you have a library card?
16.26	Are you a member of any public library?
16.27	Do you prefer reading books or short stories?
16.28	Who is your favorite character from literature?
16.29	Do you like to write your own short stories?
16.30	Do you keep a journal?
16.31	What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
16.32	Which book have you read recently?
16.33	Do you give books to your friends as a present?
16.34	If so, what was the last book you gave?
16.35	Why did you choose that book?
16.36	Some people say that “books are best friends”. Is that true for you?
16.37	Do you have your own library? If so, does that mean you like books?
16.38	Some people don’t read books or read very rarely, Why?
16.39	Are book prices too high to buy in your hometown?
16.40	What about authors? Are you selective about authors?
16.41	Who is your favorite author?
16.42	What is your favorite “quote”?
16.43	What literature course did you like best in college?

 

17.0	ENTERTAINEMENT
17.1	Do you like to watch cartoons?
17.2	What did you watch on TV yesterday?
17.3	What is one of your favorite TV shows?
17.4	Do you listen to classical music? Why or why not?
17.5	Have you ever been to a play? If so, when was the last time?
17.6	Have you ever been to Disneyland?
17.7	Have you ever been to the theater?
17.8	Have you ever hosted a party?
17.9	Have you ever tried water skiing?
17.10	Have you ever used a slot machine?
17.11	How far in advance do you begin planning a vacation?
17.12	How often do you go to parties?
17.13	How often do you read comic books?
17.14	How often do you visit museums? When was the last time?
17.15	Is gambling legal where you live?
17.16	Should books be censored?
17.17	Do you often go drinking? Where? Who with? How often?
17.18	Should movies be rated? Explain.
17.19	What are some forms of gambling people do in your country?
17.20	What are some games that you don’t like to play? Why?
17.21	What are some good books that you have read?
17.22	What are some of the good movies you have seen?
17.23	What are some of the most popular amusement parks in your country?
17.24	What are some things you can do without spending a cent?
17.25	What computer games have you played?
17.26	What do you do in your spare time?
17.27	What do you like to do on a night out?
17.28	What do you think of soccer? (baseball, hang gliding, …)
17.29	What games are popular in your country? Why are they popular?
17.30	What is your favorite game? Why?
17.31	What is your favorite holiday? Why?
17.32	What kind of music do you like?
17.33	What kind of things do you like to read?
17.34	What singer would you most like to meet?
17.35	What was the last book you read?
17.36	What’s the most popular holiday in your country?
17.38	What’s your favorite magazine? (What are some of your favorite magazines?)
17.39	When do you usually listen to the radio?
17.40	Where do you usually read?
17.41	Who are some of the famous actors and musicians in your country?
17.42	Who are some of your favorite actors and actresses?
17.43	Who do you think is the funniest comedian?
17.44	Who is the most popular entertainer in your country?
17.45	Who is your favorite author?

 

18.0	POLLUTION
18.1	Are there litter laws where you live? If so, what is the penalty for littering?
18.2	Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?
18.3	Do you think people should recycle newspapers? Why or why not?
18.4	Do you think there are lessons to learn from nature?
18.5	How has the world changed since you were a child? (technology, values, environment, health)
18.6	How often is garbage collected in your neighborhood?
18.7	If humans are really intelligent and not simply manipulated by their genes like any other animal, why can’t they do anything about overpopulation?
18.8	What are some things that can be recycled?
18.9	What are some things that your community is doing to help the?
18.10	What are some things, which you recycle?
18.11	What are some types of pollution?
18.12	What are some ways that you can reduce pollution in this country?
18.13	What can you do to help prevent pollution?
18.14	What can you do to make this world a better place?
18.15	What do you think of people who smoke cigarettes indoors?
18.16	Which is more important, increasing people’s standard of living, or protecting the environment?
18.17	Think of a situation in your area involving this issue.
18.18	Which side would you choose?
18.19	Who do you think is more responsible for pollution, individual people or the government? Explain.
18.20	What is the most important issue facing the environment today?
18.21	Do you know about any anti-pollution programs in your community?
18.22	What about programs in your native country?
18.23	Do you usually drink bottled water? Why or Why not?
18.24	If you could choose one alternative energy source to develop which one would you choose? Why?
18.25	Are companies more or less environmentally responsible now than they were in the past? Why do you think that is?
18.26	Do you think recycling is an important community service?
18.27	Do you recycle?
18.28	Who should pay for the costs associated with renewable energy?
18.29	Should we make the development of renewable energy sources an economic priority?
18.30	What are some ways energy is wasted?
18.31	What types of energy are popular in your native country?
18.32	What is the main problem with renewable energy sources?
18.33	What can large cities do to improve their air quality?
18.34	How can we protect the environment and at the same time improve people’s standard of living?

 

 

19.0	SOCIETY
19.1	At what age should a son or daughter be permitted to leave home?
19.2	Should young people be allowed to buy contraceptives as soon as they reach puberty?
19.3	Should the age of consent be the same for both gays and heterosexuals?
19.4	Should gays and heterosexuals have the same right to join the armed forces?
19.5	Should abortion be available to women on demand?
19.6	Should euthanasia be available to people in great pain that want to die?
19.7	Is it possible to pass effective laws against racism?
19.8	Do you have a vision of a better society? What changes would you make?
19.9	Do you think genetic engineering should be used to create good citizens?
19.10	What do you think are the characteristics of a good member of society?

 

20.0	SPORT
20.1	Which is more important in sport – winning or taking part? Are you a good loser?
20.2	Should we always try to keep politics out of sport?
20.3	What are the most important events in the sporting calendar in your country?
20.4	Which of these events do you enjoy most? Why?
20.5	Is it easy to take part in sport in your country? Which sports do you do and how often do you take part?
20.6	Who are your sporting heroes and heroines? Why do you admire them?
20.7	Do you think that boxing is a true sport?
20.8	Should boxing be included in the Olympic Games?
20.9	Should boxing be made illegal?
20.10	Which is your favorite sport to watch?
20.11	What do you think are the qualities of a good team or a true champion in that sport?
20.12	Do people in your country do enough sport or do they prefer to watch TV and play computer games?
20.13	How could you encourage lazy people to do more sport?

 

21.0	TRADITIONS
21.1	Do children in your country learn traditional songs that their grandparents also know?
21.2	What are these songs about?
21.3	What instruments are used to play these songs?
21.4	Does your country have any traditional dances for special ceremonies at different times of the year?
21.5	What customs do you think should no longer be practice?
21.6	What customs do you practice?
21.7	What are your favorite customs?
21.8	What customs do you think should be revised?
21.9	What customs (from elsewhere) do you think should be included in our culture?
21.10	Describe the dances and the traditional dance costumes.

 

22.0	TRANSPORT
22.1	Which is your favorite means of private transport?
22.2	Do you drive a car? When did you learn to drive? What make of car do you drive?
22.3	What skills do you need to practice to pass the driving test in your country?
22.4	Did you pass your test first time? What do you find most difficult about driving?
22.5	How do you usually travel to work or college in your country?
22.6	How did you get from your home in your country to your host mother’s house?
22.7	Are you in favor of more road building to create more space for the private motorist in your country?
22.8	Do you think that more cycle lanes are needed in your own town or city? What would be some of the problems in providing more facilities for cyclists?
22.9	Do you think that more freight should be sent by rail? Why are companies reluctant to send their goods this way?
22.10	What needs to be done to change their minds?
22.11	What transport do you think we’ll be using in 50 years time?

 

23.0	TRAVEL
23.1	How many countries have you visited and which is your favorite country apart from your own?
23.2	Explain why?
23.3	Would you like to live permanently in another country?
23.4	Why or why not?
23.5	Which is the longest journey you have ever made?
23.6	How did you travel?
23.7	What events do you remember on the way?
23.8	Which is your favorite journey for beautiful scenery?
23.9	Describe what there is to see.
23.10	Which capital city is your favorite? How do you like to spend your time there?
23.11	Do you enjoy touring – travelling from place to place? Describe one of your itineraries?
23.12	Do you suffer from travel sickness or anxiety in cars boats or planes?
23.13	If so, what do you do to overcome these problems?
23.14	Do you buy travel insurance before going to visit other countries?
23.15	What worries would make you take out insurance?
23.16	Imagine you are an explorer and have the opportunity to make a big journey.
23.17	Which continent would you visit?
23.18	Where would you go?
23.19	What would you hope to see?
23.20	Is organized travel the best way of learning about the world?

 

24.0	VIOLENCE
24.1	“There should be strict censorship of films and news bulletins on television to prevent children from copying violent incidents.” Do you agree?
24.2	“Children’s cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Popeye teach children the wrong lessons.” Do you agree?
24.3	“Combat sports such as boxing where the aim is to injure your opponent should be banned and should certainly not be part of the Olympic Games.” Do you agree?
24.4	“Products such as pornographic videos and rap music which give expression to violence against women should be withdrawn from sale.” Do you agree?
24.5	“In most countries, military training which prepares people for violence against an enemy, should be replaced by schemes to serve the community.” Do you agree?
24.6	“Nobody should be permitted to own a hand gun for a hobby.” What do you think?
24.7	“Combat knives should be made illegal.” Do you agree?
24.8	“Parents should not buy toy guns or war toys for their children.” Do you agree?
24.9	“Corporal punishment should not be used either at school or in the home.”
24.10	Do you agree?

 

25.0	WORK
25.1	What ratio of work to leisure would be your ideal? Answer using percentages.
25.2	Are the people in your country famous for working hard or for having a good social life?
25.3	What jobs would you most and least like to do?
25.4	What jobs have you done in your life and what did you like and dislike about them?
25.5	Which age groups are worst affected by unemployment in your country?
25.6	Should people who have never worked before be entitled to unemployment benefit?
25.7	What are the causes of unemployment and how is the problem solved in your country?
25.8	Do women in your country have equality of job opportunities?
25.10	Are they paid as well as men?
25.11	Are there many migrant workers in your country? If so, what kind of jobs do they do?
25.12	What are their working conditions like?
25.13	Do people leave your country to find work in other countries? Where do they go?
25.14	What sort of jobs do they get? Are they made welcome?
25.15	Do workers in your country pay a lot of income tax to the government?
25.16	Do people with large salaries pay a much higher rate of tax than other workers?
25.17	Do you think they should?
25.18	Do you think that every worker should have the right to join a Trade Union?
25.19	Do you think that every worker, (including doctors, nurses, teachers, the police, ambulance crews and fire fighters), should have the right to go on strike?

 

26.0	YOUTH & OLD AGE
26.1	Are young people generally more selfish than their parents and grandparents?
26.2	Should adults try to teach young people lessons, such as the dangers of drinking too much, taking drugs or contracting the HIV virus, or should they leave them alone to find out about these things themselves?
26.3	What do you think is the best age to be? Explain your opinion.
26.4	Most countries give young people rights as they reach a certain age. For example, Americans can legally vote and join the military at 18 but can’t drink until they are 21. Does your country have similar laws?
26.5	Do you think that any of the age limits need changing?
26.6	Should young people have to do some form of military or community service by law?
26.7	Should people of between 60 and 65 be obliged to retire from their jobs in order to make way for younger workers?
26.8	Are there many things that the old can teach the young or are they hopelessly out of touch by the time they reach a certain age?
26.9	In most countries, compulsory education is targeted at 5 – 16 year olds. Would it be better to offer it to pensioners who want to learn rather than young people who prefer not to be in school?
26.10	In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing leaders who are advanced in years.
26.11	Do you think that older people make better leaders?
26.12	Many elderly people have disabilities that limit their mobility. Do buses, shops and public buildings in your country provide easy access for the disabled or are your towns and cities designed mainly for the young and able-bodied?
26.13	Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their own savings or should appropriate accommodation and nursing be provided by the tax payer?

 

27.0	ACCIDENTS AT HOME
27.1	What is the most dangerous thing in your home? How can it be made less dangerous?
27.2	What is the most dangerous thing in your home for a child? How can it be made less dangerous?
27.3	What is the most dangerous thing in your home for an elderly person? How can it be made less dangerous?
27.4	What dangers can be found in the kitchen that can cause accidents?
27.5	What can be done to prevent kitchen accidents?
27.6	What can a parent do to childproof a kitchen?
27.7	What dangers can be found in bathrooms that can cause accidents?
27.8	What can be done to prevent bathroom accidents?
27.9	What can a parent do to childproof a bathroom?
27.10	What dangers can be found outside the home in the yard that can cause accidents?
27.11	What can be done to prevent yard accidents?
27.12	What can a parent do to childproof the yard?
27.13	What other dangers can be found in a home in bedrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and living areas?
27.14	What can be done throughout the house to prevent accidents?
27.15	What can a parent do to childproof the different rooms of the home?

 

28.0	ADOPTION
28.1	What is adoption?
28.2	Do you know anyone who was adopted as a child?
28.3	Do you know anyone who has adopted a child?
28.4	What are some of the reasons people choose to adopt?
28.5	What is the difference between domestic and international adoption?
28.6	What are the views of adoption in your country?
28.8	How would someone interested in adopting a child go about doing so?
28.9	Where do children available for adoption come from?
28.10	What happens to children that are not adopted?
28.11	How do you go about adopting a child?
28.12	Would you want to adopt a boy or a girl? Why?
28.13	Do you think brothers and sisters should be separated in adoptions?
28.14	Are adoptions common in your country?
28.15	What are some organizations that help with adoptions?
28.16	Should you tell the child that he or she was adopted? If so at what age? Or when?
28.17	Should adopted children have the right to know their biological parents?
28.18	Should families with birth children also adopt?
28.19	Is the real parent the birth parent or the adoptive parent?
28.20	Should adoptions be between children and families of the same race and or culture?
28.21	How or should the adoptive parents maintain the adopted child’s cultural identify?
28.22	In your country are the legal rights of an adoptive child different from that of a birth child?
28.23	Why don’t more people adopt a child?
28.24	What makes a family, genetics or environment?
28.25	Do you support an open adoption policy where the birth parents can choose to be involved in the child’s life?
28.26	Do you believe there is discrimination within the adoption organizations?
28.27	Do you think a person should be able to adopt a child of a different race?
28.28	Should a gay or lesbian couple be allowed to adopt a child?
28.29	Should there be an age restriction for the adoptive parents?
28.30	Should a single man or woman be able to adopt a child?
28.31	If you were to find out that you were adopted and not really from the country where you are a citizen, which nationality would you hope would be your true mother country?
28.32	When is the right time for a child to be told that he/she was adopted?

 

29.0	AIRPLANES
29.1	How old were you when you went on your first flight? Where did you go?
29.2	Do you like to travel by airplane?
29.3	What was the longest flight you have ever taken?
29.4	What seat do you prefer: window, center or aisle?
29.5	What are three things you’re supposed to do before the flight takes off?
29.6	What do you like to do during the flight?
29.7	Does the plane provide anything to do to pass the time?
29.8	What are some movies you remember seeing on the plane?
29.9	What do you do when you experience turbulence?
29.10	Have you ever met anyone or established any relationships during a flight?
29.11	What should be done with obese people who practically take up two seats?
29.12	Can you sleep during the flight?
29.13	Have you ever seen a female pilot? Why do you think that most pilots are men?
29.14	Would you like to be a flight attendant? What are the benefits and /or downfalls?
29.15	Are most flight attendants female? Is being a flight attendant considered a good job in your country? What do you think are the qualifications?
29.16	Are planes really safer than cars? (A British study shows that flying is 176 times safer than walking, 15 times safer than driving and 300 times safer than a motorbike.)

 

30.0	ANNOYING THINGS
30.1	What annoys you about living where you live now?
30.2	What annoys you about taking trains to work?
30.3	What annoys you about driving a car?
30.4	What annoys you most about living at home with your family?
30.5	Do you think you have habits that annoy other people?
30.6	Does it annoy you when people kiss in public?
30.7	Do you get annoyed when someone cuts in front of you when you are waiting in line?
30.8	What are some new pet peeves you have as a result of recent technology (i.e. cell phone use)?
30.9	What annoying habits does your best friend have?
30.10	Does smoking bother you?
30.11	Do you get annoyed when other people display bad manners? Give some examples.
30.12	What is the most annoying thing for you?
30.13	Do you annoy people with some of your habits?
30.14	What is something that your parents do that annoys you?
30.15	Can annoying someone be a good thing?
30.16	If something is annoying you, what do you usually do?
30.17	What are some things that annoy you that don’t annoy your best friend?
30.18	How do you change annoying habits
30.19	What are some things that car drivers do that annoy you?
30.20	Can you think of some things children do that annoy adults around them?
30.21	What does pet peeve mean?
30.22	What is your pet peeve?
30.23	Does it annoy you when people don’t use the right punctuation?
30.24	What kind of people annoy you?
30.25	Who is the most annoying person you know? Why?
30.26	How do you inform someone they are being annoying
30.27	Do you think other people find you annoying? Why?
30.28	Who is the most annoying celebrity? Why?

 

31.0	ART
31.1	Are you a good painter?
31.2	Can you draw pictures well?
31.3	Do you believe what art critics say?
31.4	Do you consider yourself a good artist?
31.5	Do you enjoy your art class at school?
31.6	Do you like modern art?
31.7	Do you like paintings?
31.8	Do you like sketching?
31.9	Do you like to visit art museums?
31.10	Do you like woodcarving?
31.11	Do you prefer using watercolors or oil paint?
31.12	Do you think it is proper to call nude paintings art?
31.13	Do you think music and dancing are forms of art?
31.14	Do you think of cartoons and comics as art?
31.15	Do you visit museums when you go to another city?
31.16	Have you ever been to any famous art museums?
31.17	Have you ever visited an art museum?
31.18	What art form do you like best?
31.19	What art museums have you visited?
31.20	Which did you like the best? Why?
31.21