Bags and Purses

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Do you always carry a bag or purse?
What do you have in your bag or purse?
How heavy is your bag or purse? Have you lost it before?
Has it been stolen?
What do you usually carry with you?
What things do you use every day?
What things are important to carry with you?
Do you always carry a bank card?
Do you always carry money?
How much money do you usually carry on you?
Do men carry billfolds in your country?
Do women carry a purse or handbag in your country?
Is it a custom in your country for men to carry or hold the woman's purse or bag?
Will guys hold their wife's and/or girlfriend's purse or bag where you live?
Do men carry bags or purses in your country
What if you see a guy carrying a purse or woman's bag, would you think he is gay?
What do you think a president would carry on their person?
What are essential (necessary) items to take with you when you leave the house?
How are birthdays celebrated in your country?
What are some birthday traditions you know of from other countries?
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
What is your best birthday memory?
What is your worst birthday memory?
Have you ever had a surprise birthday party for yourself or someone else?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
What are some things you like to do for your birthday?
When is your birthday?
Did your parents give you birthday parties when you were a child?
In your opinion, What is the best time of year to have a birthday?
How do people you know celebrate turning 40?
Do you think getting older (40, 50, 60) is depressing for people, or a happy occasion?
What do you think is the best age?
Do you like going to work on your birthday?
Did you like going to school on your birthday when you were a child?
Have you ever had a surprise party?
Whose birthday do you always remember?
Among your close friends and relatives, whose birthday is coming up next?
About how many birthday gifts or cards do you send or give to people each year?
Have you ever forgotten someone's birthday that you should have remembered?
Do you know any famous people's birthdays? (Are any the same as yours?)
Do you know of any big events that happened the year you were born?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever given?
What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
 What is the worst birthday gift you have ever given?
If you are in your teen years, tell how old you will be in twenty years time and say
whether you look forward to that age or does it scare you.
If you could celebrate your own birthday the way you wanted, what would you do?
Where would you like to go?
How many people would you invite?
Would you rather celebrate your birthday with just your relatives or just your friends?
Do you remember what gifts you received on your last birthday?
What would you like to get most for your birthday this year?
Is the cost of a present important to you?
What kind of gift do you usually prepare for your friend's birthday?
Your mother's?
What about for other family members?
Which is a better present, a well-chosen gift or money?
Are birthdays really important?
How do you celebrate your birthday?

Cheating
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Honesty and Truthfulness, White Lies
What is your definition of cheating?
Have you ever cheated?
Why do you think that people cheat?
Have you ever cheated in an exam?
Have you ever been caught cheating on an exam?
If you had a chance to cheat now, would you take it?
In what situations do people usually cheat?
Have you ever been cheated on by somebody else?
Describe a time when you cheated and it helped you.
Do you think if people stopped cheating the world would be a better place?
What do you think of people who cheat in their relationships?
What do you think can be done to prevent cheating?
What are some things you can do to prevent cheating?
What would you do it you saw someone cheating at something.
Clothes & Fashion
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
About how much money do you spend on clothes a year?
Do you like shopping for new clothes?
Do you often buy new clothes?
Do you prefer to go shopping or just browse? Why?
Do you think men should be allowed to wear skirts?
What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most? Why?
Do you read fashion magazines?
Do you sometimes wear a hat?
Do you think it is important to wear fashionable clothes?
Do you think it is important to be in fashion?
Do you wear jewelry?
If so, what kind of jewelry do you wear?
How often do you wear jewelry?
What is your most valuable piece of jewelry?
Do you wear the same color clothes now that you wore ten years ago?
Do you wear the same size clothes this year as you wore last year?
Do you think people feel different when they wear different clothes?
Have you ever made your own clothes?
If so, what did you make?
Do you often make your own clothes?
How many pairs of gloves do you have?
What are some of the strangest fashions you have seen?
What colors do you think look good on you?
What colors do you think look good on your mother?
What did you wear yesterday?
What do you think of body piercing?
Do you have pierced ears?
Do you know anyone with a pierced nose?
Would you ever pierce your tongue?
What do you think of people who dye their hair green?
What do you think of women who wear high heel shoes?
Do you think high heel shoes are bad for a person's health?
What fashions that you see today do you think will be out of fashion within two years?
What is your shoe size?
What kind of clothes are in fashion now?
What kind of clothes do you usually wear?
What's the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever bought?
What's your favorite color for shoes?
When was the last time you got dressed up?
Why?
How often do you get dressed up?
Do you like to get dressed up?
Where are some good stores to buy clothes in this area?
Where do you usually buy clothes?
Would you like to be a fashion model?
Questions on Styles, Clothing and Fashion-based
Stereotypes
What would you think of a women who cut off all her hair and went around bald as a
fashion statement?
What do you think of a man who is bald for fashion's sake?
What do you think of women who wear short mini-skirts?
Do you think that the clothes we wear reflect what is inside us ?
What do you think of people who always and only wear black?
What do you think of people with tattoos?
Do you have a tattoo?
Do you know someone with a tattoo?
What do you think of people with body piercing?
Do you have pierced ears?
Would you pierce other parts of your body?
What would you think of a high school student who always wore very conservative
clothes?
What type of clothing do you wear when you are angry and you want to express
yourself?
What colors do you choose to wear when you are happy?
Would you dress the same as you do in your country if you went to America for a
visit?
Do you dress the same when you are depressed as you do when you are very
happy?
In what ways do you dress differently?
If you went out with a group of high school friends, would you dress differently then if
you went out with your grandmother and her friends?
In what ways does your Grandmother dress differently then you?
When you get old do you think you will dress like your grandmother or grandfather?
Would you ever wear dreadlocks?
What do you think of the people who wear them?
Have you ever worn your hair braided in small braids.
Did anyone look at you differently because of it?
Would you ever wear contacts to change your eye color?
What is the difference in the people who choose to wear contacts and the people
who choose to were glasses?
What do you think about women who don't wear earrings?
What do you think about men who wear earrings?
What do you think of women who do?
Is it possible for women to wear too much make-up?
When is a person wearing to much make-up?
What do you think of men who wear make-up?
Is it possible to be beautiful without wearing any make-up, earrings or other
accessories?
Do fashionable clothes really change the way a person looks?
What differences have you noticed in the fashions here and in your country?
What do you think of men who where tights?
What do you think about secondhand clothes?
Why do you think people buy secondhand clothes?
Have you ever been to a store that sells secondhand clothes?
Have you ever bought secondhand clothes?
Would you buy secondhand clothes?
When and where did you buy an article of clothing you're wearing right now? Why did
you choose it?
What would you think if the mother of the groom wore black at a wedding?
What would you think if a bride wore red?
Should a bride's dress be long or do you think it could be the length of a regular
skirt?
What items of clothing do you consider provocative in this country?
What types of clothing are provocative in your country?
Do you ever dress this way?
What do you think of men wearing high heels?
What do you think of women wearing high heels?
Why is it acceptable for women to wear men's clothing, but not for men to dress in
women's clothing?
 Is there a stigma attached to people who buy no-name (no brand) clothing?
Are some people more fashion conscious than others? What types/groups of people?
Have you ever bought imitation brand clothing?
What traditional clothes do people from your country wear?
When do you wear them?
Are they comfortable?
In your country do children have to wear school uniform?
Did you wear a school uniform?
Do you think wearing uniforms is a good idea?
What would you do or feel if you were refused entry to somewhere because of what
you are wearing?
Do you think dress codes should be adhered to if requested on an invitation?
What would you wear to meet royalty or the President of your country?
Would you go to a fancy dress party? Why or why not?
How much do you spend getting ready to go to school? Work? Out with friends? To a
party?
Do the times vary much?
What traditional clothes do people from your country wear?
When do you wear them?
Are they comfortable?
Do you think there's a difference between" fashion " and "style" ?
How often do you go clothes shopping?
Where do you like to go?
Who do you like to go with?
How much money do you usually spend?
Would you bring your husband/boyfriend with you when you go clothes
shopping?
What do you like to shop for the most?
Where is your favorite shopping centre?
What is your favorite brand?
Are you a shopaholic?
Do you go to many shops before buying one particular item or do you just buy the
first one you find?
Do you spend a lot of money on clothes your clothes?
Which type of clothes do you "collect"?
What's your favorite piece of clothing?
How much did it cost?
Where did you buy your favorite piece of clothing?
Have you ever felt uncomfortable with what you wear?
Did your parents ever make you wear something you didn't like?
Do you like to go shopping during the sales?

For Students who have Graduated from College.

What is your fondest memory of your college experience?
What is your worst memory of your college experience?
Were there any subjects that you just couldn't seem to master?
Were you a good student or did you slack off and procrastinate?
Did you have any college romances?
What was the hardest thing about going to college?
 If you could have done something different with your college life, what would you
have done differently?
Where did you get the money to attend college?
Do you feel it is necessary for young people to attend college these days?
What happens to people who just stop after high school or even quit high
school?
Do you wish your college had a better sports program?

Childhood
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Childbirth, Children
Did you have a happy childhood?
What did you like to do when you were a child?
What did you look like?
Where were you born?
When were you born?
How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle?
Did you have your own bicycle?
Do you remember who taught you to ride a bicycle?
Did you have a bad bicycle accident?
Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
What was your favorite subject? Why?
What was your favorite game?
Who did you play it with?
Who gave it to you?
When did you like to play it?
Do you remember anything about your personality when a child?
Were you good at making friends?
How did you make friends?
Did you have a lot of friends?
What did you enjoy doing with your friends?
What were some embarrassing situations when you were a child?
Were you a good student?
Did you enjoy going to school?
Did you get good grades?
Did you enjoy doing your homework?
What did you like about school?
What didn't you like about school?
Who was your best friend?
How did you meet this friend?
What did you do together?
Do you still do things with this childhood friend?
What other things can you tell us about your best friend?
Were your parents super protective?
At what age could you go places by yourself?
Did your parents always tell you what to do?
 Did you play outside?
What did you like to play?
How long did you play outside a day?
Could you play outside all year long?
Did you play on the streets?
Was it dangerous to play in the streets?
What kind of things did you do in the streets?
Did you ever have an accident while playing in the streets? What happened?
When you were a child, what did you want to grow up to be? Did you want to be a
mother or father? A firefighter? A doctor? A scientist?
Can you remember specific things from your childhood clearly?
How old were you at the time of your first memories?
What kind of food did your like?
Did you used to eat anything or were you a picky eater?
What foods did you like eating?
What foods didn't you like to eat?
Did you have any foods you hated?
What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
Who gave you this toy?
Did it have a name?
Do you still have it?
What was your worst punishment as a child?
Where did you grow up? Did you move frequently? If so, why?
Who took care of you when you were little? A parent? A grandparent? A nanny? A
daycare center?
How are you similar to your parents? How are you different?
Describe the first memory you have of going to school.
Do you think children today eat too much fast food and don't play enough sports?
What childhood diseases did you have?
Did you have any nickname? Tell us about it.
Were you afraid of anything? What?
What were your favorite cartoons and TV shows?

Colors
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Note that "colors" is also correctly spelled "colours."
What's your favorite color?
Has your favorite color changed as you've grown older?
Do you have a color that you hate?
If so, what is it?
Why do you hate it?
Do you think colors affect your mood?
How does red make you feel?
How does green make you feel?
How does blue make you feel?
How does purple make you feel?
 How does black make you feel?
How does white make you feel?
How does yellow make you feel?
How does brown make you feel?
How does grey make you feel?
What do you think of orange?
Do you think different cultures have different meanings for colors?
What do the different colors mean in your culture?
Do you associate any colors with specific items, numbers, or letters not usually
associated with color?
Can you think of different idioms or expressions involving color?
What's a "black and white" matter.
What does it mean to "see red"?
What does it mean to "feel blue"?
What does it mean to "be yellow"?
What's a "black tie affair"?
What does it mean to be "blacklisted"?
What does it mean to be "the black sheep in the family"?
How many colors are in the rainbow? What are they?
What colors are on your national flag?
What's the best color for a car?
What's the best color for a house?
What do you think is the best color for lens in sunglasses?
What's the color for passion?
What's the color for hatred?
What's the color for happiness?
What's the color for sadness?
What's the color for anger?
What's the color for death?
What's the color for jealousy?
What is the color of envy ?
What's the color for cowardice?
What color is money in your country?
Do you know anyone who is color blind?
What colors do most color blind people not see?
Do you think animals can see color?
What does black-sheep of the family mean?
Do you dream in color?
How would you compare the feeling you get watching a movie in black and white to
watching it in color?
What color clothes do you like to wear?
What colors do you think look good on you?
What color shoes do you like to wear?
What do you think is the strangest color for a car?
How about a house?
How about clothing?
How about hair color?
Do you know anyone who has dyed their hair a strange color? (... an unnatural hair
color such as blue or multiple shades?)
Have you ever seen a pet dog or cat with dyed fur?
Do you think different colors have different meanings? If so, what do different colors
mean?
Do the color blind dream in color?
Do you think people who are color blind can dream in color?
What color ink do you like using the most?
What is the meaning of writing with black ink?
What is the meaning of writing with green ink?
What is the meaning of writing with red ink?
What is the meaning of writing with blue ink?
What color of paper you like most if you want to write a letter to your friends or loved
ones?
What is the color of the bedspread on your bed?
What is your least favorite color?
What color toothbrush do you have?
Does everyone in your family use a different color toothbrush?
What color towels do you use?
What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
What does it mean when someone says he's feeling blue?
What does it means when someone says they are green with envy?
w\What does it means when someone says "you look green at the gills"?
What does it mean when someone says "I was so mad I was seeing red"?
What does it mean when someone says "he was black as an ace of spades"?
What is pink eye?
We are not sure what this means, but it was submitted.
What does it mean when you see the color of a rainbow in your eyes?
What would you think of life without colors?
What do you think life would be like without colors?
How would life change?
What things wouldn't change?
Are color blind people completely blind to all colors?
Do you think a person's favorite color will always be his/her favorite color?
Do favorite colors change throughout life?
Have you ever tried to invent a new color?
Try it right now: try to think of a color that doesn't exist, one you'd like to see.
What does it look like?
(Note: It is physically impossible to conceive of a color that isn't a shade of a
color that already exists, but students will enjoy trying for a few minutes and the
impossibility of it makes for good conversation.)
What does the black sheep of the family mean?
Do you like light or dark colors better?
Which colors do you have to mix to get green? Orange? Purple? Black? Gray?
What expressions include colors when discussing illness? (ex., white or pale, pink
eye, black and blue for bruises, yellow fever)
What expressions include colors and feelings? (ex. I feel blue, Green with envy, Red
with rage, Turning red, Black circles under the eyes, You are turning blue (with the
cold))
What do the colors in your home country's flag represent?
What is the most memorable in advertisements or commercials for you? (ex. the
music, colors, movement, message)
 What does "a picture is worth a thousand words mean"?
This word is used when traveling: I bought a ticket on the red eye flight. What might
this mean?

Cultural Shock and Adapting to Canada

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans do"?
What is culture shock?
Have you ever experienced culture shock?
What is reverse, or re-entry, culture shock?
Have you ever experienced reverse culture shock?
What is the best/most important thing your culture has given to the world?
What is the best/most important thing your culture/country has adopted from another
culture?
If you could choose three aspects of your culture to put in a "time box" for the future,
what would you put in it?
On what occasions do you exchange flowers in your country?
What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...
Do you know much about your own culture?
What do you think is interesting about your own culture?
When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they usually think
of?
What do you like most about your own culture?
What do you like least about your culture?
What does it mean to be polite in your culture?
What is considered rude in your culture? Is there anything in Canadian culture that is
considered rude in your culture?
In your culture is it polite to be straightforward and direct when you talk to someone?
To whom is it OK and to whom is it not OK?
What has surprised you when you've met people from other countries?
How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?
How do young people in your culture behave differently from people in Canada?
Are there people of different cultures in your country? Are you friends with any of
them?
What other cultures have you met people from?
Have you ever felt confused by the actions of someone from another culture? If so,
tell me about it.
How are your language teachers different from your teachers in your culture? How
are they the same?
Who in your culture do you admire most?
What are the five most important values of your culture? (For example, Family)
What in your culture are you most proud about?
If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?
Would you ever consider marrying or dating someone from another culture?
Would you ever consider living permanently in a country other than your home
country? Why or why not?
Do you think "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice? Why or
why not? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the
Romans do"?
 What do you think is important when visiting another culture?
If a group of people just came to your country from overseas, what advice would you
give them?
What culture besides your own do you admire? Why?
If aliens visited your country, what might surprise them?
What is the best/most important thing your culture has given to the world?
What is the best/most important thing your culture/country has adopted from another
culture?
What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...

Disabilities and Handicaps

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Do you have a handicap?
Do you know anyone with a handicap?
What are some handicaps that people have?
Have you ever parked in the handicapped parking area?
How are handicapped people treated in your country?
What do you feel when you see a handicapped person?
What can you do to help handicapped people?
Does your country have special training facilities for handicapped people?
What are some types of disabilities?
Did you ever know someone with a disability?
What was it like to work/talk/play with them?
Were they smarter or less smart than yourself?
How would you feel to find out your best friend was _______? (going blind, going
deaf, losing their legs, etc)
How would you feel to find out you were _______? (going blind, going deaf, losing
their legs, etc)
Do disabled people have anything of value to add to society?
If you see or meet a disabled person, what actions should you take?
What are ways that disabled people can compensate for their weakness?

15. Restaurants

Along with eating, everybody loves talking about their favorite eateries and restaurants. Some
students could 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?
Cars and Driving
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
How old were you when you first learned to drive?
 Was there anything difficult about learning to drive?
Can you drive a car?
Can you drive a manual shift car?
Do you have a car?
If so, what kind of car do you have?
Is it a standard (manual shift) or automatic shift?
Which do you like best, a standard or automatic shift car?
What are the advantages of owning a car?
What are the disadvantages of owning a car?
Are you a good driver?
Have you ever been in a car accident?
Have you ever been pulled over by the police?
What happened?
Have you ever driven a car in a foreign country?
If yes, which side of the road did they drive on?
Were the road signs different?
Are the drivers in your area where you live good drivers?
Do you know anything about repairing or maintaining a car?
What do you know how to do?
Where did you learn how to do this?
Do you enjoy repairing cars?
What are some things you do to maintain your car?
Do you prefer driving or riding public transportation?
What kind of car do you prefer?
Do you like drive at night?
Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?
What side of the road do you drive in your country?
Is drunk driving a problem in your country?
What kind of laws does your country have about drunk driving?
What is the penalty for drunk driving in your country?
Have you ever been (or) do you know anyone who has been in an accident related to
drunk driving?
Is jaywalking legal in your country?
Do people often jaywalk in your country?
Who taught you to drive?
How long did it take you to learn to drive?
What is the longest trip you have ever taken by car?
Have you ever broken down and been stranded on the side of the road?
Who helped you?
How do American drivers compare to drivers in your country?
What are the speed limits in your country?
On what occasions do you honk your car horn?
Is it acceptable to honk in your country
Are men better drivers than women?
Are women better drivers than men?
At what age can you get a licence in your country?
Do you think the age for driving should be raised or lowered?
Do you think driving lessons should be provided by high schools?
Should new drivers have a period of accompanied driving?
 Or some kind of trial period?
Do you have a GPS (Global Position System)?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a GPS?
Does the type of car a person drives tell us about the person who drives it?
What can we tell or imagine about a person by looking at the car they drive?
What are the laws about seat belts in your country?
How are they different to this country?
Is your car air conditioned?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of air conditioning?
Do you have a GPS?
If yes, when do you use it? If no, would you like one? Why or why not?
What is the price of gasoline in your country?
Is it cheaper or more expensive than in this country?
Do you allow passengers to eat inside your car?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of buying a second-hand car?
Do you wash your car yourself or do you have it washed?
Do you think that there is a relation between global warming and cars?
Have you ever seen a "hybrid" car?
What do you know about "hybrid" cars?
Do you really think that car manufacturers are interested in global warming?
How often do you need to get your car repaired?
On what occasions do you honk your car horn?
Is it acceptable to honk in your country?
Do you like to drive or be driven?
Have you ever bribed a policeman in your country after he pulled you over?
Is it common for traffic cops to accept bribes?
How are the traffic laws in your country?
Are they strict or lax?
Do most people follow the rules of the road?
Is it easy to find parking?
Is parking expensive?
What should be done in order to prevent traffic congestion in your city?
Is there any kind of rules to avoid traffic congestions?
How do you feel about spending time in your car during rush hour?
Is car theft a big problem in your country?
Have you had your car stolen?
Have you had your radio stolen?
Is road side assistance common in your country?
Can you change a flat tire?
Do you know anything about fixing a car?
Who taught you to drive?
Was it pleasant or unpleasant?
Have you ever broken down and been stuck on the side of the road?
Who helped you?
What do you think of international car-free days?
Can you recall any memorable car drive in your life?
What are the most frequent driving offenses?
What factors are responsible for railway crossing accidents?
According to insurance statistics women are better driver than men.
 Do you agree?
What do you think of car pooling?

Celebrities
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Have you ever seen a celebrity in person? What did you do?
Which celebrity would you like to meet? What would you do if you could spend a day
with this person?
Do you think famous people have the right to have a private life?
Do you think it's moral to sell your private life to the media?
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?
What do you think of the paparazzi?
Why do you think there is such a high demand for gossip magazines and gossip TV
programs?
What are the pros and cons of being a celebrity?
What do you think of fans and fan-clubs ?
Did you have any heroes when you were a teenager?
Why do you think adolescents need to have heroes?
Do you think being a celebrity automatically means the person is intelligent?
Do you think that there are times when the common man has an edge over a
celebrity?
If you could influence people like a celebrity does, how would you use it for the
benefit of the planet?
Which celebrity do you most admire and why ?
Would you like to be famous ? Why or why not ?
Do you think there is a relationship between beauty and celebrity ?
Can you name some famous people?
Do you know someone famous?
Would you like to be famous? Why?
Are famous people happy?
Would you like to be a celebrity?
Would you like to be a celebrity? Why would you be famous?
If you were a celebrity, would you take advantage of it to date some fans?
Should celebrities be role models?
Do you think being a celebrity automatically means the person is intelligent? Why?
Why not?
Do you think celebrities write their own music?
Can you give some examples of when the common man has an edge over a
celebrity?
What do you think of celebrities championing a cause? (e.g. - a cure for AIDS)
Do you think that some celebrities earn much more money than they deserve taking
into consideration what they produce?

Change
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Have you made any recent changes in your life?
Do you think change is important?
 Do you ever get the urge to refurnish your whole house?
Do you rearrange the furniture in your house often?
Do you like to rearrange your room or living-room?
Do you think change is important in people's life?
Do you think it is possible for a cold hearted person to change?
Do you think that it is easy to mend our old ways?
Do you think it is easy to keep up with the times?
If you could change anything in your life, what would it be?
What is the most difficult change you have ever had to make?
Have you ever decided to get a tattoo?
Have you ever cut your hair really short?
What was the craziest change in appearance you have ever made?
What was the last major change you made in your life?
Have you ever decided to change the group that you usually hang out (spend time)
with?
What is one thing that you think you will never change about yourself?
What is one thing you have tried to change, but couldn't?
If you won a million dollars what things would you change about your life?
What things would you keep the same?
Has a friend of yours ever made any major changes that you were proud of?
An alcoholic?
An unmotivated person?
A person who is stuck in their ways?)
Have you ever converted (changed) over to a different religion?
Have you ever changed over to a different political party.
Have you ever dumped a boyfriend or girlfriend? Was the change difficult?
Have you ever said no to a friend?
Have you lost a pet, or has a person ever passed away on you?
Have you ever quit your job?
Have you ever became depressed and stay indoors for long periods? How did you
get out of your depression?
Have you ever had to change the way you speak, or the way you act? Why?
Have you ever decided to change the way you dress? If so, why?
Have you ever decided to change the way you eat, or your form of exercise?

Charity
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Volunteer Work
Have you ever worked for a charity?
How long did you work there?
Was it a well run charity?
Did you enjoy this work?
Do you give money to registered charities? (e.g. Red Cross, World Wildlife Fund,
Green Peace)
Can you name some other registered charities?
Do you think having large charity organizations is a good idea? Why or why not?
What are some of the good points?
What are some of the bad points?
 Do you think that locally run charity organizations are more effective?
Are there any charities in (your town/city)?
How about in (your country)?
What are they?

24. Learning

Learning is like nature—it’s all around us, even on a subconscious level. Our brains are built to
absorb, filter and store information. Discussion about learning could actually stimulate some
English learning amongst the students! 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?

Chores
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
How does your family decide who does various chores around the house?
Can you name some chores that need to be done everyday?
What chores are your responsibility?
Which chores do you not like to do.
How do you decide on your children's chores?
Do you get paid for doing chores?
What is something you hate doing when you get home?
Do you like to clean up your room?
Do you wash the dishes in your house?
Do you wash clothes for your family?
Do you do the ironing the clothes?
What are some chores you do outside your house?
Can you think of some dangerous chores that you can't do?
If you could buy only one of this two things, would you choose a dishwasher or a
washing machine?
How long do you think you could live without a maid or someone to help you in the
house?
Do you like to go to the supermarket?
Have you ever had an empty fridge for a long time only because you were too lazy to
go grocery shopping?
What kind of products does your family buy on the Internet?
If you could have a robot to do all your chores, what would you choose for it to do?
What chores do you do that your parents didn't have to do when they were growing
up?
What are some chores that your parents have to do around the house?
Do your grandparents help with chores?
Easter
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Do you celebrate Easter in your country?
How do you celebrate Easter in your country?
Do you have any special family traditions?
Did the original meaning of Easter get lost?
Do you know the meaning of Easter?
Do you celebrate Easter?
What do you do to celebrate it?
Do you consider it an important holiday? Why or why not?
Do you think it used to be more important than it is today? Why or why not?
What are the 40 days before Easter called?
What special activities or events happen in those 40 days?
Do you observe these 40 days?
What is the Sunday before Easter called?
What is it remembering?
What is the Friday before Easter called?
What is it remembering?
Do you think most people consider Easter time a religious celebration? Why or why
not?
How do you think the Easter bunny and hiding colored eggs came to be part of the
celebration of Easter?
Do you think it is wrong to associate religious holidays with other types of things, like
Easter and the bunny?
Christmas and Santa Claus?

Encouragement
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
What do you do to encourage yourself when going through hard times? Does it work?
Who do you talk to for encouragement and inspiration?
What books offer encouragement and inspiration?
Which of your family members encourage you most? How?
How can discouragement help us to grow?
What do you do when you feel depressed?
What could someone do to encourage you when you feel depressed?
What are some saying in your country that bring encouragement?
What's the most encouraging book you've ever read?
Which is better a word of encouragement or a letter of encouragement? Why?
Is time a weapon to fight discouragement with? Why? How?
How can you motivate others our yourself to have hope when there seems like
there's no hope?
Should people just accept whatever comes there way?
What are some ways you feel you can make a difference in this world.
How can you make this world a better place?
How would you encourage a homeless bun who had no friends or relatives?
If you suddenly became handicapped, how would you encourage yourself and
others?
 What song encourages you most?
Who's music encourages you most?
What television show encourages you most?
What person has inspired you the most? How?
What celebrity has inspired you most? How
What's your favorite encouraging saying?
Do you encourage others when you see them crying? How?
What would you want someone to do for you if you were crying publicly because you
were deeply hurt inside?
How can you fight discouraging thoughts about yourself?
When should you see a counselor or psychologist?
Can church, temples, mosque or other religious places help bring someone
encouragement or inspiration?
What religious books do people turn to for encouragement and inspiration.
How can you make yourself believe more in yourself.

Facebook
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Social Networking, Privacy
Do you have a Facebook account?
How often do you check your Facebook account?
How many friends do you have on Facebook?
What do you do on Facebook?
What's the best thing about Facebook?
Do you have your boy/girlfriend on Facebook?
What's something you don't like about Facebook?
Have you ever had a problem on Facebook?
Are you well known on Facebook?
Do you chat on Facebook?
Do you know any story about a problem because of Facebook?
Do you accept any friend request?
Do you have any private album that none of your friends can see?
How do you protect your album privacy on Facebook?
Do you have a Facebook account?
How often do you check your Facebook account?
How many friends do you have on Facebook?
What do you do on Facebook?
What's the best thing about Facebook?
Do you have your boy/girlfriend on Facebook?
What's something you don't like about Facebook?
Have you ever had a problem on Facebook?
Do you have any celebrity on Facebook?
Do you chat on Facebook?
Do you know any story about a problem because of Facebook?
Do you accept any friend request?
Do you have any private album that none of your friends can see?
How do you protect your album privacy on Facebook?
Do you have a Facebook account?
 How often do you check your Facebook account?
How many friends do you have on Facebook?
What do you do on Facebook?
What's the best thing about Facebook?
Do you have your boy/girlfriend on Facebook?
What's something you don't like about Facebook?
Have you ever had a problem on Facebook?
Do you have any celebrity on Facebook?
Do you chat on Facebook?
Do you know any story about a problem because of Facebook?
Do you accept any friend request?
Do you have any private album that none of your friends can see?
How do you protect your album privacy on Facebook?
What are some privacy concerns when using Facebook?

After a Vacation
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Holidays, Travel
Did you enjoy your last vacation? (How was your vacation?)
How do you feel after a long vacation?
How many days was your vacation?
How much money did you spend on your last vacation?
Did you encounter any problems during your vacation?
How did you resolve them?
Did you have a part-time job during the holidays?
Did you have any bad experiences?
Did you meet any interesting people? Cn you tell me about them.
Did you notice any cross-cultural differences during your vacation?
Did you study during the vacation? If so, what did you study?
How was your trip?
Why did you visit the place(s) you went to?
How did you get there?
Why did you choose the means of transportation that you chose?
How much luggage did you take?
Would you take the same or different equipment next time?
In what ways did you obtain real satisfaction when you were on vacation?
Was the place you went to very different from where you live?
What were the women like?
What were the men like?
Were people friendly?
Did you stay in a hotel?
What was the daily rate?
What historical sites did you visit and what did you learn?
What interesting people did you meet? Tell me about them.
What souvenirs did you buy?
What was the best food you ate during your vacation?
What was the most enjoyable thing that you did during your vacation?
What was the most interesting thing that you did during the vacation?
 What was the most interesting thing you did during the holiday?
Where did you go for your last vacation?
Did people speak English there?
Did you have any problems?
Did you use a lot of English?
How did you get there?
How long did it take to get there?
How long were you there?
How much money did you spend?
What did you do there?
What did you see in each place?
What kind of food did you eat?
What souvenirs did you buy?
What was the activity you enjoyed the most, and why?
What was the weather/food/scenery like?
What were the people/restaurants/scenic spots like?
Where did you stay?
Where did you visit?
Where would you like to go next?
Who did you travel with?
Would you recommend your friends visit there, why or why not?
Where did you go? How long did you stay? How did you get there?
Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
Where in the world would you most like to go for your next vacation?
Of all the places you visited, which would you recommend to your friends?
How do you get to sleep when you are traveling on a plane?
How far was it to the beaches, to the nearest town, village etc.?
How long did it take you to get there?
What sort of condition was the hotel in?
Did the room overlook the sea?
Did you have a nice view from your room?
Have you ever run out of money when you are on holidays?
Who is the most remarkable person you have ever met on holiday?
How would you feel if there weren't any holidays?
Have you ever been mugged while on vacation?
What is the most exotic or strangest thing you ate on holiday?
Have you ever thought of giving up your holiday due to unavoidable reasons?

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

Jobs & Occupations

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Self-employment
At what age do people usually begin to work in your country?
At what age do people usually retire in your country?
At what age would you like to retire?
What do you think you will do after you retire?
How much money do you think you need to retire with your lifestyle?
Can you talk about what a typical day at your current job is like?
Can you describe some of the people that you work with?
Can you describe your current job?
What was your first job?
Do women usually work after they get married in your country?
Do you ever work overtime?
If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?
Do you have a part-time job? If so, what do you do?
Do you have to attend a lot of meetings for your job?
Do you have to do a lot of paperwork?
Do you have to work overtime?
If so, how often?
Do you have to work on Sundays?
Do you know someone who has worked as an undertaker?
What is the job of a an undertaker?
Can women do this job or is it better for a man to be an undertaker?
Do you like your boss? Why or why not?
Do you like your job?
Do you like your job? Why or why not?
Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?
Do you think it's acceptable for women to be in the military? Why/why not?
Do you think people over 65 should be made to retire?
Do you think women and men should be paid the same for the same job?
Do you think women are good bosses?
Are there women bosses in your country?
Do you think your company is well run?
Do you think that the place where you work is well run?
Do you work on weekends?
Do you work on Sundays?
Does your mother work?
Does your mother work outside of the house?
Have you ever been promoted?
Have you ever taken any courses that specifically help you with the job you are doing
now?
Have you ever worked on a farm?
Did you like it?
Would you like to go back on this farm job?
If not , why?
How do you like your work?
How have working conditions changed in recent years?
Do you think that working conditions have improved? If so, in what ways?
How long do you plan to continue working where you are?
How long have you been working at your present job?
How many days a week do you work?
How many hours a week do you work?
How many times have you been promoted?
When was the last time you were promoted?
Did you get a large pay raise at that time?
How much do you think a doctor should be paid a month?
How about a secretary?
How about a truck driver?
How much money do you make? (Maybe this is not a good question to ask.)
How much money does a secretary get paid per week?
How old were you when you got your first job?
How well do you get along with your boss?
If you could own your own business, what would it be?
If you had to choose between a satisfying job and a well-paid one, which would you
choose?
Is it common for men and women to have the same jobs in your country?
Is it easy to find a job in Canada? How about in your country?
Name three occupations that you could do. (For example, be a mortician)
Name three occupations that you could never do?
What are some common occupations in your country?
What are some common jobs for men in your country?
What are some common jobs for women in your country?
What are some jobs that children do?
What are some jobs that you think would be boring?
What are some jobs that you think would be fun?
What are some questions that are frequently asked in a job interview?
What are you responsible for?
What are you trying to do in order to find a job that you really like?
What do you do?
What's your job?
What do you like most about that job?
What do you think is the best job? What do you think is the worst?
What do you think would be the most interesting job? The most boring?
What does your father do? (What does your father do for a living?)
What does your mother do?
What influenced your choice of job? (Why did you choose your job?)
What job do you want to have in five years' time?
What job would you most like to have, if social/cultural boundaries did not apply?
(How different are they?)
What job(s) do you wish to have in the future?
What jobs in your country are considered to be good jobs? Why?
What kind of volunteer work have you done?
What kind of work do you do?
What kind of work do you want to do in the future?
What plans have you made for your retirement?
What three adjectives would describe yourself as a worker?
What time do you get home from work?
Is it the same time every day?
What time do your start and finish work?
What would be your dream job?
Do you think it would be possible for you to get this job?
What's one job you wouldn't like to do? Why not?
What's your brother's occupation?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When you were a child, what job did you want to have when you grew up?
Where do you work and what is your current job?
Where do you work?
Which job are you best at?
Which job would you never do?
Which jobs do you think are the most prestigious?
Who among the people you know has the most interesting job? What is it?
Why did you leave your last job - did you resign or were you sacked?
Would you be upset if your boss was a woman?
Would you consider the military as a career choice? Why or why not?
Would you consider yourself to be an ambitious person at work?
Would you describe yourself as a workaholic?
Would you like a job in which you traveled a lot?
Would you like a job that required you to sit at a computer all day?
Would you like to do the same job for the rest of your life?
Would you like to work in an office? Why or why not?
Would you rather be a doctor or a banker?
Would you rather work inside or outside?
What job would you most like to do?
What are the names of some of the people with that job?
Do you personally know any one with that job?
How long do you plan to keep it for?
When do plan to retire?
What other fields or work will that job make you qualified for?
What are the work details of that job; what will be your duties at that job?
What steps are required from you to become a/an...?
So, how long before fore you become a/an...; at what ages will you both start and
finish this/each job/career?
What do you hope to spiritually gain from that job?
What do you wish to physically gain; what kind of things would you like to buy with
your money?
How much money do you need to make to fulfill you dreams and desires?
If money weren't a problem for you, which job would you prefer to have?
How does money affect your decisions?
How do your wants and desires affect your career options and goals?
How many years of schooling would you prefer to have?
Can you improve on the way things are now being done in the field you choose?
Which college courses are needed for you to be the very best in your field?
Which college courses are required for you dream job?
What other courses do you need to take so you can pursue your hobbies and
personal interests?
Which of the classes mentioned above are you giving the highest priority? Why?
Who is the breadwinner (provider) in your family?
Who makes the most money in your family? (This may not be a "polite" question to
ask.)
Is it common for people from your country to have one job for life?
Do you see any unfair labour practices in your country's workforce?
Do you have an after-school job?
Would you like to have a management position?
What are the pros and cons of being a manager?
What are the qualities a good boss should have?
What is a fair wage for the skills you have?
Are there any jobs which can only be done by one gender?
If so, what are they?
What are some jobs that some people think only one gender can do, but can be
done by either gender?
What should you not do during a job interview?
Who would you hire a employee with a lot of experience or an employee with a lot of
education?
Have you ever worked?
Getting a Job
What is the difference between work and a job?
Do you have a job?
How did you get it?
Did you have to go to university to get it?
What is the name of your job?
Is it a popular job?
Is it a job mainly for men, or for women?
 Did you need any special training to get your job?
What type of special training did you need?
How long and where was the training?
Is it an indoor, or outdoor job?
Which do you think most people prefer, indoor or outdoor jobs?
Does your job pay a good salary?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to your job?
Which do you think are some of the more demanding jobs?
Which are the least demanding jobs?
Which jobs are badly paid?
Which jobs are over-paid?
Which job are more popular than others, and why?
Is your job competitive?
What about promotions?
Is it too competitive?
How is your relationship with your co-workers?
Why would I choose you instead of the 50 others wanting this position?
These were submitted as possible job interview questions.
What degrees do you have?
How much experience do you have?
Where have you worked?
Why did you choose this employment?
How much would you like to earn?
Have you ever worked in this field?
Where would you like to work? Why?
Why do you find your job interesting?