English conversation topics for students

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♦Note:
  It's a good idea to pre-teach essential vocabulary before beginning a discussion.
  This will help students feel more comfortable and encourage them to participate.

1. 100 days left You discover that you have only 100 days left to live. How would you spend your time?

   Suggested themes:

   • Travel
   • Family & friends
   • Community
     
   • Ongoing projects
   • Sell your house and spend all your money
   Alternatively, ask students to think of five things they would like to accomplish during that time.
2. You're the President If you became president of your country, what would be your top three priorities? Suggested a few areas such as:
   • Education
   • Medical care
   • Free food for the poor/ food vouchers, etc.
   • Higher minimum wage
   • Equal salaries for men and women
   • Environment/climate change
   • Violence and terrorism
   • Find ways to guarantee international peace.
3. Guilty pleasures A ‘guilty pleasure’ is enjoying something which is considered taboo or is generally frowned upon, and feeling a bit guilty about it. What is your guilty pleasure? Do you have anything to confess? For example:
   • eating junk food/ chocolate ...
   • watching trashy TV shows
   • spending too much time on social networks
   • reading gossip magazines
   • playing games on your computer (especially at work!)
   • taking selfies
   • falling asleep at the cinema
   • buying flowers for yourself
4. Coronavirus
   • What images come to mind when you hear the word ‘virus’?
   • What do you know about the coronavirus?
   • What does the word ‘outbreak’ make you think of?
   • What is the difference between ‘outbreak’ and ‘pandemic’?
   • What can governments do to stop a pandemic?
   • Could or should governments have reacted differently at the beginning of the outbreak?
   • Do you think the whole world can or should be vaccinated against the coronavirus?
   • Do you think scientists will find a cure for the coronavirus?
   • What questions would you like to ask a virologist?
   • Do you agree with the Japanese authorities’ decision not to allow spectators at the Tokyo Olympic games?
   • Did that decision prevent or limit the spread of the virus?
   • Are rich countries better protected than under-developed countries?
   • What are the advantages and disadvantages of vaccine passports?
   • Imagine life in the future. In what way will we live differently?
     - Work
     - Education
     - Everyday life (shopping, sports, travel, etc.)
5. Electric cars
   • What do know about electric cars?
   • Have you ever driven an electric car?
   • Are electric cars better for the environment?
   • In what way are they better than petrol cars?
   • What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars?
   • Are they more expensive to buy/to run? Why?
   • How long does it take to charge an electric car?
   • Where can you charge an electric car?
   • Can electric cars travel as far as petrol cars?
   • What country is trying the hardest to encourage people to use electric cars?
   • Are electric cars popular in your country?
   • What needs to be improved to make them more popular?
   • Do you think the number of electric cars will increase in the future?
   • Are car manufacturers really interested in preserving the environment?


6. Rich world, poor world
• What kind of aid should the governments of rich countries give to poor countries? (money - food - medicine - machinery/equipent - hospitals - schools - training ...)
• Do you think all citizens should be encouraged to do voluntary service overseas so as to understand the problems of poorer countries?
• Are poor people poor because they lack opportunities or because they are lazy? What reasons can you think of?
• Is it right for rich countries to have strict immigration controls?
7. Fake news
   Fake news (fabricated news) is the deliberate spread of misinformation. Sensationalist, dishonest or outright fabricated headlines are often used to increase readership.
   • Do you agree with the above definition?
   • Where do we most often find fake news? (newspapers, social media ...)
   • What sort of fake news can you think of? (politics, show business...)
   • How can we tell if a news story is ‘fake’ or not? (checking sources, dates, photos…)
   • What is the purpose of the misinformation?
   • Is fake news used in election campaigns?
   • Have any countries recently been accused of spreading fake news?
   • Can you think of ways to prevent the circulation of fake news?
8. Violence in the world today
   • When you hear the word "violence", what do you think of?
   • Is the world more violent today?
   • Are there different sorts of violence? (physical / mental /psychological/domestic …)
   • What forms of violence have you noticed?
   • Do people tend to be more violent when they group together? (gangs / mobs / crowds…)
   • In what areas is there an increase in the level of violence? (football, politics, religion, environment …)
   • What are the causes of violence? (jealousy, frustration, unemployment, poverty, conspiracy theories, fake news …)
   • What violent conflicts are going on around the world?
   • Does the repetition of violent images in TV news reports have a positive or negative effect?
   • Does violence ever achieve anything?
   • Is the increase in violence a worldwide phenomenon?
   • What could be done to reduce violence?
9. What would you do if ...?
   • If you were given the opportunity to be born again, what would you change in your life?
   • If you could have dinner with someone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
   • If you always had to tell the truth, what kind of problems would you encounter?
   • If you could live without sleeping, how would you spend your nights?
   • If you were given a choice beween great wisdom or great wealth, which would you choose?
   • If you could live forever on earth, as it is now, would you? Why or why not?
10. Natural disasters
    
    • What is a natural disaster? (fires, flooding, landslides, earthquakes ...)
    • Has there ever been a natural disaster where you live?
    • Have you ever been in a fire or witnessed one?
    • If you had to leave your home quickly, what would you take with you?
    • What are the worst consequences of a natural disaster?
    • What can people do to stay safe during and after those disasters?
    • What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
    • Can a person rebuild his/her life after losing everything?
    • Can you think of any country that doesn’t have natural disasters?


11. Annoying things
• Do people have habits that annoy you?
• Do you annoy people with some of your habits?
• What does 'pet peeve' mean?
• Do you have a pet peeve?
• What annoys you when you are driving a car?
• What are some things that car drivers do that annoy you?
• Does it annoy you if someone cuts in front of you when you are waiting in line?
• Does smoking bother you?
• Does something that your parents or friends do annoy you?
• Do some people in your office/company do annoying things?
• Can you think of any celebrities that are annoying? Why?
• What do people do on public transport or on the street that annoys you?
12. Success-Failure
    • How would you define success?
    • Do you have the same idea of success as your parents?
    • To what extent will your encourage your children to become successful?
    • Do you think failures can contribute to a person's success?
    • Can you think of any famous people who encountered failure before success?
13. Social Networking
    • What is social networking?
    • Can social networking sites be dangerous?
    • What precautions would you advise people to take?
    • Should the use of social networking sites be banned at work?
    • Are social networking sites changing our daily behaviour?
    • Is it possible to become a social networking addict?
14. Diseases
    • What dangerous diseases are people scared of nowadays?
    • Should we be better-informed about the dangers of these diseases?
    • What is the best way to stop diseases from spreading?
    • Do diseases have an effect on travel?
    • Which disease is it urgent to find a cure for?
15. Manners
• Are good manners important?
• Do people have better manners today than before?
• Can you give examples of what you think are good manners?
• What do you think are bad manners?
• Can good manners in one country be bad manners in another country?
• What about table manners? Can you give examples of some good table manners?
• How about bad table manners?
• Can manners affect your success in life? How?
• What's the best way to teach manners to children?
• What advice about manners would you give a foreigner visiting your country?


16. News coverage in the media today.
    • Do you think news coverage today correctly describes what is going on in the world?
    • Do you trust everything you hear or see on the news?
    • What improvements would you make?
    • What is the most important current news story?
    • Do certain types of events get too much/too little coverage?
    • Do you trust the media? Are you sure the information given is always true?
    • Is it important to keep up with current events?
17. Job interviews
    • Is it necessary to prepare for a job interview?
    • How can a person make a good first impression?
    • Is there a recommended dress code for an interview?
    • Can you think of any difficult questions one should be prepared for?
    • Is there anything a candidate should avoid mentioning?
    • Is it ok to make negative comments about your present employer?
    • Is it ok for interviewers to ask questions about age, marital status, etc.?
    • What information should a candidate have about the company?
18. Environment
• What are some of the most serious environmental problems today?
• Can you find ten things that each of us can do to help preserve our planet?
• What is your opinion on climate change?
• In what way will our children be affected by climate change?
• How can we make our homes more environmentally friendly?
• What can companies do to help preserve the environment?
• Which countries cause the most pollution?
• Will the climate keep changing or go back to normal?
• What will happen if we keep polluting the environment?
• If we run out of oil, where will we get our energy from?
19. Shopping on the internet
    • Do you often do your shopping online?
    • What do you buy online? : - food - clothes - furniture - services : airline tickets, theatre reservations, flowers, greeting cards ...

      - other

    • Are the prices the same as in the shops/agencies or less expensive?
    • Have you ever had any disappointments or bad surprises?
    • What are the advantages of shopping online?
    • What are the dangers?
    • What advice would you give future online shoppers?
20. Risk
    • What is your definition of risk?
    • Do you know any risk takers?
    • In your opinion why do people take risks? (pleasure, work, challenge ...)
    • What risks do you come across in your work/life?
    • Are some people obliged to take risks in their jobs?
    • When is a risk stupid or unnecessary?


21. Politicians' personal lives.
    • Does a politician's personal life have an effect on their ability to do their job?
    • Do you think the media pays too much attention to politicians' personal lives?
    • Why do certain types of media give excessive coverage to minor offences?
    • Information concerning personal lives circulates quickly on social networks.Is this good or bad?
22. History for future generations.
    • You are asked to select a number of objects to represent life at the beginning of the 21st century. The idea is to help future generations better understand how we lived and what major events affected us. What objects would your choose and why?
23. Technology
    • What technology would it be difficult to live without today?
    • Has technology changed our everyday lifestyle?
    • What technology, if any, has made our homes more comfortable?
    • What technology has made the world worse?
    • Has technology changed education methods?
    • Will online education one day replace the classroom?
    • Has technology changed the way we do business?
    • What will be the next biggest technological advance?
24. Travelling has become easier and cheaper.  What has it changed in people's lives:
    • speed, comfort, health, family relationships, etc.
    • work/employment
    • holiday habits
    • way of life/standard of living in certain countries.
25. Describe the best or worst trip you ever took:
    • Where did you go?
    • Did you travel alone or with a group?
    • Was it a package tour or did you prepare your own trip?
    • What are some of the benefits of traveling alone?
    • What are some of the benefits of traveling with a group?
    • What did you do / what had you intended to do?
    • What made it your best (or worst) trip?
    • Where is the most amazing place you visited?
    • What popular travel destination would you advise people to avoid?
    • What advice would you give someone planning the same sort of trip?
26. Work
    • Do human beings need to work to be happy?
    • What motivates people to work long hours?
    • Can perks (or fringe benefits) compensate for a boring job?
    • What are the advantages/disadvantages of working from home?
    • How do people find a balance between work and personal life?
    • What would make you leave your job?
    • In your opinion, which jobs are most prestigious? Why?
    • In your opinion, what is the worst job in the world?
    • Is it true that 'no job is perfect'?
    • If you could start your own business, what would it be?
27. Is life today better than in the past? Think about the following:
    • Education - employment - job satisfaction
    • Health : prevention, treatment, new discoveries, social security, etc.
    • Comfort : standard of living (housing/transport/leisure)
    • Violence
    • Social issues : single mothers, unmarried couples, homosexuality ...
28. Inventions
    • What invention has had the greatest impact on our lives?
    • Are there some things that never should have been invented?
    • Do some countries encourage inventors more than others?
29. What are the 5 most important decisions in a person's life?After making suggestions and defending their ideas, the group retains five of them and decides on the order of importance.
30. It is impossible to have a successful career and a happy family life. You have to choose one or the other. Do you agree?
31. Careers today: how to advise young people
    • How important is it to have a good (well-paid/secure) job?
    • What advice would you give a young person today?
    • Would you encourage your children to accept a job in another country?
    • Would you be disappointed if your children
      • left school early?
      • chose a manual job?
32. The internet is an essential communication tool in today's world.
    • The first and most popular use is the email. What others can you think of?
    • Has fraud increased since the arrival of the internet? How?
    • Is the internet sometimes used for other dishonest purposes?
    • What steps would you advise to protect data and privacy?
    • What do you think the internet will be used for in the future?
33. Recent physical achievements (crossing the Atlantic, mountain climbing, etc.).
    • How many can you think of?
    • Which achievement was the most impressive?
    • Are the world's best athletes present at the Olympic Games?
    • What do you think of 'extreme' sports (bungee jumping, tightrope walking...)?
34. The effects of medical and scientific progress:
    • health (prevention, treatment, organ transplants, rare diseases, etc.)
    • beauty (plastic surgery, dental care, etc.)
    • comfort in the home
    • transport
35. Honesty - Truthfulness
    • Is there a difference between honesty and truthfulness?
    • Can you think of occasions when people are sometimes dishonest?
    • What professions are sometimes accused of giving misleading information or half-truths?
    • Is dishonesty ever justifiable?
    • Are there times when it might be better to give partial truth to someone
36. Politics
    • What do you think is the most important political issue right now?
    • Why do you think there are not more women in politics?
    • What type of information - if any - should a government keep from its citizens?