MAPLE CONSULTANTS AND ABROAD SERVICES

PART 1

CHOCOLATE

1. Do you like sweets or chocolate?

2. What’s your favorite flavor?

3. How often do you eat chocolate?

4. When was the first time you ate chocolate?

5. Is chocolate popular in your country?

6. Why do people like chocolate?

7. Do you think people use chocolate differently now than in the past?

8. Is chocolate good for our health?

9. Have you ever given chocolate as a present to someone? Why?

TELEVISION

How much TV do you watch?

What’s your favourite TV program?

Did you watch much TV when you were a child?

What types of programs did you watch when you were a child?

Do you think television has changed in the past few decades?

Has television changed your life in any way?

 CELEBRITIES

1.Who is your favorite celebrity in your country?

2.How do celebrities influence their fans in your country?

3. Do you like any foreign celebrities?

4.Would you like to be a celebrity? Why?

5.Do you think we should protect famous people’s privacy?

 PUBLIC TRANSPORT

1. What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?

2. How often do you take buses?

3. Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

4.How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?

5. Would you ride bikes to work in the future?

6.What will become the most popular means of transport in your country?

7. Do you prefer public transport or private transport ?

 BAGS

Do you like bags?

What types of bags do you like?

Do you usually carry a bag (when you go out)?

Do you have different bags for different occasions (or, different purposes)?

What do you put in these bags?

What sorts of bags do women like to buy?

HANDWRITING

Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer (typewriter or

word-processor)?
Nowadays, how do most people write things?

Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

When do children begin to write in your country?

How did you learn to write?

Do you think handwriting is very important (nowadays)?

How can children today improve (or, practice) their handwriting?

What impression does a person’s handwriting have on other people?

Do you love writing?

Do you prefer to write letters or E-mails?

Do you think some people are still addicted to writing letters?

What are the main differences between handwriting and writing on a

computer?

ART

1. Do you like art?

2. Do you think art classes are necessary? (Why?)

3. How do you think art classes affect children’s development?

4. What kind of paintings do people like?

5. What benefits can you get from painting as a hobby?

6. How often do you visit museums and art galleries?

7. Do you think going to museums and art galleries is beneficial for

children? Do school in your country have field trips to museums?

8. What kinds of things do you like to draw?

9. Is it easy to learn how to draw?

 HOUSE

Do you live in a house or an apartment?

Which rooms do you like most in your house? Why?

Is there anything about your house that you would like to change?

Tell me something else about your house.

 DREAMS
Do you remember your dreams when you wake up?

Do you like hearing others’ dream?

Do you believe that dreams have meanings?

Do you think dream will affect life?

Do you want to learn more about dreams?

What’ s the goal of life for you?  Why is it important? How can you make
your dream come true?

Do you think that goals are different for people of different ages? Would
you separate dream from reality?

HOLIDAYS

What do you do in your holidays?

Do you think holidays are becoming more and more important?

What kind of places do you want to travel to?

Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?

FLOWERS
1. Do you love flowers? Why?

2. Which/What is your favorite flower?

3. Do you think flowers are important?

4. Are flowers important in your culture? (Give examples)

5. Do people in your country ever use flowers for special occasions?

6. What are the occasions when people give or receive flowers?

7. In your country, do people (ever) give flowers as a gift?

8. When was the last time you gave flowers to someone?

 PHOTOGRAPHY

Do you like to take photographs? (Why?)

Do you prefer to take photos alone or with other people? (Why?)

How long have you liked taking photographs?

How (why) did you become interested in photograph? 

TERRORISM
Have you ever heard of terrorism?

Do you think it is the biggest problem in the world today?

HOMETOWN

Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?

How could your hometown be improved?

Are there any changes you would like to make in your hometown?

 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

How often do you go outside every week?

What activities do you usually do when you go outside?

Do you spend enough time doing outdoor activities?

What’s the amount of exercise that modern people do?

What kind of outdoor activity do you often do?

What’re the advantages of outdoor activities?

How should children balance outdoor activities and indoor activities?

MIRROR

Do you often look in the mirror?

Do you often buy mirror?
Where do you think mirrors are a necessary decoration?

ROBOT

Are you interested in robots? Why?

Do you like robots to work at your home?
Do you want to take a car which robot is the driver?
Will robots replace human beings in the workplace completely?

SWIMMING

Do you like swimming?

How often do you swim?

Do you like to go swimming on holiday?

Should everyone learn swimming? Why?

FAMILY

Could you tell me something about your family?

What do you think are the changes in family structure in China recently?
Do you think it is good to live with the grandparents?

What’s the women’s status in families?

Do you think it good to be the only child in the family?

Is there any generation gap in your family?

Do you like your family?

Who is your closest family member?

What are your parents like?

How to foster children?

CARRYING THINGS 
What do you bring when you go out?

Have you forgotten to bring something?

Will you bring different things in the daytime or at night?

VISIT HOMES

Do you often invite friends to visit your home?

Do you like visitors coming to your home?

Do people often visit you at your home? = How often do visitors come to
your home? =  When do visitors come to your home?

Do you prefer to have friends visit you, or relatives?

What do you usually do together with your visitors?

When someone visits you, how do you usually show hospitality (or,
entertain them)?

TOY
Why was your favorite toy in childhood?

Should parents buy many toys to their children?

What are the benefits of children playing toys?

What are the disadvantages of children playing toys?

WATCHES/TIME

Do you usually wear a watch?

Do you think time is very important?

Where did you get your watch?

What do you use your watch for?

Do you often look at your watch?

Are you ever late for anything?

How do you feel when you are late for an appointment?

How do you feel when others are late?

If you could go back in time, what would you do?

FRIENDS

Do you think friends are important in your life?

What does friendship mean to you?

How can be a good friend to others?

What are the qualities you value in your best friend?

How do people make friends with others? How do you make new friends?

What are the differences between adults and children in making friends?

Where do young people usually meet in your city?

Do you usually meet new people?

Have you made any friends on the Internet?

How can you keep in touch with your friends if you two are not seeing each
other frequently?

 
SHOES

How many shoes do you have?

Do you like shopping for shoes? Do you like shoes?

How often do you buy shoes?

What kinds of shoes do you usually buy?

Do you prefer comfortable shoes or good-looking shoes?

Are people willing to buy expensive shoes?

ACTIVITIES NEAR WATER

Why do so many people like going to places with water such as lakes, rivers
or the ocean?

What kinds of leisure activities do people like to do in places such as on the

ocean, at a beach, at a river, at a lake etc.?

As a place to spend some leisure time, do you think the beach or the seaside
is more suitable for children or for old people?
Do you think children and old people do the same types of things when they
go to a beach?

What activities would you do if you were spending some leisure time at a
beach or near the ocean?

Why do some people like water sports?

Do you think the government should invest money in developing facilities

tor water sports?

Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the
world?

How important is water in people’s everyday lives?

DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS

How often do you visit art galleries?

What kinds of things do you like to draw?

Is it easy to learn how to draw?

Do you like painting/ drawing? Why?

Do you think children should learn drawing?

Why do primary schools have painting class?

Why do people display art work (painting) at their homes?

Have you ever bought any painting?

Do you think painting (or drawing) is important for adults?

Do you still draw those pictures that you did in your childhood?

Hanging out with friends

How often do you like to hang out with friends?

Who do you usually like to hang out with?

Where do you like to go when you hang out with your friends?

Do you like to go out with a big group or juts few friends?

TEACHERS

Do you have a favourite teacher?

What kinds of teachers do you like?

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Do you think teachers should be angry at students or not?

Do you like strict teachers?

What’s the difference between young and old teachers?

STUDY

Is that a very popular subject to study in your country?

Is your subject very challenging (or difficult) to study?

What do you do when you have a difficulty with your studies?

How did you learn science at school?

Why did you choose …as your major?

What do you like about your major?

What’s more important when studying – the student or teacher?

 

JOB

What do you do?

Why do you choose this job?

What are the advantages of having your own business rather than working
for someone else?

What do you see yourself doing in the next 10 years?

 MUSIC

What kind of natural sound do you love to listen to? And explain why.

Do you love listening to music?

What kinds of music do you love listening to?

Where and when do you usually listen to music?

Where would you prefer to listen to music, at home or in the concert hall?

Which way would you prefer to listen to music, MP3 or Hi-Fi?

Do you play any instrument? And what is it?

How do you feel about the phenomenon that parents in Vietnam are always
forcing their kids to learn all kinds of instruments?

How do you feel about those kids who know how to play lots of
instruments?

MUSIC & INSTRUMENTS

Do you think children should learn to play musical instruments?

Have you learned to play any musical instrument?

Do you play any instrument? And what is it?

Why do some people choose to learn to play a musical instrument?

How do you feel about the phenomenon that parents in Vietnam are always
forcing their kids to learn all kinds of instruments?

How do you feel about those kids who know how to play lots of
instruments?

Do men and women play different kinds of musical instruments?

What kind of natural sound do you love to listen to? And explain why.
Do you love listening to music?

What kinds of music do you love listening to?

Where and when do you usually listen to music?

BUS AND TAXI

How often do you take the bus?

When was the first time you took a taxi?

What are the advantages of taking a taxi compared with buses?

Is it convenient to take the bus/taxi in your city?

SUNNY DAYS

Do you like sunshine? Why?

What you like to do in sunshine/ on sunny day?

What things do you think is hard to do in sunshine? / What you dislike to

do when it’s sunny outside?
Do you like going outside on weekends on sunny days?

Food/Cooking

Is food important to you? (Why?)

What kinds of food do you particularly like?
Is there any food you don’t like? (Why?)
What kinds of food are most popular in your country ?
Do you like cooking? (Why?/Why not?)
Who usually does the cooking in your home?

Names

Does your name have any particular meaning?

What’s the origin of your name? (or your surname)
Do you like your name?
What do your friends call you?
Did your family have a certain (nick) name that they called you when you
were a child?
What names are popular to give to babies in your country?

Leisure Time
When do you have free time?
Do you think it’s important to have leisure time?
Do your friends ever come to your home in their free time?
Compare the way people in your country relax today and the way they used
to relax years ago.

Sport/Exercise

What sports do you like? (Why?)

What sports are most popular in your country?
Are boys and girls good at the same sports?
What sports do children prefer?
Do you like to do daily exercise? (Why?/Why not?)
What are the advantages of doing regular exercise?
Where do people in your country usually exercise?

Swimming

Do you like swimming?

How often do you swim?
Where do you swim in your city?
Is it difficult to learn how to swim?

 
Weather

What’s the weather like today?

What’s the weather (usually) like in your hometown?
What’s your favourite weather? (Why?)
Do you like snow? (Why?)
Do you watch the weather forecasts?
Does the weather ever affect what you do?

Rain

Does it rain much in your country? (Where? When?)

Is there any part of your country where it doesn’t rain much? (Where?)
When (in what month/season) does it rain most in your hometown?
Can you remember any time when it rained particularly heavily in your
hometown? (When?)
Does rain ever affect transportation in your hometown? (How?)

Indoor Games

Do you play any indoor games?

Do you prefer to play indoor games or outdoor games?
What indoor games did you play when you were a child?
Is there any particular indoor game that you liked (when you were a child)?
What sorts of indoor games do children play now?
 

History

Do you like (to learn about) history?

What historical event do you find most interesting?
Do you think history is important?
Do you like to watch programs on TV about history?
How (or. from where) do you get information about history?

Going Out

Do you like going out with your friends?

Do you often go out with friends?
What do you do when you go out?
Where do you go when you go out?
Do you prefer to go out with a large group of friends or just a few friends?

Patience

What do you think “patience” is?

Do you think patience is important?
Do you think being patient is an important part of being polite?
Would you say you are a patient person?
Have you ever lost your patience?
What do you become impatient about?

Plans and Goals

When do you plan to start that?

How do you intend to achieve that?
When you go abroad, do you plan to live in the countryside or a big city?
(Why?)

Shopping

Are there many shops near your home? (What kind?)

Do you like shopping? (Why? Why not?)
Who usually does the shopping in your home?
How often do you buy something in a shop?

Birds

How do you feel about birds? (Why do you feel that way?)
How do people in your country feel about birds?
Are there many birds near your home?
Have you seen many different kinds of birds?

Housework

Do you do housework at home?

What kind of housework do you often do?
Did you do housework when you were a child?
Do you think that children should do housework?

Advertisement

1. Are there many advertisements in your country?

2. Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?

3. What are the various places where we see advertisements?

4. How do you feel about advertisements?

 WALKING

1. Do you like to walk?

2. Do you like to walk on your own or with others?

3. Would you say that your city is a good place for walking?

4. Do people in your country walk a lot?

5. Do you think walking is important?

6. Do you think walking in the countryside is better than walking in the

city?

7. What could be done to improve the experience of walking in cities?

8. What could be done to improve the experience of walking in cities?

 HATS 

Do you like to wear hats or caps?

What kind of hats do you have?

Where do you like to buy hats?

Is wearing hats popular in your country?

 NOISE

1.Do you mind noises?

2.What types of noise do you come across in your daily life?

3.Are there any sounds that you like?

4.Where can you hear loud noise?

5. Do you think there’s too much noise in modern society?

6. Are cities becoming noisier?

 JOB

What do you do?

Why do you choose this job?

What are the advantages of having your own business rather than working
for someone else?

What do you see yourself doing in the next 10 years?