Conversation Cards

Less a game than an "activity," although it can be tweaked to make it enjoyable for the
students. (I find that anytime they close their books and get to focus on something non-
book-like, their mood magically improves.)
This is generally more suitable for intermediate or advanced students. First, cut out
the conversation cards below and put them in a box, and read the questions for
the students to answer. This is good practice for tests like the GEPT in Taiwan, in which
students have 15 or 30 seconds to answer such a question.
I know this doesn't exactly sound "fun," so here are some suggestions to make it more
interesting.
1. Answering the questions could be the punishment in games such as "Three Dice"
(on the main games page).
2. Instead of simply taking turns answering questions, you could read one question and
then go around the room, having each student say ONE WORD until the question is
answered (the final student says "period"). I sometimes start classes with this activity.
3. You can give each student a question, one at a time, but to ensure that they don't
respond with "I don't know," or some other lazy variant, have his/her classmates rate
the response on a scale from 1 - 10. If the average falls below 5, for example, the
student gets a second question. (I did this in my class, and the quality of the answers
magically improved.)
If you always keep this box of questions at your side in the classroom, it can be a
wonderful salvation for the teacher and a nice reprieve from those dusty textbooks for
the students.
When is the last time you went out for Do you consider yourself an
dinner? Describe it. adventurous person? Why?

If you had one million dollars and had to What career do you hope to have when
spend it in one day, what would you do? you are older?

What do you like to do in your free How can I get to the nearest 7-11 from
time? here?

If you go to a restaurant and the

waiter brings you the wrong order, what Do you like small children? Why?
will you do?

What sports do you like to play? Why What is the most dangerous thing in
do you enjoy them? your home?

What are some of the reasons people What do you think is the best age to
choose to adopt a child? be? Why?

At what age should people be allowed to At what age should people retire?
vote? Why? Why?

How many hours should children go to Would it be better or worse to have a

school each day? Why? young president? Why?

In most countries, women live longer

Are you afraid of getting old?
than men. Why do you think this is?

What do you think about elderly Have you ever flown on an airplane?
people? Describe it?

Do you prefer to sit by the window, What do you need to do to prepare to

center, or aisle? go on a trip?
 What would you do if you saw someone
What’s your favorite color?
stealing a shirt at a store?

Are there animal rights groups where

What kind of animals do humans ride?
you live?

Can you name some animals that are

What animals are you afraid of? Why?
endangered or extinct?

Have you ever ridden an animal? Do you have any pets? Why or why not?

Do you think it is acceptable to do Do you think it’s okay to eat meat? Are
experiments on animals? there any animals we shouldn’t eat?

Do you think it’s okay to keep wild Do you think that animals can dream?
animals in a zoo? What animals? Why?

Have you ever been to a farm? Name some ways that animals can help
Describe it. people.

What annoys you about living where you Do you think you have habits that annoy
live now? other people?

What annoying habits does your best

Do you consider yourself a good artist?
friend have?

What kinds of art do you like best? What skill do you wish you could have?

Do you like to watch baseball? Why or Would you rather watch a baseball
Why not? game at a stadium or on television?

Is it better to be beautiful or Do you think it’s ok to have plastic

intelligent? surgery to improve your looks?
What do you think about people with
Would you ever get a tattoo?
tattoos?

Why do women wear makeup, but men

What is the traffic like where you live?
do not?

Should people be allowed to talk on cell If you could meet any celebrity, who
phones while driving? would it be?

Do you like to read tabloids? Why?

Do you give money to beggars? Why or
Do you prefer news on TV or in
Why not?
newspapers? Why?

Are there a lot of beggars in your What are some of the advantages of
country? living in a city?

What are some of the disadvantages of

living in a city? If you could live anywhere, where would
Would you rather live in a city or in the you live?
country?

Where do you usually do your

Do you like to go shopping? Why?
homework? Why?

Do you wear jewelry? What do you

What did you wear yesterday?
wear, and why?

Would you ever dye your hair? Why, or When was the last time you got dressed
why not? up?

How does your grandmother dress

Where do you usually buy clothes?
differently than you?

What is a healthy diet? What websites do you usually visit?

What did you eat for breakfast today? How often do you use the computer?
What do you usually do?

Do you think email is a good way to Are you afraid to go outside alone after
communicate with people? Why? dark where you live?

Do you think there is too much violence Why is it important to wear a helmet
on TV? Why or Why not? when riding a motorcycle?

Do you want to live in another country

If your cell phone fell in the toilet,
when you are older? Why or Why not?
what would you do?

What time did you wake up today?

Do you believe in life after death?
What was the first thing you did?

What are some disasters that are

Describe the last dream that you had.
common in your country?

Do you ever have nightmares? What are Do you believe that dreams can predict
they like? the future?

What is the biggest problem facing

Do you or anyone in your family snore?
your country?

What subjects do you like to study in

What subjects do you dislike in school?
school?

Do children in Taiwan have too much Would you ever want to be a teacher?
homework? Why or Why not?

What is one of your favorite TV shows?

Describe the last vacation you took.
Why do you like it?
What kind of books do you like to read? What kind of movies do you like to
Why? watch? Why?

If you could play any musical

Do you play any musical instruments?
instrument, what would you play?

Would you describe yourself as shy or

Do you know anyone who gambles?
outgoing?

What kind of personality is good to

Describe your country’s flag.
have in a friend?

What is the pollution like in your

Is it good to recycle? Why or Why not?
country?

What are some ways to reduce

What are some ways to save energy?
pollution?

Are there too many people in your What is more important to you: family
country? or friends? Why?

Do you want to get married someday?

What chores do you have at home?
Do you want to have children?

Describe the members of your family. Are your parents strict?

Do you often argue with your mother or

Where do you usually eat dinner?
father?

How often do you see your Do people often get divorced in your
grandparents? country?

Do your parents trust you? What’s your favorite animal?

What’s the best thing about your What’s the best thing about your
mother? father?

What would you do if you found a wallet If you could travel into the future,
on the street? where would you go?

What’s your favorite city? What’s your favorite day of the week?

What’s your favorite food? What’s your favorite holiday?

What’s your favorite fruit? What’s your favorite vegetable?

Do you believe in ghosts? Are you afraid of ghosts?

What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of flying?

What do you think is the most

What makes you nervous?
frightening disease?

What do you think about vegetarians?

What’s your favorite restaurant?
Could you ever be a vegetarian?

Do you prefer to eat out or eat at

Describe one of your closest friends.
home?

Do you think it’s a good idea to borrow

Will robots ever replace humans? How?
money from a friend?

Do you think a machine will ever be able What is your favorite way to eat a
to think? cockroach?

How did you escape from the alien How did you feel after watching
space ship? television for 24 hours?
Would you rather kiss a crocodile or a If humans had three arms, would that
bear? be better or worse?

Do you want to join the army? Why or How are boys and girls treated
Why not? differently?

How are old people different than Do you think you will be a better parent
young people? than your parents?

What are some of the hand gestures in

What was the last book you read?
your country? What do they mean?

Do you live in a house or an apartment?

What are your educational goals?
Describe it.

What are your financial goals? What are your career goals?

Have you ever broken a bad habit?

Do you have any bad habits? What?
What?

What bad habits do you find annoying? Have you ever been in a fight?

Have you ever broken a bone? Have you ever been to a concert?

Have you ever called someone “honey”? Have you ever cheated on an exam?

What would you do if you forgot to

Describe an embarrassing moment.
bring money to a restaurant?

What’s the best gift you’ve ever

Do you ever cook? What can you cook?
received?

How often do you see a doctor? What’s the last gift you received?
Do you like to exercise? What do you What’s the worst injury you’ve ever
do for exercise? received?

Do you want to be famous? Why or Why What would you do if a monkey stole
not? your food at a zoo?

If you could travel back in time, where Do you like to go to health clubs? Why
would you go? or Why not?

If you could have only one food for the If you could speak any language
rest of your life, what food would you (besides English), what language would
choose? you speak?

What do you like about your home?

Describe your bedroom.
What don’t you like?

Which room do you spend the most time Could you survive alone in the forest
in? for a year?

What will you do after you graduate Are there any famous people from your
from college? hometown?

What is the weather like in your

What is your favorite season?
country?

Do you prefer mountains or beaches?

Describe the landscape in your country?
Why?

How do you make ice? How do you get dressed?

How do you ride a bicycle? How do you do laundry?

How do you kill a cockroach? How do you lose weight?

How do you take care of a plant? How do you play golf?

Why do people immigrate to other

How do you stop the hiccups?
countries?

Would you like to immigrate to another

Do you know any immigrants?
country in the future?

Have you ever bought something over

What will you do tonight?
the internet?

Do you believe in “love at first sight”? What is a “blind date”?

Do you think a boy should pay for

What are some bad manners?
everything on a date?

What are some good manners? Do you enjoy meeting some new people?

I am taking a test tomorrow. Say some Do you have a good memory or a bad
things to encourage me. memory?

How much money do you usually spend in

What’s your earliest memory?
one day?

What’s the most expensive thing you If you could be invisible, what would you
own? do?

Do you think the police are good or

Do you prefer to save money or spend
bad? Are you scared when you see a
money?
police officer?

What sports do you play? What’s the last thing that you bought?
If you had three wishes, what would What things can you have delivered to
you wish for? your house?

Do you have a cell phone? What do you Do you prefer to be late or early to
use it for? class?

Have you ever been in a traffic If you had only 24 hours to live, what
accident? would you do?

If a classmate asked you for an answer If the whole world were listening, what
to a test question, what would you do? would you say?

If your car hit another car but nobody If you could ask God any one question,
noticed it, what would you do? what would it be?

If you could be a super-hero, who would If you could be an animal, what animal
you be? would you be and why?