Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Conversation Topics
Conversation Topics
Alternatively, ask students to think of five things they would like to accomplish
during that time.
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:
o eating junk food/ chocolate ...
o watching trashy TV shows
o spending too much time on social networks
o reading gossip magazines
o playing games on your computer (especially at work!)
o taking selfies
o falling asleep at the cinema
o buying flowers for yourself
4. Coronavirus
o What images come to mind when you hear the word ‘virus’?
o What do you know about the coronavirus?
o What does the word ‘outbreak’ make you think of?
o What is the difference between ‘outbreak’ and ‘pandemic’?
o What can governments do to stop a pandemic?
o Could or should governments have reacted differently at the beginning of the
outbreak?
o Do you think the whole world can or should be vaccinated against the
coronavirus?
o Do you think scientists will find a cure for the coronavirus?
o What questions would you like to ask a virologist?
o Do you agree with the Japanese authorities’ decision not to allow spectators at
the Tokyo Olympic games?
o Did that decision prevent or limit the spread of the virus?
o Are rich countries better protected than under-developed countries?
o What are the advantages and disadvantages of vaccine passports?
o Imagine life in the future. In what way will we live differently?
- Work
- Education
- Everyday life (shopping, sports, travel, etc.)
5. Electric cars
o What do know about electric cars?
o Have you ever driven an electric car?
o Are electric cars better for the environment?
o In what way are they better than petrol cars?
o What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars?
o Are they more expensive to buy/to run? Why?
o How long does it take to charge an electric car?
o Where can you charge an electric car?
o Can electric cars travel as far as petrol cars?
o What country is trying the hardest to encourage people to use electric cars?
o Are electric cars popular in your country?
o What needs to be improved to make them more popular?
o Do you think the number of electric cars will increase in the future?
o Are car manufacturers really interested in preserving the environment?
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.
o Do you agree with the above definition?
o Where do we most often find fake news? (newspapers, social media ...)
o What sort of fake news can you think of? (politics, show business...)
o How can we tell if a news story is ‘fake’ or not? (checking sources, dates,
photos…)
o What is the purpose of the misinformation?
o Is fake news used in election campaigns?
o Have any countries recently been accused of spreading fake news?
o Can you think of ways to prevent the circulation of fake news?
12. Success-Failure
o How would you define success?
o Do you have the same idea of success as your parents?
o To what extent will your encourage your children to become successful?
o Do you think failures can contribute to a person's success?
o Can you think of any famous people who encountered failure before success?
14. Diseases
o What dangerous diseases are people scared of nowadays?
o Should we be better-informed about the dangers of these diseases?
o What is the best way to stop diseases from spreading?
o Do diseases have an effect on travel?
o Which disease is it urgent to find a cure for?
15. Manners
o Are good manners important?
o Do people have better manners today than before?
o Can you give examples of what you think are good manners?
o What do you think are bad manners?
o Can good manners in one country be bad manners in another country?
o What about table manners? Can you give examples of some good table
manners?
o How about bad table manners?
o Can manners affect your success in life? How?
o What's the best way to teach manners to children?
o What advice about manners would you give a foreigner visiting your country?
18. Environment
o What are some of the most serious environmental problems today?
o Can you find ten things that each of us can do to help preserve our planet?
o What is your opinion on climate change?
o In what way will our children be affected by climate change?
o How can we make our homes more environmentally friendly?
o What can companies do to help preserve the environment?
o Which countries cause the most pollution?
o Will the climate keep changing or go back to normal?
o What will happen if we keep polluting the environment?
o If we run out of oil, where will we get our energy from?
20. Risk
o What is your definition of risk?
o Do you know any risk takers?
o In your opinion why do people take risks? (pleasure, work, challenge ...)
o What risks do you come across in your work/life?
o Are some people obliged to take risks in their jobs?
o When is a risk stupid or unnecessary?
23. Technology
o What technology would it be difficult to live without today?
o Has technology changed our everyday lifestyle?
o What technology, if any, has made our homes more comfortable?
o What technology has made the world worse?
o Has technology changed education methods?
o Will online education one day replace the classroom?
o Has technology changed the way we do business?
o What will be the next biggest technological advance?
24. Travelling has become easier and cheaper. What has it changed in people's lives:
o speed, comfort, health, family relationships, etc.
o work/employment
o holiday habits
o way of life/standard of living in certain countries.
26. Work
o Do human beings need to work to be happy?
o What motivates people to work long hours?
o Can perks (or fringe benefits) compensate for a boring job?
o What are the advantages/disadvantages of working from home?
o How do people find a balance between work and personal life?
o What would make you leave your job?
o In your opinion, which jobs are most prestigious? Why?
o In your opinion, what is the worst job in the world?
o Is it true that 'no job is perfect'?
o If you could start your own business, what would it be?
27. Is life today better than in the past? Think about the following:
o Education - employment - job satisfaction
o Health : prevention, treatment, new discoveries, social security, etc.
o Comfort : standard of living (housing/transport/leisure)
o Violence
o Social issues : single mothers, unmarried couples, homosexuality ...
28. Inventions
o What invention has had the greatest impact on our lives?
o Are there some things that never should have been invented?
o Do some countries encourage inventors more than others?
36. Politics
o What do you think is the most important political issue right now?
o Why do you think there are not more women in politics?
o What type of information - if any - should a government keep from its citizens?
CONVERSATION TOPICS - BUSINESS
1. It doesn't matter whether you enjoy your job or not as long as it's a well-
paid job.
7. Small companies can adapt more quickly to changes in the market place
than large corporations.
9. More time is wasted during meetings than during any other business
activity.
11. It is impossible for young people to find a (good) job today without help
from someone.
blamestorming
o A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who or
what is to blame for a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is
called 'blamestorming'.
"A blamestorming session took place following the unfavourable
reviews in the press."
bone of contention
o A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there is a lot of
disagreement.
"The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays is still
a bone of contention."
bone to pick
o If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed with them
and want to talk to them about it.
"Mark wants to see the boss. He says he's got a bone to pick with
him."
in good/bad books
o If you are in somebody's good or bad books, you have their approval or
disapproval.
"I'm in my wife's bad books at the moment because I forgot our
wedding anniversary."