ESL Conversation Questions and Answers

75 Topics

1. Family
2. Restaurant
3. Books
4. Travel
5. Website
6. Accident
7. Childhood memory
8. Favorite rooms
9. Presents
10. Historical place
11. Newspaper/ Magazine
12. A memorable event
13. A favorite subject
14. A museum
15. A favorite movie
16. A foreign country
17. Parties
18. A teacher
19. A friend
20. A hotel
21. A letter
22. Hobbies
23. Music
24. Shopping
25. Holiday
26. Animals
27. A practical skill
28. Sport
29. A School
30. Festival
31. Food
32. Household appliance
33. A music band
34. Weather
35. Neighbor
36. Natural scenery
37. Outdoor activities
38. Law
39. Pollution
40. Traffic jam
41. TV program
42. Architect/ Building
43. Electronic Media
44. Job/ Career
45. Competition/ contest
46. A garden
47. Hometown
48. Clothing
49. Advertisement
50. A project
51. A wedding
52. A Coffee shop
53. Culture
54. Transport
55. Politician
56. Communication
57. Business
58. Computer
59. Exercise
60. Goal/ ambition
61. Art
62. Fashion
63. Jewelry
64. Cosmetic
65. Indoor Game
66. Phone conversation
67. Learning A Second language
68. A Creative Person
69. A celebrity
70. A Health Problem
71. Technological advancements
72. A Landmark
73. Handcraft Items
74. Plastic Surgery
75. Success

1.Family

How many people are there in your family?

Does your family live in a house or an apartment?
What does your father do?
How old is your mother?
Do you have any siblings? What’s his/her name? 
Are you the oldest amongst your brothers and sisters?
What does your mother/father like?
Do your parents let you stay out late?
Do you stay with your parents?
Does your family usually have dinner together?

2.Restaurant
How often do you eat out? Who do you go with?
What restaurant do you usually visit?
What type of food do you enjoy to eat? Western or Asian?
How much do you usually pay when you eat out?
Do you enjoy spicy food?
Are the servers there friendly to you?
Have you ever tried Italian food?
Are you concerned about calories when eating out?
Are fast food restaurants like KFC or McDonald’s famous in your
country?
Do you often drink alcohol when eating out?

3.Books
How often do you read books?
What’s your favorite type of book?
What can you learn from books?
Where do you read books?
What’s the most interesting book you have ever read?
How long does it take you to finish a book?
Do you usually bring books with you when you travel?
Is there any bookstore or library in your area?

4.Travel
How many places have you traveled to?
Who do you usually go with?
What’s your favorite tourist attraction?
Have you ever been abroad?
What language do you use when traveling?
What do you usually do during your trip?
What do you do to prepare for your trip?
What do you usually bring when you travel?
Do you prefer traveling by car, train or plane?
Do you prefer traveling alone or joining a guided tour?
5.Website

What type of websites do you often search for?

How long have you been using them?
What do you visit those websites for?
What’s your favorite website?
Can you read websites in English?
What’s the most popular website in your country?
Do you think the youth should use websites as a reliable source
of knowledge?

6.Accident

Have you ever been in any traffic accident?

What happened?
How did you feel then?
Who was involved in the accident?
Did the insurance company pay for repair service?
Did you need a lawyer?
Did you report the issue to the police?
Were you sent to the hospital after the accident?
Do you have a driving license?
Why should people obey traffic regulations?

7.Childhood memory
Did you have a happy childhood?
Did you experience your childhood in a city or countryside?
Did you usually skip class when you were a child?
Who were you with when you were a child?
What did you want to be when you were a child?
Who did you love the most when you were a child?
Who was your childhood hero?
What reminds you of your childhood?
Did you change a lot when you grew up?
Why is childhood important?

8.Favorite rooms
How many rooms are there in your house?
Which floor is your bedroom on?
Is it big or small?
What color is your bedroom painted?
Do you love your room? Why?
What furniture does your bedroom contain?
What do you do in it?
How much time do you spend in your room?
Do you share your room with anyone else?

9.Presents

What kind of presents are popular in your country?

Who gave presents to you? On what occasions?
What was your last present?
What was the one you like best?
Did you ever get a present you didn’t like?
How do you thank people who give you presents?
What are the times of the year that people give presents in your
country?
Who was the last person you gave a present to?
Is giving presents important in daily life?

10.Historical Place

Which tourist attractions do you prefer when traveling? Historical

places or natural landmarks?

What do you usually do when visiting historical places?

Can you name some historical places you have visited?
What’s your most favorite historical place? Why?
What is the most famous historical place in your country?
What’s special about it?
Where is it located?
Should the youth visit historical places instead of other places?
11.
NEWSPAPER/ MAGAZINE

What are the benefits of reading a newspaper/magazine?

How often do you read it?
What’s the best time to read the newspaper?
What types of magazines do you usually read?
What’s your favorite magazine?
Do you read the paper or online news?
How much does it cost you to buy paper newspaper per month?
What is the most popular magazine in your country?
With the popularity of Internet, do you think newspapers and
magazines will disappear?

12.
A Memorable Event
How many events have you joined this year? What were they
about?
What was your most memorable event?
Was it organized indoors or outdoors?
It was an indoor event.
Who sponsored the event?
Who went to the event with you?
What were some performances in the event?
Was the event shown on TV?
How would someone market an event?

12.
A Favorite Subject

What subjects did you learn in school?

What subject did you like the most when you were at school?
Were you good at it?
Did your friends like that subject too?
Was the textbook written in English or any other language?
Who taught that subject?
How was that subject helpful to you?
How often did you learn that subject?
How long did you spend on that subject at home?
Have you ever attended any extra classes for that subject?
Is it important to study hard on both social sciences and natural
sciences?

13.
A Favorite Subject

What subjects did you learn in school?

What subject did you like the most when you were at school?
Were you good at it?
.
Did your friends like that subject too?
Was the textbook written in English or any other language?
Who taught that subject?
How was that subject helpful to you?
How often did you learn that subject?
How long did you spend on that subject at home?
Have you ever attended any extra classes for that subject?
Is it important to study hard on both social sciences and natural
sciences?

14.
A MUSEUM
What type of museum is popular in your country?

What is the most famous museum in your country?

What’s special about it?

How many times have you visited that museum?

.
What do you usually do when visiting a museum?

Are you allowed to take pictures there?

How did you feel after visiting there?

What do you think is the importance of museums in history?

15.A Favorite Movie

Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?
Is watching movies at the theater more interesting than watching
movies at home?
How often do you go to the movie theater?
What’s your favorite type of movie? What movie of that type do
you like?
Was that movie adapted from a book?
Who are the actors/actresses in the movie?
Mr. Bean is the main character, he is played by Rowan Atkinson
who is from England.
Was it recommended by your friend, teacher or family?
It was recommended by my classmate.Was the movie in your
mother language or in English?
.
Should children watch violent movies?
What’s the most important factor of a great movie?

16.A FOREIGN COUNTRY

Have you ever travelled abroad? If yes, what country was it?

Where is that country located?

What is it famous for?

What are the special food and drinks of that country?

What do you like about that country?
How many citizens are there in that country?
What language do people there speak?
Do you want to go back there again?
Why do people like to travel abroad?

17. Parties

On what occasions do people in your country celebrate parties?

wedding engagments, family reunions, birthdays, etc, but
sometimes people hold parties just when they meet up and want
to have something fun to do.
Are you a party animal?
When do parties often start and finish?
Where are the parties thrown?
What do you usually wear when you come to a party?
What do people do in the parties you attended?
Do you enjoy drinking alcohol at the parties?
Yes, a little beer can cheer me up.
Do people have to bring anything to the party?
Why do people, especially the youth, love going to parties?
18. A TEACHER
Who is your favorite teacher?

Is he a foreign teacher?
What do you like about his lessons?
What’s he like?
What does he usually wear when coming to class?
Do you love his subject?
Do students in your class like him?
Do you want to be a teacher like him?
Have you ever been punished by him?
Do you want to see him again?

19. A FRIEND

Who’s your best friend?

What does she look like?

How and when did you meet?

How often do you see this friend?
What’s she like?
Do you and her share anything in common?

What do you and her do together?

Have you and her ever quarreled?

Does she know how to cook?

Do your parents like her?

Why is a friend important in life?

20. A HOTEL

What is your favorite hotel? Where is it located?

It’s the Sheraton, a five-star hotel located in Saigon, Vietnam.
How do you know that hotel?
Why do you choose to stay in that particular hotel?
Is it by the beach?
Does it attract many tourists?
What type of room did you stay in and what facilities did you get
from the hotel?
What do you like about that hotel?
Are all the staff friendly and helpful?
How much does it cost a night?
Do you recommend that hotel to friends?

21. A LETTER

Who wrote the letter to you?

Did you keep the letter?
What was the letter about?
How did you feel about the letter?
Do you have a letter collection?
Do you like writing letters or emails?
Do people in your country usually write letters?
What’s the difference between emails and hand-written letters?
Why should we write letters to friends or relatives?

22. HOBBIES

What is your hobby?

Is your hobby common in your country?
Is your hobby the same as when you were a child?
When did you start practicing that hobby?
Is there anybody in your family who you share your hobby with?
How much time do you spend on your hobby?
What benefits do you get from it?
Have you ever heard of someone having a very unusual hobby?
What was it?

What do you think about someone having weird hobbies?

What hobbies are usually expensive in your country?

23. MUSIC

What kind of music do you like?

Is that the kind of music preferred in your country?
Who is your favorite singer?
What piece of music do you like? Who sang that song?
How much time a day do you spend listening to music?
Do you feel relaxed listening to music?
Why is music important to us?
Do you usually go to bars or clubs?
What do you think about the teenagers’ music style?
Have you ever thought of forming a music band?

24. SHOPPING

Do you like shopping?

What do you usually shop for?
Where do you go shopping?
Are there many shops in your neighborhood?
Do you spend much money on shopping?
Do you usually shop online? What items?
What’s the difference between shopping online and offline?

25. HOLIDAY

Where did you go for holiday?

Why did you choose that destination?
How long did it last?
Who went with you?
How did you travel?
What did you pack up?
What did you do during the holiday?
What’s the difference between holidays today and 20 years ago?
At what time do people in your country usually go on holiday?

26.ANIMALS
Are you an animal lover?
Yes, I am. I love animals.Are you raising any pets?
What is it like?
What does it look like?
What are its habits?
What do you usually do with it?
What does it like to eat?
What do you learn from it?
Why do people keep pets?
Are pets well looked after in your country?

27. A PRACTICAL SKILL

What practical skill have you learned?
Who taught you that skill?
How did you learn it?
Why did you learn it?
How long did it take for you to learn it?
How often do you use this skill?
How has this skill helped you?
Do people in your family know this skill, too?
Do all skills need learning?

28.Sport
What sport do you like?

Is it easy to play that sport?

Is that sport popular in your country?

How long have you been practicing that sport?

Who do you play sports with?
How often do you play that sport?
What benefits can you get from that sport?
Do you like watching football? Online or offline?
What is your favorite football team?
Why is sport important?
29. A SCHOOL
What school did you go to?
Where is the school located?
Do you like the architecture of the school?
What are the teachers like?
How long have you spent there?
Is that a single-sex school?
Do you like the school uniform?
Why do you enjoy the time there?
What important lesson did you learn from school?
Will you recommend that school to others?

30. FESTIVAL

How many popular festivals are there in your country?

What is the most important festival in your country?
When does it take place?
It occurs on January 1st.
Where’s the festival celebrated?
What do people do to prepare for the festival?
Who can join the festival?
What do people do in the festival?
What’s special about that festival?
Is the festival culturally related?
Why is a festival important?
31. FOOD
Do you like to cook?
Is there any kind of food you don’t like?
Do you eat out or cook at home?
I usually cook at home, sometimes when I’m busy, I go out to eat.
How often do you cook?
What’s your favorite food?
Is it Western or Asian cuisine?
Is it easy to make your favorite food?
What ingredients do you need to make that food?
What do you think about fast food?
Would you say that you have a healthy diet?

32. HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

What’s the most useful household appliance that you have?

When did you buy it?

Is it expensive?
Is it easy to use?
How does it work?
How often do you use it?
I wash my clothes twice a week.
Will you replace it with a more modern one?
How does your life change with that household appliance?
Do you think that household appliances will make people lazier
and lazier?

33.A MUSIC BAND

What’s your favorite music band?

Is it famous around the world?
What’s their taste of music?
Are they good at dancing?
Have you ever seen them in real life?
How often do you come to their show?
Can you sing their songs?
Do your friends like them?
Do they have anti-fans?

34. WEATHER

What’s the weather like in your country?

What kind of weather do you like?
What months have the best weather in your country?
Do you like it when it rains?
.
How does the weather affect your feelings?

How has the weather changed recently?

Do you usually watch the weather forecast?
What’s your favorite season? Why?
What do you like to do when it’s windy?

35. NEIGHBOR

Who is your neighbor?

When did you become neighbors?
I first met him when I moved to this apartment 2 years ago.
Is he friendly?
How often do you see him?
Do you have any problems with him?
Does he usually help you?
Would you be sad if he moves to another area?
What’s the difference between friends and neighbors?.
What do you need to be a good neighbor?

36. NATURAL SCENERY

Do you like visiting natural places?

What’s the most impressive natural scenery you’ve ever seen?.
When did you see it?
Who went with you?.
What’s special about it?
How has it changed recently?
It doesn’t change much actually.
What’s the next natural scenery you would like to visit?
What can people get from visiting natural places?
What are some famous natural attractions in your country?

37. Outdoor Activities

What outdoor activity do you participate in?

Where do you do it?

Who do you do outdoor activities with?

Who shares the same interests as you?
How often do you take part in outdoor activities?
How do you feel after activities?
What benefits can you get from outdoor activities?
Do you usually play sports outdoors?
Why are children less interested in outdoor activities nowadays?

38. Law

What law do you like?

Is that an international law?
When was it issued?
Who told you that law?
Is it easy to follow that law?
What do you think about that law?
What benefit can you get from following that law?
Why should people obey the law strictly?
What can be done to encourage people to follow the law?

39. Pollution
How many kinds of pollution are there?
What type of pollution is popular in your country?
Have you ever littered?
What can you do to help prevent pollution?.
What does the government do to encourage people to protect the
environment?
Are people in your country aware of the environmental issues?
Is there any law to force people to protect the environment?

40. Traffic Jam

Are you comfortable with traffic jam?

Why does it happen?

How often do you sit in a traffic jam?
What time in a day are you usually caught in a traffic jam?
How long does it take to escape from the traffic jam?
What do you do while waiting in a long line?
Have you ever had any trouble caused by traffic jam?
How has the traffic situation changed recently?

41. TV Program

What is your favorite TV program?

Is that an international TV program?
What is the TV program about?
How often do you watch that TV program?
Who watches that program with you?
What channel is it on?
Why do you like that TV program?
How does that TV program change you?
Who is its target audience?
Would you recommend that TV program to your friends?

42. Architecture / Building

What is the most impressive building you’ve visited?

Where is it located?
How tall is it?
Who was the architect?
Is it well-known all over the world?
Do you have to purchase a ticket in order to visit the tower?
When did you see it?
Will you come back there again?

43. Electronic Media

What kind of electronic media is popular in your country?
What’s your favorite kind?
Why do you like it?
How often do you access to that kind of electronic media?
What’s interesting about it?.
Is it convenient to access to that kind of electronic media?
Do your family like that electronic media too?
How has mass media  changed recently?

44. Job/Career
What is your desired job?
Is that a demanding job?
What challenge do you have when doing that job?
Is it hard to make your dream come true?
Why do you choose that job?
What requirements and characteristics do you need to do that
job?
Does the job have something to do with your major at university?
What does the society think about your job?
Do you make much money with that job?
Have you ever thought of leaving your job?

45. Competition/Contest

What is the most impressive competition you’ve entered?

What was it about?
Were there many participants in the competition?
What prize did you get?
What could you learn from the competition?
Did you have to prepare a lot for the competition?
How did you know about the competition?
Did you do your best then?
Is the competition useful, in your opinion?

46. A Garden

Is there any garden that you like?

Where is it?

When did you first see it?

What were planted in the garden?
Why do you like the garden?
What is special about the garden?
How do people do the gardening?
How often do you visit the garden?
Is there any relation between the green garden and your mood?
Do you want to be a gardener?

47. Hometown
Where is your hometown?
Is it the city or the countryside?
What’s it known for?
What do people do there?
How is the atmosphere there?
How are people there?
Would you like to live in your hometown or somewhere else?
Is it easy to find a job there?
Is it a good environment for young people?
Is traffic congestion a big problem in your hometown?

48. Clothing
What is your favorite item of clothing?
When did you buy it?
Where did you buy it?
What color is it?
Was it expensive?
Why do you like it?
Do clothes help to build your personal brand?
Have you seen anybody wearing unusual clothes?
How has your fashion style changed recently?

49. An Advertisement

What is your favorite advertisement?

Where did you see it?
What happened in the advertisement?
Why do you like it?
Was there any famous actor/ actress in the advertisement?
Did it attract much attention?
Do you believe in advertisements?
How have advertisements changed recently?

50. A Project
What project did you work on?
Was that an indoor or outdoor project?
Who was involved in the project?
What did you do?
Was it a successful project?
Who was your advisory teacher?
What did you learn after the project?
Did you like your partners?
What did you get after the project?

51. A wedding
Have you ever attended someone’s wedding? Who was he/she?
Who went with you?
Where was the wedding organized?
What did people do in the wedding?
What did the bride and groom wear?
What was the most interesting ritual in the wedding?
Are weddings a special event of one’s life in your country?
Do people in your country get married early?
What is the ideal age to get married in your opinion?
How has wedding changed recently?

52. A Coffee Shop

What’s your favorite coffee shop?
Where is it?
How often do you visit that coffee shop?
Who do you go with?
What drinks does it serve?
Are the waiters there friendly?
Do you like the decorations of that coffee shop?. 
When was the last time you went there?
What is special about that coffee shop?
How do you know about that coffee shop?
53. Culture
Which culture do you belong to?
Is that a multicultural society?
How long has your country been practicing those customs?
What custom do you like the most?
What are traditional costumes of men and women in your country?
Are you comfortable with tradition and customs of your culture?
How do people greet each other?
Have you ever felt drawn to another land?

54. Transport
What is the most popular means of transport in your country?
How do you go to school or work?
How often do you take busses?
Do people in your country like traveling by bus?
Not really, they have their own cars.
What are some benefits of traveling by bicycle?
Do you prefer public transport or private transport?
Do you think bus should replace other means of transport?
What do the government do to encourage people to use public transport?
How has the transport changed recently?

56. Communication
What’re your favorite means of communication?
How to you keep in touch with your friends?
Do you get in touch with your family by phone?.
Do you usually write letters or emails?
What are some advantages of using a mobile phone?
Do you like handwriting letters?
Do you use social networks?
Do you need communication skills using social networks?
How have social networks changed communication?
Do you have good communication skills in your opinion?
57. Business
Are you studying or working?
Are you self – employed or working for a company?
Are you running any business?
What does your business sell?
Do you have any difficulty running that business?
Is that an online or offline business?.
When did you start the business?
What are some advantages of running your own business?

58. Computer
Do you have your own computer?
How often do you use the computer?
Have you ever joined any computer class?
What do you use the computer for?
What are some advantages of using the computer?
Do you use other high-tech devices besides computers?
Should children learn how to use the computer?

59. Exercise
Do you usually exercise?
What sport do you play?
How often do you exercise?
When did you start doing exercise?
Is there anyone who does exercise with you?
What benefits can you get from exercising?.
Where do you exercise?
Why do you exercise?
Do people in your country do much exercises?
What if people don’t do enough exercise?

60. Goal/ Ambition

What is your current short-term goal?
When did you start thinking about this goal?
What difficulties do you have in order to achieve it?
Do you need any help to achieve that goal?
Do your parents support you to achieve that goal?
Do you think it’s important to set goals?
What are the important qualities to achieve goals?

61. Art
What’s your favorite work of art?
When did you see it?
Where did you see it?
Why do you like it?
What’s special about it?
Do your friends like it, too?
Do you want to be an artist?
What qualities does a person need to be an artist?
How do children develop their talent for art?

62. Fashion
Are you a big fan of fashion?
What style do you choose to wear?
Do you enjoy shopping for clothes?
Is there any fashion icon who you want to wear the same?
Do you create your own fashion style?
Do you prefer vintage or modern style? Why?
Have you ever attended in any fashion show?
What do people think about your fashion style?.
Are you going to change your fashion style in the future?
Is fashion important to people?
63. Jewelry
What’s your favorite item of jewelry?
When did you buy it?
What’s it made of?
How does it look?
Why do you like it?
What’s special about it?
Does it remind you of something?
How much does it cost?
Do you usually wear it?
64. Cosmetic
What’s your favorite cosmetic item?
When did you buy it?
How often do you use it?
How did it change your physical appearance?
Is it expensive?
Is the brand name famous?
How important are cosmetics according to you?
Is it important to have a good-looking appearance?
Are cosmetics harmful?
Do think beauty products are a waste of money?

65. Indoor Game

What indoor game do you like to play?
When did you start playing it?
Who do you play it with?
Where do you play?
Is it easy to play?
Are you usually the winner?
Why do you like it?
Is it popular in your country?
What are other indoor games in your country?

66. Phone Conversation

Do you usually talk on the phone?
What was your favorite phone conversation?
When did you have the conversation?
Who did you talk to?
What did you talk about?
Why did you find the conversation interesting?
Do you prefer talking directly or talking on the phone?
Who do you usually talk to on the phone?
What are the differences between talking directly and phoning?
67. Learning A Second Language
Do you like learning languages?
What is your mother language?
What second language are you learning?
Is that language popular in your country?
How often do you use that language?
How long have you been learning that language?
Why do you choose to learn that language?
Who is your teacher?
Why do people learn a second language?

68. A Creative Person

Who is the creative person that you admire?
Why do you admire him?
How did he become so creative?
Do people you know admire him, too?
What is he like?
Do you think creativity can be learned and practiced?
How is creativity important in study or work?

69. A Celebrity

Who is a famous celebrity that you admire?

Why do you admire her?
What is special about her?
Is she well-known worldwide?
Do you see her on TV or in reality?
Do your friends love her, too?
Do you want to be like her?
70. A Health Problem
What health problem did you have?
How did you have that health problem?
Was that serious?
What were some symptoms of that health problem?
Did you take any medical treatment?
How could you recover from it?
What difficulties did you face because of that problem?
What do people do to prevent that health problem?
Is that health problem common in your country?

71. Technological Advancements

Are you a tech and gadget lover?
What is an important technological advancement you know?
What do you use it for?
How long have you been using it?
Does it make your life easier?
How did it change your life?
How often do you use it?
What are other technological advancements you know?

72. A Landmark

What is a famous landmark in your hometown?

When was it built?
Where is it?
How does it look like?
What was it made of?
Who was the architect?
What is special about it?
Does it symbolize something?
Does it attract many tourists to come?
73. Handcraft Items
Do you love handcraft items?
What handcraft item do you like?
Where did you buy it?
Why do you like it?
What is it made of?
What does it look like?
How is it made?
Is it easy to make?
What is special about it?
Does it remind you of something?

74. Plastic Surgery

Is plastic surgery popular in your country?
What do you think about people having plastic surgery?
Why do you think people do it?
Is plastic surgery bad?
Does it do harm to your health?
Do you think changing your look is a good thing?
Do you think the development of plastic surgery is a positive or negative trend?
Do you care more about your outlook or inner soul?
What is a part of your face that you wish to change?

75. Success

What success did you achieve?

When did you get that success?
Was there anyone who supported you?
Was it hard to get that success?
What were some difficulties in achieving success?
How did you get it?
How did you feel when you were successful?
How did your life change after that success?
What is your key to success?