50+ Language Topics To Keep The Conversation Flowing

14.09.
22, 13:09 50+ Language Exchange Topics to Keep the Conversation Flowing for Days | FluentU Language Learning
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By MEREDITHKREISA
Last updated: AUGUST 9, 2022
50+ Language Exchange Topics to

Keep the Conversation Flowing for
Days
When it comes to learning a language, a conversation exchange is one of the
best tools out there.
It’s an interactive language-learning resource you can easily set up through

language exchange apps or video call programs like Skype.
On the surface, it seems like all you need to do is find an interesting enough
chat partner who speaks your target language and is lear[thning your native
language.
In fact, you’ll also need a variety of topics to discuss, and we’ve got loads to
keep the conversation flowing.
Contents
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14.09.22, 13:09 50+ Language Exchange Topics to Keep the Conversation Flowing for Days | FluentU Language Learning
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Exchange Topics?
If you do much of any language exchange, you’ll probably run out of ideas of
what to talk about at some point—which kills your momentum and eats into
your language practice time. Having more topics ready to go ensures that you
don’t have to miss out on valuable practice just because you’re drawing a blank.
So if you have an allotted time for your language exchange, why waste it trying
to brainstorm topics on the fly? Having topics ready will help you prepare for
any gaps in natural conversation.
You’ll also want to have language exchange topics ready in order to learn
thematic vocabulary. By focusing on specific discussion topics, you’re
essentially selecting what sort of vocabulary you want to practice. For instance,
asking someone about their favorite foods will help you practice food-related
vocabulary.
Finally, having language exchange topics ready will help get you
comfortable holding a conversation on any topic. The more you
practice discussing a wide array of topics, the easier it’ll be to understand and
respond to native speakers in any real-life situation.
When the conversation fizzles out, look no further than these 50-plus
language exchange topics to recharge your conversation engine!
50+ Language Exchange Topics to Keep the

Conversation Flowing for Days
We’ve compiled more than 50 language exchange topics you might want to try
out. Remember to always base your questions on what you know about your
partner and what he/she will be comfortable with. What’s appropriate to ask
can often vary by culture, so always take that into consideration.
This list is meant to inspire you, so don’t hesitate to come up with your own
questions. You can certainly ask the obvious questions in any category, like
“how old are you?” or “what do you do for a living?” To get your creative juices
flowing, though, we’ve included some unexpected questions you may never
have considered.
Getting to Know You
This topic is a mainstay of any language exchange. After all, it provides you
with varied vocabulary practice and helps you get to know your partner better.
However, lots of new exchanges peter out after the basics have been covered.
Here are some getting-to-know you questions you may not have
considered. Translating and using these phrases will also help you discover
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Age
If you could be the same age forever, what age would you choose? Why?
How old were you when you…
…learned to drive?
…moved away from home?
…had your first kiss?
…got your first job?
How old do you think you’ll be when you…
…get married?
…have children?
…retire?
Family
What do you think is the ideal family size? Why?
Do you want to have children? If so, how many?
If you want children, would you prefer boys or girls? Why?
How close are you with…
…your parents?
…your siblings?
…extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)?
What do you do when you get together with your family?
Jobs
What do you like most about your job?
What do you dislike about your job?
If you could have any job, what would it be? Why?
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If you could go back and choose a different career, what would you choose?
Why?
Education
What was your favorite subject in school? Why?
What was your least favorite subject in school? Why?
Looking back, what subjects do you wish you’d studied?
Do you value university education? Why or why not?
Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
Languages Spoken
What languages do you wish you spoke?
What languages do you think would be hardest to learn?
What languages have you tried to learn?
What are your favorite words or phrases in languages you’ve studied?
Living Situation (Where, with Whom, etc.)
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Describe your ideal apartment/house.
Do you have roommates? What are the best and worst things about having
them?
Pets
If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
What names would you consider giving a pet?
Life Where You Live
Discussing life where your partner lives not only helps you understand his/her
life, it also gives you valuable cultural insight, making this topic ideal for
language exchange. You might even consider looking at the CIA World
Factbook to learn some information you can ask follow-up questions about.
Culture
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Culture is fairly all-encompassing, so here are a few questions that don’t quite
fit into other categories.
Do you have any good jokes you can share?
What sorts of stories did your parents tell you when you were little?
How important are good manners?
What sorts of things do you need to do to be considered polite?
How do you greet strangers?
How do you greet your friends and family?
Food
What’s your favorite food?
What’s your favorite dish to make? How do you make it?
What foods do you hate?
What sort of food would you most like to try?
What foods are popular where you live?
Religion
Of course, it’s wise to tread lightly on this topic. This Jezebel article gives
some tips on how to approach the topic.
What religion is most common where you live?
What other religions are practiced where you live?
How is religion viewed where you live?
Holidays
What’s your favorite holiday?
What holiday do you think is least important?
If you could start your own holiday, what would be celebrated? How would you
celebrate?
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
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Popular Pastimes
What do people do for fun on nice days?
What do people do for fun when the weather is bad?
What do people like to do when they get together with friends?
What do people like to do when they get together with family?
What do you do for fun by yourself?
Society and Government
This is another topic to tread lightly around—some people will avoid topics
that could make them look like political dissidents, so try not to put them in an
uncomfortable position.
Do you vote? If so, how often? How do you place your vote?
How is your town/city run?
(E.g. mayor, council, etc.)
What problems is your community/city/country facing?
What problems are you most concerned about?
Economics
What’s a comfortable wage in your country?
How much does an apartment/house cost?
Do people where you live put money in the bank or keep it at home?
Do people often invest where you live? If so, what do they invest in?
Is it important to save money? Why or why not?
Healthcare
Where do you receive most of your healthcare?
Who pays for your healthcare?
Schooling
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For how many years do most people go to school in your country?
How long is a standard school day?
What subjects do students study in school?
What’s school lunch like?
Geography
What’s the terrain like where you live?
(E.g. deserts, plains, forests, mountains, lakes, etc.)
Weather
What sort of bad weather do you have? (e.g. blizzards, thunderstorms,

monsoons, tornadoes, tsunamis, droughts, etc.)
What’s your climate like?
City Layout
Tell me about your city.
How are city streets organized?
(E.g. grid, winding, etc.)
Where are…
…businesses located?
…factories located?
…neighborhoods located?
What part of town is busiest?
Lifestyle
Lifestyle can give you a lot of insight into how your partner lives and how
others in his/her community live. Plus, it’s always super fun to consider what
life is like around the world.
Home Layout
How many bedrooms are in apartments/houses where you live?
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How many people usually share an apartment/house?
What’s in a kitchen where you live?
Do most apartments/houses have outdoor space?
Daily Schedule
What’s your average day like? How does it compare to an average day for
others in your country?
What time do people wake up?
What time do people go to bed?
What do people do on weekends?
Fashion
Fashion varies wildly between countries and even regions within countries.
Discussing fashion can provide you with thematic vocabulary and also prepare
you not to look like a total dork if you ever choose to visit. If you need a little
more prep work, you can always look at photos of international fashion shows
from Elle to get an idea of the world fashion scene.
Personal Style
How would you describe your personal style?
What fashion trends do you like?
What fashion trends do you hate?
If you could only wear one outfit everyday, what would it be?
What outfit do you think looks best on you?
If you could copy someone else’s style, would you? If so, whose?
Do you prefer formal or informal dress? Why?
Shopping
Where do people like to shop?
How much do people buy in one shopping trip?
How do people pay for their purchases?

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Is shopping fun or a chore?
Tell me about the most popular stores where you live.
Personal Grooming
What do you do each morning to ensure you look your best?
If you had to change your hairstyle, what new hairstyle would you choose?
Hobbies
A lot of people spend their free time engaged in hobbies, and they’re a popular
topic of conversation when getting to know someone or making small talk.
They can reflect both cultural and individual preferences.
Sports
If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be?
What sport do you like the least?
If you could create your own sport, what would it be?
Music
What instrument do you wish you could play?
Art
What style of art do you like best?
If you could hang a famous painting on your wall, which would you choose?
Why?
Games
Have you ever made up a game? If so, what was it like?
What game would you choose to play to liven up a party?
Technology
While technology has made an undeniable impact on the world, its usage and
purpose isn’t consistent among different regions. Discussing technology will
help you learn some valuable terms that may not be in conventional language
textbooks and understand the role technology plays in your language exchange
partner’s life.
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What do you use your computer for?
If you had to go a week without a computer, could you?
Phone Usage
What do you use your phone for?
What’s your favorite feature of your phone?
What do you find most annoying about your phone?
Social Media
What’s your favorite social media channel? Why?
Do you feel social media has improved the world? Why or why not?
Popular Tech
What tech gadget is your favorite?
What new tech gadget would you most like to own?
What new technology would you most like to become available?
(E.g. time travel device, another new iPhone, self-replenishing ice cream
tub, etc.)
Entertainment
Everyone enjoys some form of entertainment, so why not talk about your
favorite entertainment with a language exchange partner? You’ll pick up some
common vocabulary and your conversation partner might even turn
you on to some great entertainment you’d never considered, so it’s a
win-win!
Movies
What’s the worst movie you ever saw?
Who would you want cast as you in a movie about your life?
If you see a movie in a theater, do you purchase snacks? If so, what?
TV
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What TV character do you wish you could hang out with?
Music
What singer/musician could you listen to all day without getting annoyed?
Books
What book genre is your favorite?
What book protagonist do you have the most in common with?
Going Out
If you want a night out, where do you go?
When you go out with a group, who pays?
Travel and Transportation

Your conversation partner might walk, bike, drive, take a bus, ride a train or fly
on a regular basis. Discussing travel and transportation can help you learn
vocabulary related to getting around and preferred destinations. You never
know—the conversation might even inspire you to book your next trip!
Favorite Vacations
What was the most relaxing place you ever traveled to?
What was the most exciting place you ever traveled to?
Where do you like to stay when you go on vacation?
(E.g. hotel, hostel, short-term rental, etc.)
What was your favorite thing you ever did on vacation?
Destinations
If you won an all-expenses-paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you
go?
If you had to choose only one location to take every vacation for the rest of your
life, which would you choose?
Modes of Transport
What mode of transportation do you use most often in your daily life?
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What mode of transportation do you find most comfortable?
What mode of transportation do you find most frustrating? Why?
Do you prefer a window or aisle seat?
Nature
The natural world surrounds us and influences our daily lives, even if we don’t
always consciously consider it. This topic will open you up to vocabulary
that isn’t always prioritized by language learners, but is surprisingly
common in everyday life.
Plants
Do you keep any plants in your house?
What type of flower do you like best?
Do you have a garden? If so, what’s in it?
If you could plant a dream garden, what would be in it?
Animals
What animals are you afraid of?
What animals do you think are the cutest?
What sorts of animals do you see frequently?
Seasons
What’s your favorite season? Why?
What’s your least favorite season? Why?
If you could stay in one season all year, would you? If so, which season?
Environmental Issues
What environmental issues concern you most?
Current Events
Warning: like politics and religion, this can get dicey. Pay attention to political
sensitivities, and if your partner seems uncomfortable, change the topic.
International Relations
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What international news concerns you most?
How do you think governments could create better understanding between

nations?
Weather Disasters
What’s the worst weather disaster that’s affected your country in recent years?
What weather disasters do you see on the news that scare you?
Popular Human Interest Stories
What’s the most uplifting news story you’ve heard recently?
Goals and Accomplishments
What You’re Proud Of
What’s your greatest accomplishment in life?
Of your accomplishments, what do you think made your parents most proud?
What You Hope for the Future
What do you hope to do career-wise in the future?
Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years? In 20 years?
Observing Language Exchange Topics in Real Life

Before you test these topics out with your language partners, it also helps to see
how these can potentially flow in a dialogue.
There are tons of resources online that can help you envision such
conversations. But it’s important that your resource offers you a real glimpse
into the natural use of the language.
For instance, FluentU can help you become familiar with the sound, vocabulary
and grammar of your target language through authentic videos. By watching
movie trailers, music videos, vlogs and more, learners of any level can get
insight into the language. This is a good option for newbies who are still a bit
nervous all the way up to experienced language partners who want to pick up
come cultural information for discussion.

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Try searching for any of the topics above to see what clips are available. With
the help of interactive subtitles, the videos become personalized language
lessons: Just hover over and click to see a word’s definition, sentence usage,
image or related clips. You can also add any word from the subtitles to a vocab
list or flashcard set, then test yourself with quizzes customized to your
progress.
So when you need a new topic to liven up your language exchange, pick and
choose from this list. You may never want your conversation to end!
meredithkreisa
© 2022 Enux Education Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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14.09.

50+ Language Exchange Topics to

It’s an interactive language-learning resource you can easily set up through

FluentU September Sale: Get 40% off + 10 languages +

50+ Language Exchange Topics to Keep the

Getting to Know You

How old were you when you…

…moved away from home?

…had your first kiss?

…got your first job?

How old do you think you’ll be when you…

What do you think is the ideal family size? Why?

Do you want to have children? If so, how many?

If you want children, would you prefer boys or girls? Why?

How close are you with…

…extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)?

What do you do when you get together with your family?

What do you like most about your job?

What do you dislike about your job?

If you could have any job, what would it be? Why?

What was your favorite subject in school? Why?

What was your least favorite subject in school? Why?

Looking back, what subjects do you wish you’d studied?

Do you value university education? Why or why not?

Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

What languages do you wish you spoke?

What languages do you think would be hardest to learn?

What languages have you tried to learn?

What are your favorite words or phrases in languages you’ve studied?

Living Situation (Where, with Whom, etc.)

Describe your ideal apartment/house.

What names would you consider giving a pet?

Life Where You Live

Do you have any good jokes you can share?

How important are good manners?

What sorts of things do you need to do to be considered polite?

How do you greet strangers?

How do you greet your friends and family?

What’s your favorite food?

What’s your favorite dish to make? How do you make it?

What foods do you hate?

What sort of food would you most like to try?

What foods are popular where you live?

What religion is most common where you live?

What other religions are practiced where you live?

How is religion viewed where you live?

What’s your favorite holiday?

What holiday do you think is least important?

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

What do people do for fun on nice days?

What do people do for fun when the weather is bad?

What do people like to do when they get together with friends?

What do people like to do when they get together with family?

What do you do for fun by yourself?

Society and Government

How is your town/city run?

(E.g. mayor, council, etc.)

What problems is your community/city/country facing?

What problems are you most concerned about?

What’s a comfortable wage in your country?

How much does an apartment/house cost?

Is it important to save money? Why or why not?

Where do you receive most of your healthcare?