Speaking Discussion Topics

Part 2 Discussion Topic and questions on it.

Discussion Topic: Emotions

1. When you replay this situation in your mind, do you still feel angry?
2. Do you think expressing your emotions is important? Why?
3. How do people in your country express their emotions?
4. What are the effects of positive or negative emotions on health? Explain both.
5. Do you like to dance?
6. Why do you like dancing?
7. When do people in your country usually dance?

Discussion Topic: Cooking

1. What is the main difference between restaurant food and home cooked food?
2. Is it important to teach children to cook?
3. What is the best way to teach them to cook?

Discussion Topic: Imported goods

1. Do you think nowadays more people want to buy imported goods?
2. What kind of imported goods do people in your country buy often?
3. Why do some people refuse to buy imported goods?
4. What are the benefits for companies in a global market?
5. How does the Internet affect the growth of business?

Discussion Topic: Jobs and Careers

1. Does your current job pay better?
2. What is the highest paid job in your country?
3. What are the jobs that should be paid better?
4. What do you think about career change?
5. Is it a good thing to do once in a while?
6. When should we change our careers?

Discussion Topic: Letters

1. What do you prefer: letters or e-mails? Why?
2. Do you think sending a formal letter by e-mail is better than via regular post? Why?
3. What do you think about people who write letters to newspapers?

Discussion Topic: Furniture

1. Is it important to consider style and fashion when selecting furniture?
2. What are the factors to be considered while buying furniture?

Discussion Topic: Music

1. Do you enjoy music in general?
2. What types of music do you know?
3. Which is your favorite and why?
4. Do you think choice of music has changed, why?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of music?
6. Is there any difference in people’s choice in music?
7. Why do old and young people like different music?
8. Why do people like music?
9. Why do you think music is important?
10. Should parents force their children to play some instrument?
11. Why do you think parents want their children to get involved in music?
12. In some shopping centers or business places there is always music playing, why?

Discussion Topic: Describe a museum
How often do you visit the museum?
Which type of museum is popular in your country?
Why do you want to visit the museum?
Follow-up:
What do you think of the importance of museums in history?
How do you think of the heritage of a country?
Compare the museums nowadays and in the past.


Discussion Topic: Describe your favorite photograph
Where was the photo taken?
Who took the photo?
What can be seen from the photo?
Explain why it is the favorite photograph for you.
Follow-up:
How to take good photo?
When do people use camera?
How can the new technology put cinema’s skill advanced?


Discussion Topic: The important historic place
What is the place?
Where is it located?
Why do you think it is important?
Follow-up:
What do you think of the historic place in the future?
Will the government increase or decrease the safety guard?
What are the changes to the local people and economy?
What is the impact on the historic place by tourists?


Discussion Topic: Describe a party
What is the party?
Why was the party held?
Who attended the party?
What did you do for that party?
Follow-up:
What’s the difference between serious party and friendly party?
Why are some people late for parties intentionally?
Why do some people like party while others hate it?
What would you do if the guests feel bored?
Will there be more and more people to attend parties?


Discussion Topic: Describe a subject taught in your school?
Who teaches it?
How is it taught?
What do you learn from the class?
Follow-up:
Is there any difference between the traditional and modern educational systems?
What are the pros and cons of the current educational system in your country?
Do you think it is necessary to give comment or criticism to teachers?


Discussion Topic: Describe a foreign country you have never been to
Where is the country?
When will you go there?
Why would you like to go there?
Follow-up:
Say something about the tourism development in China, facility, services and the effect on environment.
What is the importance of travel and tourism industry?
What do you think the function of tourist guides?


Discussion Topic: Describe your favourite movie
What’s the name of the film?
What’s the theme of the film?
Why do you like it?
Follow-up:
Describe a type pf movie you like.
What’s the difference between Chinese and American movies?
What do you think of the violent films (Hollywood films)?
Why movies need computer techniques? Any example of movie using computer techniques
Which parts of cinema are the most important and how to improve it?


Discussion Topic: Describe a happy event in your life?
When did it happen?
Where did it happen?
What was it? 
Follow-up:
Tell me how you organize your study time?
What do you think is important in achieving happiness?
How do Chinese celebrate some happy events?
What do the camera and video play in celebrating?


Discussion Topic: Describe a thing which is important to you
Who gave it to you?
What is the thing?
What does the thing mean to you?
Follow-up:What are the changes of city between now and past?
Does money represent happiness and why?
How do you regard as the things people want to earn?


Discussion Topic: Describe one of your neighbours
When did you become neighbours?
Do you often meet?
State whether your neighbour is a good one.
Follow-up:
What is the difference between neighbours and friends?
Why do people like to watch TV serials in their houses?
How do you think of the relationship in the city?
How to improve the neighbourhood?


Discussion Topic: Describe one of the shopping centers you often go to
Where is the shopping center?
How often do you go to the center?
Why do you often go to it and its characteristics?
Follow-up:
Will smaller shops survive in the current business system?
What are the characteristics of shopping malls and smaller shops and their difference?
What is the trend of future shopping centers?
Talk about Internet shopping.


Discussion Topic: Describe an important letter
When did you receive the letter?
From whom did you receive the letter?
Explain the reasons why it is important.
Follow-up:
What is the significance of handwriting?
Does your country have handwriting lesson now?
Compare the handwriting now and past
With the popularity of computers and Internet, will people lose their ability to write letters?


Discussion Topic: Describe the best present you have received
Who sent it to you?
When did you receive it?
Detailed information about the present.
Follow-up:
Do you think that present giving will play an important role in Chinese daily life? Why?Do you think that the brand name is very important for sales?
In terms of the media, which do you think will play a main role in present giving, television, newspaper or Internet?


Discussion Topic: Describe your holidays
Where do you go for the holidays and how long do them last?
Who do you go with?
Talk about any interesting thins happening during your holidays.
Follow-up:
What do the Chinese people mostly do in their leisure time?
What's the difference between holidays today and 5 years ago and the reasons for the change?
Do you think people will spend more time on leisure or working in the future?


 Discussion Topic: Describe a historical place.
What is the place?
Where is it located?
What is the historical meaning of the place?
Follow-up:
What do you think of the future trend of historic places?
Will government strengthen its protection toward historic places?
What are the changes brought about by the historic place in local economy, people, etc?
What is the effect of tourists on the place?

Speaking Short Questions

Part 1 Short Questions (Chit Chat)

General Questions about yourself, your life and interests.

1. What is your full name?
2. Where you from?
3. Explain your home town to me?
4. Why are you studying English?
5. Have you visited any English speaking countries?
6. Do you play any sports?
7. Why are you preparing for the IELTS exam?

FAMILY

1. Describe your family?
2. Do you have a large or small family?
3. How much time do you spend with your family?
4. What do you like to do together as a family?
5. Do you get along well with your family?
6. Are people in your country generally close to their families?

WORK

1. What do you do?
2. What are your responsibilities?
3. How many hours do you work each day?
4. Do you enjoy your work?
5. Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?
6. If you could change your job or profession, what would you do?
7. Describe the process of getting a job in your country.
8. Describe the company or organization you work for.
9. What is your position?
10. What do you like about your job?
11. What do you dislike about your job?

EDUCATION

1. Describe your education.
2. What kind of school did you go to as a child?
3. Did you go to a co-educational school?
4. What was your favorite subject as a child?
5. Who was your favorite teacher?
6. What is the education system like in your country?
7. Do you think your country has an effective education system?

STUDIES

1. What are you studying now?
2. What is your area of specialization?

HOMETOWN

1. Describe your hometown.
2. What’s special about it?
3. Where is your hometown located?
4. Is it easy to travel around your hometown?
5. What is it known for?
6. What do people in your town do?
7. What are the main industries in your hometown?
8. What problems face your hometown?
9. What languages are spoken in your hometown?
10. What are the advantages of living in your hometown?
11. What are some problems faced by your hometown?
12. Compare your hometown with another city.
13. What are some environmental problems faced by your hometown?

WEATHER

1. What’s the weather like in your country?
2. Does the weather affect your mood?
3. How do rainy days make you feel?
4. What’s your favorite season of the year?
5. What do you like to do when it’s hot?
6. What do you usually do in the winter?
7. How many seasons does your country have?

HOME

1. Describe your home.
2. What kind of building do you live in?
3. How long have you lived there?

WEDDING

1. Have you ever been to a wedding?
2. Whose wedding was it?
3. Where was it held?
4. What clothes do people wear?
5. Describe the wedding ceremony.
6. What sort of gifts do people buy for the bridal couple?
7. What kind of clothes did the bride and groom wear?

TRAVEL

1. Do you like to travel?
2. What kind of places have you visited in your life?
3. Which place would you really like to visit? Why?
4. What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?

COMPUTERS

1. Do you think computers help society?
2. Do you think computers are bad for health?
3. How do you think computers have changed the world?

INTERNET

1. Do you use the Internet much during the day?
2. What do you usually do on the Internet?
3. What are some advantages of the Internet?
4. What are some disadvantages?
5. Do people in your country use the Internet a lot?
6. Do you do any shopping on the Internet?

EMAIL

1. Do you send and receive email regularly?
2. Who do you usually communicate with?
3. How often do you check your email?
4. Do you think writing email has strengthened or weakened people’s writing skills?
5. What are some disadvantages of email?

FRIEND

1. Describe a friend.
2. How long have you known each other?
3. What do usually do together?
4. What do you like the most about him / her?
5. How often do you see each other?

PLACE

1. Describe a place you like to go.
2. Why is this place special to you?
3. When did you first visit this place?
4. Where is this place located?
5. What language is spoken here? Do you speak this language?

SMOKING

1. What do you feel about smoking in public places?
2. Do you think smoking should be banned in people’s homes?

MARRIAGE

1. What is the attitude toward marriage in your country?
2. Do most young people plan on getting married in your country?
3. What are some of the advantages of marriage?
4. What are some of the disadvantages?
5. Is the divorce rate high in your country?
6. Do you think people should be allowed to get divorced?

HOBBIES

1. Do you have any hobbies?
2. What are some of your hobbies?
3. When did you first develop this hobby?
4. What are some of the advantages of having a hobby?
5. How much time do you spend on your hobby?

FILMS

1. Do you enjoy watching movies?
2. What’s your favorite film?
3. Who are your favorite actors?
4. How often do you watch films?

SHOPPING

1. Do you enjoy shopping?
2. How do you feel about shopping?
3. Do you like shopping on the Internet?
4. Do you have any favorite stores?
5. What don’t you like about shopping?
6. Which is the most popular place to shop in your hometown?

SPORTS

1. Do you like sports?
2. Do you enjoy watching sports?
3. Do you enjoy participating in any sports?
4. Which sports are most popular in your country?
5. What’s your favorite sport?
6. When did you first become interested in sports?
7. How often do you participate in sports?
8. What equipment do you need for your favorite sport?

FOOD

1. What are some of your favorite foods?
2. What foods are popular in your country?
3. What are some of the famous dishes of your country?
4. Do you enjoy cooking?

FESTIVAL

1. What’s the most important festival in your country?
2. How do people celebrate this festival?
3. What special food is associated with this festival?
4. What special activities are associated with this festival?
5. What do you enjoy most about this festival?
6. Do you think festivals are important for a society?

TELEVISION

1. Do you watch television a lot?
2. What do you usually watch on television?
3. How many hours of television do you usually watch?
4. What are the most popular shows in your country?
5. What kind of shows do you like to watch?
6. What are some advantages of television?
7. What are some of the disadvantages of television?
8. What did you last watch on television?
9. Why do you think certain TV shows are so popular?

TOURISM

1. Which places would you recommend to a visitor to your country?
2. Do a lot of tourists visit your country?
3. What do they usually do there?
4. How has tourism changed your country?
5. Is your country expensive for most tourists?
6. What are some famous landmarks in your country?

DAILY ROUTINE

1. Describe your daily routine.
2. What do you usually do?
3. What do you do on the weekend?
4. What is your typical weekday like?
5. Does your life change much from week to week?
6. Do you have any free time during the week?

YOUR COUNTRY

1. Which country are you from?
2. Where is this country located?
3. Which part of the country do most people live in?
4. What are the main industries in your country?
5. Is it easy to travel around your country?

CLOTHES

1. What type of clothes do you like to wear?
2. What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear?
3. How important is fashion to you?
4. What kind of clothes do you dislike?
5. Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes?
6. What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country?
7. Are clothes expensive in your country?

GOING OUT

1. Do you like going out or staying at home?
2. What do you like to do when you go out?
3. How often do you go out?
4. Do people in your country go out a lot?
5. How and where do people in your country usually socialize?
6. What kind of entertainment is popular in your country?

GAMES

1. Do you enjoy playing any games?
2. What kind of games do you play?
3. Do you think adults should play games?
4. What do children learn from games?
5. What kind of games did you play when you were a child?
6. What games are popular in your country today?
7. What kind of games was popular when you were young?
8. Do you think mental games like chess are good for you?

COLOURS

1. Do you have a favorite color?
2. What are your country’s colors?
3. Do you think colors affect our moods?
4. Can you learn anything about a person from the colors he / she likes?
5. Do you like the same colors now as you did when you were a child?

MUSIC

1. Do you like music?
2. What kind of music do you like?
3. When do you usually listen to music?
4. What kind of music did you like when you were younger?
5. What kind of music is popular in your country?
6. Do you play any musical instruments?
7. Do you wish you could play any musical instruments?
8. Which is your favorite instrument?