Lesson 1: Languages

1. What languages have you studied? How well can you read, write and speak each of them?

2. Which language do you think is the most difficult to learn? Why?

3. Do you think it's ever possible to speak a language like a native? Explain your reasons.

4. What do you find most difficult to learn in English?

5. Why do you want to improve your English? For example: work, travel, pleasure.

6. In what major ways is English grammar different from the grammar of your native language?

7. What's the best way to learn a language?

8. Do you like to listen to music in other languages? Do you make an effort to understand the words?

9. Have you ever had a friendship with someone who spoke a different language? What language(s) did you use to communicate?

10. Are some languages more beautiful to listen to than others? If so which? Are there any languages that you really don't like the sound of? Why?

11. How is your personality different when you speak another language? For example, are you more or less outgoing?

12. At what age did you begin studying a second language? Do think age affects a person's ability to learn a new language?

13. Do you think you learn more English inside or outside the classroom? What do you on your own to improve your English?

14. How often to you read in another language? What kinds of things do you read? Why?

Lesson 2: Entertainment

1. What do you usually do on the weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans for this weekend?

2. What do you do for entertainment when you're on vacation that you don't usually do?

3. When was the last time you went to a play? What about an opera, a symphony, or a ballet?

4. How often do you drink? What's your favorite drink? Where do you usually drink it?

5. How often do you eat in a restaurant? What's the best restaurant you've ever been to? What's the cheapest restaurant you've ever been to?

6. What kind of music do you like? Is there any kind of music that you can't stand?

7. How popular is live music in your country? When was the last time you went to a concert or live show?

8. What's the last movie you saw? When did you see it? What was it about? Did you like it?

9. How often do you visit museums? When was the last time you went to a museum?

10. Do you like to gamble? When was the last time you were in a casino? Did you win or did you lose?

11. How much do you like to dance? When was the last time you went dancing? Did you enjoy yourself?

12. How often do you go to parties? Have you ever hosted a party? What was it like?

13. Would you rather go to a bar, a party, or a nightclub? Why?

14. Do you have a favorite bar or cafe? Why do you like it?

Lesson 3: Food

1. What's your favorite dessert? How often do you eat it?

2. If you could only eat three meals for the rest of your life, what would they be?

3. What's the last meal you cooked for yourself? How do you make it?

4. Describe an everyday meal from your country and tell how to prepare it.

5. What foods do you think are most romantic? Why are they romantic?

6. In your opinion, which countries have the best cuisine? The worst? Why?

7. When did you last go a nice restaurant? What did you order?

8. Do you think you have a generally healthy diet? What have you eaten so far today?

9. If you visited countries where people ate the following foods, would you try any of them: monkey, snake, dog, insects? Why or why not?

10. What's a big holiday in your country? What foods do people typically eat on this holiday?

11. What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten? Where were you? Why did you eat it? Would you eat it again?

12. What foods do you eat when you feel sick or depressed?

13. Do you think a vegetaian diet is better than a diet that includes meat? Why or why not?

14. When you are eating dinner at a friend's house, do you ever ask for seconds? Do you accept seconds if they're offered?

15. Are there any foods that you would not eat as a child that you now like? Why do you think this is?

Lesson 4: Houses and Architecture

1. Do you think that old buildings are more beautiful than new ones? Why or why not?

2. Describe a well-known building in your hometown.

3. How important are monuments (like Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty) in defining a nation?

4. Describe your dream house.

5. Describe your house or apartment. How many rooms does it have? How many bathrooms? Who lives there?

6. Would you prefer to own a single family house or an apartment? Why?

7. How do you think ancient civilizations (for example, the Egyptians, Mayans, and Greeks) constructed large buildings?

8. What's your favorite room in the house? Why?

9. Tell about the last time you visited a famous building or monument. What was it? How did it look?

10. When was the house/apartment you now live in built? How do you think it has changed since then?

11. What was the last improvement you made to your house or apartment? Tell about it.

12. What city's architecture has impressed you the most?

13. What do you know about American houses? How are they different from houses in your country?

Lesson 5: Socializing and Friendship

1. Who was the last friend that you met? How did you meet them?

2. Describe a perfect night spent with friends.

3. How often do you go to a bar? Who do you usually go with?

4. What do groups of friends usually do when they go out together on weekend nights in your country?

5. How many friends have you kept from childhood? Tell about them.

6. Are there things that people do for fun in other countries that you would like to see more of in your country?

7. Tell about the last party you went to.

8. Who's your best friend? How did you meet him or her?

9. How did your parents meet?

10. Describe your best friend from when you were a child.

11. When did you last go out with friends? What did you do?

12. When you're with a group are you outgoing or quiet? Why do you think this is?

13. Do you usually hang out with a few close friends or many different people?

14. How much do you socialize with people from work? What do you usually do?

15. In your language, is there more than one word for friend? If so, how are these words different?

16. How do you think that the way people socialize changes when they drink alcohol?

17. Would you rather watch TV alone or with other people? How about going to the movies?

Lesson 6: The Paranormal

1. Have you ever been to see a fortune teller or psychic? If so, do you think it was worth the money?

2. What numbers are lucky in your country? Unlucky? Do you have a lucky number? Unlucky?

3. What do you for good luck? Do you think it works?

4. What sign are you? Do you think your personality reflects this?

5. Do you believe in ESP? Can some people know what other people are thinking or feeling?

6. What do you know about Nostradamus? Do you think that some people can predict the future?

7. How do people predict fortunes in your country? What do you think of these ways?

8. Do you believe in ghosts? What are they? Have you ever seen or felt one?

9. Do you know of any haunted places? Have you ever been to one of them?

10. Have you (or anyone you know) ever had a dream that later came true?

Corrs - Breathless (Live)

Lesson 7: Music

1. How popular is live music in your country? When was the last time you went to a concert or live show?

2. What types of music do people listen to in your country? Is there any type of music that you can only hear in your country?

3. How many CDs do you own? What kind of music do you have the most of?

4. What musician would you most like to meet? Why?

5. Why do you think English language music is so popular? Can a band be a worldwide hit if they don't sing in English?

6. Do you ever like to listen to loud music? When?

7. Do you think CDs will ever become obsolete? What will replace them?

8. What kind of music do you like? Is there any kind of music that you can't stand?

9. Do you play a musical instrument? What instrument? Did you take lessons?

10. Do you listen to music on the radio? How often? Do you have a favorite station? Why do you like this station?

11. Do you prefer music in English or in your own language? Why?

12. Do you like to sing? Have you ever sung karakoe?

Lesson 8: Science and Medicine

1. Who is the most famous scientist from your country? What did he/she do?

2. In what ways has science had a negative impact on society?

3. Do you like studying science? Why or why not?

4. How do you feel about cloning? Do you think it's ethical for scientist to clone animals? What about human organs?

5. What's your favorite branch of science? (For example, biology, physics, astronomy.)

6. In your opinion what has been the most important scientific discovery ever? Why?

7. How has science helped people to have children? What do you think of this?

8. What natural disasters occur in your country? Explain why they happen.

9. Do you think there is life on other planets? If so, how close is it and what does it look like?

10. What do you think will be the greatest medical breakthrough in the next ten years?

11. How would society be different if scientists hadn't discovered and developed electricity?

12. When do you think scientists will develop a cure for AIDS?

Lesson 9: Animals and Pets

1. Are cats better pets than dogs or are dogs better pets than cats? Why?

2. Do you think it's morally acceptable for scientists to do genetic experiments on animals? Why or why not? What about other types of medical research?

3. What's the most interesting animal you've ever eaten?

4. If you could observe an extinct animal for an afternoon, which one would you choose and why?

5. What pets are most popular in your country?

6. What do you like most about going to the zoo? What about least?

7. How can pets help people emotionally?

8. If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?

9. Do you have any pets? If so, tell about them.

10. What wild animals do you find most interesting? Why?

11. Would you like to go on an African safari? Why or why not?

12. In your country, do dogs usually sleep inside or outside?

13. Can pets become part of a human family?

14. What was your first pet and how did you get it?

Lesson 10: Technology

1. Would you consider dating someone you had met over the Internet? Why or why not?

2. Do you have an e-mail account? What do you use it for? How often do you check it?

3. Do you think that people will ever visit Mars? How about live there?

4. Imagine that you could only use ONE of the following: a computer, a telephone, or a car. Which one would you use and why?

5. Are there some things that never should have been invented? What are they and why?

6. If you had the possibility to only work from your house via computer, would you do it and why?

7. Are cell phones popular in your country? Do you own one? If so, what do you use it for and why?

8. What invention do you think has had the greatest impact on society? Why?

9. What do you think the world will be like a hundred years from now?

10. In what ways has technology improved our lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

11. How has the Internet changed the way you live?

12. Do computers save time or do they just make us waste more time?

13. How much of a risk are computer viruses?

14. Which of the following do you own: a VCR, a DVD player. a microwave oven, a computer, a cell phone, and an electronic dictionary? Which do you use most often?

Lesson 11: Crime and Justice

1. Do you always lock your house? What about your car?

2. Do you think it's possible to prevent certain kinds of crimes? If so, which ones and how?

3. What do you think are reasonable penalties for people who commit environmental crimes*?

4. Have you (or anyone you know) been the victim of a crime? What happened?

5. Have you ever done anything illegal? Tell about it if you want to.

6. Which crimes do you think will increase in the 21st century? What about decrease?

7. Are there any places where you are afraid to walk alone after dark? Where are they and why?

8. How have science and technology changed what crimes are committed? How about the way we solve them?

9. Should users of illegal drugs be put in jail? Why or why not? What about the people who sell them?

10. Why do you think that there have been so many school shootings at high schools in the United States?

11. What do you think of the death penalty?

12. In your opinion, what causes a person to become a criminal? Can society change this?

13. Is beating your wife a crime in your country? If so, what happens to a man who beats his wife? What about a woman who beats her husband?

Lesson 12: Shopping

1. What was the last thing you bought for yourself? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

2. What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

3. What's your favorite place to shop? Why?

4. Are thrift stores popular in your country? Do you enjoy shopping at thrift stores?

5. Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?

6. Is it important for you to own designer clothes? Why or why why not?

7. Do you enjoy shopping? How often do you go shopping? How much time do you spend each time you go?

8. When you buy something, do you read the label? Why or why not?

9. Are you a price conscious shopper? What is your opinion of discount stores?

10. How important is it for you to be up to date with the latest fashions?

11. What kind of clothes do you like best? Do you have a favorite type of fabric? Are a lot of your clothes one color or pattern?

Lesson 13: Dating and Relationships

1. What qualities are most important to you in a partner? For example, intelligence, sense of humor, money.

2. If you cheated on your partner, would you tell him or her? Why or why not?

3. Describe a perfect romantic evening.

4. How old were you when you went on your first date? Who was it with? Where did you go and what did you do?

5. Have you or anyone you've known ever met someone over the Internet? Do you think that these types of relationships can be successful? Why or why not?

6. Would you like to have a boyfriend or girlfriend who was a lot more attractive than you? What about a husband or wife?

7. Would you move to a place far from your family and friends to be with the person you loved? Why or why not?

8. Is it common for couples to live together before marriage in your country? Would you want to live with someone before marriage? Why or why not?

9. Would you continue to date someone you really liked if your parents did not like this person? Why or why not?

10. Do you know anyone who has had an arranged marriage? Do you think marriages based on love are more successful than those that are arranged?

11. (TO A GIRL) Would you ask a man out? Why or why not?
(TO A GUY) Would you like it if a woman asked you out? Why or why not?

12. More than half of American marriages end in divorce. What do you think are some of the reasons for this?

Lesson 14: Work

1. What's your ideal job? Why?

2. Is it typical for men and women to have the same jobs in your counrty?

3. Do you think office romances can be successful? Why or why not? Do you know of any couples who have met at work?

4. Describe the first job you had for money.

5. In your opinion, which jobs are most prestigious? Why?

6. What three things are most important for you in a job? Why?

7. Would you like a job that involved a lot of travel? Why or why not? Have you ever known anyone with one of these jobs? Tell about them.

8. Who in your family or among our friends has the most interesting job? What about the most boring?

9. Would you prefer to have an easy routine job or a job in which you made a lot of decisions?

10. Do people usually work for one company for a long time in your country or is it common for people to change jobs every few years?

11. Would you prefer to work four ten-hour days or five eight hour ones?

12. How do people address each other at work in your counrty? How do you address your boss? Your co-workers? What do you think of the idea that at most offices in the US nearly everyone goes by their first names?

13. Do women usually work after they get married in your country?

14. If you could own your own business, what would it be?

15. How important are clothes at work? How does your job determine what you wear in your country?

Lesson 15: Adventure

1. If you could go back to another time and place, what time and place would you choose and why?

2. Who's the most adventurous person in your family? Describe what they do.

3. Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? If so tell about it.

4. Tell about a road trip that you've taken.

5. When you visit other countries, do you go as a tourist or a traveler?

6. Would you want to climb Mt. Everest? Why or why not?

7. Do you consider yourself an adventurous person? Why or why not?

8. What's your favorite adventure story, movie, or book? Tell about it.

9. Do you have any tatoos? If so, tell about how you got them. If not, would you ever consider getting a tatoo? Why or why not?

10. If you were offered a trip on the space shuttle, would you go? Why or why not?

11. Have you ever tried any of the following: bungee jumping, snowboarding, parachuting, hanggliding? If so, tell about it.

12. Tell about an adventure you've had on public transit.

13. Have you ever moved to a place far from your family and friends? If so, where did you go and why?

14. What's the most exciting thing you've ever done? Tell about it.

15. What countries (other than your own) would you like to live in? Why?

Lesson 16: Sleep and Dreams

1. Do you usually remember your dreams? Tell about a recent dream you remember.

2. Do you think that animals dream? Why or why not?

3. How many hours a night do you usually sleep? Would you like to get more sleep or less?

4. Do you ever take naps? If so, when?

5. Are you a light sleeper or can you sleep on airplanes, trains, and buses?

6. Do you prefer to go to sleep late or wake up early?

7. Have you ever known anyone who walked in their sleep? If so, tell about it.

8. Have you ever experienced insomnia? What can you do to treat insomnia? What do you think causes it?

9. What do you know about dream interpretation? What might the following dreams represent: a dream in which you're flying, one where you're paralyzed, one where you're naked? Have you ever had any of these dreams?

10. Have you ever slept outside for an entire night? If so, tell about the experience.

11. Do you believe that dreams can help us solve our problems? Do you try to understand the meanings of your dreams?

12. Have you ever had the same dream more than once?

13. Have you ever had a dream that later came true? Why do you think this might happen?

14. Have you had dreams in other languages? How often do you dream in English? Would you like to?

15. Describe a nightmare that you remember from childhood.

16. If you could have an operation that would allow you to get only two hours of sleep each night, would you have it? Why or why not?

Lesson 17: Travel

1. How many countries have you been to?

2. Where did you spend your last vacation? What did you do?

3. When you were a child, did your family take trips? Would you always go to the same place or different places?

4. When you are travelling, do you try to speak the local language?

5. Have you ever taken a package tour? If so, tell about this experience?

6. What type of accommodations do you usually stay in when you travel?

7. Where will you go on your next vacation?

8. Describe the best trip you ever took. Where did you go? Who did you travel with? What did you do?

9. Describe the worst trip you ever took. Where did you go? What made it a bad trip?

10. What three countries would you most like to visit? Why?

11. Do you prefer winter vacations or summer vacations? Why?

12. Would you like to take a cruise? Why or why not?

13. Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, where were you and how was this experience?

14. What three countries would you least like to visit? Why?

Lesson 18: Politics and Government

1. How are government officials chosen in your country? Do you think this method is fair?

2. How interested are you in politics?

3. What do you think is the most important political issue right now? Why is it important?

4. Do you think it's important for a country to have a strong military? Why or why not?

5. Have you ever been to a political demonstration or rally? If so, tell about it.

6. What can governments do about poverty?

7. Why do you think the media pays a lot of attention to politicians' personal lives?

8. Tell about a political person you admire.

9. Is military service required in your country? Do you think it's a good idea?

10. What do you think of President GW Bush?

11. Why do you think there aren't many women in politics?

Lesson 19 : Art

1. Have you ever seen an opera? Have you ever been to the symphony? If so, tell about it.


2. Do you own any original art work? How did you acquire it?


3. What is traditional art from your country like? How much do you know about it?

4. Do you consider moving-making an art form? Why or why not?

5. Who is your favorite artist? Describe their work.

6. Tell about the last time you visited a museum. What did you see? Who did you go with?

7. When eating out, what’s more important to you: the way the food looks or tastes? Why?

8. When you visit another city, do you go to art museums? What’s the most famous art museum you’ve ever been to?

9. What’s your most creative pastime? For example, do you like to paint, draw, or take photographs?

10. What’s a famous building in your country? Why is it famous?

Lesson 20: Space and Space Travel

1. When do you think people will visit Mars?

2. What do you think they will find there?

3. If you could take a vacation to the moon, would you? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever seen any of the following movies: ET, Alien, Star Wars? Which one is your favorite? Why?

5. What will make the new international space station successful? Why?

6. Do you think governments spend too much money on space programs? Why or why not?

7. What do satellites do? How would our lives be different without them?

8. Have you ever taken an astronomy course? If so, tell about something you learned. If not, would you like to?

9. Have you ever used a telescope? What did you look at?

10. Do you wish on stars?

11. Would you like to be an astronaut? Why or why not?

12. A group of stars is called a constellation. Some examples are Orion, the Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia. What are the names of some constellations in your language? How did they get these names?

13. Do you think people will ever communicate with intelligent aliens? Why or why not?

14. What can we learn about the earth from studying other planets?

15. Can you name the planets in English? Try.