Conversations / Controversial Statements
Controversial Statements Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Controversial Statements to help students share their opinion and practice agreeing or disagreeing (B2–C2). Each part opens with a vocabulary warm-up, every question is labelled with the thinking skill it practises, and each part fills roughly thirty minutes of class time on its own.
Reviewed by Brando · 14 Aug 2026
Part 1
Personal Choices, Relationships, and Everyday Beliefs
Focus: reacting to controversial statements, choosing a position, explaining reasons, giving examples, and considering different points of view
Choose one word or phrase from each category: Opinion: strongly agree, agree, disagree, not sure; Reason: experience, fairness, health, money; Situation: relationship, school, work, daily life; Feeling: confident, unsure, surprised, uncomfortable. Use your four choices to give a short opinion in two or three sentences.
AGREE-DISAGREE
We should forgive our partner for cheating on us once. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Exercise is more important than our diet. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
It should be legal to throw the first punch in a confrontation. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
It is not important to study well. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Gay marriage should be allowed. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
It is essential to learn communication skills. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
People are smarter now than before. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Anyone can turn evil. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Homeschooling is better than attending large public schools. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Schools should teach home and survival skills like cooking and first aid. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
Part 2
Society, Work, Education, and Modern Life
Focus: discussing strong opinions about society and modern life, supporting arguments, challenging assumptions, and explaining when an opinion may depend on the situation
In one minute, think of two phrases for agreeing, two phrases for disagreeing, two phrases for giving a reason or example, and one phrase for showing that you are unsure.
AGREE-DISAGREE
There is no place for violence in society. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Pineapple goes on pizza. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
University is a scam. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Working from home makes people lazy and anti-social. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Social media has made people less social. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Money is more important than job satisfaction. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Parents should be allowed to check their teenagers' phones. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
A four-day workweek is better than a five-day workweek. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Artificial intelligence will make education better. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.
AGREE-DISAGREE
Everyone should learn basic self-defense. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view.