Conversations / Supplements
Supplements Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Supplements to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (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 Oxley · 16 Aug 2026
Part 1
Using and Choosing Supplements
Focus: sharing experiences, discussing reasons for using supplements, comparing options, checking information, and making careful choices
Think of one type of supplement, one action connected to taking or buying supplements, and one person or place people may ask for advice.
Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.
EXPERIENCE
What kinds of supplements have you heard people talk about or use most often?
EXPLAIN
Why do you think people decide to take vitamins, minerals, protein products, or other supplements?
PREFERENCE
Which form seems most convenient to you: tablets, powders, drinks, or something else? Explain your preference.
ROUTINE
How do people usually fit supplements into their daily routines?
PRIORITIZE
What information would you check before buying a supplement?
COMPARE
How is trying to get nutrients from food different from using a supplement?
EVALUATE
How much should price, brand reputation, ingredients, and reviews influence someone's choice?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
A friend wants to start several supplements after seeing recommendations online. What should they check before making a decision?
ADVISE
When might it be useful to ask a doctor, pharmacist, or another qualified professional about a supplement?
REFLECT
Why can it sometimes be difficult for ordinary consumers to decide whether a supplement is useful for them?
Part 2
Advertising, Trust, and Supplement Culture
Focus: discussing advertising, social media, evidence, consumer trust, popular trends, and responsibility in the supplement industry
Choose one word from each category: Person: customer, athlete, pharmacist, influencer; Action: recommend, compare, advertise, research; Place: pharmacy, gym, supermarket, website; Feeling: confident, confused, interested, skeptical. Use your four words to describe a short scene in two or three sentences.
DISCUSS
Where do people in your country usually get information about supplements?
TRUST
What makes you trust or distrust a health-related product advertisement?
COMPARE
How is advice from a social media influencer different from advice from a qualified health professional?
INFLUENCE
Why can before-and-after photos, personal stories, and celebrity recommendations be powerful forms of advertising?
EVALUATE
How much scientific evidence should companies need before making strong claims about their products?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
Imagine two websites give completely different information about the same supplement. How could you decide which source is more reliable?
CULTURE
Why might supplements be much more popular in some countries or social groups than in others?
BALANCE
How should companies balance selling their products with giving customers clear and realistic information?
PREDICT
What kinds of supplements or health products do you think may become more popular in the future?
RECOMMEND
What simple rules could help consumers make more careful decisions when buying supplements?