ESL Discussion Questions & Conversation Topics
Ready-to-teach question banks for adult ESL classes. Every discussion set opens with a vocabulary warm-up, labels each question with the thinking skill it practises, and comes with a full-screen class mode for projecting one question at a time.
69 discussion sets
Need a quick set?
Twenty random questions from across every conversation topic: a ready-made free-talk class.
Decision-Making
Use these 20 discussion questions about Decision-Making to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Time Management
Use these 20 discussion questions about Time Management to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Volunteering
Use these 20 discussion questions about Volunteering to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Restaurants
Use these 20 discussion questions about Restaurants to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Friendship
Use these 20 discussion questions about Friendship to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (C1–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.
Money and Spending
Use these 20 discussion questions about Money and Spending to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Daily Routine
Use these 20 discussion questions about Daily Routine to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Birthdays
Use these 20 discussion questions about Birthdays to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Family Dynamics
Use these 20 discussion questions about Family Dynamics 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.
Coffee
Use these 20 discussion questions about Coffee to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Supplements
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.
Dating
Use these 20 discussion questions about Dating to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Chores
Use these 20 discussion questions about Chores to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Environment
Use these 20 discussion questions about Environment to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Social Media
Use these 20 discussion questions about Social Media to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Work
Use these 20 discussion questions about Work to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Clothes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Clothes to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Pets
Use these 20 discussion questions about Pets to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Controversial Statements
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.
Movies
Use these 20 discussion questions about Movies to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Philosophy
Use these 20 discussion questions about Philosophy to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (C1–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.
Family
Use these 20 discussion questions about Family to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Weather
Use these 20 discussion questions about Weather to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Astronomy
Use these 20 discussion questions about Astronomy to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Personal Goals
Use these 20 discussion questions about Personal Goals to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Childhood
Use these 20 discussion questions about Childhood to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Neighborhood
Use these 20 discussion questions about Neighborhood to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
School
Use these 20 discussion questions about School to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Music
Use these 20 discussion questions about Music to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Children
Use these 20 discussion questions about Children to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (C1–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.
Sleeping
Use these 20 discussion questions about Sleeping to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Shop
Use these 20 discussion questions about Shop to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Sport
Use these 20 discussion questions about Sport to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Travel
Twenty ESL conversation questions about travel for adult learners (A1–A2), arranged as two thirty-minute halves. The first covers the basics: where students travel, how they get there, and what they pack. The second asks about favourite places, holiday activities, and simple travel plans. Every question includes a sentence starter so beginners can answer right away. A vocabulary warm-up opens each half.
Hobbies
Use these 20 discussion questions about Hobbies to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Musical Instruments
Use these 20 discussion questions about Musical Instruments to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Renting
Use these 20 discussion questions about Renting to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Cooking
Use these 20 discussion questions about Cooking to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). 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.
Cook
Use these 20 discussion questions about Cook to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Traveling
Use these 20 discussion questions about Traveling to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Photography
Use these 20 discussion questions about Photography to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Camping
Use these 20 discussion questions about Camping to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Arts
Use these 20 discussion questions about Arts to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Veganism and Vegetarianism
Use these 20 discussion questions about Veganism and Vegetarianism to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Sleep
Use these 20 discussion questions about Sleep to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
K-pop
Use these 20 discussion questions about K-pop to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Dancing
Use these 20 discussion questions about Dancing to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Driving
Use these 20 discussion questions about Driving to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Religion
Use these 20 discussion questions about Religion to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Job Interviews
Interviews are stressful in a first language and harder in a second, which is the point of this lesson. Twenty questions (B1–C1) in two halves. The first draws on what students have lived through: preparing, sitting in the room, and what they learned afterwards. The second examines how culture, bias, and hiring systems shape who gets chosen.
Astrology
Use these 20 discussion questions about Astrology to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Artificial Intelligence
Use these 20 discussion questions about Artificial Intelligence to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Teachers
Use these 20 discussion questions about Teachers to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Concerts
Use these 20 discussion questions about Concerts to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A2-B2). 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.
Minimalism
Use these 20 discussion questions about Minimalism 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.
Gardening
Use these 20 discussion questions about Gardening to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Architecture
Use these 20 discussion questions about Architecture 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.
At the Doctor's Office
Use these 20 discussion questions about At the Doctor's Office to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A2–B1). 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.
Fashion
Use these 20 discussion questions about Fashion to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). 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.
Technology & Everyday Life
Twenty conversation questions about everyday technology for adult classes (B1–C1). The first half stays close to daily habits: phones, apps, payments, and the hour students lose to a screen without noticing. The second half turns to digital government, privacy, and the people a technology quietly leaves behind. Both halves open with a vocabulary warm-up and run about thirty minutes.
Festivals & Celebrations
Every student brings a festival to this lesson, which is what makes it work. Twenty questions (B1–C1) in two halves of roughly thirty minutes. The first draws on memory: national days, parades, the food, and the relatives who always turn up. The second asks what festivals cost, who they leave out, and how far a tradition can change before it stops being one.
Education
Twenty ESL conversation questions about education for adult learners (B1–C1), in two halves of about thirty minutes. The first is personal: school memories, the teacher who mattered, and what it is like to study again as an adult. The second debates the system itself, from university costs and vocational routes to what education is actually for. Each half begins with a vocabulary warm-up.
Food & Eating
Food gets adult learners talking faster than almost any other topic. Twenty questions (B1–C1), in two halves of roughly thirty minutes each. The first is personal: dishes students cook, markets they use, and what they order when someone else is paying. The second widens out to seasonal eating, food prices, and how communities feed each other. Both halves open with a vocabulary warm-up.
Video Games
Games are a topic where the quietest student in the room often has the most to say. These twenty questions (B1–C1) run in two halves of about thirty minutes. The first covers playing itself: what students grew up with, how they play now, and who they play with. The second takes on esports, game careers, and the arguments families have about screen time. Each half starts with a vocabulary warm-up.
Sports
Sport is one of the few subjects where every adult class already has an opinion. These twenty questions (B1–C1) split into two halves: the first is personal, covering what students play, watch, and gave up on; the second opens the arguments about money, fairness, young athletes, and what a team really does for a town. A vocabulary warm-up starts each half, and either one runs about thirty minutes.
Exercise & Fitness
Twenty conversation questions about exercise and fitness, built for adult classes at B1 to C1. The first half deals with what students actually do: walking, gym routines, and the week when motivation disappears. The second half treats exercise as a public question, from ageing and city design to what a government can reasonably ask of people. Each half begins with a vocabulary warm-up and fills about thirty minutes.
Money & Personal Finance
Twenty conversation questions about money for adult classes (B1–C1). The first half keeps things concrete and personal, covering spending habits, saving, and whether students still carry cash. The second half moves to trust: credit, lending between friends, community savings groups, and what a fair financial system would look like. Both halves open with a vocabulary warm-up and fill around thirty minutes.
Shopping
Shopping habits reveal a surprising amount about a country, which is why this lesson travels well. Twenty questions (B1–C1), two halves, roughly thirty minutes each. The first covers where students buy things and why, from corner shops to online carts. The second looks at second-hand culture, trust in sellers, and whether the local high street has a future. A vocabulary warm-up opens each half.
Running
Twenty teacher-reviewed conversation questions that turn running into a full discussion lesson for adult learners (B1–C1). The first part stays on the ground: where people run, what they wear, and how a beginner actually starts. The second part asks harder questions about motivation, tracking apps, the cost of the sport, and who gets left out of it. Both parts open with a vocabulary warm-up, and each fills roughly thirty minutes.