Discussions / Public Speaking
Public Speaking Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Public Speaking 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.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 22 Aug 2026
Part 1
Speaking Clearly and Building Confidence
Focus: discussing public-speaking experiences, nervousness, preparation, delivery, audience connection, and ways to become more confident
In one minute, think of two places where people give speeches, two actions a speaker does, two things a speaker may prepare, and one feeling connected to speaking in front of others.
EXPERIENCE
What experience have you had speaking in front of a group?
FEELING
What parts of public speaking make people most nervous?
PREFERENCE
Do you prefer preparing every detail before speaking or leaving some room to speak naturally? Explain your preference.
DESCRIBE
What qualities make someone enjoyable and easy to listen to?
COMPARE
How is giving a formal presentation different from speaking during a meeting or class discussion?
COMMUNICATION
How can a speaker use their voice, eye contact, and body language effectively?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
You suddenly forget what you planned to say in the middle of a presentation. What could you do?
ADAPT
How should a speaker respond if the audience seems confused or uninterested?
ADVISE
What advice would you give someone who knows their subject well but becomes extremely nervous in front of people?
REFLECT
What does being a confident speaker mean if someone still feels nervous inside?
Part 2
Presentations, Audiences, and Persuasive Speaking
Focus: discussing presentation structure, storytelling, persuasion, difficult audiences, visual aids, and communication in professional situations
Think of one presentation tool, one action that helps a speaker communicate clearly, and one difficult audience situation.
Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.
EXPERIENCE
What is the best presentation or speech you remember seeing, and what made it effective?
PRIORITIZE
Which is more important in a presentation: strong information, clear organization, or an engaging speaking style?
COMPARE
How should someone speak differently to experts compared with an audience that knows very little about the topic?
DESIGN
What makes slides or other visual aids helpful rather than distracting?
DISCUSS
Why can stories and personal examples make a presentation more memorable?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
A speaker has twenty minutes of material but is suddenly told they only have ten minutes. What should they keep and what should they remove?
COMMUNICATION
How should a speaker handle a difficult question they cannot answer?
EVALUATE
When does trying to persuade an audience become too aggressive or manipulative?
CULTURE
How might expectations about public speaking differ across workplaces, cultures, or countries?
RECOMMEND
What three habits would most improve someone's public-speaking skills over time?