Conversation Topics / Shop
Shop Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
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.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 12 Aug 2026
Part 1
Going to Shops
Focus: talking about places to shop, things to buy, money, people, and simple shopping routines
In one minute, think of two things people buy, two types of shops, two shopping actions, and one way to pay.
ROUTINE
Where do you usually shop? Sentence starter: I usually shop at ...
SHOPPING
What do you buy every week? Sentence starter: Every week, I buy ...
PEOPLE
Who do you like to shop with? Sentence starter: I like to shop with ...
PREFERENCE
What is your favorite shop? Sentence starter: My favorite shop is ...
COST
What do you like to buy when it is cheap? Sentence starter: I like to buy ...
ITEM
What do you always take when you go shopping? Sentence starter: I take ...
ROUTINE
How do you usually pay in a shop? Sentence starter: I usually pay with ...
PLACE
Where do you buy food? Sentence starter: I buy food at ...
PROBLEM
What can you say if you cannot find something? Sentence starter: I can say, "Where is ...?"
PLAN
What do you want to buy next? Sentence starter: I want to buy ...
Part 2
Buying Things and Asking for Help
Focus: talking about clothes, food, prices, sizes, simple problems, and future shopping plans
Choose one word from each group: Person: customer, cashier, friend, worker; Action: buy, look, pay, ask; Place: supermarket, mall, market, clothes shop; Feeling: happy, tired, busy, excited. Use the words to make one or two simple sentences.
PREFERENCE
What do you like to shop for? Sentence starter: I like to shop for ...
CLOTHES
What clothes do you like to buy? Sentence starter: I like to buy ...
FOOD
What food do you often buy at a supermarket? Sentence starter: I often buy ...
COST
What is expensive in your town or city? Sentence starter: ... is expensive.
PEOPLE
Who can help you in a shop? Sentence starter: ... can help me.
PROBLEM
What can you say if a shirt is too small? Sentence starter: I can say, "Do you have ...?"
PROBLEM
What can you do if you do not have enough money? Sentence starter: I can ...
PREFERENCE
Do you like small shops or big shops? Sentence starter: I like ... shops.
ADVISE
What shop is good for a visitor in your town? Sentence starter: ... is good for a visitor.
PLAN
What do you want to shop for this weekend? Sentence starter: This weekend, I want to buy ...