Friends

• Are there any famous stories of friendship in your culture? (Eg. David and Jonathan)
• Describe one of your closest friends.
• Do you have any childhood friendships that are still strong today? Tell us about them.
• Do you have any long distance friends?
  • How do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends?
  • How often do you see your long-distance friends?
• Do you think it is a good idea to borrow money from a friend? Why or why not?
• Do you make friends easily?
• Has a friend ever let you down?
• Have you made any friends over the Internet?
  • How often do you write to them?
  • Have you ever met them in person?
• How are your friendships different now than they were when you were a child?
• How do you maintain a good friendship?
• How do you make new friends?
• How many people do you consider your "best friends?"
• Is it common to have friendships across generations?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types of friendships.
  • Do you have any friends from a different generation than you?
• There is a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend."
  • How can you be a good friend?
• What do you usually do with your friends?
• What factors may result in the breakdown of a good friendship?
• What is a best friend?
• What is the longest friendship that you have had?
• What makes friends different from family?
• What qualities do you think are important in a friend?
  • What is a friend?
• What things should friends never do?
• Why do you like your best friend?
  • What are some things you like about your best friend?
• Where is a good place to meet new friends?
  • Where is a good place to meet a new boyfriend/girlfriend?
• Do you think it is possible to have a best friend of the opposite sex without becoming a girlfriend or boyfriend?
• Do you think it would be possible for you still be friends with an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?
• There is a proverb that says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Do you agree?
• Do you believe that there is an end to any true friendships?
• Do you believe your parents should be your friends?
• What do you do if you receive a friend's call but you forgot his/her name?
• Friendship is the most important relationship. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
• What do you like best about your best friend(s)?
• What are some ways your best friend has influenced your life in a positive way?
• What are some ways your best friend has influenced your life in a positive way?
• How close do you get to your friends?
• Why do you need a friend?
• What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?
• Do you trust all of your friends? Why?
• What is the best time for making new friends?
• What was your best friendship?
  • Are you still friends with him or her?
  • What life lessons did you learn from this relationship?
• What qualities do you appreciate in your friends? What makes someone special or best friend?
• Why are friendships important for you? Do you still maintain friendships from the past?
• How long have you known your best friend? Where did you meet and what did you have in common?
• What are some good opportunities to meet new people?
• How can you get to better know a person?
• What is the relationship between love and friendship?
• Who is the most interesting person you have ever met?
• Do you think famous people are happier than ordinary people? Why?
• What type of people do you get along with best?
• What quality do you admire most in people and which one do you find the most objectionable?
• What behavior of others hurts you most? When you have upset someone by your actions, what do you try to do?
• What do you consider to be your good and bad qualities?
• What qualities help you to have good relationships with others?
• What traits or actions make an interpersonal conflict worse?
• Are relationships among people better or worse than a few years ago? Why? Give some examples.
• Do you think that dysfunctional family life contributes to worsening relationships in society?
• Is getting along with others a natural ability from birth or does it have to be learnt?
• How important is forgiveness in human relationships?
• What are friends for?
• Can you be friends with your student if you are a teacher?
• To what extent can you be friends with your child?

Goals

• What is your biggest goal in life?
• How do you plan to achieve that goal?
• What are your "short term" goals?
• What are your "long term" goals?
• Should parents help their children set goals?
• What are your educational goals?
• What are your career goals?
• What are your financial goals?
• Why are goals important?
• Is having a goal in life effective in becoming successful?
• Is having a goal helpful in motivating a person?
• Do you think people have fewer goals as they get older?
• Do you have any goals that you feel are unrealistic?
• How do people's goals change from country to country?
• What are your goals in your current job?
• What are the main differences between male and female goals?
• Which of your goals have you already achieved?
• How would you feel if you failed to achieve any of your goals?
• Do you think it's a good idea to write your goals down and tick them off as you achieve them?
• How important are goals to you?

Stress

• Recognizing Stress
  • What is stress?
  • What causes stress?
  • How do you recognize stress in your life?
  • Have you been under stress recently?
  • How does stress affect you?
  • Do you have a kind of red warning flag that indicates too much stress?
  • When you are stressful, how do you feel physically?
    • Do you feel tired during the day?
    • Can you sleep well at night?
    • Does your stomach hurt?
  • How do you feel emotionally?
    • Do you feel nervous or worried about the stressful situation?
    • Do you get angry easily?

• Helping Others
  • Have you ever helped someone who was feeling stressful?
    • What did you do?
    • Did you give them advice?
    • Did you listen to them?
    • Did you do most of the talking?
    • Did you take some action to help them?
  • Have you ever helped someone that you didn't know?
  • What are characteristics of a good counselor?
    • Is it necessary to have shared the same experience?
    • Is it important to be an expert?
    • Is it important to be patient?

• Healthy Stress
  • Do you think stress is ever good, useful, or necessary?
    • Why or why not?
  • Do you play games or sports that are sometimes stressful?
  • When can stress be a good thing?
    • If you are playing a sport and your team is losing, does it give you extra energy?
  • Does stress make you feel more alive?
  • Is your home life stressful?
  • Are you busy at home?
  • Can you relax at home?
  • Do you enjoy having discussions about politics with other people who have different opinions?
  • Do you like to argue about different ways to do things at work or at home?

• Personal
  • Have you felt stress recently?
    • Did the stressful feeling last a long time or a short time?
    • Had the cause of the stress happened to you before or was this a new situation?
  • How often do you think you feel too much stress?
  • Do you feel too busy sometimes?
  • In what way does a too full schedule lead to stress?
  • Do you like being busy?
  • If you are very busy at work or at school, do you have ways to balance your life?
  • If you have nothing to do, do you enjoy yourself or do you get bored?
  • Does stress make it hard for you to think or act?
  • How can you judge what is the right amount of stress for you?
  • Is your stress caused by relationships with other people?
    • At work? At school?
    • At home?
    • With best friends?
    • With partners?
    • Can you think of some examples?
  • Does stress come when you worry about your life?
  • Do you keep your worries a secret from other people?
  • Do you have anyone you can talk to when you are worried?
  • When did we start talking about stress as a psychological condition?
  • What do you do when you have stress?

• Stressful Situations
  • Are there situations that you find stressful?
  • Do you feel tense when you meet someone for the first time?
  • Do you get nervous if you have to make a speech?
  • Do you suffer from stress when you have too much work to do?
  • Do you work or study for long hours under stressful conditions?
  • Does the place you live have a low-stress environment?
  • Can you be alone as much as you like?
  • Can you be with friends as often as you like?
  • Is it easy for you to make decisions about important things?
  • Can you relax when you are sleeping away from home?
  • In what kinds of situations do you observe other people feeling stressed?
  • What are some situations that you enjoy?
  • What are some situations that make you feel stressful?
  • How can you eliminate stressful situations?
  • Plan a low-stress, cheap, one-day holiday.

• Controlling Stress
  • How do you relieve stress?
  • What stresses you out?
  • Do you have a stressful lifestyle?
  • How can you eliminate stressful situations?
  • How do you get control of a stressful situation that is getting too tough?
  • What is the "fight or flight" response? How does it relate to stress?
  • Do you enjoy the feeling of being stressed?
  • If you are feeling stressed, what do you do?
  • Do you like to relax or be active when stressful?
  • Are you capable of relieving your stress or do you need help?
  • Can alcohol cure stress temporarily?

• Living Stress Free
  • How can you live a stress free life?
  • Can you give five suggestions that would be inexpensive?
  • Can you give five suggestions for children?
  • Can you give five suggestions for the wintertime?
  • Give us suggestions for making school life less stressful.
  • When stressful do you like to listen to a certain kind of music?
    • Does it help to go shopping or take a long walk?
    • Do you like to be alone or be with other people?
    • Do you eat more or eat less?
  • Do certain colors make you feel happier?
  • Do you always follow the same pattern to relieve stress or do you try different things?
  • What are some positive ways people deal with stress?
  • What are some negative ways people deal with stress?
  • How do you deal with stress?
  • What is the most stressful experience you have ever had?
  • When was the most stressful time of your life? Did you learn anything from that experience?
  • What do you think is the greatest cause of stress for most people?
  • What is your greatest cause of stress?
  • Do you deal with stress differently that your parents do/did? If so, how?
  • Do you know of anyone who likes to break things or become violent when they are stressed? What have they broken? What kind of violence do they do?
  • What is the most stressful job you can think of?
  • What is the least stressful job you can think of?
  • Which would you choose: A stressful job with very high pay or a relaxing job with considerably low pay? Why?
  • Is being single less stressful than married life? What are the advantages & disadvantages of each?
  • How do you reduce stress in your life? Do you think they would be considered good or bad ways of dealing with stress?

Sports

• Are you a good skier?
  • If so, when did you start?
  • How often do you ski?
  • Who taught you to ski?
• Are you a good ___? (tennis player, basketball player, swimmer, ...)
• Are you a member of any sports team? If not, have you ever been?
• Are you good at basketball?
• Are you good at sports?
  • What sports are you good at?
  • Do you often play sports?
• Did your high school have a good baseball team?
• Do you ever listen to baseball games on the radio?
• Do you jog more than once a week?
• Do you know how to play golf?
• Do you like to exercise?
• Do you like to ski?
• Do you like playing tennis?
• Do you like to snowboard?
• Do you like to watch sports on TV?
• Do you like watching car races?
• Do you like wrestling?
• Do you like ___? (insert a name of a baseball player, tennis player, etc.)
• Do you play any sports?
• Do you think athletes earn enough money, not enough money or too much money?
• Do you think everybody should practice sports?
• Do you think playing sports helps people work better as a team at work?
• Do you think that parents are too involved in their children's sports activities?
• Have you ever been skiing?
• Have you ever been to a soccer game? (...a football match)
• Have you ever played golf?
• Have you ever been to watch a professional game?
• Have you ever played tennis with your mother?
• Have you ever tried snow-boarding?
• How often do you exercise?
• How often do you go swimming?
  • Where do you go?
  • Who do you go with?
• How often do you ___? (play tennis, swim, go surfing, ...)
• Is it good that professional sport is so commercial nowadays?
• Were you on a sports team in high school?
• Were you on any sports teams in high school?
  • How about junior high school?
  • How about now?
• What do you think is the most popular sport in the world?
• What do you think of pro wrestling? Thai kick boxing? Japanese sumo?
• What do you think of women playing hockey professionally?
• What do you think the top five most watched sports are in the world?
• What is the most dangerous sport?
• What is the most expensive sport?
• What is the most popular sport in your country?
• What is your favorite summer sport?
• What is your favorite team sport?
• What is your favorite winter sport?
• What new sports would you like to try?
• What sport do you think is the most dangerous?
• What sport do you think is the most expensive?
• What sports did you do in junior high school?
  • How about high school?
  • How about now?
• What sports do you follow?
  • What sports do you watch?
• What sports do you hate to watch?
• What sports do you like to play?
• What sports do you like to watch live?
• What sports do you like to watch on TV?
• What sports do you like to watch?
• What sports do you think are the best?
• What's a sport that you don't like? Why don't you like it?
• What's your favorite baseball team?
• What's your favorite sport?
  • Why do you like it?
  • How often do you play it?
  • How often do you watch it?
• When did you start ___? (playing tennis, swimming, learning to snowboard, ...)
• When was the last time you went to a baseball game?
• Where do you usually ___? (play tennis, swim, ...)
• Where is the nearest stadium to your house?
• Which do you prefer, baseball or volleyball? (..., tennis or golf)
• Which sport would you not let your child play? Why?
• Who do you think is the best athlete in the world? In your country?
• Who is your favorite professional athlete? Why?
• Who swims better, your mother or your father?
• Would you like to become a champion at Wimbledon?
• Would you rather go swimming or skiing?
• How do you feel about extreme sports? Would you like to try any of these?
• Does it bother you that people gamble on sporting events?
• In some cultures, fishing is a sport. Is fishing viewed as a sport in your culture or solely a way of living?
• If you had the opportunity to do away with any sport, what sport would you do away with? Why?
• Which Olympic sports do you like to watch on TV?
• Does your country do better at the summer or the winter Olympics?
• Do you think that the Olympics are important, or have there been too many negative things (use of performance-enhancing drugs, corrupt judges) in recent history?

Culture

• What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...
• What do you think is interesting about your culture?
• Do you know much about your own culture?
• When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they usually think of?
• In your culture is it polite to be straightforward and direct when you talk to someone?
  • To whom is it OK and to whom is it not OK?
• What has surprised you when you've met people from other countries?
• Have you looked at Internet pages from a different culture? If so, how were they different from those of your own culture?
• What do you like about your culture?
• What don't you like about your culture?
• How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?
• How do young people in your culture behave differently from people in this culture?
• Are there many people of different cultures in your country? Are you friends with any?
• Have you ever felt confused by the actions of someone from another culture?
  • If so, tell me about it.
• How are your language teachers who are not from your country different from your other teachers?
  • How are they the same?
• Who in your culture do you admire most?
• What your culture are you most proud about?
• Why do you think culture is important?
• If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?
• Would you ever consider marrying or dating someone from another culture?
• Would you ever consider living permanently in a country other than your home country? Why or why not?
• What does it mean to be polite in your culture?
• What is considered rude in your culture?
  • Is there anything in this culture that is considered rude that may not be considered rude in your culture?
• If a group of people just came to your country from overseas, what advice would you give them?
• What other cultures have you met people from?
• What do you think is important when visiting another culture?
• Do you think "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice? Why or why not?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans do"?
• What culture besides your own do you admire and why?
• If aliens visited your country, what might surprise them?
• Do you pray before each meal?
• How do you feel when you leave your home culture and enter into a completely new culture?
• What is the best/most important thing your culture has given to the world?
• What is the best/most important thing your culture/country has adopted from another culture?
• If you could choose three aspects of your culture to put in a "time box" for the future, what would you put in it?

• Customs
  • What customs do you practice?
  • What are your favorite customs?
  • What customs do you think should be revised?
  • What customs do you think should no longer be practice?
  • What customs (from elsewhere) do you think should be included in our culture?

Science and Technology

• What do you think are the three most important or interesting inventions since 1850? How about since 1950?
• Do you think pets should be cloned? Why or why not?
• Do you think people should be allowed to clone people or organs of people? Why?
• What do you think about GMO (genetically modified organisms) vegetables? Is it better to use natural food although it might not produce as much or should we use GMO crops?
• What do you think about GMO farm animals? Would you eat pork from a GMO pig?
• Do you think couples should be allowed to choose the sex or other characteristics of their baby like eye color? Why or why not?
• Are you willing to pay more for food that is really organic? How much more?
• What do you think robots should be used for?
• Do you think robots will cause unemployment (loss of jobs) in the future or make more work? Why?
• Do you think using cell phones too much is bad for our physical or mental health? Why?
• If you could copy your brain for future generations, would you?
• How do you think face to face communication differs from communication using computers?
• What changes have social changes have cell phones made?
• What are good and bad points of using computers?
• Do you think to stop global warming that the amount of car driving should be limited or changed? For example, should there be some kind of encouragement to use public transportation or to do car pooling?
• What are some local ways you have seen to reduce waste and pollution or conserve energy?
• In your life time what changes have you seen in your environment for better or worse?
• Do you think modern technology reduces or increases stress? Why?
• Do you think money should be spent to explore space or is it better spent helping people on earth? Why?
• What is your opinion about children playing violent videogames or computer programs?
• Should anything be allowed to be posted on the Internet or should certain things be restricted like child pornography, grossly violent real scenes and suicide or hate encouragements?
• What do you think should be done to people who spread viruses, start hoaxes or create SPAM on the Internet?
• How often do you buy things via the Internet? Why do you buy this often or not buy online?
• Do you worry about identity theft or credit card number theft when buying things on the Internet or do you avoid buying things online because of this concern?
• Have you used a chat site? Have you ever used voice chat? What do you think about it?
• Have you used the Internet to learn English or read or talk in English? What are the pros and cons (good and bad points) about improving your English by Internet rather than with a teacher?

Social Problems

• Are there food kitchens for the needy in your country?
• Are there homeless shelters in your country?
• Are there many homeless people where you live?
• Are there many suicides in your country?
• Are there nursing homes in your country?
• Do you agree that teachers should use corporal punishment as a means of discipline?
• Do you know anyone who is homeless?
• Do you think in vitro fertilization should be available to parents so they can choose the sex of their child?
• Do you think it's acceptable for parents to use corporal punishment as a means of discipline? Why/why not?
• Do you think people should be allowed to smoke in public buildings?
• Do you think that minorities should be given job priority because of their race? Why/why not?
• Have you ever been a volunteer at a hospital?
• Have you ever experienced discrimination?
• Have you ever known someone with an addiction?
• In an overpopulated world, should people be free to have as many children as they want?
• Is there assistance available to people that are homeless?
• Is there public assistance in your country?
• What are some expectations parents have for their children?
• What are some reasons people use illegal drugs?
• What are some reasons that people become homeless?
• What are some things people can do to eliminate discrimination and prejudice?
• What are some ways we can help homeless people?
• What do you think is the most serious problem in the world?
  • Why do you think so?
  • What can we do as individuals to solve this problem?
• What do you think when you see a homeless person?
• What types of noise pollution do you hate the most?
• Who takes care of the elderly when they are no longer able to care for themselves?
• Does poverty cause crime?
• Have you ever experienced discrimination on a personal level?
• What is racism?
• Graffiti is considered a social problem. Here are some related questions.
  • What is graffiti? Where do you see it? i.e. walls, trains
  • What messages do you see? i.e. political, love messages, funny, personal, poetic?
  • Should the government punish those who write graffiti?
  • Should the government reserve places for those who want to write graffiti?
  • Is graffiti a type of "art"?
  • If you were allowed to write something, what would you say?
  • What can we do about graffiti writers?
  • What are some ways we can wear words and slogans? i.e. badges, clothes, hats etc.
  • What should be done about football hooligans?
  • Is it morally right to spend a lot of money on pets, rather than helping people in need?

School

• Are you allowed to eat in the classrooms?
• Are you allowed to smoke in the classrooms?
• Did you belong to any clubs in high school?
• Did you go to a public high school or a private one?
• Did you have to wear a uniform in high school? How about elementary school?
• Did you study art in high school?
• Did your high school have a band? If so, did you play in it?
• Do most of your teachers take attendance?
• Do some of your teachers let class out early?
• Do you carry a dictionary to your English classes? How about your other classes?
• Do you enjoy studying English? (...math, science, ...)
• Do you ever skip class?
• Do you have any evening classes?
• Do you play on any of the school's sports teams?
• Do you still keep in touch with your best friend in elementary school?
• Have you ever been absent?
• Have you ever been late for a class?
• Have you ever been late for class?
  • If so, why?
  • When was the last time?
  • Did the teacher get angry?
• Have you ever failed a class? (Maybe this is not polite to ask.)
• Have you ever slept in class?
• How do you usually come here? (How do you get to school?)
• How long does it take you to get to school?
• How many times have you been absent from school this year?
• How much homework do you do every day?
• Was your high school strict?
• Were you on any sports teams in high school?
• What classes do you not like? Why don't you like them?
• What did you like best about high school?
• What do you like best about your school?
• What do you like the least about your school?
• What do you think about your English class? Your gym class?
• What do you think of our cafeteria?
• What do you think of this campus?
• What do you want to do after you graduate?
• What is your best memory from junior high school?
  • How about high school?
  • What's your worst memory?
• What school did you graduate from? What high school? What junior high school?
• What time does your first class begin on Tuesday?
• What was the name of your junior high school?
• What were some of the rules you had to follow at your high school?
  • Which rules did you think were unfair?
  • Did you ever get caught breaking any school rules?
  • Were you allowed to smoke on campus?
  • Were you allowed to eat food in the classroom?
• What's your favorite subject?
  • Why do you like it?
  • Who is the teacher?
  • How many times a week does the class meet?
• Which subjects are you good at?
  • (What are your strong subjects?)
• Which subjects are you poor at?
  • (Which subjects are difficult for you?)
• Who is your favorite teacher?
  • What course does he or she teach?
  • Why do you like him or her?
• What did you find the most surprising thing about the USA school system?
• What are the major characteristics you think a teacher should have?
• Do you have to wear a uniform to your school? (Did you have to....)
  • Do you like wearing a uniform?
• Tell us about your favorite teacher.
  • Why do you like him/her?
• Do you like to wear a school uniform? Why or why not?

Music

• About how many CDs do you have? How about MDs and tapes?
• Are you a good dancer?
• Are you a good singer?
• Can you concentrate on other things when you are listening to music?
• Can you play a musical instrument?
  • If so, what do you play?
  • How long have you been playing?
  • Are you good at it?
• Can you play any musical instruments?
• Can you play the drums?
• Can you play the guitar?
• Can you read music?
• Do you enjoy music videos?
• Do you ever listen to MP3 files on your computer?
• Do you have an expensive stereo system? (... a MD player, ... an old record player)
• Do you know the band named Metallica? If so, do you like them?
• Do you like all kinds of music?
• Do you like American rock bands?
• Do you like country music?
• Do you like heavy metal bands like Megadeth, Marilyn Manson, and so on?
• Do you like jazz?
• Do you like to listen classical music?
• Do you like to listen country music?
  • Who is your favorite country singer?
• Do you like to listen to Broadway musicals?
  • What is your favorite Broadway musical show?
• Do you like punk music?
• Do you like singing karaoke? How often do you sing karaoke?
• Do you like to dance?
• Do you like to sing karaoke?
• Do you listen to music while doing your homework?
• Do you sing while taking a bath?
• Do you think there is a relationship between drugs and music? How about violence and music?
• Do you think your favorite music twenty years from now will be the same as it is today?
• Do you watch music shows on TV? If so, what do you watch?
• Does you mother play the piano?
• Have you ever been to a concert?
  • Have you ever been to a rock concert?
  • Have you ever been to an orchestra concert?
• Have you ever taken part in a singing competition?
• How does music make you feel?
• How many CD's do you have?
• How much time do you spend listening to music?
• How often do you listen to music? (...to classical music, ... to jazz, ...)
• How often do you listen to the radio?
• If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
• If you could start a band, what type of music would you play? Why?
• If you were a song, what song would you be and why?
• Is live music popular in your country?
• Is there any kind of music that you hate?
• Should music lyrics be rated similar to the way movies are rated?
• What are some concerts you have been to?
• What are some special or traditional musical instruments in your country?
• What do you think the world would be like without music?
• What do you think of manufactured bands? Can you name any?
• What is one of your favorite songs?
  • Why do you like it?
  • When did you first hear it?
  • Who sings it?
• What is your favorite karaoke song to sing?
• What is your favorite kind of music?
• What kind of music do you like?
• What kind of music do you listen to to cheer you up?
• What kind of music do you usually listen to?
• What kind of music do your parents listen to?
• What kind of music you like the most?
• What kind of songs do you like to sing?
• What kinds of music do people listen to in your country?
• What kinds of music do you dislike?
• What musicians did you like when you were in junior high school? How about high school?
• What radio station do you usually listen to?
• What was the last CD you bought?
• What was the last concert you went to?
• What was your favorite music five years ago? 10 years ago? How have your musical tastes changed?
• When was the last time you went dancing?
• When was the last time you went to a concert?
• Where do you usually listen to music?
• Which do you prefer, songs in English or songs in your own language?
• Who is your favorite singer or group?
• Who is your favorite singer?
• Why do you think music is important and how does it affect different people?
• Why is music so important to people and culture?
• Is the image of the group or singer more important than the music?
• Can you think of examples of music calming people or increasing their efficiency?
• Do you mind singing to other people? (Another wording: ...singing in front of people?)
  • If you don't mind then how large an audience would be too many?
• While listening to the radio, do you ever want to sing the song that is being played?
• Why do you think some people believe opera singers should be fat?
• Do you ever download MP3 files from the Internet?
• Do you prefer rock music or romantic music?
• Do you think music can heal sick people?
• Do you think that animals can enjoy music? How do you know?
• Do you think that music can help make world peace? How?
• How important do you think a good music teacher is to mastering an instrument?
• What do you think the next piece of music technology will be, after digital technology?
• If you could invent a new instrument, what would it sound like?
• Do you think the use of drugs by some musicians increases their artistic creativity?
• Who is your favorite composer?
• Did you go to the symphony when you were a child?
• Do your brothers and sisters also love classical music?
• What makes a song popular for you, the lyrics of the song or the melody?

Colors

• What's your favorite color?
  • Has your favorite color changed as you've grown older?
• Do you have a color that you hate?
  • If so, what is it?
  • Why do you hate it?
• Do you think colors affect your mood?
  • How does red make you feel?
  • How does green make you feel?
  • How does blue make you feel?
  • How does purple make you feel?
  • How does black make you feel?
  • How does white make you feel?
  • How does yellow make you feel?
  • How does brown make you feel?
  • How does grey make you feel?
  • What do you think of orange?
• Do you think different cultures have different meanings for colors?
  • What do the different colors mean in your culture?
• Do you associate any colors with specific items, numbers, or letters not usually associated with color?
• Can you think of different idioms or expressions involving color?
  • What's a "black and white" matter.
  • What does it mean to "see red"?
  • What does it mean to "feel blue"?
  • What does it mean to "be yellow"?
  • What's a "black tie affair"?
  • What does it mean to be "blacklisted"?
  • What does it mean to be "the black sheep in the family"?
• How many colors are in the rainbow? What are they?
• What colors are on your national flag?
• What's the best color for a car?
  • What's the best color for a house?
  • What do you think is the best color for lens in sunglasses?
• What's the color for passion?
  • What's the color for hatred?
  • What's the color for happiness?
  • What's the color for sadness?
  • What's the color for anger?
  • What's the color for death?
  • What's the color for jealousy?
  • What is the color of envy ?
  • What's the color for cowardice?
• What color is money in your country?
• Do you know anyone who is color blind?
  • What colors do most color blind people not see?
• Do you think animals can see color?
• What does black-sheep of the family mean?
• Do you dream in color?
• How would you compare the feeling you get watching a movie in black and white to watching it in color?
• What color clothes do you like to wear?
  • What colors do you think look good on you?
  • What color shoes do you like to wear?
• What do you think is the strangest color for a car?
  • How about a house?
  • How about clothing?
  • How about hair color?
• Do you know anyone who has dyed their hair a strange color? (... an unnatural hair color such as blue or multiple shades?)
• Have you ever seen a pet dog or cat with dyed fur?
• Do you think different colors have different meanings? If so, what do different colors mean?
• Do the color blind dream in color?
  • Do you think people who are color blind can dream in color?
• What color ink do you like using the most?
  • What is the meaning of writing with black ink?
  • What is the meaning of writing with green ink?
  • What is the meaning of writing with red ink?
  • What is the meaning of writing with blue ink?
• What color of paper you like most if you want to write a letter to your friends or loved ones?
• What is the color of the bedspread on your bed?
• What is your least favorite color?
• What color toothbrush do you have?
  • Does everyone in your family use a different color toothbrush?
• What color towels do you use?
• What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
• What does it mean when someone says he's feeling blue?
• What does it means when someone says they are green with envy?
• w\What does it means when someone says "you look green at the gills"?
• What does it mean when someone says "I was so mad I was seeing red"?
• What does it mean when someone says "he was black as an ace of spades"?
• What is pink eye?
• We are not sure what this means, but it was submitted.
  • What does it mean when you see the color of a rainbow in your eyes?
• What would you think of life without colors?
  • What do you think life would be like without colors?
  • How would life change?
  • What things wouldn't change?
  • Are color blind people completely blind to all colors?
• Do you think a person's favorite color will always be his/her favorite color?
  • Do favorite colors change throughout life?
• Have you ever tried to invent a new color?
  • Try it right now: try to think of a color that doesn't exist, one you'd like to see.
  • What does it look like?
  • (Note: It is physically impossible to conceive of a color that isn't a shade of a color that already exists, but students will enjoy trying for a few minutes and the impossibility of it makes for good conversation.)

College

• What is the name of your college or university?
• How many students go to your college?
• Is your college coed?
• How many subject are you taking this semester?
• Who is your favorite teacher?
• How did you decide which college to attend?
• What are three big differences between your college life so far and your high school days?
• In the West, one of the most valued parts of college life is independence. Are you more independent from your parents now than you were in high school?
• Talk about relations between upperclassmen and freshmen. What kinds of things do freshmen have to do for initiation?
• What other things do upperclassmen do to freshmen? Were you a victim of "hazing" by upperclassmen?
• What is your major? Why did you choose your major? Do you have any regrets?
• What is the most difficult class you have taken so far?
• Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? What was the situation?
• Have you participated in a University Festival? Talk about your experience. Do you think this style of festival is held in Western countries? Why or why not?
• Are you a member of any student groups? Which ones? What do you do? Are you satisfied with what's happening with your group(s)?
• Are there some professors that you can learn from more easily than others? What are the qualities that make you want to study for a certain professor?
• What are the top three changes you would like to see happen at your university?
• What do you think of student government? Are you now or have you ever been part of it? Do you think it's worthwhile? Does participation in student government bring any benefits to the participants? What?
• What are the top three things you hope to get out of (get as a result of) your university days?

Likes and Dislikes

• What kind of music do you like?
• Who are your favorite performers or bands?
• Do you like music or musicians from other countries as well? If so, who or what kind?
• What kinds of music don¡¯t you like?
• Name some singers or groups that you dislike.
• Do you like to watch TV?
• Do you like movies?
• Do you like to watch TV?
• What are your favorite kinds of programs or shows?
• What are your all-time favorite TV programs?
• Who are your favorite actors?
• Do you like programs or shows from other countries as well? If so, what kind?
• Do you like actors from other countries as well? If so, who?
• What kinds of programs or which actors don¡¯t you like?
• Do you like movies?
• What are your favorite kinds of movies?
• What are your all-time favorite movies?
• Who are your favorite actors?
• Do you like movies from other countries as well? If so, what kind?
• Do you like actors from other countries as well? If so, who?
• What kinds of movies or which actors don¡¯t you like?
• Do you like sports?
• What are your favorite kinds of sports?
• Who are your favorite athletes?
• Do you like sports from other countries as well? If so, what kind?
• Do you like athletes from other countries as well? If so, who?
• Which athletes don't you like?
• Do you like books?
• What are your favorite kinds of books?
• What are your favorite titles?
• Who are your favorite authors?

Internet

• Do you often use the Internet?
• When did you first use the Internet?
• About how many hours a day do you use the Internet?
• About how many hours a week do you use the Internet?
• Who uses the Internet the most in your family?
• What computer do you use to access the Internet?
• What are some security issues you must think about when you access the Internet?
• Have you ever bought something using the Internet?
• How can the internet help you learn English? Do you take advantage of this?
• How can the Internet be improved?
• How often do you use the internet?
• Do you think our lives have been improved by the Internet?
• Do you have any ideas or ambitions to start an Internet company?
• Do you think the Internet favors men or women?
• Do men and women use the internet for different purposes?
• Do you use the Internet for fun or education?
• What are some of the ways the Internet can be used for education?
• What are some of the ways the Internet can be used for entertainment?
• What are the sites you most commonly access?
• What is the best thing about the Internet?
• What problems does the Internet create? What problems does it solve?
• Which company is your Internet provider?
  • Why did you choose this company?
  • Are you satisfied with their service?
  • How much does it cost you?
• Is it expensive to access the Internet by mobile phone in your country?
• Is there too much sex on the Internet?
• Does your family have wireless Internet access in your home?
• Do you access the Internet from your mobile phone?
• What type of pages do you access with your phone?
• Do you have more many e-mail addresses?
• Why do you need more than one e-mail address?
• Have you ever chatted on the Internet?
• Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet?
• Would you like to go on a date with someone you meet on the Internet?
• Do you think governments have the right to censor the Internet?
• Do you think that the Internet safe for children? Why
• Do you think that it is important for schools to have Internet access? Why?
• Can you believe all the information that is published (available) on the Internet?
• Do you think that people should put photos of their friends onto the Internet?
• Why is it a good idea to have books and magazines published on the Internet?
• Do you think that it is a good or bad habit for young people to play computer games?
• Why should you be careful about giving out personal information to people that you meet in chat-rooms?
• Give me a reason why you think that email is a good way for people to communicate.
• The Internet can help people work from home. Do you think that this is a good or bad?
• Many disreputable companies get personal information from your computer when you visit their web site. Why is this bad?
• Many people download MP3 music without paying any money for it. Do you think that this is a problem?
• Would you consider going out with someone that you met on the Internet?
• In your opinion, what is the most important feature of the Internet?
• Do you think that meeting people is easier than meeting people face to face?
• Are old people disadvantaged by today's usage of the Internet? How?
• When you buy something on the Internet, trust is very important. Why?
• Do you think that the Internet will replace Libraries?
• Do you think that online banking (being able to do most of your banking by the Internet and ATM machines) will become popular in all countries? What is a disadvantage of this.
• In many big cities it is possible to buy your groceries online and have them delivered to your home. Why has this become popular?
• Why is it illegal to download movies and music from the Internet?
• What is a computer virus and how do we protect our computers from being infected?
• How does the Internet help people from different countries to communicate with each other?
• Information on the Internet is linked together; it is not just single documents. Why is this important?
• How do we stop young children from looking at Internet sites that have inappropriate content?
• Do you think that some people spend too much time on the Internet and does this stop them from seeing their friends? Why?
• Do you think that having Internet access is mainly for rich people? Will poor people be disadvantaged?
• In some countries you can sell personal items on the Internet (E-Bay). Do you think this is a good idea?
• Many Universities are now offering online courses. Give me some reasons why this is a good thing.
• Many Universities are now offering online courses. Give me some reasons why this is a bad thing.
• If you want reliable and good information from the Internet, then you should look for sites operated by which types of organizations?
• Do you think that the Internet usage is an anti-social activity?
• E-commerce (buying and selling things on the Internet) has become very popular. Give a reason for this?
• Is it better to buy online or to go to a shop? Why?
• Why is it very important not to give out personal information on the Internet?
• Many sites require you to have ID's and passwords. Why do we need to keep these safe?
• Some web sites hold very dangerous information, for example how to make a bomb. How can we control these Web sites?
• If you give personal information to a Website do you think that they will always keep this private? Sometimes they sell this information. Is this a good or bad thing?
• Search engine are used to find information. Do you think that they always give you the best sites or do they give you sites that pay money in order to be on the top of the list?
• What is copyright? How do we break copyright law on the Internet?
• Many students use the Internet to help them do their assignments and they just ¡°cut and paste¡± information from the Internet. How do we stop this?
• We can use the Internet to find jobs overseas. Is this good or bad for both the employer and employee?
• If you employ someone via the Internet, how do you check if the person is giving you truthful information?
• To be current, that is to be up-to-date, is an important feature of the Internet. Why is this important and what impact is this having on society?
• In Japan, many young men lock themselves in their bedrooms, sometimes for years, to escape the pressures of study. They refuse to see people, but they still use the Internet and mobile phones. Do you think that this will happen in other countries?
• Is the Internet making people more impatient? Are we becoming a society were we all want instant satisfaction?
• Many people use the Internet for fun and entertainment at work. Do you think that this is right?
• How has the Internet changed society?

Beauty and Physical Attractiveness

• Who do you think is the most beautiful person in your country?
• Who do you think is the most beautiful person alive today?
• Who was the most beautiful person in history?
• Who is the most attractive in your family?
• Does beauty affect one's success in life?
• Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent?
• Is it better to be physically attractive or wealthy?
• Is beauty related to power?
  • Can you think of anyone who is in a position of power that is not physically attractive?
• Do people spend too much time and money on beauty?
• How much time should be spent on making yourself look better each day?
• Who would you say is beautiful that others maybe wouldn't?
• Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks?
  • If so what is the minimum age when someone should have plastic surgery?
  • How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
  • What is the most popular feature for cosmetic alteration?
  • Do you think self-esteem affects beauty?
  • Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
• How important is beauty in your daily life?
• Have you ever noticed anyone ever feeling pressured to be more beautiful?
• What do you think of the proverb, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"
  • Do you have any proverbs or idioms from your country that relate to beauty?
• What do you think "beauty is skin deep" means?
• What are some beauty tips that you could share?
• Do you think people with many tattoos can be beautiful?
  • How many tattoos is too many?
  • Would you ever get a tattoo?
  • Do you have a tattoo?
• Do you think people with many piercings can be beautiful?
  • What kind of body piercing, if any, do you feel are acceptable?
  • What kind of piercing, if any, do you feel are unacceptable?
• What personality trait is the most important for inner beauty?
• How do you define beauty, using your own words?
• Would you ever date someone who was not conventionally attractive?
• What makes one person more attractive than another?
• Do you think people from different countries than you see attractive the same way?
• Is there someone famous that is considered beautiful, that you think is not?
• Are beauty pageants good or bad?
• Should children be entered into beauty pageants?
• Do you think one gender or group worries more about beauty than another?
• Would you want your children to be beautiful or talented?
• What are some of the negatives about being beautiful?
• What are some examples of social pressures to improve on natural beauty?
  • For example, lipstick, haircutting, shaving, ...
• What do you think about plastic surgery?
  • Would you ever have plastic surgery?
  • If so, what would you change?

Art

• Are you a good painter?
• Can you draw pictures well?
• Do you believe what art critics say?
• Do you consider yourself a good artist?
• Do you enjoy your art class at school?
• Do you like modern art?
• Do you like paintings?
• Do you like sketching?
• Do you like to visit art museums?
• Do you like wood carving?
• Do you prefer using water colors or oil paint?
• Do you think it is proper to call nude paintings art?
• Do you think music and dancing are forms of art?
• Do you think of cartoons and comics as art?
• Do you visit museums when you go to another city?
• Have you ever been to any famous art museums?
• Have you ever visited an art museum?
• What art form do you like best?
• What art museums have you visited?
  • Which did you like the best? Why?
  • Which did you like the least? Why?
• What famous painters do you know? What are they famous for?
• What is art?
• What is the longest time that you have spend on a painting?
• What is your favorite art web site?
• What would life be like without art?
• When was the last time you went to an art museum?
• Who are some famous artists in your country?
• Who is a famous potter in your country?
• Who is the most famous artist in your country? What kind of art does he do?
• Who is your favorite painter?
• Do you enjoy taking photographs?
• What things do you like to photograph?
• Do you consider photography an art form?
• Why do artist like to draw women's figures?
• Why do you enjoy art?
• Why is art important?
• Why do people become professional artists?
• Have you ever participated in any art competitions?
• Have you ever been jealous of someone else's artwork?
• Do you find Picasso's work astonishing or weird?
• Do you have a favorite painting?
  • If so, what is it?
  • Why do you like it?
• Do other people ever compliment your artwork?
• Do you have a sketchbook?
  • If so, how often do you use it?
  • What kind of sketches do you make?
• Do you feel proud after finishing a work of art?
• Do you think graffiti is art?
  Do you agree with this statement? Graffitti is a form of art; a form of expressing one's mind.
• Do you like to doodle?
  • What kinds of doodles do you make?
  • Where and when do you doodle?
• Have you ever gone to an exhibition?
• Do you know any art galleries? Are there any in the place where you live?
• Were you interested in art when you were young?
• In your opinion, is design an important part of culture?
• Can you tell me the name of a fashion designer you know?
• Is design a great importance in your daily life?

History

• What kind of history did you study in school - social, industrial, European, local ...?
• How detailed was your study? Was there time to get into the details of what happened or did you just study a broad overview?
• What is the purpose of studying history? What practical benefit is it?
• There is a saying: "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." What do you think it means? Do you think it is true?
• Did you learn important dates in history by rote or did you study their context? If the former, do you still remember them? If the latter, do you think the context helps you remember better other details?
• Did you study only the history of your country or did you also study world history?
• How much contemporary history did you study?
• What aspects of history interest you most? Social history? Military history?
• Do you think it's possible to isolate historical events or are they all related in some way?
• Winston Churchill said that history was written by the victors. Do you agree with that statement? If you do, then how reliable is the history that we study?
• What's your opinion of historical novels? Do you think they are a good way to learn something about history or do you think they are pure fiction?
• Are there any particular figures from history whom you find particularly interesting? Who and why?
• Although we live in the present our experiences will eventually become history. What things which have occurred over the last twenty years do you think will be recorded in the history books?
• Have you ever directly witnessed an event and later seen it recorded differently in the press? In what way was it different? Why do you think it was changed?

Home

• Are there any parks near your home?
• Describe each room of your home.
• Do you like the place where you are living? Why or why not?
• Do you like to keep pets in your home?
• How are homes different in your home country and in this country?
• How have you changed your home since you've started living there?
• How long have you lived where you are living now?
• How many different homes have you lived in?
  • Which one did you like the best? Why?
  • Which one did you like the least? Why?
• How many rooms are there in your house?
• How much is your rent? (Some people may not consider this to be a polite question.)
• If you could change anything about your present home, what would it be?
• Is your home in a convenient location?
• What changes would you like to make to your home?
• What do you like about your home? What don't you like?
• What do you think is the worst color for a living room?
• What is in your bedroom?
• What things in your home couldn't you live without?
• What things in your house could you easily live without?
• What's your favorite room? Why?
• Where would your dream home be?
  • What would it be like inside and out?
• Which room do you spend the least time in?
• Which room do you spend the most time in?
• Who are your neighbors?
  • Do you get along well with your neighbors?
  • How well do you know them?
  • What have you done with your neighbors?
• Who lives with you? / Who do you live with?
• Would you prefer to live in a house or an apartment? Why?
• Is every house a home?
• What makes 'a house' into 'a home'?
• Have you ever been homesick?have you changed anything in your house recently? If so, what was that?
• What would you like to change in your house?
• What would you like to change in your house?
• What is the color of your front door?
• What kind of housing would you prefer?
• What is your dream house?
• What is your favorite room in your house? Why?
• What strange materials do you know of that have been used to make houses?
• Could you build a house for yourself? How would you do it? (you cannot have a builder help you)
• How could you live without electricity? Could you make your own electricity? How?
• How can houses be made more environmentally friendly?
• Describe how you go about buying a house in your country. Can you borrow money from a bank? Is it easy to buy and sell houses?
• What would be important to consider when designing a city? Was your city planned? Describe a perfect city
• Draw/describe your dream house (money is no problem) where, materials, design, interior, landscaping etc
• Imagine you have arrived in a country where they don't speak your language. You have no money or friends there. What would you do for accommodation?
• Give some reasons why people become homeless.
• What problems do home owners have? What can they do about them?
• Is it better to rent or buy? Give reasons for your answer.
• What do you think houses in the future will be like?
• How important is security? How do you make a house secure?
• Make a list of the 10 most important things you would look for when choosing a house to live in.
• Some people say houses are too much like boxes or cages. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of homestay/boarding?
• List alternatives to a house or apartment. (e.g. igloo)
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives? Which alternative would you prefer to live in?