Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ideas, Ideals, Idols: ESL Discussion Questions

Ideas

What are they? Notions, Opinions, Thoughts, Views

Examples of ideas: You should treat others as you treat yourself. Let's go shopping. I think I will buy a car. I think he is a bad man.

What is a good idea you have had? What was the best idea you ever had?

Do you ever have bad ideas? What was the worst idea you have ever had?

What is the craziest idea you have had? What ideas did you have in your youth?

What is an idea you disagree with?

Tell me an idea that you got from a teacher or friend or parent.

Do you like to debate ideas?

What is an idea you have now?



Ideals

What are they? Dreams. What we would like. What we think is perfect. Examples: Everyone should be peaceful. Everyone should have a house. Everyone should love one another. There should be no war. The weather should always be nice. There should be no car accidents. I should live in a big house and have a handsome husband. I should never fight with my relatives.

What is an ideal you have?

Explain Idealism and Idealistic.

What is Idealism's opposite? Realism and being realistic. Is it realistic to think that we can never fight?

The young are idealistic, the old are realistic. Agree? Disagree?

Have you lost your idealism?

What would be your ideal day, ideal place, ideal job?

Is your life ideal now? What people do you think have ideal lives?

Do we live in an ideal world?



Idols

What are they? Things we worship and adore. Examples: Gods, famous people, images, money, ideas, symbols, sports teams.

Do you have any idols?

Why do people have idols?

Idolatry: the worship of ideals.

Do you have shrines in your home?

Is money an idol for many people?

Are pop stars, sports stars, sport teams, fashions the idols of many people today?

Who are the pop and sports idols in China today?


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