War: ESL Discussion Questions & Idioms

What is it? What is the opposite of the word war?

What are some words that can be thought of synonyms for war? Clash, conflict.

What are some words we use for the people who fight in Wars? Soldiers, troops, mercenaries, warriors,

What kinds of wars are there? Civil wars, wars of liberation.

What is the difference between a battle and a war?

What images come to mind when you hear the word war?

What wars are being fought now in the world?

What are same famous wars from history? Which wars do you think are the most interesting? If you could go back to time to witness a war, which war would you travel to?

What wars do you think may be fought in the future? Do you worry about China becoming involved in a war?

Everyone says War is a bad thing? Are they correct? Can we say anything good about War? Is there anything that can be worse than war?

Is War a time for glory?

Do you think attitudes to war have changed in history?

What do you think of this statement: Wars are about what the peace will be like.

Why are wars fought? Is there a good reason to fight a war? Is there a good reason to start a war?

What organizations fight wars? [Army, military, army, navy, marine, air force] Do you want to join one? You must join a branch of the military. Which would you join. Would you like to be an officer or in the ranks? Would you like wearing uniforms?

Why do soldiers march? Do you like watching military parades? Does anyone in the class have military training?

What are some tools of war?

If you want peace, you must prepare for War. Agree? Disagree?

Peace is the time of cheating between wars. Agree or Disagree?

Pacifists and Warmongers. What are they? Are you one of these?

Do you think Pacifists are naive? Will there always be wars? How to stop War?

What is the purpose of the white flag in War?

Do you like reading about wars, or watching war movies and documentaries? What is the best war movie ever made?

What is a war crime? Is all war a crime?

War idioms

All's fair in love and war

declare war

make war

make love not war

a war of words

a turf war

battle of nerves

drop a bombshell

loose cannon

set your sights on

shot down in flames

sabre rattling (Who has done some sabre-rattling recently)

Words that Start with "V": Discussion Questions

Words that start with V

What do you think of the letter V?

It is the sign for victory. It is five in roman numerals. The gesture also means peace.

Do you like the look of it?

Compare V and X. Which letter do you prefer?

Compare V and W. Which letter do you prefer?

Comare V and U. Which letter do yo prefer?

How to pronounce V?

Is there a V in Chinese?

Think of ten words that start with V. (Make conversation with them.)

What is your favourite word starting with V? What is your least favorite?

Ask the teacher a question about the words starting with V.

Can you think of names that start with V?

Ten nouns that start with V?

Can you think of adjectives that start with V?

What are the two most used adjectives starting with V? Very and Violent.

What countries' names start with V?

What cities' names start with V?

These "V" words make the list of the top five hundred most-used English words:

Very was #27

Vowel was #379

Voice was #400

Have students try to guess the words.

Have students make sentences using as many V words as possible.

Victoria Voodoo Very Violently Values Vainglorious Victories vividly vaunted.

Victor values Victoria's virtues and vaunting vividness.

ESL Discussion Questions about the Word "Two"

What is two?

Words that can also mean two? Deuce, Pair, both, bi-

What comes to mind when you hear the number two?

What do we have two of?

When is two too much? (Two wives, two noses,..)

What is your favourite way to use the number two?

How do you feel about the number two?

When is it good to be two?

Can you describe yourself in two words?

Have you ever been number two?

Who is number two in this world and in your world?

You have two wishes. What will you wish for?

Use two as a noun. Use two as an adjective. Use two as a pronoun

What are some things that we only have two of?

Tell me two problems you want to have.

You can be on a desert island with two people. Who would those people be?

You can live in two places in the World. Where would you live?

You can only eat two foods for the rest of your life. What would you eat?

What are the two books you would take with you to a desert island?

Tell me two thing you wish to belong to?

What two names do you go by?

What two things do you need everyday?

What are two things you did yesterday?

What were the last two things that made you happy?

Who are two people you want to avoid?

What are two things you want to avoid.

Who are two celebrities you want to meet?

Is there a body part that you wish you had more than two of?

Idioms and Expressions

a two-way street.

Be of two minds.

Two of a kind.

Cut both ways

two-faced

it takes two to tango

kill two birds with one stone

that makes two of us

two can play at that game

two heads are better than one

two strikes against him

two wrongs don't make a right.

Two's company, three's a crowd

stand on your own two feet

A Week in the Life of a Wuxi, China English Teacher: April 29 to May 5, 2013

Read about it here!