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?

Guys and Gals at the 2012 HyLite Spring Festival Dinner

ESL Discussion Questions about Honesty

What is honesty?

Honesty is hard to find? Agree? Disagree?

Honesty is easy? Why? Why not?

Finish this sentence: Honesty is _________

Are you honest?

Are you always honest? Can you always be honest? Should you always be honest?

Are you honest with your family? Your boss? Yourself? The government?

Do you say things that are partially true? Why do we do that?

Do you say things that are true but you leave out some details?

We say a person is honest? What do we mean?

Are there people you know who are honest? What do they do?

Are there people you know who are dishonest? What do they do?

Honesty is the best policy. Agree? Disagree?

Do you want honesty from everyone else? Do You really?????

Can you stand honesty?

Do you appreciate honesty?

What would happen if everyone was completely 100 percent honest?

When we say we want honesty, we want __________ (the truth among other things.)

What is the opposite of honesty? Dishonesty, Lies, fiction.

How can you tell if someone is being honest or dishonest?

When (What situations?) are people dishonest? In what situations are people always honest?

Are you a good liar?

What occupations are honest? Which ones are dishonest?

Are hypocrites dishonest? (You will need to explain hypocrisy)

Who are more honest? Adults or children? Teachers or students? Fiction writers or history writers? Managers or workers? Police or Shopkeepers? Government workers or businessman?

Finish this sentence: Honestly, I __________________________________.

You can become successful by lying?

You can become successful by being honest?

Playing the lying game:

Students tell three things about themselves. One of them is not true. Students have to guess which statement in untrue.

The Eight Days of Spring Festival -- An English song about Chinese New Year

Have to do a performance at your Spring Festival / Chinese New Year Dinner?  You can't go wrong with this song.

On the first day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me

Money in a red envelope!

On the second day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the third day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the fourth day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Four chicken's feet,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the fifth day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Five sets of new clothes,

Four chicken's feet,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the sixth day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Six sets of quilting,

Five sets of new clothes,

Four chicken's feet,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the seventh day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Seven fireworks a-bursting,

Six sets of quilting,

Five sets of new clothes,

Four chicken's feet,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

On the eighth day of Spring Festival

my true love gave to me,

Eight dragons dancing,

Seven fireworks a-bursting,

Six sets of quilting,

Five sets of new clothes,

Four chicken's feet,

Three cartons of cigarettes,

Two bottles of Baijoe,

and money in a red envelope!

ESL Discussion Questions about Happiness

What is happiness?

Finish this sentence: Happiness is ___________.

Explain the words: happy, happily, happiness, happier, happiest.

Are you happy now?

Are you happy all the time? Why? Why not?

Finish this sentence: I am happy ____ percent of the time.

Is it possible to be happy all the time? Why not?

Is it good to be happy all the time?

Are there people who seem to be happy always?

Can you be happy on a rainy day?

Is it your goal to be happy?

Do you think that happiness is the goal of every person?

What things do you do happily?

Can people die happily?

Finish this sentence: Happily, I __________

Do you ever happily: Go to school? Go to work? Clean the house?

Finish this sentence: I am happiest when ________

At what age, are people the happiest?

What was the happiest time of your life?

What is the happiest time of: Your day? Your week? Your year?

What makes you happy?

What three things make you happy?

What is the secret to happiness? (Is gratitude the secret to happiness?)

Are rich people always happier than poor people?

Are you happier than your friends?

Finish this sentence: The happiest people ___________.

Do you share your happiness with others?

Do you think some people hate it when others are happy?

Can happiness be a weapon?

Is Wuxi a happy city?

Is China a happy country?

Sometimes you are so happy, you become giddy (you can't concentrate). Is this a good feeling?

Can we be happy for shameful reasons?

Scenes from my life in Wuxi, China #2

Scenes from the life of an English Teacher who lives in Wuxi, China.

2011: Year in Review ESL Discussion Questions

What does it mean to review? Re-again. View – look.

Was 2011 a good year for you? Why? Why not?

Was 2011 a good year for everyone you know?

Was 2011 a good year for Wuxi? For China? For the world?

What was your best moment of 2011?

What was your worst?

What was your biggest regret?

Did you lost somebody?

What was the funniest?

What did you learn in 2011?

What was the best movie you saw?

Did you travel anywhere?

Did you meet anyone interesting?

Did you start a new relationship?

What new things did you buy in 2011?

Was 2011 a year of big changes for you?

Was 2011 a milestone year for you?

What did you accomplish in 2011?

Are you richer now than when you were in January?

Who was the most interesting person of 2011?

Who were the 2011's bad guys?

What famous people had a good 2011?

What famous people had a bad 2011?

Did the American president have a good year?

What famous people left us?

What were the biggest news stories? Big sports stories? Local stories? Stories in your hometown? Celebrity stories?

What will be most remembered about 2011?

What was the biggest fad of 2011? What were the fashions like?

If you could change one thing about 2011, what would you change?

English Teacher dances at Wuxi China Christmas Party

Words that begin with the letter "F"

What is your favorite word that starts with “F”? (Free Food)

What are some of the most commonly used words in English starting with “F”? Below is the top 25 in order by use and then listed alphabetically.

1	for
2	from
3	first
4	find
5	form
6	follow
7	father
8	found
9	food
10	four
11	far
12	few
13	feet
14	friend
15	fish
16	face
17	feel
18	family
19	fire
20	farm
21	fast
22	five
23	fall
24	fine
25	fly

face

fall

family

far

farm

fast

father

feel

feet

few

find

fine

fire

first

fish

five

fly

follow

food

for

form

found

four

friend

from

Divide the class into two or three teams and give points to each team that can guess a word.

Now ask them what their favorite word is?

Here is a list of discussion question topics starting with the letter “F”

• Facebook

• Fads & Trends

• Faith & Faithlessness

• Family

• Family & Alternative Lifestyles

• Famous People

• Fashion

• Favorites

• Fears

• Feelings

• Films in Your own Language

• Fire Safety

• First Dates

• Food & Eating

• Free Time

• Friends

• Fruits

• Future

Take a poll to see which topic the student would most like to discuss. Then have the students formulate questions about the topic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ESL Discussion Questions

What does "frequently" mean?

What questions are frequently asked? (Tell the students to use the five W questions and how. Yes-No Questions. Have other students try to answer the questions.)

• When you first meet a person?

• When young men meet young women?

• When you buy something? (e.g. Cars, televisions, computers, mobile phones, food)

• To a teacher?

• To a Language Teacher?

• To a government official?

• To a foreigner? (e.g. American, Japanese, German, Canadian)

• To Chinese by foreigners?

• When you have a visitor?

• To a policeman?

• To a computer technician?

• To a financial expert?

• To a child?

• To a pet owner?

• To a store clerk?

• To a movie or pop star?

• To a sports star?

• To a scientist?

• To a doctor?

• To a Taxi driver?

• To a bus driver?

• To you?

• To someone who just went to the cinema?

• To parents (of twins and so on)?

• To an ninety year old person?

• To someone who just did a stupid thing?

• To someone who just did something very clever?

• To another person after you both saw a UFO?

• To someone who is in the hospital?

• To some who has just been in an accident?

• To someone on a day with good or bad weather?

• To someone who looks tired or sick?

At the end of the class:

• What questions are you frequently asked?

• Are there questions that you hate being asked?

• Is there a question you would like to be asked?

Words that begin with “E”

Have students brainstorm a list of words that begin with the letter "E"

Add these words to the mix if the students can think of many. Perhaps, match a word for every word suggested by the students

eye excellence elegant earnest each explode

earn easy extra eat eccentric echo

ecstasy edge educate entertain effective effort

ego eject elaborate elastic energy electric

elephant elevate elite embarrass empty enough

encourage end enemy energy engineer English

enjoy entire equal erase error escape

eternal evade even ever every evil

exact exam excite exist exit expert

explode

Once, you have a good list, play with the words.

Think of questions you can ask about the word.

Try using the five W question words and how.

What do the words mean?

Ask the students to try to make sentences or questions with the words.

Ask the students to think of famous people of places that begin with the letter "E."

ESL Discussion Questions about Trust

What is trust?

Words made from trust: Trustworthy, Trusting

Who do you trust? Why? What do you trust?

Who don't you trust? Why? What don't you trust?

Can we trust anyone in this world?

What would happen if we couldn't trust anyone? What do we need to trust people?

Did you need trust to come to school?

How can we get your trust? How do we gain others' trust?

Is trust an easy thing to get?

Is the level of trust in Wuxi or China high or low?

When you have someone's trust, what will you do with them?

What occupations do you trust? What occupations don't you trust?

What kind of people don't you trust?

Do you trust your neighbors?

Do you trust foreigners?

Do you trust the opposite sex? Which sex is most trustworthy? Which age group is most trustworthy?

Who is the most trustworthy person you know?

What kind of people will we quickly trust?

Do you trust the police? Do you trust shop keepers? Do you trust your neighbors?

Do you trust young people?

What happens if you lose trust in a person?

What do you do if you feel your trust has been betrayed?

Can you tell if people are trustworthy by how their appearance or mannerisms? What physical action do untrustworthy people do?

When do you know you can trust a person?

What is the meaning of these expressions using "Trust":

• You have broken a trust.

• I will put my baby in your trust.

• My trust in that person was misplaced.

• I will take what you say on trust. (*What do you take on trust?*)

• I trust him to finish the work on time.

• I wouldn't trust him a inch (a millimeter).

• Trust me!

• I wouldn't trust him as far as I could him.

• We will have a brain trust look into the matter.

ESL Discussion Questions about Rules

What are rules?

Give some examples of rules.

Fill in the blank:

We _____________________ rules.

Why do we have rules?

What would happen if we didn't have rules?

Who makes rules? Who should make rules?

What do we call leaders rulers? Where are you the ruler?

Do bosses always to get make the rules?

Do you always follow rules exactly?

Do you cheat on a rule? Did you break a rule today?

Is there a rule you hate? What rule would you like to make?

Guys and Gals! What rules would you make for the opposite sex?

There is an object called a ruler. What do we use if for?

Does everyone in society follow the same rules?

What rules do you follow at work?

What rules do you have for your children?

What rules do students have to follow?

What rules do you have for yourself?

What rules do your parents make for you?

Can we have one set of rules for the whole world?

What is the number one rule of living?

Expressions using "rule". What do they mean?

Rules are made to be broken.

As a general rule, he can be found in the pub.

You are bending the rules.

I think we can rule out him as a possible friend.

The judge ruled against the man.

The Court ruled for the woman.

Qaddifi no longer rules the roost in Libya.

As a rule of thumb, I say use "in" if you sleep there, "at" if you visit there.

Would you prefer I rule with an iron fist or a velvet glove?

Chinese Halloween Pumpkins

ESL Discussion Questions about Freaks

Freaks

What are Freaks? What is a Freak?

1. A thing or occurrence that is markedly unusual or irregular: A freak of nature produced the midsummer snow. Have you seen any freaks of nature? Has the weather been freakish?

2. An abnormally formed organism, especially a person or animal regarded as a curiosity or monstrosity. We would think of dwarves, midgets, and two-headed people as freaks. Have you ever seen human freaks? Animal freaks? Do these freaks scare you? Do they interest you? Do you feel pity for them?

3. A sudden capricious turn of mind; a whim:"The freaks of the psyche can no more be explained than the Devil"

4. Slang:

a. A drug user or addict: a speed freak. Are there any drug freaks in Wuxi? Have you seen any?

b. An eccentric or nonconformist person, especially a member of a counterculture. Are there counterculture type people in Wuxi or China?

c. An enthusiast:rock music freaks. Is there anything you would be a freak for? e.g. Sprorts freak.

What does freak mean as an adjective?

Highly unusual or irregular:a freak accident; a freak storm. Any freak incidents in your memory?

What does freak mean as a verb?

1. To experience or cause to experience frightening hallucinations or feelings of paranoia, especially as a result of taking a drug. Often used with out. Does alcohol make you freak out?

2. To behave or cause to behave irrationally and uncontrollably. Often used with out. Mice cause women to freak out. What can cause you to freak out?

3. To become or cause to become greatly excited or upset. Often used with out. The long wait caused me to freak out. The customer freaked out on the service people. Have you freaked out? Have you seen others freak out?

Are you a freak? Do you know any freaks? Tell me about them? Have you seen any freaks? Have you ever seen a circus freak show?

Finish this sentence: Freaks are_______________________.

How would you feel if you were a freak?

What would you do if your child was a freak?

Are all people freaks in their own way? Was Steve Jobs a freak? Adolf Hitler? Osama Bin Laden?

Do you like stories full of freaks?

These times have more freaks or less?

Are there more freaks in the city or the countryside?

What do the following sentences using freak mean?

The boy staring at me freaked me out.

Don't freak out when I tell you the bad news.

I am freaked out after seeing a tiger in my apartment.