CONVERSATION TOPICS: Advanced Level

 Full list of Topics here 

• Consumerism
  Short definition: spending money on things that we don't really need, for example:
     - replacing a perfectly working mobile phone because a new model has come out
     - buying more and more toys for children
  Solicit more examples...
  
  
  • What are the positive and negative effects of consumerism?
    Suggestions:
    
    Positive effects:
    • increased industrial production
    • more jobs
    • a greater selection of goods to choose from
    • provides more comfort
    • makes us happier
      
      
    Negative effects:
    • destruction of our natural resources
    • increased pollution
    • low-quality products (...that have to be replaced more often)
    • lower working standards in countries where goods are manufactured
      
      
  • Did previous generations consume as much?
  • Should people be encouraged to consume less? Why? How?
    
    
• Life in the future
  • Imagine life in the future. In what way will we live differently?
    - Education: (quality, teaching methods, areas of study/new professions, artificial intelligence...)
    - Work (working from home, online sales, etc.)
    - Homes (size, style, location, comfort, robots ...)
    - Healthcare: (vaccines/prevention, transplants, treatment, cures, new illnesses, longer life…)
    - Everyday life (shopping, sports, travel, etc.)
    
  • Should we worry about changes in the future? Which changes? Why?
  • What are the most positive/the least positive changes to be expected?
  
  
• Physical Appearance
  • What is the first thing you notice about a person ?
  • Is it important how people dress ?
  • Is weight/physical well-being/fitness important ?
  • Which is the most important : clothes, shoes, hair, hygiene, fitness, style … ?
  • Does a person’s appearance reveal their personality ?
  • Is it wrong to judge people by their appearance ?
  • Could you be intimidated by someone’s appearance ?
  • What can people do to maintain or improve their appearance?
  • Is it acceptable to tell someone that they need to improve their appearance?
  • How should you dress for a job interview ?
  • On what occasions is it acceptable to dress casually ?
  • Can you think of expressions relating to clothes and/or appearance :
    (e.g. 'off the peg' / 'down at heel' / 'dressed to kill' / 'not a hair out of place' …)
    
    
• Customs and Traditions
  • Have you visited other countries (besides the country where you live now) ?
  • What country/countries have you visited ?
  • Did you discover any customs or traditions that were different from your home country’s customs ?
  • Have you heard of any other strange foreign customs or traditions ?
  • Can you tell us about some of the most important customs of your country?
  • Is it necessary/advisable/recommended to follow other country’s customs ?
  • How do people greet each other in your country ?
  • Do you know of any particular wedding customs in other countries ?
  • What about eating customs ? Are they the same in all countries ?
  • Do you follow all of your country’s traditions and customs?
    
    
• Coronavirus
  • What images come to mind when you hear the word ‘virus’?
  • What do you know about the coronavirus?
  • What does the word ‘outbreak’ make you think of?
  • What is the difference between ‘outbreak’ and ‘pandemic’?
  • What can governments do to stop a pandemic?
  • Could or should governments have reacted differently at the beginning of the outbreak?
  • Do you think the whole world can or should be vaccinated against the coronavirus?
  • Do you think scientists will find a cure for the coronavirus?
  • What questions would you like to ask a virologist?
  • Do you agree with the Japanese authorities’ decision not to allow spectators at the Tokyo Olympic games?
  • Did that decision prevent or limit the spread of the virus?
  • Are rich countries better protected than under-developed countries?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of vaccine passports?

next page ...

More Topic Pages: