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Languages Jobs
What languages do you speak? Where do you work?
What language(s) do people speak in your What do you do?
country? Describe a typical day.
What language(s) are you learning? Why? What's the best thing about your job?
What do you do to learn a language? What's the worst thing about your job?
What's hardest when learning a language? How did you become qualified for your job?
What are your best tips for someone learning a Describe your very first job.
language? If you had to change jobs, what would you do?
Are there any other languages that you'd like to What's your dream job?
learn? Describe the best / worst job you've ever had.
What's the most beautiful language? Have you ever made a big mistake at work?
Family What's your favourite...
Describe your family members. (even better ...tv show?
with photos!) ...food?
Do you have any children? ...sport?
Would you like to have children? ...hobby?
How are things different today than they were ...music?
when you were a child? ...movie?
Do you prefer big families or small families? ...colour?
How often do you see your extended family? ...animal?
Do you get along well with your parents / ...season?
siblings? ...book?
What's your best childhood memory? The possibilities here are endless.
Animals Health
Is it common to have pets in your country? Do you think that you're a healthy person?
Do you have any pets? What do you do to take care of your health?
If you don't, would you like to? Do you have any bad habits?
Did you have any pets as a child? Do you think that people in general are healthy
What's your favourite animal? now?
What kind of wild animals are there in your What do you think is important for health?
country? What is health care like in your country?
How do you feel about zoos? What are some health issues in your area?
If you could choose to be an animal, which one How do you deal with stress?
would you like to be? Have you ever had to stay in the hospital?
Do you think that animals have emotions? What one thing could you do to be healthier?
Your Region Cars and Transportation
Describe your country or region: geography, Do you have a car?
languages, food, weather, services, etc. Do you need a car to get around in your
What's the best thing about your country? region?
What's the worst thing about your country? Is there public transportation where you live?
If I were coming to visit you for a week, what Have you ever travelled by boat / plane / train /
would we do and see? etc?
Do you live in a big city or a small town? What's your favourite mode of transportation?
Do you have any favourite places? Do you like to fly, or does it scare you?
How long have you lived in your region? What's the longest trip you've ever taken?
Have you ever lived anywhere else? What was your worst transportation
Would you like to live anywhere else? experience?
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Inventions Books
What machines do you use often at home or at Do you like to read?
work? What kind of books do you like to read?
Which ones would you not want to live without? Do you have a favourite book?
What do you think is history's most important What's your favourite reading spot?
invention? Do you ever reread books?
What do you think is the most useless What's the last good book that you read?
invention? If you hate a book, do you still finish it?
What invention would you like to see in the next Do you prefer ebooks or paper books?
five, ten, hundred years? Do you prefer books or movies?
If you were going to invent something, what Did you have a favourite book as a child?
would it be? Do you think that reading is important?
Would you rather... School
...live in the country or live in the city? Did you like school as a child?
...be very rich or very good-looking? Did you ever get in trouble?
...be able to visit the past or the future? Who was your favourite / least favourite
...have a boring job that pays more or an teacher?
interesting job that pays less? What was your best / worst subject?
...give up your internet connection or your car? What's the school system like in your country?
...be too cold or be too hot? Did you go to college / university?
...be abducted by aliens or chased by zombies? Would you like to go back to school?
...have a year off with pay or work for a year for Were (are) you a good student?
double pay? Do you think that education is important?
Use your imagination! Do you think that uniforms are a good idea?
Holidays and Gift-Giving Food
What holidays do you celebrate? What's your favourite food?
What's your favourite holiday? Is there anything that you can't stand to eat?
What's your least favourite holiday? Do you like to cook?
Describe a childhood holiday memory. If you were preparing a special meal for
Are holidays now different than they were when someone, what would it be?
you were a child? Do you prefer to eat out or at home?
How does gift-giving work in your culture? Where do you buy food?
What was the best gift that you ever received? If you had to choose a national food, what
What was the best gift that you ever gave? would it be?
Have you ever received a funny or terrible gift? Do you have a garden?
Have you ever given a funny or terrible gift? What was your favourite meal as a child?
Five Senses Outer Space
What scents do you love? Hate? Does your country have a space program?
What sounds do you love? Hate? Do you think that space programs are
What flavours do you love? Hate? important?
What textures do you love? Hate? Do you like to look at the nigh sky?
What views do you love? Hate? What qualities do you think astronauts need?
What do you think is your most important If you could, would you like to travel to outer
sense? Least important? space for a vacation?
If you had to give up one of your senses, which Do you believe in extraterrestrial life?
one would it be? Do you like science fiction books or movies?
If you could strengthen one of your senses, Do you think that humans will ever colonize
which one would you choose? another planet? Do you think that they should?
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Talents and Hobbies Guilty Pleasures
Do you: Is there a song that you love – even though
...play any sports? you'd never admit it?
...play any musical instruments? Do you have any habits that you love, even
...draw or paint? though they're bad for you?
What are you good at? Do you like reality television?
What are you trying to get better at? What food do you always overeat?
What would you like to learn how to do? Is there anything that you love to do – but only
What did you like to do when you were a child? if there's no one else around?
If you could be really good at anything, what Is there anything that you spend too much
would you choose? money on?
Is there anything that you're really bad at? Do you spend too much time on the computer?
What would you do if you could... Money, Money, Money
...do whatever you wanted for an entire year? What do you like spending money on?
...live anywhere in the world? What do you hate spending money on?
...plan the perfect day? What's the last thing you bought?
...eat only one food for the rest of your life? What would you do with one thousand dollars?
...go on a vacation anywhere in the world? What would you do with a million dollars?
...have a superpower? Do you think that money is the most important
...live in another time period? thing when choosing a job?
...win the lottery? Is debt a big problem in your area?
...meet anyone, living or dead? Did you get an allowance as a child?
...be invisible for a day? Have you ever regretted buying something?
Use your imagination! What big purchase would you like to make?
Homes Ouch!
Describe your home. Describe a time that you got hurt.
Are people in your area more likely to live in Have you ever broken any bones?
houses or apartments? Have you ever stayed overnight at the hospital?
What kind of home did you grow up in? Have you ever been in a car accident?
Describe your dream home. Are you accident prone?
Are people in your area more likely to rent or to Did you ever do anything dangerous as a child?
buy a home? Do you think that people are too safety-
Is it difficult to buy a home? conscious now? Or not enough?
Describe your first home after you moved out of Have you ever embarrassed yourself by falling
your parents' home. or knocking something down?
What's important to you in a neighbourhood? Have you ever gotten in a physical fight?
The Unexplained Travel
Are you a superstitious person? What was your best / worst travel experience?
What are some superstitions in your culture? If you could go anywhere in the world, where
Do you believe in ghosts? would you go?
Were you scared of monsters when you were a Is there a place that you wouldn't want to visit?
child? Have you ever lived in another country?
Do you believe in good luck or bad luck? Do you like all-inclusive vacations?
Do you believe in extraterrestrials? Would you rather travel independently or on a
Do you like scary books or movies? tour?
What gives you the creeps? Would you rather visit a city or a wild area?
Are you afraid of the dark? What do tourists come to your country to see?
Would you like to be able to read minds? Have you ever travelled all by yourself?
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Pet Peeves Social Media
Do you have any pet peeves? What social media sites do you use?
What do people do that really annoys you? How do you use them?
Who is the most annoying person you know? Do you enjoy using them?
Do other drivers (transit users) ever annoy you What's the best thing about social media?
when you're in your car (on the bus/subway)? What's the worst thing about social media?
Does one of your colleagues or family members Do you think that social media has changed the
have a habit that bothers you? way that people communicate?
Do you have any habits that might bother other Are you concerned about your personal
people? information being on the internet?
What do you do when someone does Do you think that it's possible to get addicted to
something that annoys you? social media?
Fears and Phobias Cell Phones
Are you afraid of spiders or insects? Do you have a cell phone?
...snakes? How often do you replace your cell phone?
...storms? What features do you look for on a cell phone?
...flying? Do people in your area talk on the phone while
...germs? driving?
...heights? What's the best / worst thing about cell phones?
What scares you most? What do you think about talking on cell phones
Do you have any fears that you know are silly? in public places?
What scared you most as a child? How often do you send or receive texts?
How do you deal with things that scare you? Do you think that children should have cell
Do you sometimes like feeling scared? phones?
Chores and Housework Weather
Are you a tidy or a messy person? Does it get very hot or very cold in your
Do you clean all at once or a little bit at a time? country?
What chore do you hate the most? How many seasons are there in your country?
Do you prefer to clean the house or work in the What's your favourite / least favourite season?
yard? Is extreme weather common in your country?
In your area, are chores divided by gender? Does your country experience snow /
How is housework shared in your family? hurricanes / tornadoes / frost / etc?
Did you have to do chores as a child? Have you ever experienced a natural disaster?
What chores do you think children should be What climate would you prefer for a vacation?
responsible for? Do you think that the weather is changing?
Would you pay someone to clean your house? Is there talk of climate change in your area?
Goals Habits
What are some goals that you've made in the Do you have any bad habits?
past? Do you have any good habits that make your
What would you like to achieve in the next life easier?
month? Year? Five years? Ten years? Are you usually early or late?
Are you good at sticking to your goals? Are you a tidy or a messy person?
Have you ever failed to achieve a goal? What bad habits annoy you in other people?
Do you prefer short term or long term goals? How can a person get rid of a bad habit?
What are you working on right now? How can a person develop a good habit?
Do you think that it's important to set goals? Do you think that it's possible to change?
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? How do your habits affect your life?
What does success mean to you? What habits are very common in your country?