As an online English teacher, coming up with conversation topics that are engaging and lead to further conversation can make or break a lesson. Students who are invested in the conversation will improve their English quicker and be more uninhibited about practicing their English speaking. I have taught the same students for nearly a year, and am constantly brainstorming new ways to engage them, while they practice their conversation skills. Having recently celebrated my 1-year online teacher-versary, here are my most fun, thought-provoking conversation starters.
DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. We only ever make recommendations of products and services that we use and genuinely love.
- What does your name mean? Is your name common in your country?
- How do you relax after a stressful day?
- What makes you feel stressed?
- What is a hobby you wish you did more?
- Are you superstitious? Tell me about superstitions from your culture.
- Tell me about a food you hated eating as a child.
- Is social media a waste of time? What social media do you use?
- Do you have any pets? What is your “dream” pet?
- What annoys you? Do you feel annoyed easily?
- Tell me about a time you worked incredibly hard.
- Who is the neatest/messiest person in your house/family?
- Who in history inspires you?
- What do you think this quote means? “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
- If you were a famous singer, what genre of music would you create?
- Would you ever want to own a business? What kind of business would you create?
- Would you want to be immortal?
- Who is the greatest entertainer in the world?
- Tell me about a movie that changed your life.
- Tell me about a book you have read more than one time.
- What/who makes you laugh? What is your sense of humor?
- Describe the most beautiful place you have ever been.
- Are you a morning person or a night person?
- Would you rather live a short life with a lot of money or a long life with very little money?
- What is something you always bring with you when you travel?
- Can you remember your dreams? Are they realistic or imaginary?
- Are you introverted or extroverted?
- Were your parents strict or relaxed?
- If you could change one thing about the way you were raised, what would you change?
- What is the best month to visit your country?
- What is something that most people like, but you dislike?
- Have you ever seen a UFO?
- Do you have any irrational fears?
- Have you ever developed a fear later in life?
- How do you improve your mood when you are feeling bad?
- What is your favorite room in your house?
- What are you reading right now?
- What is a book that changed your life?
- Do you think movies accurately depict real life?
- What is something you wish people would understand?
- What is the best smell in the world?
- Which sense (sight, taste, hearing, touch, smell) do you rely most on?
- If you could have a “super sense,” what would you choose?
- Would you want to know your future?
- What is the best place for a date?
- Do you get nervous speaking in front of people?
- Tell me about a time when you were a child and felt like a rule was unfair.
- Which movie or TV show do you watch over and over again?
- Do you like to know about a movie before you go or do you prefer to be surprised?
- Would you ever enjoy a surprise party for your birthday?
- What are you looking forward to right now?
- Did you have a positive or negative experience in school?
- Who is your oldest friend?
- What is the best method to travel (plane, train, bus, car)?
- If you could go on a vacation right now, where would you go?
- Do you prefer the city, beach, or mountains?
- Would you choose money or love?
- What are some historical events or trends from when you were a child? How did they impact you?
- How has your music taste changed throughout your life?
- Tell me a fond memory from a family vacation.
- Tell me about the best vacation you have ever taken.
- How did you spend your school breaks as a child?
- Have you ever changed a long-held opinion?
- Do you think religion should be taught in school?
- What is the first technology you remember using?
- What apps do you use the most on your phone?
- What apps did you download and never use?
- Have you ever gotten addicted to a game or an app?
- What does it mean to “be healthy?”
- How do you live a healthy life?
- What should be the highest paying job in the world?
- Do you think governments should control salaries?
- Do you prefer eating at restaurants or at home?
- What is something you don’t mind spending money on?
- Where are you careful with spending?
- Do you like to budget?
- What social stigma do you think society needs to get over?
- How do you get news? Do you think it is important to read the news daily?
- Do you think first impressions are important?
- Tell me about a time where your impression of someone was wrong.
- Would you rather be honest and hurt someone or tell a white lie to avoid hurting them?
- What is a rule or law that you disagree with?
- Tell me about your best teacher.
- If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, whom would you choose?
- What do you consider rude behavior?
- What are your pet peeves?
- What is your favorite myth or legend?
- Tell me about an impressive meal you cooked.
- Would you rather win an Oscar, Olympic medal, or a Nobel Prize?
- What is a talent you wish you had?
- What is something you could do as a child, but cannot do anymore?
- What is something that everyone in the world can agree on?
- What do you do when you can’t sleep?
- What is a mystery or conspiracy theory you would love to know the truth about?
- Do you like to take risks?
- What qualities do successful people have in common?
- Would you rather never use YouTube or Facebook again? Google or Spotify?
- What do you do for dinner when you don’t want to cook?
- How do you make a hard decision?
- What is your opinion about tattoos? Is your opinion the same/different as your culture?
- Some studies say that people who curse are more honest. What is your opinion about cursing?
Great conversations are all about the follow-up questions. You could ask the most juicy question in the world, but if you aren’t reengaging with the answers of your students, great questions are wasted. “Why” is a question that I always ask. My students will even joke about it by speaking a chorus of “whys” before I can even ask. Asking “why” gets students to dig deeper and practice reasoning and critical thinking. Try it out and see where the conversation takes you.