ESL Class Conversation Starter Topics
Encourage Adult English as a Second Language Students to Speak More
Jul 6, 2009
Free conversation-style speaking is an excellent way for English as a second language students to improve their spoken language, but it can be difficult for English teachers to maintain the momentum of such conversations in class. Students may tire easily, and less confident members of the class may need special support to enable them to practice speaking English in the classroom environment. Resources to help English teachers to spark natural conversation are in short supply; use these topics in ESL lesson plans.
ESL Conversation Starters on a Student's Home Country
Talking about home countries is a great way to relax a group of ESL students who do not know each other well.
- Where should tourists visit in the student's home country that does not appear in any guide book, and why should they go there?
- Describe how to prepare and serve a favorite dish from home.
- What is the most important festival or holiday in their culture, and how is it celebrated?
- What are the best, and worst, aspects of their home land’s national character?
Inspirational ESL Conversation Starters
These subjects often arouse passionate debate, so are a great way to encourage students to really push themselves to use language they might otherwise avoid. These topics should be chosen and adjusted to suit the level of the group.
- What is the greatest threat to the natural world, and what should be done about it?
- Who is the student’s greatest inspiration? What did they achieve, and why were they great?
- What area of human endeavor offers the greatest challenges and possibilities today? Examples to inspire students might include the exploration of outer space, improved diplomacy and cooperation on the international stage and better understanding of the human psyche.
Personal Conversation Starters
Non-controversial personal topics are a great way to motivate students to express emotions and to articulate subtle concepts with precision.
- Which person, that the student knew personally, had the most positive influence on their childhood? How and why?
- What advice would the student offer to a high school student on their graduation day?
- What talent, knowledge or skill would the student most like to gain? What would they do with this gift?
- Ask the student to describe an exceptionally kind gesture that they experienced, and how it made them feel.
Teachers of ESL students can find keeping free style conversations flowing exhausting without sufficient English teaching resources. Keep a note of an appropriate selection of these topics to hand for each class to add spontaneously to ESL lesson plans to add energy and motivation.
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