Conversation Starters for Students of all Levels
Beginning students
“Please tell me about your family.”
“What do you do? (student, worker, etc.) Where?”
“Where do you live? Do you like it there? Why or why not?”
“What did you do yesterday?”
“What do you plan to do tomorrow?”
“Please tell me how to get from here to your house (or the university or some
store or etc.)”“What do you like to do with your free time?”
Intermediate students (can also use the above questions)
"What did you do yesterday, from the time you got up to the time that you went to
bed?”“Why did you choose to study _______?”
“What would you like to be doing five years from now?”
“Tell me about a time when you traveled somewhere.”
“Please tell me about your favorite restaurant.”
“Please tell me about your favorite book.”
“Please tell me about your favorite movie.”
“Please tell me about your favorite store.”
“Please tell me about your best friend.”
“Please tell me about an important moment in your life.”
“Please tell me about your mom.”
“Please tell me about your dad.”
“Please tell me about your brother (or sister or cousin or etc.).”
“What kind of books do you like?”
“What kind of movies do you like?”
Advanced students (can also use the above questions)
Note: Some of these should only be used with speakers of the same sex.
“Please use a lot of detail and tell me what you did yesterday between (for example) 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.”
“What qualities (or characteristics or traits) do you like in a friend?”
“What was your childhood like?”
“What is your first memory?”
“Please tell me about the happiest day of your life.”
“How important is religion in your life? Why?”
“How important is politics in your life? Why?”
“What is your opinion about (some major world event going on now, such as the war in Yugoslavia or the Palestinian situation)?”
“In your opinion, what makes life worth living?”
“What is the biggest mistake that you have ever made?”
“What is your most embarrassing moment?”
“Have you ever been in love? Please tell me about the first time you were in love.”
