Sample Speaking Questions

Topic: Places

Part 1

Let’s talk about where you live

1. Where do you live?

2. Do you like the area where you live?
3. How has this area changed in the last few years?
4. What type of jobs do people do where you live?

Let’s move on to talk about maps

1. Do you ever use maps?

2. When do people usually need to use a map?
3. Do you prefer paper maps or electronic maps?
4. Do you usually ask people for help when you are lost?

Let’s talk about tourist attractions

1. What type of places do visitors in your country like to see?

2. Does your country attract many foreign tourists?
3. Is your hometown a good place for foreign tourists?
4. In the future, do you think your country will have more tourists?

Now let’s move on to talk about places to study

1. Where do you usually prefer to study?

2. Do you prefer to study alone or with other people?
3. How much of your studies do you do using a laptop?
4. Do you listen to music when you study at home?

Part 2: Task Card

Describe a famous building you have seen or know about to your partner.

You should say:

What it looks like

What it is used for

Why it is famous

And say whether you would like to live in or near this building.

Part 3

1. Do most people in your country spend their whole life in their hometown?
2. What are some reasons why people leave their hometowns?
3. Do some places in your country face problems due to an aging population?
 4. Would you recommend your country to foreign tourists?
5. Is it cheap or expensive to travel around your country?
6. Would you consider working in another country in the future?
7. What are some things people miss when they leave their country?
8. What overseas cities are popular places for students to go and study in?
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?
10. Should young people who study abroad return home after graduating?

Topic: Festivals & Celebrations

Part 1

Let’s start by talking about birthdays

1. Do you enjoy celebrating your birthday?

2. What did you do for your last birthday?
3. Do you prefer giving or receiving birthday gifts?
4. What birthdays are important in your culture?

Let’s move on to talk about festivals

1. Which festivals are popular in your country?

2. What is your favourite festival?
3. Do you prefer to celebrate festivals with your friends or family?
4. Do you think festivals are more important when you are a child? Why/why not?

Let’s talk about weddings

1. Have you been to many weddings?

2. What was the last wedding you went to?
3. What do people usually do when they get married in your country?
4. What special food do people eat at weddings in your country?

Now let’s move on to speak about leaving school

1. How do people in your country celebrate leaving school?

2. Do people wear any special clothes on the last day of school?
3. Do school children stay in touch with their teachers after leaving school?
4. Are school reunions popular in your country?

Part 2: Task Card

Describe a festival in your country that you enjoy.

You should say:

What happens during the festival

Where it takes place

What time of year it is celebrated

 And say whether other people you know also enjoy this festival.

Part 3

1. What sort of occasions do people like to celebrate in your culture?

2. How important are celebrations in people's lives?
3. Which are the biggest cultural festivals in your country?
4. When, how and why do you celebrate them?
5. Why do people enjoy participating in national celebrations?
6. What role do gifts play when celebrating festivals?
7. What role does music play in festivals in your country?
8. Do you know of any festivals that started for commercial reasons?

Topic: Internet and Technology

Part 1

Let’s begin by talking about mobile phones

1. Do you have a mobile phone?

2. What do you use your mobile phone for the most?
3. Do most people in your country have a mobile phone?
4. How will mobile phones be different ten years from now?

Now let’s move on to talk about computers

1. How often do you use computers?

2. Do you use computers to help you learn English?
3. What are the disadvantages of spending time on a computer?
4. Do older people in your country usually use computers?

Let’s talk about electronic items

1. What electronic items do most people own?

2. What electronic appliances do you use most?
3. Do you enjoy shopping for new electronic items?
4. How often do you buy a new phone?

Now let’s move on to talk about online shopping

1. How often do you buy things online?

2. What types of things do people usually buy online?
3. What are the disadvantages of buying things online?
4. Do you often order take away food using apps?

Part 2: Task Card

Describe an electronic item you own that is important to you.

You should say:

 What it looks like

What it can do

How it helps you in your life

And say what you would do if you did not have this item.

Part 3

1. How much time do people in your country spend on the Internet?

2. What are some of the benefits of the Internet?
3. What are some of the dangers of the Internet?
4. How much time should children spend on the Internet?
5. Should parents monitor their child’s internet use?
6. How has the Internet changed the world?
7. What will the Internet be like in ten years?
8. Should governments monitor citizens’ use of the Internet?
9. How can the Internet influence people’s beliefs about the world?
10. Do older people in your country usually access the Internet?

Topic: Weather and Climate

Let’s start by talking about weather

1. What’s the weather like today?

2. What is your favourite type of weather?
3. Do most people in your country prefer hot or cool weather?
4. How does the weather affect your mood?

Now let’s move on to talk about seasons

1. How many seasons does your country have?

2. What is your favourite season?
3. What do people usually do during this season?
4. Do young and old people like the same seasons?

Let’s talk about holidays

1. Do you enjoy going on holiday?

2. Do you prefer spending time at the beach or mountains?
3. What type of weather do you like when you go on holiday?
4. Do foreign visitors like the weather in your country?

Now let’s move on to talk about cold climate

1. Are there any parts of your country which have cold weather?
2. How do people dress when it is cold?
3. Do you eat different food when the weather is cold?
4. Do you prefer to spend time indoors or outside when the weather is cold?
Part 2: Task Card

Talk about something you do when the weather is good. You should say:

Where you do it

How you get there

Why you choose to do this in good weather

And say whether it is possible to do this when the weather is bad.

Part 3

1. What do you think of when you hear the term extreme weather?
2. In your opinion, is your country affected by extreme weather?
3. What should people do when bad weather is coming to their area?
4. Do you think the weather in your country is becoming worse or better?
5. What type of climate do people from your country like?
6. What problems occur from living in a climate that is too hot?
7. Should schools and colleges be closed when it is too hot?
8. Do you think office workers should be allowed to dress down in hot climates?
9. What parts of your country are colder than others?
10. Why do you think people enjoy talking about the weather?

Topic: Sports and Competition

Let’s start by talking about swimming

1. Do you enjoy swimming?

2. Do most people in your country learn to swim when they are a child?
3. Is it better to swim in a swimming pool or the sea?
4. What benefits can you get from swimming?

Now let’s move on to talk about competitions

1. Have you ever won a competition?

2. Did you take part in competitions when you were a child?
3. What type of prizes do people usually win?
4. Are you a competitive person?

Let’s talk about sports

1. What is your favourite sport?

2. What type of sports are popular in your country?
3. Do men and women in your country like to play similar sports?
4. Do sports people in your country do well in international events?

Now let’s move talk about watching sporting events

1. Do you often watch sporting events on television?

 2. What type of sports do people like to watch?
3. Are there any sports which people don’t enjoy watching?
4. Is it better to watch sporting events alone or in a group of people?

Part 2: Task Card

Talk about a game you played when you were a child. You should say:

Where you did it

How often you did it

If you were good at it

And say whether you would like to play that game again in the future.

Part 3

1. What images spring to mind when you hear the word competition?
2. In your opinion, why are some people very competitive?
3. Would you agree that competition is good for us?
4. Do you like competitive people?
5. In what way is education a competition in your country?
6. Do you think life is a competition?
7. Do we learn to be competitive or are we born competitive?
8. What sports require a competitive nature?
9. What sports does your country do well in at an international level?
10. Should men and women compete together in the same sporting events?

Topic: Business

Part 1

Let’s start by talking about management

1. Would you like to be a manager?

2. Is it easier to manage a small or large team of people?
3. What type of jobs require good management skills?
4. Do you find it easy to manage your time?

Now let’s move on to talk about small businesses

1. Would you like to own your own small business?

2. What type of business would you like to start?
3. Is it better to own your own business or work for a company?
4. What type of small businesses are popular in your country?

Let’s talk about teamwork

1. Do you prefer to work alone or part of a team?

2. When did you last work as part of a team?
 3. What can you learn from working with others?
4. Are there any disadvantages to working in a team?

Now let’s talk about uniforms

1. Have you ever worn a uniform?

2. What type of jobs require a uniform?
3. What are the advantages of wearing a uniform?
4. Are there any disadvantages to wearing a uniform?

Part 2: Task Card

Talk about a small business you would like to do in the future.

You should say:

What type of business it is

Why you are interested in it

Where you would set it up

And say whether you think it would be successful.

Part 3

1. Are you interested in the world of business?

2. Do you think anyone can start their own business?
3. What are the dangers of having your own business?
4. Do men or women make more successful business owners?
5. What advice would you give to people starting in business?
6. What kind of people are good at business?
7. Is it easy to start a business in your country?
8. Is it important to study business to be a success in this field?
9. What skills can people learn from studying about business?
10. What are the benefits of working for a family business?
11. Which do you enjoy more: earning money or spending money?
12. How do you feel after spending a large amount of money?
13. Do you save enough money? What savings goals do you have?

Additional speaking questions

1. How do you prefer to pay for purchases? With cash or some other payment?
2. What was the first job or task you ever received money for?
3. Can you recall (without looking) who and what are on your country’s bank notes and coins? Why
are they famous or significant?
4. Have you seen another country’s money? Which countries have beautiful notes or coins?
5. How often do you think about money? Is money a stressful part of life?
6. What does ‘money doesn’t grow on trees‘ mean? Do you agree?
7. Of the things you have bought in your life, which do you remember most happily?
 8. Is there something you regret buying? Why?
9. Did you receive pocket-money/an allowance when you were a child? Was it enough for you?
What did you usually spend it on?
10. What would you tell someone if they asked how much you get paid?
11. If a young person wanted to know what career they should pursue to make as much money as
possible, what would you recommend they do?
12. Do you and your friends lend money to each other?

Topic: People and Neighbors

Part 1

Let’s begin by talking about friends

1. Who is your best friend?

2. How long have you known each other?
3. What type of things do you like to do with your friends?
4. Do you have friends of different ages?

Now let’s move on to talk about famous people

1. Who is your favourite celebrity?

2. Why do you like this person?
3. Would you like to be a celebrity?
4. Have you ever met a famous person in real life?

Let’s talk about neighbours

1. How well do you know your neighbours?

2. How often do you see them?
3. Where do you meet them?
4. How can neighbours help each other?

Additional speaking questions

1. Can you describe one of your closest friends.

2. Do you have any long-distance friends?
3. Do you think it is a good idea to borrow money from a friend? Why or why not?
4. Do you make friends easily?
5. Has a friend ever let you down?
6. Have you made any friends over the Internet?
7. How are your friendships different now than they were when you were a child?
8. How do you make new friends?
9. What do you usually do with your friends?
10. What makes friends different from family?
11. Why do you need a friend?
12. What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?

Part 2: Task card

Describe one of your neighbours.

You should say:

How often you meet him/her

What your neighbour looks like

What your neighbor’s character is like

And explain why you like/ dislike this neighbour

Part 2: Task Card

Talk about someone who looked after you when you were young.

You should say:

What the person was like

When they looked after you

What things they used to do with you

And say whether you are still in touch now

Part 3

1. What are some things you should not ask people in your country?

2. Is it acceptable to ask a person's age in your country?

3. In your opinion, where are some good places to meet people?

4. In your culture, do you shake hands when you meet a person?

5. What is the favorite topic for new acquaintances in your country?

6. Is it OK to touch another person in your culture?

7. What is a favorite topic for new people of your age in your country?

8. How do people usually know if you can trust a person they just met?

9. Do businesspeople exchange business cards in your culture?

10. How far apart do people stand from when they talk in your culture?

Topic: The Universe

Let’s begin by talking about space travel

1. Would you like to travel into space?

2. What do you imagine it would be like?
3. Will people go to different planets in the future?
4. Why do people like exploring new places?
Now let’s talk about the environment

1. Is it important to protect the planet?

2. What do you do to help the environment?
3. What environmental problems are in your country?
4. Do you like spending time in nature?

Let’s start by talking about wildlife

1. What type of wild animals can you find in your country?

2. What do people do to protect wild animals?
3. Are people in your country fond of animals?
4. What types of animals make good pets for children?

Now let’s move on to talk about oceans

1. Do you like spending time by the sea?

2. When was the last time you visited a place next to the sea?
3. What do people like doing in your country when they are at the seaside?
4. What benefits do you get from spending time by the sea?

Part 2: Task Card

Talk about a place which you think is beautiful. You should say:

What the place is like

How you can get there from here

What kind of people usually go there

And say why you think it is beautiful.

Part 3

1. How important is learning about space?

2. Will humans ever travel to different solar systems?
3. What is the most interesting thing you know about space?
4. What is the most interesting planet in our solar system?
5. What is the most important thing for astronomers to research?
6. What characteristics make a good astronaut?
7. What do you think of your country’s involvement in space?
8. Is it a waste of money funding space programmes?
9. How can children be encouraged to learn about the universe?
10. Why is space travel a popular topic for film plots?