Questions for Conversation

To The Teacher: The best way to get your students learn spoken English is to engage them in conversation. This can be easily done by placing a question before the class, and encourage your pupils to start a conversation. Below are sample questions that you may use to start a conversation and broadly classified under the themes of "classroom," "names," and "teenage". Please use these sample questions or have the students create their own questions.

Names
•   What's your name?
•   Do you know the meaning of your name? If yes,
   what does it mean?
   o   What does your name mean?
•   Have ever changed your name?
•   Do women change their name after marriage in
   all countries?
•   Is it ever appropriate to "call someone names"?
   When?
•   Can you name the seven continents?
•   Do you believe some names or words have
   magical qualities?
•   Do you remember any kids whose names other
   kids in school made fun of? Why? What were
   their names?
•   Are you named after anyone in your family?
•   Do you ever feel pressure to live up to your
   name?
•   Can your name mean anything funny in your
   language?
•   Have you ever known a boy that has a "girl's
   name" or a boy that had a "girl's name"?
•   Do you wish your name was less common, or
   more unusual?
•   How did your parents choose your name?
•   Are you happy with your name?
   o   If not, why not?
•   What are some of the most common names for
   boys and girls in our country?
•   What are some really unusual names you've
   heard?
•   Is there any name you absolutely hate?
   o   If so, what are they?
o   Why do you hate them?
•   Does your name have a meaning?
   o   If so, what does it mean?
•   Do you think names shape our personality?
   To   what degree?
•   Do you have a middle name?
   o   What is it?
•   In your culture, when you introduce yourself,
   does the last name come first or the first name?
•   Do you have a nickname?
   o   If so, what is it?
   o   How did you get it?
   o   Do you like it?
   o   What are some interesting nicknames that
       you have heard?
•   How many letters are in your name?
   o   How many syllables are there in your name?
   o   Does your first name have the same
       number of syllables as your last name?
•   What do you think of people who name their
   children after gods, goddess, months, seasons
   or days of the week?
   o   What do you think of parents who make up unique names for the children?
•   Some parents give their children names in a
   phabetical order. Do you think this is a good
   idea?
•   What are some titles you can think of?
   (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Professor, etc.)
•   Do you think it is okay to give pets human
   names?
   o   What is the most popular name for a dog in our country?
   o   How about dogs?
•   Can you name some famous world leaders?
   o   Can you name some famous music composers?
   o   Can you name some famous artists?
   o   Can you name some Nepali foods?
   o   Can you name some Chinese foods?
•   What's the name of your favorite singer?
•   What's the name of your favorite character
   from a story you've read?
•   What's the name of your favorite writer?
•   What's the name of your favorite novel?
•   What's the name of your favorite television
   show?
•   What's the name of your favorite movie?

Teenage
•   Do you think teenagers today should show
   more respect for adults? (teachers, parents etc)
•   What do you think about teenagers who dye
   their hair blue, green, or another crazy colour?
•   Do you think that wearing uniform to school is
   a good idea?
•   Does it matter if teenagers sometimes use bad
   language?
•   What do you think about rock videos today?
•   Do you think teenagers today have it 'too easy'?
•   Did you have a good relationship with your
   parents? Why or why not?
•   Do you think it's a good idea to give teenagers
   a lot of freedom? (example: come home when
   you like)
•   Do teenagers you know have problems with
   drugs or alcohol?
•   Should we keep teenager away from drugs
   and alcohol?
•   Is teenage suicide a problem in our country?
•   What is the most important thing a parent can
   do for a teenager?
•   Do you think that advertising plays an important
   role in how teenagers think?
•   Should teenagers work? why or why not?
•   What is it like to be a teenager in your society?
•   Would you rather be a child, teenager or an
   adult? Why?
•   What are the advantages of being a child, a
   teenager and an adult? What are the
   disadvantages?
•   At what age should teenagers be allowed to
   get   married?
•   At what age should teenagers be allowed to
   vote?
•   Do you know any good role models for
   teenagers in our country?
•   What do teenagers think about?
•   Can teens change the world? If yes, how?
   If not, why not?
•   As a teenager, how do you think fashion
   changed or affected your life?
•   Among the fashion stuff that is prevalent in the
   world today, which do you think is the most
   hideous one?
•   How much freedom should parents give to their
   teenagers?
•   How do you think can we eradicate or at least
   lessen juvenile delinquency?
•   How does media affect the thinking patterns of
   the teenagers of today?
•   If you could do something differently, which
   mistake in the past would you not do and why?
•   As a teenager, what do you think you can
   contribute to society?

Classroom
•   What do you like about your classroom?
•   Do you think the teacher should assign seats
   to students?
•   What kind of classroom setting is the best
   for you?
•   What are five things you like about your
   classroom?
•   What are five things you don't like about
   your classroom?
•   What are five things you would like to change
   in your classroom?
•   Is your classroom a nice place to study?
•   Do you like the location of your desk or
   bench in your classroom?
•   Do you think that smart students always
   sit down in front?