Have you been searching for unusual conversation questions to generate discussion in your ESL class?

These are all great thought-provoking questions which are excellent for getting advanced EFL students speaking about topics that are new to them. 

The questions are from Zoey Sugg’s 2024 Vlogmas videos, so there is real-world listening attached to each question.

How can TEFL teachers use these questions in class?

Option 1: Use each question as a daily warm-up.

You can use these questions as warmers. If you use one question at the beginning of each lesson, then you have a warm up for 15 days of conversation classes. 

Option 2: Use all the questions as a full-length class discussion.

You can use all of the questions for a long conversation class. Simply print up the questions, hand them out, have students work in pairs or small groups answering the questions. These questions are best for advanced English students who want to speak about new and unusual discussion questions. 

Option 3: Use the questions as both speaking and listening practice.

How can you use the videos as listening practice? 

If your classes English ability is slightly lower or if your students are nervous speaking, show the video first to give your students ideas of what they can say.

Or you can use the videos after your students have answered the questions to extend the discussion. For example, after the students answer the questions themselves, have them watch the video, and then students can share their opinions on the answers stated in the vlogs.

Further extension:

If you want to get even more use out of the video clips, get students to write down vocabulary that they’re unsure of as they listen and then work together in small groups after watching the video to determine the meaning of the words. The students can double check the meaning of the words with the teacher after they’ve tried to determine the meaning in groups. After that they can answer the question themselves and state whether they agree or disagree with the answers in the videos

Question 1:

Choose two hobbies that best describe yourself. 

Answer the question by yourself first, and then watch the video to see their answers!

Question 2:

If you got stranded on an island with a small group of people for a month with nothing but natural resources, what do you think your responsibilities would be in order to survive, and why? 

Watch the video to see what responsibilities are important on a desert island.

Question 3:

What is one wish you would absolutely love to come true this year? 

Watch the video to see what other people wished for.

Question 4:

If you were sent back in time to a thousand years ago, how would you prove that you’re from the future? 

Listen to their answers here.

Question 5:

What is something that you liked as a child, but you no longer like now? What is something that you like now, but you did not like as a child? 

Watch the video to see what they were like as children versus now.

Question 6:

If you had a door in your house that went anywhere in the world, where would it go and why? 

Listen to the answers to see where they’d like to go.

Question 7:

There’s a door and when you step inside the door, you can go back to any memory in your life and relive it. 

Listen to the answers to see what memories they’d like to relive.

Question 8:

If you had your own festival, which three headliners would you choose for each day? 

Watch the video to learn what festival headliners they’d choose.

Question 9:

If you had to rank every type of potato, from best to worst, how would you rank them? 

Watch and learn which potatoes they like best.

Question 10:

If you could erase your memory to watch one movie or series for the first time, which would it be? 

Listen and learn what movie or TV series they’d choose.

Question 11:

If you were asked to do a 40 minute presentation on something with no prep, what would it be and why? 

Watch the video and see what kind of presentations they’d choose.

Question 12:

What’s one thing you never thought you’d be able to do until you actually did it? 

Click the video and see what they’re proud of themselves for doing.

Question 13:

Give a very short version of a speech that you would give at a friend’s wedding. 

Watch to hear a short wedding speech.

Question 14:

What is something that is difficult for you but easy for most other people, and vice versa?

What things do they find difficult? Watch below. 

Question 15:

If you could have one thing you’ve lost returned to you, what would it be? 

Now watch and see what they would like returned.

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