Conversation Topics

Table of Contents
Week 1...................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Introduce Yourself....................................................................................... 5
1.1.1 Vocabulary................................................................................................ 5
1.1.2 Pictures..................................................................................................... 5
1.1.3 Video.......................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Childhood....................................................................................................... 6
1.2.1 Vocabulary................................................................................................ 7
1.2.2 Pictures..................................................................................................... 7
1.2.3 Video.......................................................................................................... 7
Week 2...................................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Family............................................................................................................. 8
2.1.1 Vocabulary................................................................................................ 9
2.1.2 Pictures..................................................................................................... 9
2.1.3 Video.......................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Friends.......................................................................................................... 10
2.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 11
2.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 11
2.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 11
Week 3.................................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Famous People........................................................................................... 12
3.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 12
3.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 12
3.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 14
3.2 Food & Eating............................................................................................. 15
3.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 16
3.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 16
3.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 16
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Week 4.................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Hobbies........................................................................................................ 17
4.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 17
4.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 17
4.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 18
4.2 Healthy Lifestyle........................................................................................ 19
4.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 20
4.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 20
4.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 20
Week 5.................................................................................................................... 21
5.1 Cars & Driving............................................................................................ 21
5.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 22
5.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 23
5.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 23
5.2 Clothes......................................................................................................... 24
5.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 24
5.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 25
5.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 26
Week 6.................................................................................................................... 27
6.1 Weekend....................................................................................................... 27
6.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 27
6.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 28
6.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 28
6.2 Money & Shopping..................................................................................... 29
6.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 30
6.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 30
6.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 30
Week 7.................................................................................................................... 31
7.1 School........................................................................................................... 31
7.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 32
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7.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 32
7.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 32
7.2 Neighborhood.............................................................................................. 33
7.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 33
7.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 34
7.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 34
Week 8.................................................................................................................... 35
8.1 Goals............................................................................................................. 35
8.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 36
8.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 36
8.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 36
8.2 Jobs.............................................................................................................. 37
8.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 38
8.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 38
8.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 38
Week 9.................................................................................................................... 39
9.1 Travelling..................................................................................................... 39
9.1.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 40
9.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 41
9.1.3 Video........................................................................................................ 41
9.2 Sports........................................................................................................... 42
9.2.1 Vocabulary.............................................................................................. 43
9.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................... 44
9.2.3 Video........................................................................................................ 44
Week 10.................................................................................................................. 45
10.1 Inventions.................................................................................................. 45
10.1.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 46
10.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 46
10.1.3 Video..................................................................................................... 46
10.2 Hometown................................................................................................. 47
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10.2.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 48
10.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 48
10.2.3 Video..................................................................................................... 48
Week 11.................................................................................................................. 49
11.1 Smoking..................................................................................................... 49
11.1.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 49
11.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 50
11.1.3 Video..................................................................................................... 50
11.2 Social Networks....................................................................................... 51
11.2.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 51
11.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 51
11.2.3 Video..................................................................................................... 51
Week 12.................................................................................................................. 52
12.1 Personality................................................................................................ 52
12.1.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 52
12.1.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 53
12.1.3 Video..................................................................................................... 53
12.2 Happiness.................................................................................................. 54
12.2.1 Vocabulary............................................................................................ 55
12.2.2 Pictures................................................................................................. 55
12.2.3 Video..................................................................................................... 55

Week 1
1.1 Introduce Yourself

. What is your first name?

. What is your family?
. How old are you?
. Where do you come from?
. What is your job?
. Are you married?
. Where do you live?
. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
. How do you come to HIPIT?
. Where do your parents originally come from?
. What is your favorite food?
. Who was your favorite teacher at high school?
. Who is your best friend?
. What is your favorite car?
. What is your favorite TV show?
. What is your favorite sport?
. How often do you play it?
. What would you like to be in the future?
. What is your fathers job?
. Tell us about your family.

1.1.1 Vocabulary
Name / surname / country / home /
hometown/job/favorite/TV show/ high school / future /
age / nationality / come / originally / childhood / dream /
future / hobby
1.1.2 Pictures

1.1.3 Video
videos\1-1-self-intro-1.mp4
videos\1-1-Self-Intro-2.mp4
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1.2 Childhood

Did you have a happy childhood?

What did you like to do when you were a child?
What did you look like?
Where were you born?
When were you born?
How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle?
o
Did you have your own bicycle?
o
Do you remember who taught you to ride a bicycle?
o
Did you have a bad bicycle accident?
Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
What was your favorite subject? Why?
Do you remember anything about your personality when a child?
Were you good at making friends?
o
How did you make friends?
o
Did you have a lot of friends?
o
What did you enjoy doing with your friends?
What were some embarrassing situations when you were a child?
Were you a good student?
o
Did you enjoy going to school?
o
Did you get good grades?
o
Did you enjoy doing your homework?
What did you like about school?
What didn't you like about school?
Who was your best friend?
o
How did you meet this friend?
o
What did you do together?
o
Do you still do things with this childhood friend?
o
What other things can you tell us about your best friend?
o
At what age could you go places by yourself?
o
Did your parents always tell you what to do?
Did you play on the streets?
o
Was it dangerous to play on the streets?
o
What kind of things did you do on the streets?
o
Did you ever have an accident while playing on the streets? What
happened?
When you were a child, what did you want to grow up to be? Did you want
to be a mother or father? A firefighter? A doctor? A scientist?
Can you remember specific things from your childhood clearly?
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How old were you at the time of your first memories?

Who took care of you when you were little? A parent? A grandparent?
Describe the first memory you have of going to school.
Do you think children today eat too much fast food and don't play enough

sports?

Did you have any nicknames?

Were you afraid of anything? What?
What were your favorite cartoons and TV shows?

1.2.1 Vocabulary
Child/ young / old / nickname / parent / bicycle / protection /
where / how old / age / when / father
/mother/family/hobby/favorite/memory/cartoon/afraid of/ grow up/
remember/ happen/ dangerous/together/ bicycle/ accident/ enjoy
1.2.2 Pictures

1.2.3 Video
videos\1-2-childhood.mp4

Week 2
2.1 Family

Are friends more important than family? What do you think?

Are you married?
Are you the oldest among your brothers and sisters?
Are your parents strict?
Did you ever meet any of your great grandparents?
Do you have any brothers or sisters? If so, how old are they?
Do you have any children? If yes, what are their names and ages?
Do you have to clean your own room?
Do you like your family? Why or why not?
Do you live with any of your grandparents?
Do you live with your parents?
Do you often argue with your mother or father? What about?
Do you often visit your grandparents?
Do your parents let you stay out late?
What time do you have to be home?
How did you get your name?
Who are you named after?
How big is your family?
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
How many people are in your family?
How often do you see your grandparents?
How old are your brothers and sisters?
How old are your grandparents?
How old are your parents?
What are your parents like?
What do you and your family like to do together?
What do your parents do in their free time?
What are the occupations of your family members?
What is the best memory you have of your family doing something together?
What will you teach your children? (What values, beliefs, hobbies, skills, etc.)
Where do your grandparents live?
Where does your father's father live?
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Where does your mother's mother live?

Would you live with your parents after you get married?
Should children help with the housework?
What kinds of housework is not appropriate for children to do?
Where is the best place to raise a family?
Where do you think the best place to raise a family is? Why?
What can make you happy in the long term/ short term? Consider the following:
job satisfaction, a loving family, good health, plenty of money and strong religious
beliefs.
What's the hardest thing you ever had to do?
What was the most important thing your parents taught you?
Who should take care of old people?
What's the best thing about your grandparents?
How often does your family eat dinner together?
After you're married, should your parents make decisions for you?
What's the best thing about your dad?
Describe the perfect family.
Do your parents like with each other?
What was the saddest time in your family?
What makes a person a good friend, a friend for life, a life mate?
What do you think of the budget, what is a budget and how do you make one
work?
Do you help your mother at home?

2.1.1 Vocabulary
Family / father / mother / brother / sister / old / young / parents / grandfather/
grandmother/ grandparents/ brother/ sister/ son/ daughter/ husband/ wife/ uncle/
aunt/ cousin/ nephew/ niece/ brother-in-law/ grandson/ granddaughter/ grandchild/
grandchildren

2.1.2 Pictures

2.1.3 Video
videos\2-1-family.mp4

2.2 Friends

Are there any famous stories of friendship in your culture?

Can you describe one of your closest friends?
Do you have any childhood friendships that are still strong today? Tell us about
them.
Do you have any long distance friends?
o
How do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends?
o
How often do you see your long-distance friends?
Do you think it is a good idea to borrow money from a friend? Why or why
not?
Do you make friends easily?
Have you made any friends over the Internet?
o
How often do you write to them?
o
Have you ever met them in person?
How are your friendships different now than they were when you were a
child?
How do you make new friends?
How many people do you consider your "best friends?"
Is it common to have friendships across generations?
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types of

friendships?
o
Do you have any friends from a different generation than you?
There is a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend."
o
How can you be a good friend?
What do you usually do with your friends?
What factors may result in the breakdown of a good friendship?
What is a best friend?
What is the longest friendship that you have had?
What makes friends different from family?
What qualities do you think are important in a friend?
What things should friends never do?
Why do you like your best friend?
o
What are some things you like about your best friend?
Where is a good place to meet new friends?
There is a proverb that says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Do you
agree?
Do you believe that there is an end to any true friendships?
Do you believe your parents should be your friends?
What do you do if you receive a friend's call but you forgot his/her name?
Friendship is the most important relationship. Do you agree? Why? Why
not?
What do you like best about your best friend(s)?
How close do you get to your friends?
Why do you need a friend?
What do you do when you have a misunderstanding with your friend?
Do you trust all of your friends? Why?
o

2.2.1 Vocabulary
Friend / friendship / trust / best friend / close friend /
misunderstanding / need / indeed / agree/ honest/ famous/ together/
grow up/ childhood/ same/ different/ relationship/ important/
remember/ forget/ breakdown

2.2.2 Pictures

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2.2.3 Video
videos\2-2-friends.mp4

Week 3
3.1 Famous People

How do you become a famous person?

Do you know someone famous?
Are you a famous person?
o
What are you famous for?
Are you locally famous?
o
What are you famous for?
Would you like to be famous? Why?
Are famous people happy?
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Who is a famous person in your country?

Who is the most famous person you know?
Who are some famous people in your country?
What would your life be like if you were famous?
How do people invade the privacy of famous people?
What makes a person famous?
What are some famous musicians from your country?
Would you ever marry someone famous?

3.1.1 Vocabulary
Famous / country / famous for / marry / locally / privacy/ happy/
celebrity/ scientist/ footballer/ singer/ musician/ scholar/ imitate/
haircut/ dress/ appearance/ character/ characteristics/ like/ dislike/
role model/ worldwide/ influence

3.1.2 Pictures

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3.1.3 Video
videos\3-1-famous people.mp4

3.2 Food & Eating

About how many different color foods did you eat for dinner last night?
o
Do you think about color when you are preparing a meal?
Are there any foods that you wouldn't eat as a child but you eat now?
Are you a good cook?
Are you a vegetarian?
Are you concerned about your daily calorie intake when choosing
something to eat?
At what times do you usually eat your meals?
o
Breakfast?
o
Lunch?
o
Dinner?
Did you drink coffee this morning?
Did you eat lunch today?
Do you always eat dinner with your family?
15

o
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o
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o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Do you always eat vegetables?

Do you drink milk every day?
Do you drink tea every day?
Do you eat beef?
Do you eat bread every day?
Do you eat breakfast every day?
Do you eat fruit every day?
Do you eat lunch at school every day?
How much does lunch usually cost at school?
Do you bring your lunch to school?
Do you eat rice every day?
Do you ever skip breakfast? If so, how often and why?
Do you have a favorite cafe? If so, where is it? Why do you like it?
Do you have coffee for breakfast?
Do you like Thai food?
Chinese food?
Spanish food?
American food?
French food?
Italian food?
Do you like deep fried food?
Do you like food from other countries? If yes, which do you like the most?
Do you like peas and carrots? How about spinach?
Do you like to eat a lot of food every day?
Do you like to eat at fast food restaurants?
Do you like to eat some desserts after dinner?
Do you like to eat? Why or why not?
Do you like to have breakfast each morning? Why or why not?
Do you like to try new food and drinks?
Do you often eat out?
Do you prefer fish or meat?
Do you prefer to eat at a restaurant or at home?
Do you think a vegetarian diet is better than a diet that includes meat?
Have you ever been a diet? If so, how long did you stayed on it?
How long do you take to eat lunch?
How many calories do most people need every day?
How many meals do you usually eat every day?
How much do you eat when you are sad or happy?
How much does it cost to eat dinner at a hotel in your country?
How often do you eat bread?
How often do you eat fresh fruit?

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3.2.1 Vocabulary
Food / eat / diet / vegetable / fruit / meat / fish / meal / breakfast / lunch / dinner /
restaurant/ eat out/ cook/ supper/ snack/ sandwich/ fat/ thin/ skinny/ picky eater/
homemade/ calorie/ drink/ beverage/ grill/ roast/ fried/ toast/ boiled/ egg/ bread/
stomach/ stomachache

3.2.2 Pictures

3.2.3 Video
videos\3-2-food.mp4

Week 4
4.1 Hobbies

What is a hobby?
What is your favorite hobby?
How long have you had a hobby?
Why do people have hobbies?
Why did you start your hobby?
How many hours a week do you spend on your hobby?
Is your hobby safe or dangerous?
Why do people need hobbies?
What can one do as a hobby?
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How much time can one spend on his hobby?

Does your hobby interfere with your work/study/personal life?
Do you spend money on your hobby?
Does your hobby influence your choice of friends?
Which hobbies are the most expensive?
Which hobbies are the cheapest?
Which hobbies cost nothing at all?
Which hobbies are the most popular in your country?
Do you think a hobby is different from a sport?
Are there any hobbies you would like to try?

4.1.1 Vocabulary
Hobby / safe / dangerous / adult / popular / difficult/ try/ choose/ choice/ expensive/
cheap/ different/ same/ personal/ interfere/ spend/ start/ life/ like/ dislike/ practice/
alone/ together/ influence/ work/ study/ enough/ once/ twice/ every/ always

4.1.2 Pictures

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4.1.3 Video
videos\4-1-Hobbies.mp4

4.2 Healthy Lifestyle

Do you think you have a healthy life style?

o
Is it possible to have a healthy life style in modern world?
o
Why do many people try to have a healthy life style?
o
What is the main purpose of it?
What is healthy food?
o
Do you pay much attention to what you eat?
o
Do you think it is more important for you to eat healthy or tasty food?
Do you try to eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner at a certain time every
day?

Do you have a snack every time you are hungry or do you wait for the
lunch or dinner? What is better for health?

19

Do you agree with the saying: "Eat your breakfast, share your lunch with a
friend and give your dinner to your enemy"? Why do people say so?
What is healthy about not eating after 6 p.m.?
Do you try to follow this rule?
o
Are you a success?
Is obesity a great problem in your country?
Why are there so many obese people in the KSA?
o
What are the most efficient ways to lose weight?
Do you think diets are useful or not?
o
Have you ever tried to go on a diet?
o
What kind of diet was it?
o
Did it work?
Is physical activity (jogging, going to a gym, swimming pool) an important
part of a healthy life style?
Can you differentiate a physically inactive person from someone who
takes care of his physical condition?
What are the main differences?
What is your attitude to smoking?
What is the influence of smoking on health?
o
What about passive smoking?
Is it hard to give up smoking?
Do you know someone who gave up smoking?
o
What is the best way to give up smoking?
How many hours of sleep do you need daily?
If you don't sleep enough, how do you feel and look?
Do you try to go to bed and get up at certain hours every day?
What is good about it?
Do you often find yourself under stress?
What are the areas of your life where stress situations take place more
often?
o
Work?
o
Family?
o
Relationships with friends?
o
While commuting to work?
How do you usually cope with stress?

4.2.1 Vocabulary
Health/ healthy/ lifestyle/ eat/ food/ sport/ gym/ weight lifting/ walk/ run/ jog/ stress/
main/ purpose/ meal/ sleep/ enough/ daily/ cope/ lifetime/ duration/ smoke/ passive
smoking/ hour/ day/ week/ once/ twice/ give up/ relaxed/ certain/ take place/
attitude/ active/ inactive/ physical/ swimming pool

4.2.2 Pictures
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4.2.3 Video
videos\4-2-Healthy Lifestyle!.mp4

Week 5
5.1 Cars & Driving

How old were you when you first learned to drive?

o
Was there anything difficult about learning to drive?
Can you drive a car?
Can you drive a manual gear car?
Do you have a car?
If so, what kind of car do you have?
o
Is it a standard (manual shift) or automatic shift?
21

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o
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o
o

o
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Which do you like best, a standard or automatic shift car?

What are the advantages of owning a car?
What are the disadvantages of owning a car?
Are you a good driver?
Have you ever been in a car accident?
Have you ever been pulled over by the police?
What happened?
Have you ever driven a car in a foreign country?
If yes, which side of the road did they drive on?
Were the road signs different?
Are the drivers in your area where you live good drivers?
Do you know anything about repairing or maintaining a car?
What do you know how to do?
Where did you learn how to do this?
Do you enjoy repairing cars?
What are some things you do to maintain your car?
Do you prefer driving or riding public transportation?
What kind of car do you prefer?
Do you like drive at night?
Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?
What side of the road do you drive in your country?
Who taught you to drive?
How long did it take you to learn to drive?
What is the longest trip you have ever taken by car?
Have you ever broken down and been stranded on the side of the road?
Who helped you?
How do American drivers compare to drivers in your country?
What are the speed limits in your country?
On what occasions do you honk your car horn?
Is it acceptable to honk in your country
At what age can you get a driving license in your country?
Do you think the age for driving should be raised or lowered?
Do you think driving lessons should be provided by high schools?
Should new drivers have a period of accompanied driving?
Or some kind of trial period?
Do you have a GPS (Global Position System) Navigation system?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a GPS?
What are the laws about seat belts in your country?
How are they different to this country?
Is your car air conditioned?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of air conditioning?
Do you have a GPS?
22

If yes, when do you use it? If no, would you like one? Why or why not?
What is the price of gasoline in your country?
o
Is it cheaper or more expensive than in this country?
Do you allow passengers to eat inside your car?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of buying a second-hand car?
Do you wash your car yourself or do you have it washed?
Do you think that there is a relation between global warming and cars?
Have you ever seen a "hybrid" car?
What do you know about "hybrid" cars?
Do you really think that car manufacturers are interested in global
warming?
How often do you need to get your car repaired?
On what occasions do you honk your car horn?
o
Is it acceptable to honk in your country?
Do you like to drive or be driven?
Have you ever bribed a policeman in your country after he pulled you
over?
Is it common for traffic cops to accept bribes?
How are the traffic laws in your country?
o
Are they strict or lax?
Do most people follow the rules of the road?
Is it easy to find parking?
Is parking expensive?
What should be done in order to prevent traffic congestion in your city?
Is there any kind of rules to avoid traffic congestions?
How do you feel about spending time in your car during rush hour?
Is car theft a big problem in your country?
Have you had your car stolen?
Is road side assistance common in your country?
Can you change a flat tire?
o

5.1.1 Vocabulary
Car/ drive/ start/ safe/ dangerous/ license/ learn/ rule/ road/ avoid/ prevent/ traffic/
congestion/ lights/ flat tire/ steal/ in order to/ service/ maintain/ passenger/ travel/
highway/ manual/ automatic/ gear/ advantage/ disadvantage/ policeman/ pull over/
speed ticket/ fine/ race

5.1.2 Pictures
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5.1.3 Video
videos\5-1-Cars & Driving.mp4

5.2 Clothes

About how much money do you spend on clothes a year?

Do you like shopping for new clothes?
Do you often buy new clothes?
24

Do you prefer to go shopping or just browse? Why?

What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most? Why?
Do you read fashion magazines?
Do you sometimes wear a hat?
Do you think it is important to wear fashionable clothes?
o
Do you think it is important to be in fashion?
Do you wear the same color clothes now that you wore ten years ago?
Do you wear the same size clothes this year as you wore last year?
Do you think people feel different when they wear different clothes?
Have you ever made your own clothes?
o
If so, what did you make?
o
Do you often make your own clothes?
How many pairs of gloves do you have?
What are some of the strangest fashions you have seen?
What colors do you think look good on you?
What colors do you think look good on your father?
What did you wear yesterday?
What fashions that you see today do you think will be out of fashion within two
years?
What is your shoe size?
What kind of clothes are in fashion now?
What kind of clothes do you usually wear?
What's the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever bought?
What's your favorite color for shoes?
Where are some good stores to buy clothes in this area?
Where do you usually buy clothes?
Do you think that the clothes we wear reflect what is inside us?
What do you think of people who always and only wear black?
What would you think of a high school student who always wore very
conservative clothes?
What type of clothing do you wear when you are angry and you want to express
yourself?
What colors do you choose to wear when you are happy?

5.2.1 Vocabulary
Cloth/ cotton/ polyester/ heavy/ wear/ dress/ national dress/ expensive/ cheap/
fashion/ fashionable/ shirt/ thobe/ scarf/ shirt/ pants/ shorts/ T-shirt/ old/ young/ like/
dislike/ color/ favorite/ black/ yellow/ white/ green/ brown/ choose/ buy/ foreign/
conservative/ express/ comfortable/ feel/ look good/ common/ strange/ shoes/
sandals/ slippers/ sneakers

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5.2.2 Pictures

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5.2.3 Video
videos\5-2-clothes parts.mp4

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Week 6
6.1 Weekend

What do you like to do on the weekend?

What did you do last weekend?
How many hours do you usually sleep?
Who do you meet?
What is your favorite thing you best like to do on the weekend?

What do you and your families do on the weekend?

What type of things do you have to do on the weekend?
o
Go shopping?
o
Go to the doctor or dentists?
o
Take care of your brothers and sisters?
o
Clean your house?
o
Do you travel somewhere?

6.1.1 Vocabulary
Week/ day/ work/ study/ sleep/ do/ go/ met/ see/ swim/ play/ eat out/ free time/
enjoy/ spend/ watch/ visit/ clean/ do laundry/ wash/ game/ wake up/ family/ routine

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6.1.2 Pictures

6.1.3 Video
videos\6-1-weekend-beginner.mp4

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6.2 Money & Shopping

About how much did you spend on presents last year?

About how much do you usually spend each day?
Are you a price conscious shopper?
Are you good at saving money?
Are you saving money to buy something?
o
If so, what are you planning to buy?
o
How much will it cost?
o
How much longer will you need to save before you can buy it?
Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?
Do you enjoy shopping?
Do you ever buy second-hand things? ("used things")
Do you ever give money to charity?
o
How often do you give to charity?
o
How much do you give?
Have you ever been in debt?
Have you ever owed money to people?
Have you ever given money to a beggar?
Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
How important is money to you?
o
If you had no money, do you think you could be happy?
How much do you usually spend each month on transportation?
How much does it cost to get a haircut in your country?
How much does it cost to ride a bus in your country?
How much money did you make on your first job?
o
(How much money do you think you will make on your first job?)
How much money did you spend yesterday?
o
Where did you spend it?
o
What did you spend it on?
o
Do you often spend that amount in one day?
How much money did your parents give you for an allowance when you
were ten years old?
What is something that you have bought recently?
What is something that you want to buy, but don't have enough money to
buy.
What is something that you want to buy, but think you never will?
What is your opinion of discount stores?
What store did you like best and what store did you like least?
What was the last thing you spent money on?
What's the most expensive thing you have ever bought?
What's your favorite place to shop?
30

What's your favorite shopping area or store?

Which costs more, a hamburger in America or a hamburger in your
country?

Which costs more, your telephone bill or your electric bill?

Which do you prefer, large stores or small stores?

6.2.1 Vocabulary
Money/ spend/ go shopping/ have/ own/ job/ rich/ poor/ mall/ store/ shop/ buy/
discount/ cost/ price/ bargain/ clothes/ perfume/ beg/ bill/ pay/ expensive/ cheap/
country/ favorite/ gift/ present/ haircut/ deb/ loan/ borrow

6.2.2 Pictures

31

6.2.3 Video
videos\6-2-shopping.mp4

Week 7
7.1 School

Are you allowed to eat in the classrooms?

Are you allowed to smoke in the classrooms?
Did you belong to any clubs in high school?
Did you go to a public high school or a private one?
o
What are the advantages of each type of school?
o
Which type of school did you want to go to?
Did you have to wear a uniform in high school? How about elementary
school?
Did you study art in high school?
Did your high school have a band?
o
If so, did you play in it?
o
What instrument would you like to play in a high school band? Why?
Do you have any evening classes?
Do you play on any of the school's sports teams?
Do you still keep in touch with your best friend in elementary school?
Have you ever been absent?
Have you ever been late for class?
o
If so, why?
o
When was the last time?
o
Did the teacher get angry?
Have you ever failed a class? (Maybe this is not polite to ask.)
Have you ever slept in class?
How do you usually come here?
How do you get to school?
How long does it take you to get to school?
How many times have you been absent from school this year?
How much homework do you do every day?
Was your high school strict?
Were you on any sports teams in high school?
What classes do you not like? Why don't you like them?
What did you like best about high school?
What was the name of your junior high school?
32

o
o

Which subjects are you good at? (What are your strong subjects?)
Which subjects are you poor at? (Which subjects are difficult for you?)
Who is your favorite teacher?
What course does he or she teach?
Why do you like him or her?
Who do you like to sit with in your classroom?
Do you like to be taught by a male or female teacher?
Do you like to be taught by a female or male teacher?
Which subjects do you think are not useful or needed anymore?
Do you feel pressure to wear expensive, designer clothes to school?
Do you think fashion is important at school?
Is fashion also a kind of uniform?
What did your school uniform look like in junior high school?

7.1.1 Vocabulary
Primary/ intermediate/ elementary/ junior high/ high school/ secondary school/
subject/ teacher/ principal/ manager/ break/ remember/ favorite/ enjoy/ easy/ hard/
homework/ history/ geography/ algebra/ mathematics/ math/ geometry/ language/
pressure/ uniform/ wear/ punish/ class/ start/ finish

7.1.2 Pictures

7.1.3 Video
videos\7-1-school.mp4

33

7.2 Neighborhood

Can you tell me some things about your neighborhood?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of your neighborhood?
What would you change about your neighborhood?
What types of facilities are available near to you?
How far are you from the city center?
Do you like living in your neighborhood or do you not have much choice?
What do you like about your community?
What do you think should be changed?
How can you help your community?
How many of your neighbors do you know?
Are there old people living in your community? Tell me about them.
Are there little children in your community? Tell me about them.
What do the people in your community do for recreation?
What do you think is the most important thing about community?
Does your community have special days to get together?
Does your community have meetings?
Is there a neighborhood watch program in your community?
Would you like to raise your children in a community like yours? Why or why not?
Is your community afraid of strangers?
Does your community welcome strangers?
How have you helped a neighbor?

7.2.1 Vocabulary
Neighbor/ next door/ area/ poor/ moderate/ rich/ well-managed/ facilities/
community/ society/ family/ stranger/ change/ restaurant/ laundry/ mosque/ gym/
stadium/ store/ available/ convenient/ live/ downtown/ city center/ quiet/ noisy/
party/ car drift

34

7.2.2 Pictures

7.2.3 Video
videos\7-2-neighborhood-song.mp4

35

Week 8
8.1 Goals

What is your biggest goal in life?

How do you plan to achieve that goal?
What are your "short term" goals?
What are your "long term" goals?
Should parents help their children set goals?
What are your educational goals?
What are your career goals?
What are your financial goals?
Why are goals important?
Is having a goal in life effective in becoming successful?
Is having a goal helpful in motivating a person?
Do you think people have fewer goals as they get older?
Do you have any goals that you feel are unrealistic?
How do people's goals change from country to country?
What are your goals in your current job?
What are the main differences between male and female goals?
Which of your goals have you already achieved?
How would you feel if you failed to achieve any of your goals?
Do you think it's a good idea to write your goals down and tick them off as you
achieve them?
How important are goals to you?
What do you hope to have achieved by the time you're sixty?
What is a goal?
Is one of your goals to be able to talk to your children's English teacher?
Do you think people have less goals as they get older?
How will you feel if you fail to achieve any of your goals?
What is something you never learned to do but wish you had?
36

Who is successful in your family? Why?

Tell me about a goal that you achieved for yourself.
What success have you had in this English class? What can you do to be more
successful?
Do you believe that people must work hard to become successful? Why or why
not?
Can you think of a successful person from your own county? What do they do?
How do you think they did it?
What kind of success do you want in the future in your life?
What can you do now to be successful in the future?
Do you think that money and fame means success?

8.1.1 Vocabulary
Goal/ aim/ dream/ future/ succeed/ fail/ try/ achieve/ long term/ short term/ career/
motivate/ wish/ hope/ important/ work hard/ child/ able/ more/ less/ become/
already/ financial/ change/ current/ effective/ believe/ must/ plan/ arrange

8.1.2 Pictures

8.1.3 Video
videos\8-1-goals.mp4
37

8.2 Jobs

At what age do people usually begin to work in your country?

At what age do people usually retire in your country?
At what age would you like to retire?
o
What do you think you will do after you retire?
o
How much money do you think you need to retire with your lifestyle?
Can you talk about what a typical day at your current job is like?
Can you describe some of the people that you work with?
Can you describe your current job?
What was your first job?
Do women usually work after they get married in your country?
Do you ever work overtime?
o
If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?
Do you have a part-time job? If so, what do you do?
Do you have to attend a lot of meetings for your job?
Do you have to do a lot of paperwork?
Do you have to work overtime?
o
If so, how often?
o
Do you have to work on Sundays?
Do you like your job? Why or why not?
Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your
job?
Do you think it's acceptable for women to be in the military? Why/why not?
Do you think people over 65 should be made to retire?
If you could own your own business, what would it be?
If you had to choose between a satisfying job and a well-paid one, which
would you choose?
Would you consider the military as a career choice? Why or why not?
What job would you most like to do?
What are the names of some of the people with that job?
Do you personally know anyone with that job?
38

How long do you plan to keep it for?

When do plan to retire?
What other fields or work will that job make you qualified for?
What are the work details of that job; what will be your duties at that job?
What steps are required from you to become a/an...?
How does money affect your decisions?
How do your wants and desires affect your career options and goals?
How many years of schooling would you prefer to have?
Can you improve on the way things are now being done in the field you
choose?
Which college courses are needed for you to be the very best in your
field?
Which college courses are required for you dream job?
Is it common for people from your country to have one job for life?

8.2.1 Vocabulary
Work/ job/ occupation/ profession/ career/ start/ finish/ retire/ choose/ choice/ option/
desire/ decide/ field/ future/ personal/ reason/ qualification/ pension/ duty/ affect/
satisfy/ attend/ full-time/ part-time/ lifestyle/ prefer/ consider/ require

8.2.2 Pictures

39

8.2.3 Video
videos\8-2-jobs.mp4

Week 9
9.1 Travelling

Have you ever been abroad?

Where have you been?
Are you planning on going anywhere for your next vacation?
o
If so, where?
o
Who with?
o
How long will you stay?
Are you afraid of going abroad alone?
Could you live in another country for the rest of your life?
Describe the most interesting person you met on one of your travels.
40

o
o
o

o
o

When was your best trip?

Where was your worst trip?
Did your class in high school go on a trip together?
If so, where did you go?
How long did you stay?
How did you get there?
Do you have a driver's license?
Do you like to travel with children? Why or why not?
Do you like to travel with your mother? Why or why not?
Do you prefer summer vacations or winter vacations?
Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?
Do you prefer to travel by train, bus, plane or ship?
Do you prefer traveling by car or by plane?
Have you ever been in a difficult situation while traveling?
Have you ever been on an airplane?
How many times?
What airlines have you flown with?
Have you ever been to a foreign country?
Have you ever gotten lost while traveling? If so, tell about it.
Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, how many times?
Have you ever taken a package tour?
How do you spend your time when you are on holiday and the weather is

bad?

How many countries have you been to? How many states?
How many times have you traveled abroad?
Explain why.
What are some countries that you would never visit? Why would you not
visit them?
o
Why?
o
Do you think you will ever go there?
What is the most interesting souvenir that you have ever bought on one of
your holidays?
What languages can you speak?
Where did you go on your last vacation?
o
How did you go?
o
Who did you go with?
Where did you spend your last vacation? Your summer vacation? Your
Christmas vacation?
Where will you go on your next vacation?
Would you like to take a cruise? Where to? With who?
Do you prefer traveling on a hovercraft or a ferry?
Would you prefer to stay at a hotel/motel or camp while on vacation?
41

Would you rather visit another country or travel within your own country?

9.1.1 Vocabulary
Travel/ abroad/ passport/ car/ plane/ ship/ journey/ flight/ holiday/ vacation/ summer/
cruise/ gift/ souvenir/ festival/ interesting/ memory/ hotel/ motel/ camp/ desert/
hunt/ country/ monument/ buy/ bring/ speak/ language/ spend/ budget

42

9.1.2 Pictures

9.1.3 Video
videos\9-1-travelling.mp4
43

9.2 Sports

Do you play any sports?

Are you a good soccer player? Basketball player? Baseball player? Rugby
player? Tennis player?
Are you a member of any sports team? If not, have you ever been?
Are you good at sports?
o
What sports are you good at?
o
Do you often play sports?
Did your high school have a good baseball team?
Do you ever listen to baseball games on the radio?
Do you jog more than once a week?
Do you know how to play golf?
Do you like to exercise?
Do you like playing tennis?
Do you like to snowboard?
Do you like to watch sports on TV?
Do you like watching car races?
Do you like wrestling?
Do you think athletes earn enough money, not enough money or too much
money?
Do you think everybody should practice sports?
Do you think playing sports helps people work better as a team at work?
Do you think that parents are too involved in their children's sports
activities?
Have you ever been skiing?
Have you ever been to a soccer game? An America football game? A
baseball game?
Have you ever played golf?
Have you ever been to watch a professional sporting event?
Have you ever played tennis with your mother?
Have you ever tried snowboarding?
How often do you exercise?
How often do you go swimming?
o
Where do you go?
o
Who do you go with?
How often do you go swimming? Is it good that professional sports are so
commercial nowadays?
o
Go scuba diving?
o
Go surfing?
o
Go smoking?
What do you think the top five most watched sports are in the world?
44

o
o

o
o

o
o
o

What is the most dangerous sport?

What is the most expensive sport?
What is the most popular sport in your country?
What is your favorite team sport?
What is your favorite summer sport?
What is your favorite winter sport?
What new sports would you like to try?
What sport do you think is the most dangerous?
What sport do you think is the most expensive?
What sports did you do in junior high school?
How about high school?
How about now?
What sports do you watch?
What sports do you like to watch?
What sports do you hate to watch?
What sports do you like to play?
What sports do you like to watch live?
What sports do you like to watch on TV?
What sports do you think are the best?
When was the last time you went to a baseball game?
Where is the nearest stadium to your house?
Which do you prefer, baseball or volleyball?
Tennis or golf?
Soccer?
American football?
Which sport would you not let your child play? Why?
Who is your favorite professional athlete? Why?

9.2.1 Vocabulary
Exercise/ gym/ watch/ team/ club/ child/ play/ prefer/ favorite/ game/ interesting/
outdoor/ indoor/ expensive/ cheap/ dangerous/ safe/ worldwide/ professional/
athlete/ champion/ derby/ like/ hate/ football/ soccer/ volleyball/ baseball/ rugby/
hockey/ table tennis

45

9.2.2 Pictures

9.2.3 Video
videos\9-2-sports.mp4

46

Week 10
10.1 Inventions

What are the best and the most useful inventions of the mankind in the 20th and
21st centuries?
What famous inventors do you know?
o
What were their inventions?
o
Do you know anything about the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci?
How did the invention of television change people's life?
o
Do you think it is a useful invention?
o
What is the role of television in your life?
o
How often do you watch it?
When did you buy or get your first mobile phone?
o
Do you think you can live without your mobile or is it now an important part
of your daily life?
o
Are you anxious when the battery is flat or you are out of reach?
What do scientists say about the influence of mobile phones on our
health?
Do you use the Internet?
o
What Internet services do you use?
o
Do you feel any addiction to the Internet?
o
How much do you spend on the Internet a month?
How did the Internet influence such things as communication,
correspondence, and access to information?
o
Do you think that the Internet is the good or the evil?
What do you think is the worst invention of the mankind? (Weapon, atomic
energy, cigarettes, television, mobile phones, cars, genetically modified products
etc.)
What do you know about cloning?
o
Who invented it?
o
How does it work?
Who is Dolly (sheep)?
Do you think time machine will ever be invented?
o
Would you like to do some time traveling?
o
What time would you like to visit, what event would you like to witness?
Do you think aging is the problem the mankind cannot fight?
o
What discoveries and inventions has been made recently to fight aging?
Do you believe that the elixir of life will ever be discovered?
o
Would you like to be immortal or would you just prefer to remain young
throughout your life and die in the end?
What is the use of space exploration?
o
What technologies has space exploration brought to our daily life?
47

Do you believe that one day people will live on the moon and on other
planets?
o
Why isn't it possible today?
What would you invent if you were a scientist?

10.1.1 Vocabulary
Invent/ create/ car/ plane/ cellphone/ spaceship/ thermometer/ electricity/ computer/
the internet/ fridge/ TV/ radio/ gun/ microphone/ speaker/ projector/ motorbike/
printer/ smart board/ scientist/ explore/ mankind/ human being/ disaster/ nature/
machine/ disease/ genetically

10.1.2 Pictures

48

10.1.3 Video
videos\10-1-inventions.mp4

10.2 Hometown

After you graduate do you want to live in your hometown? Why or why not?
Can I visit your hometown on the Internet?
Do you like your hometown? Why or why not?
How many TV channels do you get at home?
Do you miss your home country?
o
What do you miss the most?
Do your childhood friends still live in your hometown?
o
If not, where are they now?
Does anyone famous come from your hometown?
Does your hometown have any festivals? What happens at that festival?
How long does it take to get from your hometown to here?
Has your hometown changed a lot since you were a kid? If so, how? Have
the changes been for the better or worse?
Is your hometown famous for anything?
Where is your hometown?
What is the population of your hometown?
What is the population of your country?
What are some things in your hometown that are part of history?
What does your hometown produce? What does it grow?
What is the best season in your hometown?
What is the best thing about your hometown?
What is the worst thing about your hometown?
What's there to do in your hometown?
What's your hometown like?
When is the best time to come to your hometown?
Where are you from?
What is the geography of your hometown? (I.e. beach, mountains, etc.)
What are the main attractions in your hometown?
What are the main economic resources in your hometown?
Can you describe the main geographical features of your hometown?
What is the average temperature in winter time? (Summer time?)
Would you like to be in your hometown now? Why or why not?
If you could live anywhere, where would you like to live?
49

How do you see your hometown growing in the next 20 years?

Is your hometown growing? Is this a good or a bad thing?
Tell me why I would enjoy visiting your hometown.
Tell me why I should visit your hometown.
What interesting city lies to the north, south, east, and west of your
hometown?
How many stoplights does your hometown have?
Does your hometown have a college or university?
Does your hometown have a shopping mall shopping?
Does your hometown have antique shopping places?
Where is the best place to get a reasonably priced, but delicious meal in
your hometown?

10.2.1 Vocabulary
Home/ house/ town/ city/ country/ nation/ village/ big/ small/ modern/ ancient/ good/
bad/ traffic/ family/ friend/ originally/ grandparents/ great grandparents/
geographical/ enjoy/ attract/ resource/ visit/ how often/ economic/ weather/
population/ mountain

50

10.2.2 Pictures

10.2.3 Video
videos\10-2-hometown.mp4

Week 11
11.1 Smoking

Do you smoke?
If you smoke, how much do you smoke in a day?
If you smoke, when did you start doing it?
If you smoke, why did you start? What was the reason?
51

Have you ever smoked cigarettes? A cigar? A pipe?

How much does it cost to smoke?
How much does it cost to smoke in your country?
Some countries put a high tax on tobacco products to discourage smoking.
o
Do you think this is fair to smokers?
Do you think a high tax on cigarettes encourages people to quit?
What are the advantages of smoking, in your opinion?
What are some health problems that smoking can cause?
Does smoking make you more handsome or beautiful?
Does smoking give you a better image or make you look more
sophisticated?
Do you think cigarettes make a person look older and more mature?
Can cigarette smoking age an adult so they look older than they really
are?
Are you be attracted to people who smoke? Why or why not?
Have you ever known anyone with "smoker's cough"?
Have you ever known anyone who has died from diseases related to
smoking?
How do you feel about women smoking?
How do you feel about children smoking?
What is the youngest age that a person should be allowed to smoke?
Can people smoke anywhere in your country?
o
Are there any restrictions?
o
Do you know what the laws are here about smoking in public places?
Where can people smoke in your school?
o
What happens to students who smoke at your school?
o
Do you think students should be allowed to smoke at school?
Is it a good thing for people to quit smoking?
o
Would they like to quit smoking?
o
Do you worry about people who smoke?
Do other members of your family or friends smoke?
o
How long have they been smoking?

11.1.1 Vocabulary
Smoke/ habit/ harm/ health/ lung/ breathe/ problem/ doctor/ hospital/ medicine/
passive smoking/ public/ disease/ cough/ quit/ mature/ adult/ allow/ tobacco/ tax/
cigarettes/ related to/ restriction

52

11.1.2 Pictures

11.1.3 Video
videos\11-1-smoking.mp4

53

11.2 Social Networks

What social networking sites do you use?

What are some good points about social networking?
What are some bad points about social networking?
Do you have a Facebook page?
Do you use Twitter?
What information do you have on your webpage?
What kind of information are you comfortable releasing to the public?
Do your parents use social networking sites?
What type of information should you put on social networking sites?

11.2.1 Vocabulary
The Internet/ social/ network/ account/ log in/ check/ use/ information/ point/ webpage/
know/ virtual/ friend/ relationship/ photo/ share/ like/ comment/ personal life/ famous/
celebrate/ online/ live/ site

11.2.2 Pictures

11.2.3 Video
videos\11-2-social networks.mp4

54

Week 12
12.1 Personality

What are some characteristics of your personality?

What makes you happy?
What are some things that make you angry?
Are you happy with your personality?
Would you like to be different?
Are you a determined person? Are you a stubborn person?
Are you shy? In which occasions are you shy?
Do you consider yourself selfish? Why?
Is your personality suited to your job?
In what way has your personality changed? Why has it changed??
Are you more introverted (focused on your inner world) or more extraverted
(focused on other people and the outer world)?
Do you think you can change a major characteristic of your personality if you try?
Do you think you have an unusual personality? Why?
If you could change any aspect of your personality, what would it be?
What sort of things would you do to amuse yourself during a car journey?
What personality traits do you consider important in a good friend / a boss / a
partner?
Do you consider yourself to be even-tempered?
What is one thing that many people don't know about you?
What expressions include colors when discussing illness? (ex., white or pale,
pink eye, black and blue for bruises, yellow fever)
What expressions include colors and feelings? (Ex. I feel blue, green with envy,
red with rage, turning red, black circles under the eyes, you are turning blue)
What do the colors in your home country's flag represent?
Do you think birth order makes a difference in your personality?

12.1.1 Vocabulary
Person/ character/ affect/ factor/ teenage/ adult/ old/ young/ family/ friend/ age/
difference/ represent/ sad/ happy/ honest/ interfere/ influence/ change/ genetically/
partner/ wife/ husband/ spouse/ best friend/ boss

55

12.1.2 Pictures

12.1.3 Video
videos\12-1-personality.mp4

56

12.2 Happiness

Are you a happy person?

What is happiness for you?
What do you think is the color for happiness?
Do you think that happiness lies within you? Or does it depend upon other people
and external things?
Can money buy happiness?
Is happiness a state of mind?
What makes you feel happy?
What are the three most important things for you to be happy?
Is happiness relative, that is, does it have a different meaning for each person?
Are single people happy?
Would you be happier with a soul mate or single?
Does having an animal/pet make you happy?
What is the effect that animals/pets have on people to make them feel happy?
What makes you happy?
When was the happiest time of your childhood?
Can you be happy if you are rich?
Can you be happy if you are poor?
How can you become happy again when you are sad?
Is happiness a goal?
How often do you feel really happy?
Are the people in your country generally very happy?
Are you very happy most of the time?
What makes you unhappy?
What's the most miserable you've been?
How happy are you compared with your friends?
Do you wake up happy every morning?
Do you agree that older people are less happy?
What is there to be happy about in the world today?
What affects your levels of happiness?
Does your happiness change during different times of the day, week, month or
year?
What is or was the happiest time of your life?
Do you need money to be happy?
What do you think of the idea of a government Happiness Minister who is
responsible for the happiness of the population?
Do you think some nations are happier than others?
What is missing in your life that would make you very happy?
Why are teenagers some of the happiest people in the world?
57

What was the happiest time in your entire life?

Do you feel that you have to work hard and be miserable now in order to be
happy later?

12.2.1 Vocabulary
Happy/ entertainment/ smile/ feel/ have fun/ free time/ activities/ miss/ compare/
interest/ hobby/ miserable/ nation/ entire/ think/ work hard/ over load/ teenager/
adult/ responsible/ in charge/ family/ in order to/ rich/ poor

12.2.2 Pictures

58

12.2.3 Video
videos\12-2-happiness.mp4

59