- Matching questions to the student's level
- Beginner ESL questions (A1 to A2)
- Intermediate ESL questions (B1 to B2)
- Advanced ESL discussion questions (C1 to C2)
- Icebreaker questions for any level
- Follow-up moves that double the speaking time
- Choosing topics your class will enjoy
- How to get better conversations in an ESL class
- My advice for ESL teachers
- Frequently asked questions
Here are 32 ESL conversation questions grouped by level, from beginner questions about daily life to advanced discussion topics. They're matched to the CEFR, the six-level scale from A1 to C2 that most English courses use, and the beginner set mirrors the familiar topics in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test.
The hardest part of an ESL conversation class isn't the grammar, it's the silence after you ask a question nobody can answer. Questions that are too hard make students freeze; questions that are too easy get one-word replies. The fix is matching the question to the level and asking follow-ups. I've grouped these by CEFR band and added the follow-up moves that keep a conversation going, so you can use the same list with a brand-new class and a group that's nearly fluent.
Matching questions to the student's level
The Council of Europe's CEFR organises language ability into six levels, A1 to C2, grouped into Basic, Independent and Proficient users and described through can-do statements. If your students are heading for IELTS, the Speaking test lasts 11 to 14 minutes across 3 parts, and Part 1 asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests.
| CEFR band | User type | Questions that work | Group below |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 to A2 | Basic user | Daily routines, family, food, likes and dislikes | Beginner questions |
| B1 to B2 | Independent user | Experiences, opinions with reasons, plans | Intermediate questions |
| C1 to C2 | Proficient user | Abstract issues, hypotheticals, nuance | Advanced discussion questions |
| All levels | Any | Fun warm-ups that lower the pressure | Icebreaker questions |
Beginner ESL questions (A1 to A2)
Short, concrete questions about familiar topics. Accept short answers, then ask 'Why?' or 'Tell me more.'
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What do you usually eat for breakfast?
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Where do you live, and do you like it?
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How many people are in your family?
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What's your favourite day of the week, and why?
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What do you do after work or school?
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What's the weather like today?
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What's your favourite food from your country?
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Do you have any pets? Tell me about them.
Intermediate ESL questions (B1 to B2)
These invite past experiences, opinions and reasons. Push for a full sentence with because.
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What's the best trip you've ever taken?
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Describe a typical celebration in your country.
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Is it better to live in a city or the countryside? Why?
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What's a skill you'd like to learn, and how would you learn it?
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Tell me about a person who has influenced you.
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How has technology changed the way you study or work?
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What would you do with a free month?
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Which film or book would you recommend to a friend, and why?
Advanced ESL discussion questions (C1 to C2)
Abstract and hypothetical questions. Encourage hedging language such as 'It depends', 'On the other hand' and 'I'd argue that'.
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Should countries prioritise economic growth or protecting the environment?
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Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
To what extent does social media shape public opinion?
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Is it possible to be truthful and kind at the same time?
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How might work look different in a generation from now?
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What makes a person successful in your culture, and has that changed?
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Should university education be available to everyone?
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Is it more important to fit in or to stand out?
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How do you think learning a language changes the way you think?
Icebreaker questions for any level
Use these to start a lesson. They're fun, low-risk and easy to adapt up or down a level.
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If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
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What's one word in your language that English doesn't have?
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Would you rather be able to speak every language or play every instrument?
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What's the funniest English mistake you've made?
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If you could live anywhere for a year, where would it be?
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What's a food you hated as a child but love now?
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Which superpower would help you learn English fastest?
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What song always puts you in a good mood?
Follow-up moves that double the speaking time
A question gets the first answer; the follow-up gets the conversation. Here's how one exchange can grow. Teacher: 'What do you usually eat for breakfast?' Student: 'Bread.' Teacher: 'What do you put on it?' Student: 'Cheese and tomato.' Teacher: 'Is that a typical breakfast in your country?' Student: 'Yes, but my grandmother eats soup in the morning.' Now there's a story. The pattern is simple: ask for a detail, then ask for a comparison, then ask for a story. It works at every level, and once students learn it, they start using it on each other in pair work, which is when the classroom really starts to talk.
Choosing topics your class will enjoy
Ask students to suggest topics in the first week and keep a list. Food, travel, films and childhood memories are nearly always safe. Be careful with politics, religion and family circumstances, which can be sensitive in mixed groups.
How to get better conversations in an ESL class
- Ask one follow-up for every question: 'Why?', 'When?' or 'Can you give an example?'
- Give students a model answer first, especially at A1 and A2.
- Pair students before whole-class sharing. Speaking to one person feels safer than speaking to twenty.
- Correct gently and later. Note errors during the conversation and review them at the end.
- Teach phrases for buying time, such as 'That's a good question' and 'Let me think'.
If you teach or tutor, my guide to choosing the right tutor covers what parents look for, and my piece on answering interview questions with confidence makes a useful advanced-level reading text.
My advice for ESL teachers
Start every lesson with an icebreaker, spend most of the time in the group that matches your class's level, and finish by stretching into the next level up with one or two questions. Students grow fastest when most of the conversation feels comfortable and a little of it feels just out of reach.
Frequently asked questions
What are good ESL conversation questions for beginners?
Short questions about familiar topics, such as breakfast, family, the weather or favourite foods, which match CEFR A1 and A2.
What are the CEFR levels?
The Council of Europe's CEFR has six levels, A1 to C2, grouped into Basic, Independent and Proficient users and described through can-do statements.
What topics are in IELTS Speaking Part 1?
IELTS says Part 1 covers general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests.
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
IELTS says the Speaking test takes 11 to 14 minutes and has 3 parts.
How do I get ESL students to talk more?
Ask a follow-up for every question, model an answer first, pair students before whole-class sharing and save corrections for the end.
