A classic

Discussion   Topics                 

        This is not new, I know; but I simply love this type of activities. They are very enjoyable and allow students to assume a position and defend it till the end, even if they don't agree with it! You can adapt them to suit different needs. I usually use these type of activities with a group of FCE students. 

Choose somo interesting topics and decide on the time you'll set for the discussion. Sometimes I choose less topics and I tell my students that they belong to different political parties and that they have to defend their arguments on a tv show. I give them some minutes to think of ideas and we start.

we set the scene,  I have them speaking, motivated and thinking of logical arguments; and they enjoy a lot !

here are some discussion topics but if you google them, you´ll find longer lists !

• Women are less intelligent than men.   vs   Men are less intelligent than women.

• Men gossip more than women.     vs         Women gossip more than men.

• Friendship is the most important relationship in life.     vs       Family is the most important relationship in life.

•  Doing a job that you like is more important than earning more money.       vs     Earning money is more important than doing a job that you like.

•  Team work is more useful and works well.       vs     Individual work is more useful and works well.
• Camping holiday is more exciting.            vs         Staying at a hotel is more exciting.  

• Oral examination      vs     Written examination

• Living in a large city    vs     living in a small town

• Giving money to beggars is stupid.      vs    Giving money to beggars is a good way to help them.

• You cannot have a happy family life and a successful career at the same time.          vs Having a happy family and a successful career at the same time are possible.

•  Being a student in Single-sex school          vs    Being a student in Mixed-sex schools

• Arranged marriage      vs      Love marriage

• A woman’s place is her home.      vs      A woman should both work and take care of her home at the same time.

• Video games make kids violent.      vs    Kids can learn a lot from video games.

• First impression of a person is quite important.    vs  We should not judge a person with his/her first impression.