One Minute Speech Topics

The list of topics on this page is part of a publication called Number One ESL Discussion Book & Reference Guide.


Instructions: Each student, or pair, or small group of students gets a topic. They then have a few minutes to prepare a short speech (one minute or longer). For additional speaking practice, other students should be encouraged to come up with questions to ask after the speech.

1. A smell that brings back great memories

2. Behaviors that annoy you

3. Best and worst dining experience

4. Best and worst travel experience

5. Best travel experience

6. Five things to do before I’m too old to do them

7. How a computer works

8. How to apply make-up

9. How to avoid boredom

10. How to be more romantic

11. How to break bad habits

12. How to buy cheap airline tickets

13. How to cure or prevent hangovers

14. How to do well in a job interview

15. How to get good grades

16. How to improve your conversation skills

17. How to improve your health

18. How to improve your manners

19. How to make a good cup of coffee

20. How to make a website

21. How to make pizza

22. How to make soup

23. How to meet new people

24. How to memorize new vocabulary

25. How to plan a wedding

26. How to prepare for a natural disaster

27. How to research your family history

28. How to shoot a basketball

29. How to throw a good party

30. How to use Google Maps

31. Life in the future

32. Married life versus single life

33. Most romantic Valentine’s Day idea

34. Moving to another country

35. My goal for the next year, or for the next five years

36. Natural remedies for illnesses

37. Own car or public buses and trains? Why?

38. Picking a name for your children

39. Preparing for retirement

40. Pros and cons of social media

41. Pros and cons of winning the lottery

42. Quick ways to get to know someone

43. Raising pet snakes

44. Saving money on your income taxes

45. Steps to buying a new computer

46. Talk about any three things

47. The best person to be stuck in an elevator with

48. The best seat on a plane for a 13-hour flight

49. The career of your favorite musician or singer

50. The good and bad of white lies

51. The most dangerous jobs

52. The pros and cons of online dating

53. The pros and cons of self-employment

54. The worst person to be stuck in an elevator with

55. Things to take to a deserted island

56. Three best apps on your phone

57. Three skills I would like to master

58. Three wishes

59. Vampire movies or zombie movies?

60. What to do before traveling abroad

61. What to do when you have a midlife crisis

62. You find a time machine, or a portal to the past.

63. Your current age, ten years older, or ten years younger? Why?

64. Your dream house

65. Your favorite childhood memories

66. Your favorite food

67. Your favorite local weekend break-away

68. Your favorite sport to play

69. Your favorite sport to watch

70. Your favorite vacation destination


Number One ESL Discussion Book & Reference Guide: CONTENTS

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