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