To Speak or Not To Speak

These speaking topics are designed for intermediate and advanced English learners (B2–C1) who want to improve their fluency, expand their vocabulary, and prepare for speaking exams. The page includes general discussion questions as well as picture-based tasks, charts and tables commonly used in Cambridge, Euro Exam, IELTS, and other international English examinations.

Family & Relationships

  1. What qualities do you value most in a friend?
  2. How has family life changed compared to previous generations?
  3. Do you think it’s better for young adults to live with their parents or move out as soon as possible? Why?
  4. How important is it to spend quality time with family?
  5. Who has had the biggest influence on your life so far?
  6. What makes a healthy relationship?

Hobbies & Free Time
  1. What do you usually do to relax after a busy day?
  2. Have your hobbies changed over the years? How?
  3. Is it important for adults to have hobbies? Why?
  4. Have you ever tried a hobby that turned out to be more difficult than you expected?
  5. If you had an extra free day every week, how would you spend it?
  6. Which hobby would you like to take up in the future?

Education & Learning
  1. What school subject did you enjoy the most, and why?
  2. What skills should schools teach that they often don’t?
  3. Do you prefer studying alone or with other people?
  4. What’s the most effective way to learn a foreign language?
  5. Have you ever learned something useful outside the classroom?
  6. Do you think people should continue learning throughout their lives?

Work & Careers
  1. What qualities make someone a good employee?
  2. Would you rather have a well-paid job or a job you really enjoy?
  3. What’s more important: qualifications or experience?
  4. Have you ever had a part-time or summer job? What was it like?
  5. Would you like to work from home? Why or why not?
  6. What advice would you give someone starting their first job?

Holidays & Travel
  1. What kind of holidays do you enjoy most?
  2. Tell us about a memorable trip you’ve been on.
  3. Do you prefer travelling alone or with other people?
  4. What country would you most like to visit, and why?
  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of package holidays?
  6. How has travelling become easier in recent years?

Entertainment
  1. What kind of films or TV series do you enjoy most?
  2. Do you think cinemas still have a future?
  3. Have you ever watched a film more than once? Why?
  4. How often do you listen to music, and what kind do you prefer?
  5. Do you prefer reading books or watching films based on them?
  6. What makes a film or series unforgettable?

Sport & Fitness
  1. How important is regular exercise?
  2. What sports are most popular in your country?
  3. Have you ever taken part in a competition?
  4. Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?
  5. What motivates people to stay fit?
  6. Should schools spend more time on physical education?

Health & Lifestyle
  1. What does a healthy lifestyle mean to you?
  2. How do you deal with stress?
  3. Do you think people today are healthier than they were in the past?
  4. How important is getting enough sleep?
  5. What small habit could improve most people’s health?
  6. Is it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Media & Communication
  1. How do you usually get your news?
  2. How has social media changed communication?
  3. Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?
  4. What’s the biggest advantage of online communication?
  5. Have you ever taken a break from social media?
  6. Can we trust everything we read online?

Technology
  1. What piece of technology do you use most often?
  2. How has technology changed everyday life?
  3. Which invention has had the greatest impact on society?
  4. Do you think artificial intelligence will improve our lives?
  5. What’s one piece of technology you couldn’t live without?
  6. Are there any disadvantages to becoming too dependent on technology?

Food & Cooking
  1. Do you enjoy cooking? Why or why not?
  2. What’s your favourite meal to prepare or eat?
  3. How have people’s eating habits changed in recent years?
  4. Do you prefer eating at home or in restaurants?
  5. Have you ever tried food from another culture that surprised you?
  6. Should schools teach children more about healthy eating?

Shopping & Consumer Habits
  1. Do you enjoy shopping, or do you see it as a chore?
  2. What do you usually spend most of your money on?
  3. Do you prefer shopping online or in physical shops?
  4. Have you ever bought something you later regretted?
  5. How can people become more responsible consumers?
  6. Is advertising more influential than it used to be?

Environment
  1. What environmental problems concern you the most?
  2. What do you do to protect the environment?
  3. Should governments do more to reduce pollution?
  4. Is recycling enough to protect the planet?
  5. How can individuals make a difference?
  6. Would you be willing to change your lifestyle to help the environment?

Culture & Traditions
  1. What traditional celebrations are important in your country?
  2. Are traditions becoming less important today?
  3. Is it important to preserve local customs?
  4. Have you ever experienced a celebration in another country?
  5. What cultural event would you recommend to a visitor?
  6. How does culture influence people’s behaviour?

Future Plans & Ambitions
  1. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
  2. What’s one goal you’d like to achieve in the next few years?
  3. If money wasn’t an issue, what career would you choose?
  4. What new skill would you like to learn?
  5. Do you enjoy making long-term plans?
  6. What do you hope will change in your life in the future?
Society & Lifestyle
  1. Has modern technology made people less patient?
  2. Should people be encouraged to work fewer hours?
  3. Is living in a large city becoming less attractive?
  4. Are people today too concerned with their appearance?
  5. Should governments do more to encourage healthy lifestyles?
  6. Has modern life become too fast-paced for people’s well-being?

Education & Learning
  1. Is university education still worth the cost and effort?
  2. Should schools focus more on practical skills than academic subjects?
  3. Can online learning ever fully replace classroom teaching?
  4. What makes a good teacher in the 21st century?
  5. Should students be allowed to use AI tools in their studies?
  6. Is lifelong learning becoming essential in today’s world?

Work & Career
  1. Is job satisfaction more important than a high salary?
  2. Should employers allow staff to work remotely whenever possible?
  3. Are people changing careers too frequently nowadays?
  4. What skills will be most valuable in the future workplace?
  5. Should companies place greater importance on employees’ mental health?
  6. Is it better to specialise in one field or develop a wide range of skills?

Environment & Future
  1. Should individuals be expected to make sacrifices to protect the environment?
  2. Is technological progress the best solution to climate change?
  3. Will cities become greener in the future?
  4. Should governments invest more in renewable energy?
  5. Can economic growth and environmental protection go hand in hand?
  6. What environmental challenge will future generations face most seriously?

Media & Technology
  1. Do social media platforms do more harm than good?
  2. Has access to unlimited information improved society?
  3. Will artificial intelligence improve people’s quality of life?
  4. Should governments regulate social media more strictly?
  5. Is privacy becoming impossible in the digital age?
  6. Has technology made people more connected or more isolated?

Social & Demographic Trends
  1. Are people choosing to have children later in life?
  2. How is an ageing population changing society?
  3. Is migration beneficial for most countries?
  4. Why are fewer people getting married nowadays?
  5. Should governments do more to support young families?
  6. How will demographic changes affect the future economy?

Robots & Artificial Intelligence
  1. Will robots eventually replace most human jobs?
  2. Which professions are least likely to be replaced by AI?
  3. Should artificial intelligence be allowed to make important decisions?
  4. Will AI make education more effective?
  5. Do the benefits of automation outweigh the risks?
  6. How should society prepare for an AI-driven future?

Prejudice, Biases & Stereotypes
  1. Why do stereotypes still exist in modern society?
  2. Can prejudice ever be completely eliminated?
  3. How much influence do the media have on people’s opinions?
  4. Should companies do more to promote diversity?
  5. Are first impressions usually reliable?
  6. How can education help reduce discrimination?

Risks & Danger
  1. Are people becoming more willing to take risks?
  2. Which poses a greater threat: cybercrime or traditional crime?
  3. Should governments do more to protect people from online scams?
  4. Is modern life safer than it was fifty years ago?
  5. Are extreme sports worth the risks involved?
  6. How can people make better decisions in dangerous situations?

Science & Innovation
  1. Should scientific research receive more government funding?
  2. Which scientific discovery has had the greatest impact on society?
  3. Can scientific progress create more problems than it solves?
  4. Should there be limits on genetic engineering?
  5. How might medicine change over the next fifty years?
  6. Is space exploration worth the enormous cost?

Globalisation
  1. Has globalisation improved people’s lives?
  2. Does globalisation threaten local cultures?
  3. Should countries become more self-sufficient?
  4. How has globalisation changed the workplace?
  5. Does international cooperation solve global problems effectively?
  6. What are the greatest advantages and disadvantages of living in a globalised world?

Consumerism & Money
  1. Are people too materialistic nowadays?
  2. Does money bring happiness?
  3. Should governments do more to reduce economic inequality?
  4. Is advertising becoming too influential?
  5. Why do people often buy things they don’t really need?
  6. Should companies be more socially responsible than profitable?

Ethics & Moral Dilemmas
  1. Is it ever acceptable to lie?
  2. Should freedom of speech have limits?
  3. Is it ethical for companies to collect people’s personal data?
  4. Should animals have the same legal protections everywhere?
  5. Do the ends always justify the means?
  6. Are people becoming more or less ethical than previous generations?

Crime & Justice
  1. What causes people to commit crimes?
  2. Should prisons focus more on punishment or rehabilitation?
  3. Is the death penalty ever justified?
  4. Should young offenders be treated differently from adults?
  5. Can technology help reduce crime?
  6. What is the most effective way to prevent crime?

The Future of Humanity
  1. What will everyday life be like in fifty years?
  2. Will humans eventually live on other planets?
  3. Are future generations likely to have a better quality of life?
  4. What invention could change the world most dramatically?
  5. Which global problem should humanity solve first?
  6. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of our planet?