Conversation Questions

Age: Youth & Old Age

Are young people generally more selfish than their parents and grandparents? Does age make you more aware of and caring for others

Should adults try to teach young people lessons, such as the dangers of drinking too much, taking drugs or catch the AIDS virus, or should they leave them alone to find out about these things themselves? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches

What do you think is the best age to be? Explain your opinion.

Most countries give young people rights as they reach a certain age. For example, British people can legally make love or fight for their country at the age of 16; they can drink, vote and drive a car when they are 18. Does China have similar laws? Do you think that any of the age limits need changing

Some people think you should give something to society before you have the right to join it. Should young people have to do some form of military or community service by law

Should people of between 50 and 55 be forced to retire from their jobs in order to make way for younger workers

If people are still able to (and want to) work, should they have to retire when the reach a certain age? Explain your opinion.

In most countries the legal retirement age for men is 5 years older than for women, even though women live longer than men on average. Why do you think this is? Is this fair, or should it be changed

Are there many things that the old can teach the young or are they hopelessly out of touch by the time they reach a certain age? What things were you taught by your older family members? How have they been useful to you in your life

In most countries, compulsory education is targeted at 5 - 16 year olds. Would it be better to offer it to pensioners who want to learn rather than young people who prefer not to be in school? Explain your opinion.

In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing leaders who are quite advanced in years. Do you think that older people make better leaders? Explain your opinion.

One of Britain's best-ever leaders was William Pitt the younger, who became Prime Minister when he was 24 and remained in power for 18 years. Could this ever happen in China? Why/why not

Many elderly people have disabilities which limit their mobility. Do buses, shops and public buildings in your country provide easy access for the disabled or are your towns and cities designed mainly for the young and able-bodied? Why is this

Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their own savings or should appropriate accommodation and nursing be provided by the tax payer? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that men age better than women, and remain attractive longer – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that men never grow up, they just get bigger – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that young women are usually 2 to 3 years more mature than young men – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

In most countries women live an average of 5 to 6 years longer than men. Why do you think this is

In some countries having children is considered a way of "investing in the future", and young people are expected to give money to their parents when they get a job, and then to care for them when they retire. What are the good points and what are the bad points about this system

Many countries are facing the problem of an "aging population", i.e. there will soon be more old people than young people. What problems will this cause? What can be done to prepare for them

What do you think is the ideal age for each of these stages of your life: (Explain your opinion.)

• Starting School
• Starting Dating
• Leaving School/starting work
• Leaving your parents' home
• Getting Married
• Having a Child
• Retiring

Are you afraid of getting old

What is your ideal old age to live to

Do you prefer to live in the retirement home or live with young people?

Should parents continue to finance their children after the children are 18?

Clothes & Fashion

About how much money do you spend on clothes a year

Do you like shopping for new clothes

Do you often buy new clothes

Do you prefer to go shopping or just browse? Why

Do you think men should be allowed to wear skirts

What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most? Why

Do you read fashion magazines

Do you sometimes wear a hat

Do you think it is important to wear fashionable clothes

• (Do you think it is important to be in fashion)

Do you wear jewelry

• If so, what kind of jewelry do you wear
• How often do you wear jewelry

Do you wear the same color clothes now that you wore ten years ago

Do you wear the same size clothes this year as you wore last year

Do you think people feel different when they wear different clothes

Have you ever made your own clothes

• If so, what did you make
• Do you often make your own clothes

How many pairs of gloves do you have

What are some of the strangest fashions you have seen

What colors do you think look good on you

What colors do you think look good on your mother

What did you wear yesterday

What do you think of body piercing

• Do you have pierced ears
• Do you know anyone with a pierced nose
• Would you ever pierce your tongue

What do you think of people who dye their hair green

What do you think of women who wear high heel shoes

• Do you think high heel shoes are bad for a person's health

What fashions that you see today do you think will be out of fashion within two years

What is your shoe size

What kind of clothes are in fashion now

What kind of clothes do you usually wear

What's the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever bought

What's your favorite color for shoes

When was the last time you got dressed up

• Why
• How often do you get dressed up
• Do you like to get dressed up

Where are some good stores to buy clothes in this area

Where do you usually buy clothes

Would you like to be a fashion model

Questions on Styles, Clothing and Fashion-based Stereotypes

• What would you think of a women who cut off all her hair and went around bald as a fashion statement
• What do you think of a man who is bald for fashion's sake
• What do you think of women who wear short mini-skirts
• Do you think that the clothes we wear reflect what is inside us 
• What do you think of people who always and only wear black?
• What do you think of people with tattoos?
  • Do you have a tattoo?
  • Do you know someone with a tattoo
• What do you think of people with body piercing
  • Do you have pierced ears
  • Would you pierce other parts of your body
• What would you think of a high school student who always wore very conservative clothes
• What type of clothing do you wear when you are angry and you want to express yourself
• What colors do you choose to wear when you are happy
• Would you dress the same as you do in your country if you went to America for a visit
• Do you dress the same when you are depressed as you do when you are very happy
  • In what ways do you dress differently
• If you went out with a group of high school friends, would you dress differently then if you went out with your grandmother and her friends
• In what ways does your Grandmother dress differently then you
• When you get old do you think you will dress like your grandmother or grandfather
• Would you ever wear dreadlocks
  • What do you think of the people who wear them
• Have you ever worn your hair braided in small braids.
  • Did anyone look at you differently because of it
• Would you ever wear contacts to change your eye color
• What is the difference in the people who choose to wear contacts and the people who choose to were glasses
• What do you think about women who don't wear earrings
• What do you think about men who wear earrings
  • What do you think of women who do
• Is it possible for women to wear too much make-up
  • When is a person wearing to much make-up
  • What do you think of men who wear make-up
• Is it possible to be beautiful without wearing any make-up, earrings or other accessories
• Do fashionable clothes really change the way a person looks
• What differences have you noticed in the fashions here and in your country
• What do you think of men who where tights
• What do you think about secondhand clothes
  • Why do you think people buy secondhand clothes
  • Have you ever been to a store that sells secondhand clothes
  • Have you ever bought secondhand clothes
  • Would you buy secondhand clothes
• When and where did you buy an article of clothing you're wearing right now? Why did you choose it
• What would you think if the mother of the groom wore black at a wedding
  • What would you think if a bride wore red
  • Should a bride's dress be long or do you think it could be the length of a regular skirt
• What items of clothing do you consider provocative
  • (It would be interesting to see if foreigners perceive their own clothing to be provocative or not, but to get them to admit that, the question should be phrased - would it be so in American or Canada, etc.)
  • What do you think of men wearing high heels
    • What do you think of women wearing high heels
  • Why is it acceptable for women to wear men's clothing, but not for men to dress in women's clothing
  • Is there a stigma attached to people who buy no-name (no brand) clothing
  • Are some people more fashion conscious than others? What types/groups of people
  • Have you ever bought imitation brand clothing
  • What traditional costumes do people from your country wear
    • When do you wear them
    • Are they comfortable