Discussion Topics for Advanced ESL Levels C1-C2

Welcome to our Advanced ESL Conversation Lessons (C1–C2). These topics help fuel discussions for fluent learners who want to deepen fluency, express themselves with more complex vocabulary and syntax, explore complex ideas, and build critical thinking through real-world discussions.

Everyday Life

What is your comfort food?

This ESL lesson uses video and discussion prompts to get students talking about food, culture, and the memories that make certain dishes so comforting.

What do your hobbies do for you?

Discover this complete guide based on the Huffington Post article Healthy Hobbies That Will Improve Your Life, featuring discussion questions and vocabulary to get your students talking about their favourite activities.

What bad habit would like to break?

This complete ESL conversation lesson plan uses engaging discussion prompts and vocabulary activities to help your students debate how to change routine behaviours, featuring thought-provoking conversation questions about willpower, discipline, and personal growth.

How are you feeling?

This ESL conversation lesson uses Tiffany Watt Smith’s TED Talk on the history of human emotions to help explore and expand their feelings vocabulary. Featuring downloadable Google Docs worksheets and targeted discussion questions, ready-to-use lesson plan designed to build emotional literacy and fluency across all proficiency levels.

What kind of music improves your mood?

This ESL conversation lesson explores the scientific connection between music, productivity, and mental health. It includes pre-discussion prompts, mind-mapping activities, and thought-provoking reading questions about how different genres of music impact our daily lives.

Why do humans treat their pets like human beings?

Explore the psychology behind why we anthropomorphize our animals with this ESL conversation lesson focused on how humans treat their pets like people. This lesson features vocabulary matching, a mind-mapping activity, and discussion questions centred on a New York Times video about pet behaviour and relationships.

What movie do you want to see?

Bring the magic of cinema into your classroom. Movies, film genres, and personal entertainment preferences get them talking and exchanging preferences. Included targeted vocabulary and stimulating discussion prompts to get students sharing their favourite films and future watchlists.

When you go to someone’s house, what do you look at?

Explore global living standards and household objects with this ESL lesson focused on comparatives and superlatives. Based on Anna Rosling Rönnlund's TED Talk and interactive "Dollar Street" photographic database, this complete lesson plan includes targeted discussion prompts and a free data collection handout to practise descriptive and comparative language.

5 of the most interesting talking points…

Discover how to spark deep, meaningful connections with this ESL conversation lesson focused on the art of powerful questioning. Perfect for levels A2 through C1, this reading and speaking activity explores the psychology of great conversation starters and includes a targeted True/False handout to test comprehension and build fluency.