Let's talk about what you do. Do you work or are you a student?
Work: What job do you do? | What skills do you need for your job? | What do you particularly like about your job?
Study: What subject are you studying? | Why did you want to study that subject? | How long have you been studying (English/nursing/accountancy, etc.)?
What do you like most about your hometown?
Is your hometown a popular place for tourists to visit? [Why? / Why not?]
Has your home town changed much in recent years? [Why? / Why not?]
What did you study in history lessons when you were at school?
Did you enjoy studying history at school? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you watch TV programmes about history now? [Why/Why not?]
What period in history would you like to learn more about? [Why?]
What kinds of emails do you receive about your work or studies?
Do you prefer to email, phone or text your friends? [Why?]
Do you reply to emails and messages as soon as you receive them? [Why/Why not?]
Are you happy to receive emails that are advertising things? [Why/Why not?]
How well do you know the people who live next door to you?
How often do you see them? [Why/Why not?]
What kinds of problem do people sometimes have with their neighbours?
How do you think neighbours can help each other?
How do you usually contact your friends? [Why?]
Do you prefer to contact different people in different ways? [Why?]
Do you find it easy to keep in contact with friends and family? [Why/Why not?]
In your country, did people in the past keep in contact in the same ways as they do today? [Why/Why not?]
What sorts of food do you like eating most? [Why?]
Who normally does the cooking in your home? [Why/Why not?]
Do you watch cookery programmes on TV? [Why/Why not?]
In general, do you prefer eating out or eating at home? [Why?]
How do you usually spend your weekends? [Why?]
Which is your favourite part of the weekend? [Why?]
Do you think your weekends are long enough? [Why/Why not?]
How important do you think it is to have free time at the weekends? [Why?]
What games are popular in your country? [Why?]
Do you play any games? [Why/Why not?]
How do people learn to play games in your country?
Do you think it's important for people to play games? [Why/Why not?]
Tell me something about your secondary school.
Which subject did you find most difficult at school? [Why?]
Do you ever need that subject now? [Why? / Why not?]
What did you enjoy about being a school student?
Are there any famous buildings in your home town? [What are they?]
In what type of building do most people in your home town live?
Should buildings be attractive to look at? [Why? / Why not?]
What is the most unusual building you have ever seen? [Why?]
Did you have a favourite book when you were a child? [Why/Why not?]
How much reading do you do for your work/studies? [Why/Why not?]
What kinds of books do you read for pleasure? [Why/Why not?]
Do you prefer to read a newspaper or a magazine online, or to buy a copy? [Why?]
How many languages can you speak? [Why/Why not?]
How useful will English be to you in your future? [Why/Why not?]
What do you remember about learning languages at school? [Why/Why not?]
What do you think would be the hardest language for you to learn? [Why?]
Which social media websites do you use?
How much time do you spend on social media sites? [Why/Why not?]
What kind of information about yourself have you put on social media? [Why/Why not?]
Is there anything you don't like about social media? [Why?]
How often do you go out with friends? [Why/Why not?]
Tell me about your best friend at school.
How friendly are you with your neighbours? [Why/Why not?]
Which is more important to you, friends or family? [Why?]
What types of music do you like to listen to? [Why?]
At what times of day do you like to listen to music? [Why?]
Did you learn to play a musical instrument when you were a child? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think all children should learn to play a musical instrument? [Why/Why not?]
When do people give gifts or presents in your country?
Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]
Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]
Which instrument do you like listening to most? [Why?]
Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? [Which one?]
Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school? [Why/Why not?]
How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? [Why?]
What's your favourite colour? [Why?]
Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were younger? [Why/Why not?]
What can you learn about a person from the colours they like?
Do any colours have a special meaning in your culture?
What kinds of food do you like to eat?
What kind of new food would you like to try? [Why?]
Do you like cooking? [Why/Why not?]
What was the last meal you cooked?
Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants? [Why?]
Is your home town a good place to live? [Why? / Why not?]
What sort of jobs do people do in your home town?
In which part of your home town do most people live?
Where did you play in your home town when you were a child?
How often do you go to the cinema?
Do you prefer to watch a film at the cinema or at home? [Why?]
Which film from your childhood do you remember most? [Why?]
What's your favourite film now? [Why?]
What do you like to drink with your dinner? [Why?]
Do you drink a lot of water every day? [Why/Why not?]
Do you prefer drinking tea or coffee? [Why?]
If people visit you in your home, what do you usually offer them to drink? [Why/Why not?]
Did you learn to swim when you were a child? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you go swimming now? [Why/Why not?]
What places are there for swimming where you live? [Why?]
Do you think it would be more enjoyable to go swimming outdoors or at an indoor pool? [Why?]
How often do you see your neighbours? [Why/Why not?]
Do you invite your neighbours to your home? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think you are a good neighbour? [Why/Why not?]
Has a neighbour ever helped you? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you make telephone calls? [Why/Why not?]
Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone? [Why?]
When do you think you'll next make a telephone call? [Why?]
Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning? [Why/Why not?]
Do you like to have flowers in your home? [Why/Why not?]
Where would you go to buy flowers? [Why?]
On what occasions would you give someone flowers?
Are flowers important in your culture? [Why/Why not?]
Have you ever been in very cold weather? [When?]
How often is the weather cold where you come from?
Are some parts of your country colder than others? [Why?]
Would you prefer to live in a hot place or a cold place? [Why?]
Do you have any hobbies or interests? [What are they?]
How did you become interested in (whatever hobby/interest the candidate mentions)?
What is there to do in your free time in (candidate's home town/village)?
How do you usually spend your holidays?
Is there anywhere you would particularly like to visit? [Why?]
Why did you choose your job? / Why did you choose your subject(s)?
What are your working hours? / When do you prefer to study on your own? [Why?]
Tell me something about the people who work with you. / Tell me something about the other students on your course.
What don't you like about your job? / What don't you like about your studies?
What sports are popular in your country?
Did you learn any sports at school? [Why? / Why not?]
How often do you watch sport? [Why not?]
Do you participate in any sports at the moment? [Which ones?]
Do you think it's better to use a paper map or a map on your phone? [Why?]
When was the last time you needed to use a map? [Why/Why not?]
If you visit a new city, do you always use a map to find your way around? [Why/Why not?]
In general, do you find it easy to read maps? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you wear jewellery? [Why/Why not?]
What type of jewellery do you like best? [Why/Why not?]
When do people like to give jewellery in your country [Why?]
Have you ever given jewellery to someone as a gift? [Why/Why not?]
Do you like the neighbourhood you live in? [Why/Why not?]
What do you do in your neighbourhood in your free time? [Why/Why not?]
What new things would you like to have in your neighbourhood? [Why/Why not?]
Would you like to live in another neighbourhood in your town or city? [Why/Why not?]
How popular are bicycles in your home town? [Why?]
How often do you ride a bicycle? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think that bicycles are suitable for all ages? [Why/Why not?]
What are the advantages of a bicycle compared to a car? [Why?]
How often do you watch television? [Why/Why not?]
Which television channel do you usually watch? [Why?]
Do you enjoy the advertisements on television? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think most programmes on television are good? [Why/Why not?]
Do you prefer to have one particular friend or a group of friends? [Why?]
What do you like doing most with your friend/s?
Do you think it's important to keep in contact with friends you knew as a child? [Why/Why not?]
What makes a friend into a good friend?
What place do you most like to visit?
How often do you visit this place?
Why do you like it so much?
Is it popular with many other people?
Has it changed very much since you first went there? [In what way?]
What kind of place is your town/city?
What's the most interesting part of your town/city?
Has your town/city changed in any way in your life time? [How?]
Would you say your town/city is a good place for young people to live? [Why? / Why not?]
What kind of things do you prefer shopping for?
In what kind of places do you like to go shopping? [Why?]
What effect has online shopping had in your country?
What would you recommend that tourists buy from your country? [Why?]
Who do you spend most time studying/working with? [Why?]
What kinds of things do you study/work on with other people? [Why?]
Are there times when you study/work better by yourself? [Why/Why not?]
Is it important to like the people you study/work with? [Why/Why not?]
What job would you like to have ten years from now? [Why?]
How useful will English be for your future? [Why/Why not?]
How much travelling do you hope to do in the future? [Why/Why not?]
How do you think your life will change in the future? [Why/Why not?]
Where do you usually watch TV programmes/shows? [Why?/Why not?]
What's your favourite TV programme/show? [Why?]
Are there any programmes/shows you don't like watching? [Why?/Why not?]
Do you think you will watch more TV or fewer TV programmes/shows in the future? [Why?/Why not?]
Is it important to you to eat healthy food? [Why?/Why not?]
If you catch a cold, what do you do to help you feel better? [Why?]
Do you pay attention to public information about health? [Why?/Why not?]
What could you do to have a healthier lifestyle?
What type of photos do you like taking? [Why/Why not?]
What do you do with photos you take? [Why/Why not?]
When you visit other places, do you take photos or buy postcards? [Why/Why not?]
Do you like people taking photos of you? [Why/Why not?]
Do you enjoy travelling? [Why/Why not?]
Have you done much travelling? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think it's better to travel alone or with other people? [Why?]
Where would you like to travel in the future? [Why?]
Which part of your country do most people live in?
Tell me about the main industries there.
How easy is it to travel around your country?
Has your country changed much since you were a child?
Do you have a large family or a small family?
Can you tell me something about them?
How much time do you manage to spend with members of your family?
What sorts of things do you like to do together?
Did/Do you get on well with your family? [Why?]
How often do you watch television?
What kinds of television programmes are most popular in your country?
Is there anything you would like to change about television in your country? [Why? / Why not?]
Do you have a favourite flower or plant? [Why/Why not?]
What kinds of flowers and plants grow near where you live? [Why/Why not?]
Is it important to you to have flowers and plants in your home? [Why/Why not?]
Have you ever bought flowers for someone else? [Why/Why not?]
Are you happy to be the age you are now? [Why/Why not?]
When you were a child, did you think a lot about your future? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think you have changed as you have got older? [Why/Why not?]
What will be different about your life in the future? [Why]
Did you enjoy singing when you were younger? [Why?/Why not?]
How often do you sing now? [Why?]
Do you have a favourite song you like listening to? [Why?/Why not?]
How important is singing in your culture? [Why?]
How did your parents choose your name(s)?
Does your name have any special meaning?
Is your name common or unusual in your country?
If you could change your name, would you? [Why/Why not?]
Did you go to secondary/high school near to where you lived? [Why/Why not?]
What did you like about your secondary/high school? [Why?]
Tell me about anything you didn't like at your school.
How do you think your school could be improved? [Why/Why not?]
Which magazines and newspapers do you read? [Why?]
What kinds of article are you most interested in? [Why?]
Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language? [When/Why?]
Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language is a good way to learn the language? [Why/Why not?]
Do you enjoy dancing? [Why/Why not?]
Has anyone ever taught you to dance? [Why/Why not?]
Tell me about any traditional dancing in your country.
Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future? [Why/Why not?]
Tell me about the most important festival in your country.
What special food and activities are connected with this festival?
What do you most enjoy about it?
Do you think festivals are important for a country? [Why?]
Do most people live in houses or apartments in your country?
What do people usually do in their free time in your country?
What do you enjoy most about living in your country?
Would you say that your country is a good place to visit? [Why?]
What is your favourite meal?
Do you prefer to eat out or eat at home? [Why?]
Are there any traditional meals that you would recommend? [Why?]
How have people's eating habits changed in your country?
Is summer your favourite time of year? [Why/Why not?]
What do you do in summer when the weather's very hot? [Why?]
Do you go on holiday every summer? [Why/Why not?]
Did you enjoy the summer holidays when you were at school? [Why/Why not?]
When you go shopping, do you prefer to pay for things in cash or by card? [Why?]
Do you ever save money to buy special things? [Why/Why not?]
Would you ever take a job which had low pay? [Why/Why not?]
Would winning a lot of money make a big difference to your life? [Why/Why not?]
Where do you buy most of your clothes? [Why?]
How often do you buy new clothes for yourself? [Why?]
How do you decide which clothes to buy? [Why?]
Have the kinds of clothes you like changed in recent years? [Why?/Why not?]
What different types of writing do you do, for example letters, emails, reports or essays?
Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer? [Why?]
Do you write more now or less than you did a few years ago? [Why?]
Do you like to write stories or poems? [Why? / Why not?]
How often do you listen to music? [Why?]
Do you prefer to buy CDs or download music from the Internet? [Why?]
Have you always liked the same kind of music? [Why? / Why not?]
Is there a musical instrument you would like to learn to play? [Why? / Why not?]
What kinds of fast food have you tried? [Why/Why not?]
Do you ever use a microwave to cook food quickly? [Why/Why not?]
How popular are fast food restaurants where you live? [Why/Why not?]
When would you go to a fast-food restaurant? [Why/Why not?]
Are there many animals or birds where you live? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you watch programmes or read articles about wild animals? [Why?]
Have you ever been to a zoo or a wildlife park? [Why/Why not?]
Would you like to have a job working with animals? [Why/Why not?]
Did you enjoy doing art lessons when you were a child? [Why?/Why not?]
Do you ever draw or paint pictures now? [Why?/Why not?]
When was the last time you went to an art gallery or exhibition? [Why?]
What kind of pictures do you like having in your home? [Why?]
How do you usually travel to work or college? [Why?]
Have you always travelled to work/college in the same way? [Why/Why not?]
What do you like about travelling to work/college this way?
What changes would improve the way you travel to work/college? [Why?]
Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in the evening? [Why?]
When you go out for an evening, what do you like to do?
How popular is this with other people in your country?
Is there any kind of entertainment you do not like? [Why/Why not?]
What would you suggest a visitor should see and do in your country?
Are there any traditional arts or music you would recommend?
Tell me about the kind of foreign visitors or tourists who go to your country?
In what ways has tourism changed your country?
When was the last time you went to the cinema?
How popular are cinemas where you live? [Why?]
What sorts of films/movies do you enjoy most? [Why?]
Where do you prefer to watch films/movies, at the cinema or at home? [Why?]
What are the most important festivals in your culture? [Why?]
How do people celebrate New Year in your culture? [Why?]
Which festival did you enjoy celebrating most when you were a child? [Why?]
Which festival in another country would you like to go to? [Why?]
What kinds of bills do you have to pay?
How do you usually pay your bills – in cash or by another method? [Why?]
Have you ever forgotten to pay a bill? [Why/Why not?]
Is there anything you could do to make your bills cheaper? [Why/Why not?]
Did you like studying science when you were at school? [Why/Why not?]
What do you remember about your science teachers at school?
How interested are you in science now? [Why/Why not?]
What do you think has been an important recent scientific development? [Why?]
How often do you buy things online? [Why?]
What was the last thing you bought online?
Do you ever see things in shops and then buy them online? [Why/Why not?]
Do you think the popularity of online shopping is changing your town or city centre? [Why/Why not?]
How many hours do you usually sleep at night?
Do you sometimes sleep during the day? [Why/Why not?]
What do you do if you can't get to sleep at night? [Why?]
Do you ever remember the dreams you've had while you were asleep?
Can you find food from many different countries where you live? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you eat typical food from other countries? [Why/Why not?]
Have you ever tried making food from another country? [Why/Why not?]
What food from your country would you recommend to people from other countries? [Why?]
Have you travelled a lot by plane? [To where?/Why not?]
Why do you think some people enjoy travelling by plane?
Would you like to live near an airport? [Why/Why not?]
In the future, do you think that you will travel by plane more often? [Why/Why not?]
Do you prefer spending holidays with friends or with family? [Why?]
What kind of holiday accommodation do you like to stay in? [Why?]
What plans do you have for your next holiday?
Is your city or region a good place for other people to visit on holiday? [Why/Why not?]
Do you have a favourite café? [Why/Why not?]
Do you often go to cafés by yourself? [Why/Why not?]
What do you think helps to make a café very popular? [Why?]
Why do some people prefer cafés that are part of large chains, rather than small, local cafés?
How much walking do you do in your daily life?
Did you walk more when you were at school than now?
What places are there to go for a walk near where you live?
Would you ever like to go on a walking holiday?
What's your favourite fruit?
Are there any kinds of fruit that you don't like eating?
Do you like eating cooked food that has fruit in it?
Where's the best place to buy fruit where you live?