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An A-level discussion lesson


Do you ever feel that you would like to do a lesson totally unconnected with the syllabus? Do you like the idea of your advanced level students just communicating with each other on thought-provoking subjects? You know how language acquisition works: comprehensible input and interaction = acquisition!

Below is a set of questions/prompts which should get your quite proficient class talking. You don't have to join in, but you could be available when they get stuck for a turn of phrase or item of vocabulary. I'll give you my French prompts (from a worksheet on frenchteacher.net), then translate them in case you teach a different language.

French version

1. Si vous pouviez changer une chose dans votre vie, cela serait quoi et pourquoi ? Est-ce que votre vie serait différente aujourd’hui ?

2. Quel est votre plus grand exploit dans la vie ? Pourquoi était-ce important ?

3. Si vous aviez un superpouvoir cela serait quoi ? Vous feriez quoi avec ?

4. Si les scientifiques découvraient qu’un astéroïde allait entrer en collision avec la terre dans un mois, que feriez-vous pendant ce temps ?

5. Si vous pouviez changer ou inventer une loi, ça serait quoi ? Comment cela changerait-il le monde ?

6. Qui est la personne la plus sage que vous ayez jamais rencontrée ? Pourquoi ?

7. Si vous étiez un personnage de dessin animé, vous seriez qui ? Pourquoi ?

8. Si on pouvait lire dans les pensées des autres, est-ce que le monde serait meilleur ? Pourquoi ?

9. Si vous pouviez émigrer dans un autre pays, où iriez-vous ? Pourquoi ?

10. Si vous pouviez parler à un animal, ce serait lequel ? Qu’est-ce qu’il dirait ?

11. Décrivez la plus grande déception de votre vie.

12. Si vous pouviez voyager dans le temps, à quelle époque iriez-vous ? Pourquoi ?

13. Quelle est la chose la plus remarquable qu’un membre de votre famille a faite.

14. Imaginez que vous étiez un extra-terrestre qui arrive sur Terre. Que penseriez-vous de la planète et ses habitants ?

15. Si vous aviez le choix d’être sourd ou aveugle, quel choix feriez-vous ? Pourquoi ?


English version

1. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why? Would your life be different today?

2. What is your greatest achievement in life? Why was it important?

3. If you had a superpower, what would it be? What would you do with it?

4. If scientists found out that an asteroid was going to collide with the earth in a month, what would you do during that time?

5. If you could change or invent one law, what would it be? How would that change the world?

6. Who is the wisest person you have ever met? Why ?

7. If you were a cartoon character, who would you be? Why ?

8. If you could read other people's minds, would the world be a better place? Why ?

9. If you could emigrate to another country, where would you go? Why ?

10. If you could talk to one animal, which one would it be? What would he say?

11. Describe the biggest disappointment in your life.

12. If you could time travel, what era would you go to? Why ?

13. What is the most remarkable thing that a member of your family has done.

14. Imagine you were an alien arriving on Earth. What would you think of the planet and its inhabitants?

15. If you had the choice to be deaf or blind, which choice would you make? Why ?


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