Conversation Questions
Holidays
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
- When is the holiday celebrated?
- Is it celebrated as a family or a group?
- Does your family celebrate this holiday?
- Has your family always celebrated this holiday? If not, when did you start celebrating it?
- When does the celebration for this holiday generally start?
- Is it a religious holiday?
- Which religion celebrates it?
- Is attending a temple or a church on that day part of the celebration?
- Are there specific prayers or blessings that go with the holiday?
- Are there special foods connected with the holiday?
- Have you eaten any of these foods?
- Do you or did you like the foods?
- Can you make these foods? Are you good at making them?
- Is gift giving a part of this holiday?
- Are there specific types of gifts to be given?
- Who are they given to?
- What are some of the things that are done to show that this holiday is being observed?
- Is it strictly an American holiday?
- When did Congress approve this holiday? Or did they?
- Is it only a state or city approved holiday?
- Has is ever been disapproved by officials?
- What does the holiday stand for? Why is this holiday celebrated?
- Are the banks, post offices or schools closed for this holiday?
- Is there is a person or god connected with the holiday?
- Who are they and do you believe in them?
- If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration of these bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?
- Do you enjoy the holiday?
- Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holiday?
- Do your neighbors decorate their house?
- How is the house decorated?
- Is the inside decorated? How?
- Are there special songs associated with the holiday?
- Do you know the songs?
- Can you sing some of them?
- Do schools, temples or churches have special programs for this holiday?
- Are there parties?
- Are these for adults, children or both?
- Do you see your relatives during this holiday?
- Who did you visit?
- Do you visit them every year on this holiday?
- How many different nationalities or ethnic groups do you see celebrating this holiday?
- What do you usually do for this holiday?
- What did you do last year?
- What would you like to do next year?
- Are cards sent or given for this holiday?
- Did you send any cards last year?
- How many cards did you send?
- Who did you send cards to?
- What traditional colors are associated with this holiday?
- Do you do something different during this holiday?
- Would you like to go on a cruise? Why or why not?
- Will you go back to the same place again?
- Have you ever entered a competition to win a holiday?
- Compare the experience of being a tourist with being an international student.
- Would you take a job where you had to travel at least once a month?
- In your opinion, what are the five most essential items to pack on any holiday?
- Is a 'working holiday' really a holiday?
- Who do you know that really needs a holiday, and why? Where should they go and what should they do?
- Compare caravan holidays with youth hostels.
- Compare camping in a tent with staying in a five star hotel.
- Compare traveling alone to traveling with a companion.
- Compare package tours with do-it-yourself tours.
- Do you think package holidays for pets is a good idea?
- If so, what kind of tours and activities should they offer?
- How much should they be?
- Should dogs and cats be allowed to travel on the same tour?
- What holidays have disappeared in your country?
- What is your parent's favorite holiday?
- What new holiday are needed in your country?
- What holiday should be abolished?
- What are some of your fondest memories of Thanksgiving?
- What kind of traditional food do you eat for Thanksgiving?
- Where is the best place to be for the holidays?
- Do you think holidays are important? Why?
- What kinds of thing do you like to do on the holidays?
- Do you ever feel blue during the holidays? What do you do about it?
- Do you think pets need holidays? What kinds of holidays would we have for pets?
- What games do you play during your holidays?
- How many holidays do you have in your country?
- What special foods are associated with your favorite holiday?
- What special clothing/customs are associated with your favorite holiday?
- What is your favorite holiday memory? Tell us about it.
- Who is your favorite holiday character (e.g. Santa Claus)? Why?
- What are three holidays that you like to spend with your family?
- What is your worst holiday memory? Tell us about it.
- If you had a long holiday, what will you do with it?
- Do you like to stay up late on holidays?
- Who do you usually spend the holidays with?
- If a holiday falls on a Sunday, should you get another day off?
- What is best present you ever received?
- What is your favorite holiday food?
- What is your favorite holiday song?
- Does it bother you that some holidays are religious and some are not?
- Do you celebrate holidays differently now than you did when you were a child?
- What is your favorite holiday festival in your country?
- Do you light off fireworks on New Years Eve in your country?
- If you could visit any other country during Christmas, where would you go?
- What holiday is the most dangerous in your country?
- What holiday is the most exciting in your country?
- Why do we celebrate Easter?
- Do you celebrate Easter in your country?
- How do you celebrate Easter in your country?
- Do you have any special family traditions?
- Did the original meaning of Easter get lost?
If you can think of another good question for this list, please add it.
http://iteslj.org/questions/
Thanks to Kathy Garza who suggested this topic and contributed the first 38 questions.
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