Family conversation questions for ESL
Here we have 75 discussion questions about family on 3 separate worksheets. The handouts have a wide range of family-related questions and also have pictures to describe.
Difficult words and expressions in the first speaking activity include – siblings, reunion, extended family, special, argue, argument, keep in touch, appearance, character, chore, and allowed.
The family conversation questions on worksheet 1 above are –
1- How many people are there in your family? Who is the oldest?
2 – What do you and your family like to do together? How often do you do it?
3 – What is the best thing about having a family?
4 -Does your family always eat dinner together? What do you usually eat?
5 – Where did your family travel to on the last vacation? What did you do there?
6 – Who is the hardest-working person in your family? What do they do?
7 – Do you have any siblings? Would you like to have more?
8 – What do you think is the best size for a family?
9 – How often do you have family reunions with extended family members?
10 – Where were your parents born? Is it far from where you live now?
11 – Are there any special days of the year when your family has fun together?
12 – What did your grandparents do when they were younger?
13 – Does your family have a pet? Who looks after it the most?
14 – Does everyone in your family have their own room or do you share?
15 – Who would you say is the boss of your family?
16 – Do you get on well with all your family members?
17 – Does your family ever have arguments? What do you argue about?
18 – Who is the noisiest person in your family? What makes them so noisy?
19 – Would you like to live with your parents or in another house? Why?
20 – Describe your parents. What are their appearances and characters like?
21 – Do you keep in touch with family members you don’t live with? How often?
22 –Who does most of the household chores in your family? Do you help?
23 – What things are not allowed in your family home?
24 – Do you hope to have children one day? Would you prefer boys or girls?
25 – Would you like your family to move somewhere else? Where to?
Family conversation questions 2
Before starting this discussion worksheet, check your students are familiar with these terms – close (relationship), a living (job), raise a family, location, strict, react, adopted, resemble, curfew, distant ancestors, and tradition.
On worksheet 2 the family conversation questions are –
26 – Has your family ever done any work together? What did you do?
27 – Who would you say you are closest to in your family?
28 – Which is most important to you, friends or family? Why?
29 – What do your parents do for a living? Do they like their jobs?
30 – Where do you think is the best location to raise a family in your country?
31 – Are your parents strict? How do they react if you do something wrong?
32 – Will you take care of your parents when they get old and frail? How?
33 – What is the happiest family memory you can think of?
34 – When you have children, will you do anything differently to your parents?
35 – Do you know anybody who is adopted? Would you ever adopt a child?
36 – How do you think families in other countries are different to yours?
37 – Who do you resemble most, your mother or your father?
38 – Which of your parents do you take after most?
39 – Do you think that mothers should stay home to raise their children?
40 – What things have your parents taught you not to do?
41 – Did or have your parents ever set a curfew to be home at night?
42 – Do you know much about your great-grandparents? What did they do?
43 – What do you know about your distant ancestors? Where were they from?
44 – Have you ever kept a secret or hidden something from your parents?
45 – Do you ever feel like you need time away from your family?
46 – Has your father ever done something that made you laugh a lot?
47 – Do you know how your parents met? What is the story?
48 – Does your family have any special traditions? What are they?
49 – In what ways is family life changing in your country?
50 – Are there many families in your neighborhood? Are they different from yours?
Family conversation questions 3
A third worksheet of family conversation questions. This discussion activity has the idiom “bring home the bacon” and the phrasal verbs – look up to, pass down, and name after. Other challenging terms include – greet, surname, discipline, expectations, achieve, heirloom, in-laws, and maid.
The third set of family discussion questions are –
51 – How do you greet family members when you haven’t seen them in a long time?
52 – What is the longest amount of time you have spent away from your parents?
53 – What animals do you know of that live in families?
54 – At what age do you think children should leave home?
55 – Which family member do you usually talk to when you have problems?
56 – Do you have any favorite aunts or uncles? Why do you like them?
57 – Where do your grandparents live? How often do you see them?
58 – What do you think makes a happy family? Is money important?
59 – How old were your parents when they had children?
60 – Are you named after anyone in your family? What does your surname mean?
61 – How did your parents discipline you when you were naughty?
62 – Who is the person you look up most to in your family?
63 – Do your parents have any expectations or things they want you to achieve?
64 – How many times has your family moved home? Why did you move?
65 – Are there any objects or heirlooms that are passed down in your family?
66 – What is the most useful thing that your mother has taught you?
67 – Do you have any in-laws? What are they like?
68 – Who “brings home the bacon” in your family?
69 – Have you ever had a nanny or a maid? What were they like?
70 – Which person in your family gives the best gifts? What did they last give you?
71 – Who is the best cook in your family? What is their best dish?
72 – If your family was a TV show or a movie, what would it be called?
73 – What do you think is the best age to start a family?
74 – What will be the most important thing that you teach your children?
75 – In what ways would your life be different if you didn’t have any family at all?
