This is an interesting topic for intermediate-level English speakers and above. There are also some interesting facts at the bottom of the page that you can use as a warmer before starting the gold conversation questions.
There are quite a few challenging words and phrases in this discussion activity. These are the hardest that you may want to go over beforehand – located, jewelry, nugget, currency, fossick, panning, extract, investment, valuable, myths, and legends.
The gold conversation questions are –
What do you think about gold? Do you own anything that is made out of gold?
How much does gold cost in your country? Where can you buy gold?
If you could have anything made out of gold, what would you like to have?
Do you like the color gold? Do you have any gold-colored clothing?
Are there any gold mines in your county? Where are they located?
How does gold come from the ground and then become a piece of jewelry?
Can you give any examples of the color gold in nature?
What would you do if you found a large gold nugget in your garden?
Does your country have any gold coins in its currency? What are they?
Have you ever heard of people eating gold? What were the foods they ate it with?
Would you like to try fossicking or panning for gold? Where would you do it?
What are some of the ways that people find gold and extract it from the ground?
Do you think that buying gold is a good investment? Why or why not?
Which countries in the world do you think have a lot of gold?
In what kinds of art is gold used? How is gold used in the arts?
What is the biggest piece of gold that you have ever seen in real life?
Do you know any good songs about gold? What are the lyrics?
What do you think would happen if lots of gold was discovered in your hometown?
Do you think that gold will be worth more or less 100 years from now?
Do you know any stories, myths, or legends about gold? What are they?
Why do you think gold is so valuable to people over the ages?
Do you think that gold mining in rainforests and jungles should be allowed?
Have you ever heard of somebody stealing gold? What happened?
What do you think most of the world’s gold is used for?
