40 Interesting phone conversation questions

Here is a collection of discussion questions about phones and people’s phone habits. Like them or not, pretty much everybody in the world has one these days. They can be both fantastically useful and completely annoying. Phones make for a great speaking topic with just about anyone.

Before starting this exercise with English language learners, make sure your class is familiar with these words – make (noun), model, broken, annoy, accidentally, public, rude, behaviour, situation, law, accessories, invent, popular, and financial transactions.

The phone conversation questions are –

1 – What was the first phone that you ever owned? Where did you get it from?

2 – What make and model phone do you have? Are you happy with this phone?

3 – How many text messages do you send each day?

4 – Which apps do you use the most? What kind of app would you like to invent?

5 – Have you ever broken a phone? How did you do it?

6 – What do you think phones will be like in 20 years’ time from now?

7 – Do you remember the first phone you ever had? What was it?

8 – What things annoy you most about mobile phones?

9 – How much do you spend on phone calls and data each month?

10- Would you be able to live your life without a phone? Why or why not?

11- What would you do if you accidentally dropped your phone in a public toilet?

12- Which new cellphone would you most like to buy? How much does it cost?

13- Have you ever lost or had your phone stolen? How did it happen?

14- In what ways can mobile phones be dangerous? What things can happen?

15- How do you feel about people using phones on airplanes?

16- What do you think is rude phone behaviour?

17- Are there any places or situations where people shouldn’t use phones?

18- Do you think mobile phones have made people’s lives better or worse?

19- Are there any laws about mobile phones in your country?

20- How old do you think a child should be before they get a mobile phone?

21- Have you ever asked someone to stop using their phone? Why?

22- Do you own any phone accessories? What are they?

23- Who do you call the most? Who calls you the most?

24- Which phone app is most useful – a camera, a calculator, a flashlight, or a clock?

25- Are there any brands of mobile phones that you don’t like? Why so?

26- How do you think life was different before the invention of mobile phones?

27- Where is the best place to go and buy a new cell phone in your town or city?

28- Why do you think that mobile phones have become so popular in the modern world?

29- Do you know anyone who doesn’t own a smartphone? Why don’t they have one?

30- Are children allowed to use smartphones in school where you live? How do you feel about this?

31- When you have a choice, do you usually call somebody or text them?

32- When was the last time somebody called or texted you by mistake? What did they want?

33- Do you ever leave your home without a cell phone? Why or why not?

34- What kinds of problems would losing your phone cause you?

35- When was the last time you took a photo with your phone? What was it of?

36- Do you ever turn your phone off? When is a good time to do this?

37- What ringtone have you set on your phone? Do you have different ringtones for different people?

38- Do you think that smartphones can affect your health? Would you sleep with one under your pillow every night?

39- How many different phones and phone chargers have you owned in your lifetime?

40- Do you use a smartphone for banking or any financial transactions? In what ways?