Debates! (Conversation Club)

This week the ‘Thinking in English’ Community is asking debate-style questions!

Debating is an important part of our society. Debating important issues is a good way to challenge our own beliefs and to learn about different perspectives and views.

Some topics are classic debates that people have been having for decades or even centuries, other top debates focus on our ever-changing modern world.

Here are 10 conversation questions to get you debating!

The Thinking in English Conversation Club takes place every TUESDAY at 12pm, 6pm, and 9pm, and THURSDAY at 12pm and 6pm UK time!

You can find more details on how to participate on Patreon and Discord!

Conversation Questions: Debates!

1. Is social media more harmful than beneficial to society?

2. Is it ethical to use animals for scientific research?

3. Should higher education be free for everyone?

4. Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

5. Should private companies be allowed to manage space exploration?

6. Should junk food be banned in schools?

7. Should animals be kept in zoos?

8. Is it better to work from home or in an office?

9. Should students have homework?

10. “Debate and divergence of views can only enrich our history and culture.”

– Ibrahim Babangida

What do you think of this quote?

Vocabulary List:

• Harmful
  • causing harm (physical or other injury or damage)
• Beneficial
  • helpful, useful, or good
• Research
  • a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding
• Higher education
  • education at a college or university where subjects are studied at an advanced level
• Exploration
  • the act of traveling to a place or searching a place in order to learn about it
• Junk food
  • food that is unhealthy but is quick and easy to eat
• Zoo
  • an area in which animals, especially wild animals, are kept so that people can go and look at them or study them
• Homework
  • work that teachers give their students to do at home
• Divergence
  • the situation in which two things become different
• Enrich
  • to improve the quality of something by adding something else

Model Answers:

B1 (Intermediate) Model Answers

Vocabulary:

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B2 (Upper Intermediate) Model Answers

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C1 (Advanced Level) Model Answers

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See you all at this week’s conversation club!

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