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Awareness of Other Cultures

• How do people learn about other cultures? FQ

• Do you think the ways people learn about other cultures today are different to the ways people used to get knowledge decades ago? FQ

• What do you think is the best way to become familiar with another culture? FQx2

• Do you think it's always necessary to leave your country in order to become familiar with another culture? FQ

• Do you think people's understanding of other cultures today is different to people's understanding of other cultures in the past?

• Do you think one can learn about a foreign culture by watching films from that country?

• Who do you think can learn about another culture more easily, old people or young people?

• Do you think cultural diversity is a good thing?

• Do cultural differences ever lead to problems or controversies?

• Do you think that rare languages should be preserved? See Note

• (Possibly the above question is this) Do you think that endangered languages should be preserved?

• (Possibly the above question is this) Do you think the cultures of small population groups should be protected?

• How do you suggest this could be done?

• Do you think different cities have different cultures?

International Relations

• Do you think international sports events are necessary (or, important)? FQx2

• Do such event improve relations between countries? (How?/Why?) FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think events such as the Olympic Games help promote world peace?

• Do you think these events improve communication between countries?

• Do you think watching international TV channels can improve relations (or communication) between countries?

• (Similar to above but more specific) Do you think watching the news on international TV channels can improve relations (or communication) between countries?

• In what ways do you think international TV channels can influence the culture of countries?

• (Similar to above) Do you think international TV channels are helping to unify the world? FQ

• (Similar to above) In what ways do you think foreign TV programs can influence the culture of countries?

• Do you think foreign news can influence relations between countries?

• Do you think there is such a thing as a "global culture"? Difficult question

• Do you think "globalization" is a good thing? See Note

• Do you think it's good for a person to have some experience of working in different parts of the world?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 576.

Doing Things Together as a Family

• How often are you together with other members of your family?

• (Similar to above but different) When do you get together with other members of your family?

• Do you feel it's a problem if (or when) you don't have time to spend with your family?

• What sorts of things do the people in your country do together as a family?  FQ

• How important is it for people to have a good relationship with their family? FQ

• Do you think it's better for families do things together at home or to go out and do things together?

• What do you think are the benefits of doing things together such as walking in the street together as a family? FQ

• Do people do things together as a family when you have festivals in your country?

• (The question above might be this) Do people do things together as a family when you have holidays (vacations) in your country?

• Some people prefer not to do things with old people members of their family. Can you suggest why?

• Do you think people today do more things together as a family (or, spend time together as a family) than people did in the past, or less? FQx2

• Do you think that's a good trend?

• Do you think the internet has more of a positive effect on family relationships, or a negative one?

Parenting / Looking After Young Children

• In your country, who generally takes care of the children in a family?

• Do you think it's good for both parents in a family to go out to work? FQx2

• If both parents go out to work, who looks after their young children?  FQx2

• What effect does it have on a child if both his or her parents go to work?

• What sorts of problems can arise when both parents work? FQ

• What do you think could be done to alleviate these problems? *

• (Possibly) In general, who do you think is a better mother, one who works or one who stays at home?

• Do you think it's a positive thing for grandparents to play an active role in the upbringing of their grandchildren?

• How do you imagine children will be looked after in the future?

• Do you think the role (or the duties) of parents have changed in the past few decades?

• Do parents in your country still do things for their children even after the children have grown up?

Old People

• In your country, do many old people live with their family?

• Would you like to live with an old person?

• Why do many young people not want to spend time with old people?

• What sorts of things do these old people do together with other members of the family?

• How do old people in your country use their time? FQ

• Do you think old people should also go out to work (= have a paid job)?

• Would you say there is a "generation gap" between young people and old(er) people in your country? *

• In your country, who takes care of old family members who need help?

• Some young people like to spend time with old family members (or, possibly, old people in general) while other young people don't like it. Can you suggest why these differences exist? FQ

• Do you think adults should regularly visit their (elderly) parents, (e.g., once a week or once a month)?

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Part 3

Actors (especially in films)

• Who are more popular in your country, actors and actresses from your country or foreign actors and actresses? FQ

• How (or why) do some movie actors become famous? FQ

• Do you think most actors are chosen for their roles in films based on their appearance or based on their acting ability?

• (Possibly) Do you think most people believe that actors are chosen for their roles in films based on their appearance or based on their acting ability?

• (Possibly) Would most people in your country say that actors are chosen for their roles in films based on their appearance or based on their acting ability?

• (Possibly) Who do you think are more famous, comic actors or serious actors? *

• Do you think film actors earn a lot of money? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think film actors earn too much money? FQx2

• Do you think those most highly-paid actors deserve to earn so much money? FQx2

• Do many people follow the news about film stars (or a particular film star)? (= are fans of a particular film star)

• Do many young people (or, children) try to imitate film stars (e.g., imitate their life-style, clothes etc)? (If yes, how, why?) FQ

• Can you suggest why some people imitate film stars? FQ

• Do you think it's a good thing for people to imitate film stars / follow film stars? FQx2

• Which do you think is more important, the face that  public figures show in public or what they do in their private lives?

• Do you think it's important for public figures such as famous actors to be consistent by being the same in their private lives as they are in public (e.g., on the screen)?

• Do many young people in your country dream of being film stars?

• Are most film stars young people or rather old (i.e., middle aged) people?

• (Possibly) Do you think being an actor in films would be a good job? *

Entertainment

See notes about entertainment

• What forms of entertainment are most popular in your country? *

• Do you think men and women have different tastes in entertainment?

• What kinds of entertainment do young people like? FQ

• What kinds of entertainment do children like? FQ

• Who prefers to watch films, young people or old people?

• Do you think children (or young people) can learn anything from entertainment?

Humour (Possible topic)

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549.  A Magazine  (Jan. 9. 2014)  (Probably no longer used)

Part 3

Also see list of things to read.  Make sure you know the difference in meaning between "a magazine" and "a journal".

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Part 3

Helping in Everyday Life

• Do you think people today are more willing to help others than people in the past?

• Do you think more people in society today need help than in the past?

• Are there many lonely people (living in cities) who need some kind of help? (Why?)

• How do you suggest those people could be helped?

• In general, who do you think gives more help in a family (or marriage), the husband or the wife?

• If somebody gave you some help, how would you react to that person?

• What do you think are the drawbacks and possible benefits of being selfish?

• Do you think volunteer work is important in society?

Neighbours

See also the Part 3 of Topic 455 for this

• Do you think neighbors are important? FQ

• Do you think it's important to have good relationship with one’s neighbours?

• What benefits do people get from helping their neighbours?

• Do you think a person can learn anything from helping their neighbours?

• Do you think people's relationships with their neighbours are the same as they were in the past? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think people today communicate with their neighbours as much as they used to, in times past?

• Would you say these are changes are for the better or changes for the worse?

• In your country, do neighbours often help each other?  FQ

• How do (or, how can) neighbours help each other? FQ

• (Similar to above) In what situations do they help each other? FQ

• Which neighbours need help (more than others)?

• Why are some people reluctant to help their neighbours (or, help others)?

• Do you think many people living in cities feel lonely? FQ

• Do you think the size of the city makes a difference to how lonely someone is (or feels)?

• Do you think peoples' relationships with their neighbors are the same in the cities as they are in rural areas? FQ

• Do you think today's urban living environment encourages people to get to know their neighbours? FQ

• Who do you think is more likely to help their neighbours, people living in cities or people in living rural environments? FQ

• Why are some people (living in cities) reluctant to help their neighbours? FQ

• Why do people living in cities not communicate with their neighbours very often? FQ

• What are the benefits of belonging to a community?

• Why are online "virtual communities" becoming more popular nowadays?

• Around where you live (= in your neighborhood), are there any activities that groups of people can participate in?

• Do you think these local events are very beneficial to people

Helping in the Workplace

Note that some questions here are about employees giving help (to other employees and even to the employer) and other questions are about employers giving help to employees.

• Do you think colleagues need to help each other in the workplace?

• How do (or, how can) colleagues help each other at work? FQ

• Do you think teamwork is important in the workplace?

• Do you think a person should receive more pay if they help others at work (or should they do it for free)?

• How do (or, how can) an employee help their (his or her) employer?

• How do employers in your country help their employees?

• Do you think that employees are encouraged to work better (or work harder/ work more) when the employer helps them?

• What do you think is the role of (departmental) managers in a company (or the CEO)?

• What benefits do employees get in your country? See Note

• Do you think employers should be obligated (by law) to provide benefits for their employees? See Note

• In your country, in what ways are employers obligated (by law) to provide benefits for their employees?

• Do you think it benefits the employees if a company provides leisure facilities at the workplace?

Children Learning to Help

• Do you think children naturally want to help others, (or do they need to be taught this)? *

• Do you think it's important for parents to teach their children to help others? *

• How can parents teach their children to help others?

• (Similar to above)  How can parents teach their children the value of helping others?

• Do you think engaging children in team (or group) activities helps them learn about helping others?

• Who do you think should be more responsible for teaching children about helping, the parents or the child's school teachers?

• In what ways do parents want their children to help them (around the home)?

• (Similar to above, but different) How can (or, how do) children help their parents at home?

• Do parents in your country expect their adult children to give them help?

• Do you think children should help with the housework at home? FQ

• In general, who do you think is more willing to give help (e.g., with the housework), boys or girls (males or females)? FQx2

• (Similar to above) In general, who do you think is more willing to help others, boys or girls (or, males or females)?

• Do you think children can learn about helping from other children?

International Help

• How can (or, how do) countries give help to other countries?  FQ

• Do you think countries are obligated to share their research discoveries with other countries?

• Do you think countries should help one another in times of disasters?

• Do you think natural disasters are consequences of the nature or caused by human beings?

• Do you think international organizations should exist to provide help when a natural disaster strikes a country?

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