Possible topics for classroom email exchanges

Relationships
-Name three adjectives that describe a “typical,” or usual, family in your country. Explain.
-What are common activities that you do with all members of your family? How often do you do this?
-How old are people usually when they get married in your country? Do you think this is a good age?
-What are the most important qualities in a spouse (husband or wife)?
-What are the most important qualities you look for in a close friend?
-Should friends keep secrets? Explain.
-Name one person in your life who you look up to (admire) and say why.
-What qualities do you like most about yourself?
-When you have a personal problem or face a difficult situation, who do you talk to and how do you handle it?
-Describe your best friend and explain how you met him or her.

Media
-What kinds of music do you like to listen to? Describe one of your favorite artists.
-Describe one of the last movies you have seen. Did you like it? Why or why not?
-If you could make your own movie, what would it be about?
-How often do you watch TV? Which shows do like or dislike and why?
-Do you think TV shows and movies that take place in your country represent the reality? Give examples to illustrate your answer.
-Do you often surf the Internet? What do you think is the most useful thing about the Internet and why?
-Do you pay attention to the news? Do you prefer to hear about local news or global news? Explain.
-Where do you get your news? What do you like about the reporting of this news source or sources? What you change?
-What is the most popular radio station where you live and what kind of music does it play?
-Give the link to one good Web site about a topic you are interested in and describe what you like about the Web site.

Food
-What times do you usually eat your meals? What do people commonly eat at those times?
-Does your family always eat meals together? Describe what a guest for dinner at your house would experience?
-Are there certain foods that you only eat at certain celebrations or at particular times during the year? Give examples.
-Do you often eat in restaurants? Why or why not? Describe one you like.
-Are people concerned about being overweight where you live?
-Do you think food should be genetically altered if it meant feeding more people?
-What’s your favorite food from your country? Can you explain how to make it or send a recipe?
-Do you like the idea of fast food? Why or why not?
-What’s your favorite dessert?
-What do you think people drink the most in your country?

Global Matters
-What do you think is the biggest problem facing the world today? Provide reasons for your answer.
-What realistic suggestions could you make to solve the problem you mentioned in question number one?
-What steps has your country taken to fight pollution? Are you satisfied with this?
-Do you believe scientists should experiment with the cloning of animals? Explain.
-Do you believe that space exploration is worth the cost, or do you think that money should be spent here on Earth? Justify your response.
-How does your country deal with people who have handicaps? Is this fair?
-Do people volunteer where you live? What do they volunteer for? If not, why not?
-What are young women typically concerned with in your country?
-Do you believe racism exists in your country today? Explain.
-What is one misconception that you think exists about people from your country that you would like to clarify?

Going Abroad
-Do you know anyone who has immigrated to another country? How do you imagine is their experience?
-Do you know anyone who has immigrated to your country? Where are they from and how do you imagine was their experience?
-Do you think a foreigner spending time in your country can adapt easily to life there? Explain.
-What do you think are some advantages and disadvantages to studying abroad?
-What is the most common reason foreigners come to your country?
-How important do you think it is to speak more than one language? Explain.
-If you were going to live in another country, would you rather live with people from that country or with other people from your own country? Explain.
-What do you imagine foreigners coming to your country for the first time find the most surprising about life there?
-What is a quality you admire in another culture? Why?
-What is something you are proud of in your own culture? Explain.

Day to Day Life
-What is your favorite part of the day and why?
-Describe a typical day at school. How is the atmosphere?
-What do you like to do with your free time?
-Tell about a time when a friend or family member really surprised you.
-Can students in your country work while they are in school? Why/not? Do you think they should or shouldn’t?
-What is something you hope to accomplish before the end of this year?
-Describe the weather and the landscape of where you live.
-Talk about each member of your family.
-If you were going to be stuck on a desert island, what one thing would you want with you and why?
-If you had an extra hour to spend every day, how would you spend it?

Holidays and Celebrations
-Choose an important holiday in your in your country and explain how you celebrate it.
-During which occasions is it appropriate to give a gift?
-What do you think makes a good gift?
-How do you celebrate weddings in your country?
-How do people in your country celebrate the birth of a child?
-Are birthdays in your culture important? Are there certain ages that are more “important” than others?
-Does your country have a “national” day? What do you do special that day and what does it signify?
-If you could create a new holiday in your country, what would it celebrate and why?
-Are there special TV shows on during different holidays? Are there special songs or kinds of music?
-Does everyone in your country always celebrate the same holiday? Explain.

Tourism
-Talk about a famous tourist destination or attraction in your country. Try to convince someone to visit there.
-If you could travel anywhere in the world as a tourist, where would you travel and why?
-During a vacation, would you prefer to relax or to be busy sightseeing?
-If you had to travel a long distance, would you prefer to go quickly by plane or take your time and go by bus or train? Explain your response.
-If you could give one piece of advice to someone visiting your country for the first time, what would it be?
-If you were planning a budget for a vacation, would you rather spend more money on staying in a better hotel or eating in better restaurants? Explain.
-If you were leaving to visit a new destination and could invite one person to go with you, who would it be and why?
-If you had only a little film in your camera, would you rather take pictures of famous landmarks or of new people you met?
-What do you think makes an ideal souvenir? Explain.
-How many people make the perfect size group for visiting a new place? Do you prefer large groups, small groups, one friend or going alone? Explain.

Animals
-If you could be any animal, which animal would you be and why?
-Do you have any pets? What animal makes the best pet?
-Do you think zoos are useful education for people or are they cruelty to animals?
-What animals can you see where you live?
-If you could travel anywhere in the world to see one animal in its natural habitat, where would go and which animal would you look for? Why?
-Say (in English) one proverb from your culture that mentions an animal and explain the meaning.
-Does your country have any national symbols or famous landmarks represented by animals? Explain the significance.
-Talk about a favorite song, poem or book about an animal.
-Should man protect endangered animals or is that the natural course of life?
-Describe something fascinating you learned about animals.