Free-Talk Topics for Kids and Teens
Free-talk lessons can often be one of the most challenging parts of online English tutoring. If your student happens to be a teenager or younger, it can seem like your list of possible conversation topics shrinks quickly.
However, there are still plenty of things you can spend your lesson talking about. To help you the next time you are booked for a session like this, we've made a list of topics you can turn to as a starting point for some interesting and educational conversations.
Free-talk topics for teens
Social media pros and cons
One of the keys to effective free-talk lessons with any student is to focus on topics that are most relevant to them. It's common knowledge that younger people especially love social media, so it's a pretty safe bet that your teenage students are using apps like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.
Teens of this generation are unique because they have grown up with these platforms — they have never known a world without them. That means their opinions about them might be much different than your own.
Ask them about how they think society was different in a pre-social media world and whether or not they would prefer that. How do they feel about online safety and the protection of privacy? How does social media affect their in-person relationships? Are there any platforms they used before but don't anymore? What kind of service would they like to see in the future?
Environmental issues
With temperatures rising in cities all over the world, climate change is no longer just an issue to be dealt with in the future; many people would say that it is here right now.
Does your student live in an area that has been experiencing unusual weather? How have they responded to it? Are they worried about the future of the planet, or do they believe humanity will successfully keep the world from getting too hot?
Travel and adventure
The internet has transformed our access to the world. Learning more about the languages, foods, customs and cultures of other countries has never been easier. You can even use a service like Google Earth to "visit" places all over the globe.
How do your students feel about travel? Where have they visited and where would they like to go? Are they learning English specifically to travel to these places? Do they have any funny or interesting travel stories they can share?
You can also ask them about their opinions on overtourism and the news stories about tourists behaving badly while on vacation.
Pop culture
There is almost always a "big" thing happening in pop culture at any given time; it could be a buzzy TV show, a performance, a celebrity scandal, or maybe even Hollywood going on strike. Even the quietest student should have something to say about the latest entertainment news of the day.
However, if they don't, ask why they don't follow it. What would they rather pay attention to? Conversations can flow naturally from one topic to the next, so there's no reason to limit yourself to a narrow focus.
Mental health
This topic should be approached a bit more carefully than the others. Without getting too specific, you can ask about ways they deal with stress and if they practice mindfulness in their daily lives.
If not, do they believe it's important? Do they think the ways in which many people live today are more or less stressful than in previous generations?
Free-talk topics for kids
Favorite animals
Most children have a fascination with animals, so ask them about their favorites. Why do they like these animals?
Once you've identified some favorites, you can also talk about the unique sounds different animals make, where they live, and if the student would like to have them as a pet.
This topic can also present great opportunities to do a little drawing on the whiteboard.
Seasons and weather
Talking about weather is a nice choice, especially since it is a common small-talk topic even for many adults. What is your student's favorite season and why? Are there any special days or events during this season?
Does the place where they live have four distinct seasons? For example, if they live in a warm, tropical place, have they experienced a snowy winter?
Use this topic to test and expand their clothing vocabulary, as well; what kinds of clothes do they wear in each season?
Favorite foods
Everyone loves food, so this is another juicy topic to rely on.
What foods do they like to eat? Is it something their family members make at home, or do they have to go out to eat it? Have they ever tried making any food themselves? What kinds of foods do they dislike? What are some famous or popular foods in their country? Are there any foods from other parts of the world they would like to try?
Favorite characters
Many children will likely have a favorite movie or television program featuring some kind of special character. Who is their favorite and why? Is this character unique to their country? Ask them to draw you a picture! Do they know any of the famous characters from your country or culture?
Sports and games
Kids are known for having lots of energy, and sports and games are a great way for them to use that energy constructively.
What games do they like to play and why? Can they play alone, or do they need others to play with? If the games require special equipment or accessories, ask them to tell you about them. What games do they enjoy watching on TV or online? Have they ever been to a sporting event in a big stadium?
Wrap-up
Free-talk lessons can be great if you're prepared beforehand with a few handy topics to discuss. Naturally, the closer they match the student's interests, the more engaged the student should become.
It's a good idea to allow the conversation to flow naturally, even if it leads to different topics — you can always bring the focus back if you need to. And particularly with younger learners, don't forget to take advantage of the whiteboard as another way to keep them engaged in the lesson.
