Questions about Culture

Conversation Questions
Culture

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

• What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...
• When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they usually think of?
• In your culture is it polite to be straightforward and direct when you talk to someone?
• What has surprised you when you've met people from other countries?
• What do you like about your culture?
• What don't you like about your culture?
• How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?
• Are there many people of different cultures in your country? Are you friends with any?
• Have you ever felt confused by the actions of someone from another culture?
• If so, tell me about it.
• Who in your culture do you admire most?
• What in your culture are you most proud about?
• If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?
• Would you ever consider marrying or dating someone from another culture?
• Would you ever consider living permanently in a country other than your home country? Why or why not?
• What does it mean to be polite in your culture?
• What is considered rude in your culture?
• If a group of people just came to your country from overseas, what advice would you give them?
• What other cultures have you met people from?
• What do you think is important when visiting another culture?
• Do you think "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice? Why or why not?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans do"?
• What culture besides your own do you admire and why?
• If aliens visited your country, what might surprise them?
• How do you feel when you leave your home culture and enter into a completely new culture?
• What is culture shock?
• Have you ever experienced culture shock?
• What has surprised you when you've met people from other countries?
• How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?
• What are the five most important values of your culture? (For example, Family)
• What in your culture are you most proud about?
• If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?

Thanks to Scott Bronner who suggested this topic and contributed the first 25 questions in January 2003.
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