Fears

• Are there any parts of the city where you live which you are afraid to visit after dark? Where? Why?
• Are there certain weather conditions that scare people? What are they? Why do people become scared?
• Are you afraid of flying?
• Are you afraid of ghosts?
• Are you afraid of giving a speech in public?
• Are you afraid of going to the dentist?
• Are you afraid of heights?
• Are you afraid of scary movies?
• Are you afraid of the dark?
• Are you afraid to die? Why?
• Are you afraid of getting old? Why?
• Are there any numbers that people are afraid of in your culture?
• Do you fear certain insects or animals? Why?
• Do you know anyone with a phobia?
• Do you like horror movies?
• Do you think young children should be allowed to watch horror movies?
• How do you react when you see something frightening?
• Is there any person you are afraid of?
• Were you afraid of the dark as a child?
• Were you afraid on your first day of school here in the United States? How do you feel now?
• What animal do you think is the most scary?
• What are some things which many people are afraid of? Why are they afraid of them?
• What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
• What is your biggest fear in life? Are you afraid that it might come true?
• What kinds of things make you nervous?
• What was the most frightening experience you’ve had?
• When you were a child, what things were you afraid of?
• Do you ever have nightmares (bad dreams)?
  • What are they about?
  • How often do you have nightmares?
• Have you ever seen any reality TV shows where people face their fears for money?
  • Would you ever face one of your fears for money?
  • Do you find this kind of show interesting to watch?
• What is your biggest fear?
• Have you overcome any of your fears?
• Are you afraid of being ill? What disease are you most afraid of? Why?
• Do you believe people can be cured of phobias by hypnosis?
• Are you afraid to fly?
• -Are you afraid to ride a motorcycle?
• -Are you afraid of death, of dying?
• How do you cope with your fears?
• Are you afraid of being ill? What disease are you most afraid of? Why?
• What is your biggest fear for yourself?
• What is your biggest fear for the world?
• How often do you feel afraid?
• How would you help someone to get over their fear?
• Do you have any form of phobia or paranoia?
• What were you afraid of as a child?
• What facial expressions accompany fear?
• If you ‘put the fear of God into someone,’ how do you think that person feels?
• Are you afraid you might get sick?
• Are you afraid of speaking English?
  • A foreign language?
  • In front of many people?
  • At official functions?
• Are you afraid of germs?

Future

• What does the future hold?
• What will the future be like?
• Who invented the very first computer?
• What is AI?
• What is the definition of a ‘robot’?
• What is robotics?
• Where did the word ‘robot’ come from?
• Can robots tie shoes?
• Will robots replace humans?
• Will robots take our jobs?
• How will the development of robots that think change your future?
• Imagine the job you wish to hold when you get older – could a robot be programmed to do that job as well as you?
• A film like The Matrix has explored the idea that we might be living in virtual reality. But what evidence is there for or against this hypothesis? And what are its implications?
• Do you know ISAAC ASIMOV? What did he do?
• Can you think of movies that have robots in them?
  • Did you enjoy this movie?
• Do you think we create a new problem with each invention? Think of examples.
• Is there anything that does not yet exist that you would like to see invented? What is it?
• Where do you plan on going to college?
• What type of job would you like to do in the future?
  • How do you get that type of job?
  • Will you make much money in that job?
• Do you want to get married?
• Do you know who you are marrying?
• What high school are you going to go to?
• How can we preserve the future for the next generation?
• How will computers change in the future?
• How will cellphones change in the future?
• How will transportation develop in future times?
• How old will people live to be in the future?
• What kind of developments might happen in health care in the future?
• Could there be another world war in the future? How can we prevent a world war from happening?
• Where do you plan on going in the future?
• Can fortune-tellers predict the future?
• Is it possible to know the future?
• Where do you hope to travel before you die?
• What do you hope to do in your life?
• How will technology change?
• Do you think life will be more difficult or easier for our grandchildren? In what ways?
• How do you think your country will change in the future?
• How will the United States and the world order change in the future?
• How do you think you will change in the future?
• Do you think the future will be better or worse for your grandchildren?
• Do robots go to college?
• Would you marry a robot?
• Do you think that one day robots will serve as childcare providers?
• How would you feel if you child liked the robot better than he/she liked you?
• How will computers change in the future?
• Where do you plan on going in the future?
• How do you think your country will change in the future?
• How will the United States and the world order change?
• Do you think the future will be better or worse for your grandchildren? In what ways?
• How long will people live in the future?
• Would you want to live on another planet?
• Should the world solve all of it’s problems before humans move into space?
• What is the future of money?
• What if you could program your children’s genetics? Would you want to? What would you change?
• Do you believe animals can be preserved?
• Would you like to live in a city inside a building?
• Do you believe faster-than-light travel is possible?
• Do you know who will be your future husband?
• Do you think one day robots will serve as childcare providers?
• If we suddenly found out there were alien civilizations on other planets, would that change our world? How?
• If we could make molecule-sized robots, what could we do with them?
• What new kinds of energy might be used in the next 100 years? The next 1000 years?
• What will the human race look like in 1,000,000 years?
• If it were possible to read minds, would you want to?
• What will the cars of the future do?
• What will future houses look like?
• If you could live under the ocean, would you want to?
• Would you become half-robot if it meant living 1000 years?
• If you could fly on a rocket faster than light, and return to Earth in 1,000 years, would you do it?
• Will there be one global culture? If so, what will it look like?
• Would you like to live in cyberspace? What could you do there? How would it differ from life in reality?
• Do you think the Earth will become overpopulated? Will there be any forests left?
• Would you like to have a robot in your house?
• Who should live on the moon? Should land on the moon be bought and sold?
• What will education be like in the future?
• Do you have an idea for an invention?
• Will robots be as smart as people? Will they get jobs too?
• What are the positive and negative effects of technology in the future?
• If you don’t like your job now. What is the job you would like to have in future?
• What is your lifetime dream?

Holidays

• When is the holiday celebrated?
• Is it celebrated as a family or a group?
  • Does your family celebrate this holiday?
  • Has your family always celebrated this holiday? If not, when did you start celebrating it?
• When does the celebration for this holiday generally start?
• Is it a religious holiday?
  • Which religion celebrates it?
  • Is attending a temple or a church on that day part of the celebration?
  • Are there specific prayers or blessings that go with the holiday?
• Are there special foods connected with the holiday?
  • Have you eaten any of these foods?
  • Do you or did you like the foods?
  • Can you make these foods? Are you good at making them?
• Is gift giving a part of this holiday?
  • Are there specific types of gifts to be given?
  • Who are they given to?
• What are some of the things that are done to show that this holiday is being observed?
• Is it strictly an American holiday?
  • When did Congress approve this holiday? Or did they?
  • Is it only a state or city approved holiday?
  • Has is ever been disapproved by officials?
• What does the holiday stand for? Why is this holiday celebrated?
• Are the banks, post offices or schools closed for this holiday?
• Is there is a person or god connected with the holiday?
  • Who are they and do you believe in them?
  • If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration of these bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?
• Do you enjoy the holiday?
  • Why or why not?
• Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holiday?
  • Do your neighbors decorate their house?
  • How is the house decorated?
  • Is the inside decorated? How?
• Are there special songs associated with the holiday?
  • Do you know the songs?
  • Can you sing some of them?
• Do schools, temples or churches have special programs for this holiday?
• Are there parties?
  • Are these for adults, children or both?
• Do you see your relatives during this holiday?
  • Who did you visit?
  • Do you visit them every year on this holiday?
• How many different nationalities or ethnic groups do you see celebrating this holiday?
• What do you usually do for this holiday?
  • What did you do last year?
  • What would you like to do next year?
• Are cards sent or given for this holiday?
  • Did you send any cards last year?
  • How many cards did you send?
  • Who did you send cards to?
• What traditional colors are associated with this holiday?
• Do you do something different during this holiday?
• Would you like to go on a cruise? Why or why not?
• Will you go back to the same place again?
• Have you ever entered a competition to win a holiday?
• Compare the experience of being a tourist with being an international student.
• Would you take a job where you had to travel at least once a month?
• In your opinion, what are the five most essential items to pack on any holiday?
• Is a ‘working holiday’ really a holiday?
• Who do you know that really needs a holiday, and why? Where should they go and what should they do?
• Compare caravan holidays with youth hostels.
• Compare camping in a tent with staying in a five star hotel.
• Compare traveling alone to traveling with a companion.
• Compare package tours with do-it-yourself tours.
• Do you think package holidays for pets is a good idea?
  • If so, what kind of tours and activities should they offer?
  • How much should they be?
  • Should dogs and cats be allowed to travel on the same tour?
• What holidays have disappeared in your country?
• What is your parent’s favorite holiday?
• What new holiday are needed in your country?
• What holiday should be abolished?
• What are some of your fondest memories of Thanksgiving?
• What kind of traditional food do you eat for Thanksgiving?
• Where is the best place to be for the holidays?
• Do you think holidays are important? Why?
• What kinds of thing do you like to do on the holidays?
• Do you ever feel blue during the holidays? What do you do about it?
• Do you think pets need holidays? What kinds of holidays would we have for pets?
• What games do you play during your holidays?
• How many holidays do you have in your country?
• What special foods are associated with your favorite holiday?
• What special clothing/customs are associated with your favorite holiday?
• What is your favorite holiday memory? Tell us about it.
• Who is your favorite holiday character (e.g. Santa Claus)? Why?
• What are three holidays that you like to spend with your family?
• What is your worst holiday memory? Tell us about it.
• If you had a long holiday, what will you do with it?
• Do you like to stay up late on holidays?
• Who do you usually spend the holidays with?
• If a holiday falls on a Sunday, should you get another day off?
• What is best present you ever received?
• What is your favorite holiday food?
• What is your favorite holiday song?
• Does it bother you that some holidays are religious and some are not?
• Do you celebrate holidays differently now than you did when you were a child?
• What is your favorite holiday festival in your country?
• Do you light off fireworks on New Years Eve in your country?
• If you could visit any other country during Christmas, where would you go?
• What holiday is the most dangerous in your country?
• What holiday is the most exciting in your country?
• Why do we celebrate Easter?
• Do you celebrate Easter in your country?
• How do you celebrate Easter in your country?
• Do you have any special family traditions?
• Did the original meaning of Easter get lost?
• What do you think of Father’s Day? Mother’s Day? Parent’s Day?
• What are 3 holidays that you like to spend with your family?
• If you had a long holiday, what will you do with it?Do you like to stay up late on holidays?
• What’s your favorite holiday food?
• What kinds of religious holidays have become secular in your country?
• Is there any religious holiday that has a special meaning for you?
• Is there any non-religious holiday that has a special meaning for you?