Open-Ended Questions for Intermediate English Learners

As an intermediate English learner, it's important to practice speaking as much as possible to improve your fluency and confidence. One way to do this is by using open-ended questions to start conversations with others. These questions encourage you to give longer and more detailed responses, which helps you to practice using a variety of vocabulary and grammar structures. In this post, we'll provide you with some open-ended questions to get you started!

1. Tell me about your favorite holiday destination. What did you do there? What made it special for you?

2. How has your hometown changed since you were a child? Are there any new developments or buildings?

3. Describe a time when you faced a challenge or obstacle. How did you overcome it?

4. What hobbies or interests do you have? How did you become interested in them?

5. Talk about a book or movie that has had a big impact on you. Why did it resonate with you?

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

7. Tell me about a memorable experience you had in school. What made it so special?

8. What do you think is the most important issue facing our society today? Why?

9. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Why?

10. Talk about a person who has had a big influence on your life. Why are they important to you?

11. What do you think are the benefits of learning a new language? How has it helped you personally?

12. Tell me about a place you've visited that left a lasting impression on you. What did you see or experience there?

13. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing the world today? How can we address these issues?

14. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did you come to your decision?

15. What are some of your favorite childhood memories? Why are they important to you?

16. Talk about a personal accomplishment that you're proud of. How did you achieve it?

17. What qualities do you think make a good friend? How do you maintain friendships?

18. Tell me about a cultural tradition or celebration that is important to you. What is its significance?

19. If you could go back in time and change one event in history, what would it be? Why?

20. What do you think are the most important values to live by? How do you practice these values in your daily life?

21. What are some of your favorite types of music? How does music influence your mood?

22. Tell me about a time when you had to work as part of a team to achieve a goal. How did you contribute?

23. What do you think are the benefits of traveling? Have you traveled to any new places recently?

24. Talk about a current event or news story that interests you. What do you think about it?

25. What is something you've always wanted to learn or try, but haven't had the opportunity to do yet?

26. Tell me about a time when you had to face a fear or take a risk. How did you feel?

27. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing young people today? How can we address these issues?

28. Describe a time when you had to communicate with someone who spoke a different language. How did you overcome the language barrier?

29. What do you think are some of the most important qualities for success? How do you cultivate these qualities in yourself?

These are just a few examples of open-ended questions that you can use to start conversations and practice your English skills. Remember to give detailed responses and try to use new vocabulary and grammar structures as much as possible. Don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going!