Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn. Discuss., Food has become easier to prepare. Has this changed the way people live?, Compare knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. Which source is more important?, If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change?, How do movies or television influence people's behaviour?, Television has destroyed communication among friends and family., When people succeed, it's because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with it. Discuss., Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums?, Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer?, Attending classes is compulsory in Finnish senior high schools. Some people think going to classes should be optional for the students. Which point of view do you agree with?, What are the qualities of a good neighbour?, Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer?, Parents are the best teachers., Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways or should the money go to improving public transportation?, Is it better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city?, In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon., In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker(someone you work closely with)?, In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea?, It has recently been announced that a new outlet of Alko may be built in your neighbourhood. Do you support or oppose this plan?, People should sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Do you agree?, The media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities., Some people believe that the Earth is being damaged by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion?, Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives. Which do you prefer?, Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your money for some time in the future?, Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree?, Attending a live performance is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television., How have these transportation vehicles changes people's lives: automobiles, bicycles, airplanes?,  Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? , Learning from the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree?, With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Do you agree or disagree?, What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your choice., Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other dangerous activities?, Some people like to travel with a companion. Others prefer to travel alone. Which do you prefer?, Some people get up early and start the day's work. Others prefer to get up later and work until late at night. Which do you prefer?, What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities changed or remained the same over time in Finland?, Would you like to work for a large company or a small one? Why?, People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these., Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, e-mail or telephone calls. Do you agree?, Some people like to do only what they already do well. Others prefer to try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer?, Where does success in life come from? Taking risks or chances or from careful planning?, One should never judge a person by external appearances. Do you agree?, A person should never make an important decision alone. Discuss., A company is going to give some money to support the arts or to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose?, Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. other movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of movie do you prefer?, Businesses should do anything they can to make a profit. Do you agree?, Games are as important for adults as they are for children. Is this so?, What do you want most in a friend – someone who is intelligent, or someone who has a sense of humour, or someone who is reliable?, Most experiences in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. Discuss., Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone, or own a business?, Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child's success at school. Discuss, If you were an employer, which kind of worker would you prefer to hire: an inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a higher salary?, Many teachers assign homework to students every day. Do you think that daily homefork is necessary for students?, If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose?, Some people think that the automobile has improved modern life. Others think it has caused serious problems. What is your opinion?, Grades (marks) encourage students to learn. Discuss., Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your opinion?, The best way to travel is in a group led by a tour guide. Discuss., Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school., Boys and girls should attend separate schools. Discuss., Is it more important to be able to work with a group of people on a team or to work independently?, Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honour a famous person in Finland. Who would you choose?, Describe a custom from Finland that you would like people from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice., Technology has made the world a better place to live. Discuss., Modern technology is creating a single world culture. Do you agree?, Some people say the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with?, If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where would you go?, If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why?, Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a year. Which do you prefer?, Dancing plays an important role in culture. Discuss., Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space. Other people think governments should spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with?, What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress?, What are some important qualities of a good supervisor or boss?, Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. Do you agree?, In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic that a person can have to be successful in life?, Some people think college or university education should be available to all students. Others believe that higher education should be available only to good students. Discuss these views., Do we learn best about life by listening to the advice of family and friends or through personal experience?, When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices., Which is the most important influence on young adults, family or friends?, Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans., People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things, other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you?, Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you.Which kind of friend do you prefer and why?, People behave differently when they wear different clothes. Discuss., Decisions can be made quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong., Do you trust first impressions?, People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different. Do you agree?, People should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts. Discuss., What can young people teach older people?, Reading fiction is more enjoyable than watching movies. Discuss., Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot of money are successful., If you could invent something new, what product would you develop?, A person's childhood years are the most important years of a person's life. Discuss., Children should be required to help with the household tasks as soon as they are able to do so. Or shouldn't they?, Do you think playing a game is fun only if you win?, Do you think high school should allow students to study the courses that students want to study?, It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. Discuss., What do you consider to be the most important room in the house? Why is this room more important than the others?, A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or an animal) can contribute to a child's development. What gift would you give to help a child develop?, Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Do you agree?, Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing games teaches us about life.,  Should we pay attention to the opinions of famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars? Should we pay attention to the opinions of famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars? .

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