10 Conversation Topics in English – Questions, Answers + Examples

Practising conversation topics is a great way to learn how to speak real English and improve your vocabulary in a natural way.

Looking at questions and suggested answers for topics also helps you understand how native speakers use English in real conversations.

This guide contains 10 real life English conversation topics, questions and answer examples to improve your speaking skills.

For each topic, you’ll find:

• Common questions + examples of possible answers
• Extra conversation practice topics + questions
• Real English conversation example

Here are the topics:

1. Homes and houses

House and home is a common topic of conversation in many English speaking countries.

Your “home” is the place where you live – it could be a flat, a house, a room – or even a caravan!

To prepare for real English conversations about your home, think about what kind of home you live in and things that you like or dislike about it. It’s also a good idea to need to learn some key vocabulary for homes.

Conversation questions and answers

Here are some typical questions and possible answers that you can use when talking about the topic of home in conversations with English speakers:

• What kind of place do you live in?
  • Say what kind of building you live in – (a flat, cottage, semi-detached house, terrace, etc)
• What’s your place like?
  • Give some basic details about your home – (useful adjectives: nice, a bit too small, cosy, spacious, etc) “It’s really nice, because.. / but..”
• What do you like about your home?
  • Say how your home makes you happy – (talk about the size, style, decor, convenient features or favourite rooms)
• How long have you been living there? or: When did you move in?
  • Give the time period: (“I’ve been living there for four years”)
  • Say the year or month you moved in: (“I’ve been living there since 2021”)
  • Or give the month or year you started living there: (“I moved in four years ago”)

Conversation practice topics

These related conversation topics will help you practise talking about your home in English on your own or with your teacher:

• Homes you’ve lived in before (“What kind of house did you live in before?”)
  • compare where you live now to where you lived before – positives and negatives!
• Moving house (“How did your last move go?”)
  • say when you last moved house, how long it took, why you moved and where you moved to
• Things and features inside your home (“Tell me about where things are in your house.”)
  • describe where objects and furniture are in your home / how you get around in your home
• House prices, mortgages, rental costs and household bills (“How much rent do you pay?”)
  • talk about how much you pay in rent, bills or loans you’ve taken out to buy your home
• Things you don’t like about your home (“Is there anything you don’t like about your home?”)
  • mention a few things that you are not happy with. How could improve them?
• Home improvement and DIY (“Have you made any improvements to your home?”)
  • say what changes you have made to improve your home – e.g. painting or repairs
• Things you like to do at home (“What kinds of things do you often do in your home?”)
  • talk about activities that you often like to do in your home (e.g. watching TV in bed!)
• Comparing homes in your country with homes in UK/US, etc (“How do homes in your country compare with homes in another country?”)
  • say what’s different, similar or the same about homes in different countries

English conversation example: home

Here’s a natural English conversation between two friends, who are talking about home. Jenny has just moved into a new place, and Jake wants to find out about it.

Notice how we often use shorter questions and answers in real English conversations:

• Jake: Hey, Jenny, How did the move go? What kind of place are you living in now?
• Jenny: Oh, great thanks Jake. It’s just a little flat actually, right next to the park. The area’s nice and quiet, too, so, yeah – all good so far!
• Jake: Sounds amazing! So, what’s it like inside, then?
• Jenny: So, it’s a bit small, you know, but it’s cosy. And the décor’s quite modern, too, so that makes it feel a bit more spacious. I really love the kitchen, ‘cos it’s got loads of natural light.
• Jake: Ok! So are you going to make any changes to it, then?
• Jenny: Well, I’d be a lot happier if there was somewhere to hang coats, ‘cos at the moment we’re hanging stuff on chairs. And also, the parking outside’s a bit of a nightmare. But apart from those things, I’m really chuffed with it.

Learn more vocabulary and phrases for talking about your home!

2. Hobbies

Do you have a hobby that you feel confident talking about? It could be a sport, craft or something in between, like yoga, or gaming.

Hobbies and interests are fun topics to discuss in English conversations. However, they can be complex and difficult to explain when your friends know nothing about them.

To prepare for conversations on the topic of hobbies and interests, think about what hobby you do, how you do it, and why you enjoy doing it.

Conversation questions and answers

These starter questions and suggested answers can be useful for starting conversations about hobbies and interests:

• Do you have any hobbies?
  • Say what your hobby is – explain brief details if necessary
  • Sat how you became interested in it
  • Explain how you find time to pursue your hobby or interest
• How does your hobby make you feel?
  • Say if your hobby relaxes you / if it helps you unwind or forget about problems
• Is there a hobby or activity that you’d like to try one day?
  • Think about hobbies that you’ve seen other people do that you think you could also try
• Do you think it’s important for people to have hobbies?
  • Talk about the benefits (physical and psychological) / skills, patience and discipline that you learn while doing hobbies

Conversation practice topics

Here are several topics that you could follow to practice asking and answering questions in conversations about hobbies and interests.

• Equipment you need for hobbies (“Do you need any special equipment or tools for your hobby?”)
• Difficult aspects of hobbies (“What aspects of your hobby do you find most challenging?”)
• Skills you need for your hobby (“Are there any particular skills that you need to do your hobby?”)
• Explain how your hobby works (“Can you explain exactly what you need to do when you’re skydiving?”)
• New friends and opportunities from hobbies (“Have you made any new friends as a result of your hobby?”)
• Hobby as a job (“Do you ever wish you could get paid to do your hobby? / How would you feel about doing your hobby as a job?” / Would you ever choose to do your hobby as a job?”)

English conversation example: hobbies

Here’s an example of a natural English conversation about hobbies. Tolga’s asking Jim about his new hobby, which is breadmaking:

• Tolga: So, Jim, I hear you’ve taken up a new hobby – breadmaking. Is that right?
• Jim: You got it!
• Tolga: How on earth did you get into that? And why bread?
• Jim: (laughs) Oh, you know – I’ve always felt at home in the kitchen – and anyway, who doesn’t like eating fresh bread? Don’t you?
• Tolga: Of course I do! But anyway, I’ve heard breadmaking’s a really relaxing hobby. Is that true?
• Jim: Er, yes and no. I’d say some aspects are definitely relaxing. Mixing the ingredients, waiting for the dough to rise. That really chills me out. But kneading bread dough’s actually quite tiring. In fact, it’s almost a workout!
• Tolga: Wow! I had no idea. So, what else do you find difficult about breadmaking?
• Jim: Getting the texture of the dough right can be really tricky. Sometimes the mixture’s too stiff, and sometimes, it goes soggy. You need to get it just right.
• Tolga: I see.
• Jim: Practice makes perfect, as they say!

Learn more words and phrases for talking about hobbies here!

3. Family

When we talk about “family,” we mean the people closest to us—parents, siblings (brothers and sisters), or other relatives. Families can be big or small, serious or fun, but they’re always a common topic in conversations.

Talking about family is a great way to connect with others. You can describe your family members, talk about your relationships, or ask someone else about their family. These phrases will help you sound natural when discussing family in English.

Conversation questions and answers

Here are some common questions and answers you can practise for conversations about family:

• What’s your family like?
  Say how many people are in your family and describe them.
  For example: “My family’s pretty small—just me, my parents, and my older sister.”
• Who are you closest to in your family?
  Talk about your relationship with a family member. Do you get along with them, or do you always fall out?
  For example: “I’m closest to my sister because we always talk about everything.”
• Do you think you’re like your parents?
  Say how you are similar or different.
  For example: “I think I’m more like my dad—we both love solving puzzles and being outdoors.”

Conversation practice topics

Here are some useful conversation topics with suggested questions about family:

• Family Size and Relationships:
  “Do you have a big family or a small one?”
• Describing Family Members:
  “What are your parents or siblings like?”
• Family Traditions:
  “Does your family have any special traditions?”
• Similarities and Differences:
  “Who do you take after most in your family?”
• Family Activities:
  “What do you usually do with your family during holidays?”

English conversation example: family

Here’s an example of a natural English conversation about family. Notice how casual phrases and descriptive language are used to make it sound realistic:

• Jake: So, what’s your family like, then? Big or small?
• Olha: Oh, it’s pretty big. There’s my mum, dad, my younger brother Ivan, and my two older sisters, Katya and Lena.
• Jake: There are quite a lot of you, then! So, what’s Ivan like?
• Olha: Well, he’s only fifteen, so, you know, a bit cheeky, but he’s a nice kid. He’s pretty tall for his age, and he’s got this dark, wavy hair. Looks just like my dad, actually!
• Jake: So, is your dad tall as well, then?
• Olha: Oh yeah, he’s really tall. He’s also quite serious most of the time. You know, he doesn’t laugh that often, but when he does, it’s usually because something really funny has happened.
• Jake: And your sisters? What are they like?
• Olha: So, Katya’s the oldest. She’s, um, quite bossy but in a good way. She’s got light brown hair, and she’s always brushing with it. Lena’s the opposite—she’s really laid back, and you know, much calmer, and less serious.
• Jake: Sounds like they’re all really different. Do you all look alike, though?
• Olha: Not really! I think I take after my mum—she’s kind of small and blonde and stuff, just like me.

More FAMILY vocabulary and speaking tips here!

4. Jobs and work

Being able to ask and answer questions about work is a useful speaking skill. And work is a very common topic of conversation among English speakers.

Even if you don’t have a job, you can always ask about someone else’s job. You can even talk about a job that you’d like to do in the future.

You can prepare for conversations about jobs and work by thinking about different kinds of jobs. Think also about what benefits people get from these jobs – and what skills they need to do them.

Conversation questions and answers

You can use these questions and answer prompts to start off conversations about jobs or work:

• What you do for a living? or: What (job) do you do?
  • say what job you do
  • briefly explain your responsibilities
• What do you enjoy about your job?
  • talk about satisfying aspects of your job, e.g “One thing I love about my job is being able to help people.”
• How did you end up doing the job that you do?
  • Talk about job adverts, interviews, friends, etc
• What’s a typical day like for you when you’re at work?
  • Describe what you do at different times during your working day e.g. “I get to work at 8am, and usually have a coffee before I do anything. Once I’ve done that, I check my emails.. ”
• Is there anything you’d like to change about the job you do?
  • e.g. “I guess I’d like to have a little more responsibility in my department. I’d also prefer not to have to answer the phone all the time…..”

Conversation practice topics

Use these common subtopics based on jobs and work to practise speaking in conversations:

• Job satisfaction (“How important do you think it is for people to enjoy their jobs?/ Do you enjoy doing your job?”)
• Challenging experiences at work (“What aspects of your work do you find most challenging / difficult?”)
• The perfect job for you (“What do you think would be your perfect job?”)
• Different jobs you’ve done (“What’s the worst/best/most interesting job you’ve ever done?”)
• Your job in the future (“How do you imagine your job might change in the future?”)
• Your work-life balance (“Do you find it difficult to balance work and play? / Why do some people say that it’s important to maintain a proper work-life balance?”)
• Retirement (“At what age do you think people should retire from their jobs? / When do you hope to retire?”)

English conversation example: jobs and work

This is a natural conversation between two English speakers who are talking about jobs and work. Pete’s asking Millie about her new job:

• Pete: Congrats on the new job! How did you manage to land it?
• Millie: Thanks! A friend found an ad online and texted it to me, I applied and then got shortlisted for an interview. The rest was just good luck, I guess!
• Pete: Amazing! So, when do you start?
• Millie: Well, I started yesterday, actually. Still pretty nervous as there’s so much stuff to learn, but it’s exciting, you know?
• Pete: Sure. So what does your work involve, then?
• Millie: Ah, you know, mostly bookkeeping, checking what’s going in and out, that kind of thing. Same stuff as before. But it’s a new place – and the money’s way better too.
• Pete: Fantastic. So what’s your gut feeling about the job, so far?
• Millie: Pretty good. My new colleagues are really supportive – and they seem like a friendly bunch, too, which is great.
• Pete: Glad to hear it. Good luck with everything, OK?

5. Food

Everyone loves talking about food! In all English speaking countries, food (eating and cooking) is one of the most common conversation topics of all.

To prepare for talking about food, think about which foods you love (and hate!) and how to describe those foods. You should also be ready to talk about a few typical foods from your own country or culture.

Conversation questions and answers

Here are a few common questions and answers to help you talk about food and drink in English conversations:

• What’s your favourite sweet / savoury food?
  • Say which: (“My favourite food is definitely / has got to be.. ” pizza, sushi, curry, etc)
  • Say why you like that food: (“I like it because ..” – it’s easy to eat / it always tastes good / it reminds me of home)
  • Describe flavour or smell: (“It tastes/smells ..” – salty / sweet / spicy / herby)
• Is there a food that you absolutely hate eating?
  • Say which: (“One food that I really can’t stand is blue cheese.”)
  • Say why: (“To me it smells disgusting, and it tastes even worse. I can’t even look at it!”)
  • You could also say: when you last tried it / how it made you feel / what happened next?
• What foods do people generally eat in your country?
  • Name types of food: (“People tend to prefer spicy / plain food in my country”)
  • Give examples: (“Curries, kebabs and spicy soups are what people generally like to eat”)

Conversation practice topics

Use these sub-topic examples to practise talking about food:

• Most expensive meal you have ever had (“What’s the most expensive meal you’ve ever had?”)
• An unusual food you have tried (“What’s the strangest food you ever eaten?”)
• Going out for meals (“Do you often eat out or do you prefer to have meals at home? Why?”)
• A recipe you know (“Do you know any good recipes? Can you tell me how to make ……. ?”)
• Table manners and eating customs (“How are people expected to behave during mealtimes in your country?”)
• Things you can’t eat (“Do you have any food allergies or intolerances?”)
• Mealtimes in your country (“When do people usually have breakfast / lunch / dinner in your country?”)
• Healthy eating (Do you try to be careful about what you eat? / Do you generally try to watch what you eat?”)

English conversation example: food

Here’s a short, natural English conversation between two friends about food. Andy and Ali are talking about eating an strange kind of food for the first time:

• Andy: Hey Ali, when was the last time you ate something really weird?
• Ali: Erm, well, last week, actually, I got to try some fried cockroaches at a food festival.
• Andy: What? Cockroaches? Are you joking? What were they like?
• Ali: Believe it or not, they were actually pretty tasty. You know, crunchy with a bit of a nutty flavour. They tasted kind of salty and sweet, too, which I really liked.
• Andy: Ok, but was there anything you didn’t like about them?
• Ali: Yeah, the legs were a bit disgusting, ‘cos, you know, they just looked like insect legs.
• Andy: Yeah, I bet!

6. Childhood

“Childhood” means the time when you were young. Childhood is a great topic to discuss with other English speakers, as there’s always lots to talk about!

Sharing childhood memories can mean talking about where you grew up, the games you played, or what your school was like.

Conversation questions and answers

Here are some questions and answers to help you talk about childhood in English conversations:

• Would you say you had a happy childhood?
  Say what made it enjoyable or challenging.
  For example: “Yes, I loved my childhood because I spent so much time playing with friends outdoors.”
• What did you enjoy doing as a child?
  Describe your favourite activities.
  For example: “I used to love climbing trees and pretending I was a pirate.”
• What was school like for you as a child?
  Explain your experience at school.
  For example: “It was a small school, so everyone knew each other, which made it feel like a big family.”

Conversation practice topics

Here are some topics you can use to practise discussing your (or someone else’s) childhood:

• Outdoor Games and Activities:
  “What kinds of games did you play as a child?”
• Childhood Friends:
  “Who was your closest friend when you were young?”
• Family Life:
  “What were family weekends like when you were a child?”
• School Memories:
  “What do you remember most about your school days?”
• Funny or Adventurous Stories:
  “What’s the craziest thing you did as a child?”

English conversation example: childhood

Here’s a natural English conversation about childhood. Notice how the characters use casual expressions and reminisce about fun memories.

• Jarvis: So, would you say you had a happy childhood, then?
• Ricky: Oh, definitely. It wasn’t fancy, but it was full of fun. I’d spend most of my time outdoors, climbing trees or riding bikes with my friends.
• Jarvis: So, you used to play outside a lot, then?
• Ricky: Oh, yeah, all the time. We’d build dens in the woods, even when it rained. And in summer, we used to make rope swings over the stream.
• Jarvis: Rope swings, eh? Did anyone fall in?
• Ricky: Oh, yeah. Tim would fall in nearly every time! He couldn’t help it!
• Jarvis: So, was Tim your best mate, then?
• Ricky: Yeah. We used to spend hours together. He’d come up with these mad ideas, like making rafts for the river.
• Jarvis: So, you used to build rafts, did you?
• Ricky: Yep! They were brilliant.
• Jarvis: So, was your school close by too, then?
• Ricky: Yeah, we had this tiny, little village school. We used to walk there every day. There were only two classrooms, and everyone knew everyone ,you know?
• Jarvis: Sounds like a proper, close-knit kind of place!
• Ricky: Yeah, it was. to be honest!

Learn more about talking about childhood here!

7. Hometown

If someone asks you about your hometown, they’re asking about the town, city or village you grew up in. Maybe you still live there – or maybe you’re living in a different place now (e.g. London).

Hometown is a useful topic to know because it always “pops up” in conversations with English speakers.

To prepare for conversations about hometown think about why you like/dislike it, things to do there, and how it’s changed over the years.

Conversation questions and answers

These topic questions (and answer tips) can help you initiate English conversations about hometowns with your teacher or on your own:

• Whereabouts (in your country) is your hometown?
  • Use phrases: “It’s to the south of… / it’s quite near… / It’s quite close to …., etc”
• How would you describe your hometown?
  • Phrases: “It’s quite a ……….. place”
  • Adjectives: agricultural / busy / cold / noisy / friendly
• What things do you like / dislike about your hometown?
  • Positives: “I love the way it’s really easy to get around / It has some nice shops / It’s a great Place for shopping / It’s very well-connected”
  • Negatives: “It’s not such a great place for walking / I wish there were more restaurants

Conversation practice topics

Here are some related English conversation topics you can practice when discussing about hometowns. Use the example questions or make your own:

• Landmarks in your hometown (“Are there any important landmarks in your hometown?”
  • mention things like: statues / big trees / churches, mosques or temples / important stores or buildings / parks, etc – don’t forget to say something about these places, too!
• Events and festivals in your town (“Are there any traditional events that take place in your hometown?”)
  • Talk about: fairs, circuses, music shows, theatre performances, art or trade exhibitions, etc
• Missing things in your hometown (“What things do you miss about your hometown?”)
  • Think about sounds, smells, sights (e.g. seeing the sun going down over the town hall)
  • you could also mention: places you often visit with your family, like restaurants or stores
• Transport and getting around – (“How do most people get around / get from A to B in your hometown?”)
  • example “Where I’m from, people tend to get around
• Changes in your hometown (“How do you think your hometown has changed in the last 20 years?”)
  • Talk about new stores, streets, buildings, parks, etc
  • Talk about whether your town has become more or less attractive / richer or poorer, etc

English conversation example: hometown

Here’s an example of a casual conversation between two friends discussing hometowns. Ben’s living away from home as a student. Saul’s asking Ben what things he misses about his hometown:

• Saul: Hey Ben, what things do you miss about your hometown? You’re from a seaside town, aren’t you?
• Ben: Yeah, that’s right, I am. I guess the thing I miss the most about my hometown is… the smell of the sea and… also the street by our house. There’s this little pub on the corner, where my dad and I always used to go. Oh, I miss that place so much!
• Saul: Sounds lovely! I bet you miss the atmosphere, there too, don’t you? All those fishing boats and beaches and stuff?
• Ben: Oh yeah, totally. It’s a different world down there. I really miss just walking along the beach and hearing the waves, you know, just listening to the seagulls and everything.
• Saul: What about the food. I guess you get loads of nice seafood there, no?
• Ben: Yeah, we do. That’s another thing I miss, actually – sitting on the beach and eating fried fish from a barbecue. You can’t beat it!

8. Neighbourhood

When we say “neighbourhood”, we are talking about the area around our homes.

Neighbourhood can mean both things AND people in your local area. So, streets, parks, facilities, events, neighbours, visitors, etc.

To prepare for an English conversation on the topic of neighbourhoods, think about how safe, comfortable or convenient your local area is. You might also want to complain about bad things, like litter, dog poo or noisy neighbours!

Conversation questions and answers

Here are some great starter questions you can practise asking and answering in English conversations on the topic of neighbourhoods.

• What’s your neighbourhood like?
  • Say if you like / dislike your neighbourhood – and explain why
  • You could talk about how safe, clean, supportive or attractive your neighbourhood is
• What amenities do you have in your neighbourhood?
  • You can talk about things like parks, transport, shops, childcare facilities, etc
• What do you think is the best thing about your neighbourhood?
  • Answer by talking about how your neighbourhood looks or feels – or give details about how you enjoy using local facilities there

Conversation practice topics

Here are some useful conversation topics with suggested questions relating to neighbourhoods:

• Community feel – (“Does your neighbourhood have a strong sense of community?” = Do people support and help each other with problems?)
• Local events in your neighbourhood (“Is there much going on where you live?”)
• Safe and dangerous neighbourhoods (“How safe do you feel in your neighbourhood? / Do you live in a safe neighbourhood?”)
• Problems in your neighbourhood (“Do you have any problems like crime or litter in your neighbourhood?”)
• Your neighbours (“What are your neighbours like? / Do you have nice neighbours?”)

English conversation example: neighbourhood

Here’s an example of a natural conversation in English about someone’s neighbourhood. Jackie’s asking Ginny about what it’s like living in her neighbourhood:

• Jackie: Hey, Ginny, what’s it like around where you live? Your neighbourhood, I mean.
• Ginny: Erm, well, it’s quite lively, actually. You know, good community vibe, safe, lots of things going on, and stuff. Yeah – can’t complain, really.
• Jackie: OK. And what about shopping?
• Ginny: Hmm. Shopping. Well, there aren’t that many big shops nearby. Though we do have a couple of nice boutiques on our street. And then there’s also this really old bookstore just around the corner from my house which is nice, too. Oh, and we’ve also got a farmers’ market. They do, you know, organic fruit and veg and stuff. I love it!
• Jackie: Sounds like a great place to live! Any downsides?
• Ginny: Hmm. Well, parking’s a right pain, to be honest. It’s supposed to be “permit only”, but everyone just parks wherever they like. So it’s always a nightmare to find a spot. There’s also quite a bit of traffic noise, and the air pollution’s not so great, either.
• Jackie: But on the whole, you’re happy there, yeah?
• Ginny: Oh yeah, definitely. I’d rather be there than anywhere else – it’s a great place to live.

9. Traditions

When we talk about “traditions,” we mean old customs, practices, and events. Traditions are followed by countries, towns, or even families.

To talk about traditions, you can describe something special about your country, or ask others about their traditions. Traditions can be festivals, celebrations, dances, food, music – or anything at all!

Conversation questions and answers

Here are some helpful questions and answers to practise talking about traditions in English conversations:

• Are there any unusual traditions in your country?
  Say what the tradition is and why it’s unusual.
  For example: “In my country, we throw water on each other during a festival—it’s messy, but fun!”
• What’s your favorite tradition?
  Talk about something you enjoy and why.
  For example: “I love our New Year celebrations because they’re colorful and bring everyone together.”
• Do people still follow old traditions?
  Say if they are common today or if they are less popular.
  For example: “In cities, not so much, but in villages, traditions are still followed a lot.”

Conversation practice topics

Here are some useful conversation topics with suggested questions about traditions:

• Festivals and Celebrations:
  “What’s the most popular festival in your country?”
• Family Traditions:
  “Does your family have any special traditions for holidays or birthdays?”
• Preserving Traditions:
  “How can we make sure traditions are not forgotten?”
• Unusual Traditions:
  “What’s the strangest tradition you’ve ever heard of?”
• Comparing Traditions:
  “How are the traditions in your country different from other countries?”

English conversation example: traditions

Here’s a natural English conversation between two friends talking about British traditions. Notice how they use casual language and filler phrases to keep the conversation flowing.

• Erin: So, are there any unusual traditions in Britain, then? Something, you know, really different or weird?
• Tom: Hmm. There are quite a few, actually, but one that stands out is Morris dancing.
• Erin: Morris dancing? So what’s that, then?
• Tom: It’s this old folk tradition where people dance in groups, wearing bells on their legs and, uh, waving sticks or handkerchiefs.
• Erin: Bells on their legs? So, then they make a sound as they move?
• Tom: Exactly! They make a sound with the bells and stuff. It’s pretty lively and, you know, noisy as well. Quite fun to watch, though.
• Erin: And what about the sticks? Are they just for display, then or what?
• Tom: No, no. The dancers tap them together in time with the music. It’s supposed to get rid of bad spirits. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway.
• Erin: OK, I see. So, then people still do it, even now?
• Tom: Yeah, sure. You see Morris dancers everywhere. You know, at village fairs and summer festivals, and stuff. It’s, like, traditional, but kind of fun at the same time.
• Erin: Well, at least, now I know what Morris dancing is!

Get even MORE conversation tips and vocabulary for traditions!

10. Holidays and trips

Many English speakers can talk for “hours on end” about holidays and trips.

Sometimes they tell stories about dream holidays that they’ve been on – or even holidays that turned out to be a “nightmare”!

For some people, holidays are about falling asleep on sunny beaches, while for others, holidays are for exploring nature or history.

Holidays are always longer breaks – maybe to somewhere abroad – or in your own country. Trips are usually short visits away from home, for example, to a beach, a forest or a museum.

To prepare for conversations in English on this topic, consider different types of trips and holidays. Think about where people go for trips and holidays, what they do on holiday and why they go.

Conversation questions and answers

Use these starter questions and possible responses to kick off conversations about holidays and trips:

• When did you last go away on holiday?
  • e.g. “Last July was the last time I went away on holiday. I went to Spain. It was lovely!”
• What kinds of holidays do you most enjoy going on?
  • Talk about holidays for relaxing (beach holidays, cruises) vs holidays for other reasons (exploring nature or towns, learning about new cultures, etc)
• Do you prefer long holidays or short trips?
  • e.g. “I generally prefer longer breaks because you get more time to really unwind…”
• Do you usually go on holiday in your own country or abroad?
  • Think about benefits of holidaying in your own country (e.g. cheaper, no communication problems) vs going abroad (don’t like flying, waste time travelling, etc)

Conversation practice topics

Here are some specific conversation practice topics within the main topic of holidays:

• Planning trips (“What things do you usually plan or check before you go on holiday?”)
• A place you’d like to visit (“Is there a holiday destination in your country or abroad that you’d like to visit one day”)
• Staying safe on holiday (“What things do you tend to be careful about when you go away on holiday?”)
• Bad holiday experiences (“What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you on holiday?”)
• Learning new things when you travel (“Do you think it’s true that holidays can be educational?”)

English conversation example: holidays and trips

Here’s a short dialogue between two friends who are talking about holidays. Kay’s trying to book a holiday to Scotland, but she’s having trouble finding cheap flights:

• Sean: Are you going away anywhere this summer, Kay?
• Kay: Well, we’re planning to go up to Scotland for a few days.
• Sean: Oh, lovely! Whereabouts?
• Kay: Inverness. I’ve spent the last couple of days looking for accommodation and flights and stuff.
• Sean: And..?
• Kay: Well, it was a struggle, I have managed to find a place for us to stay.
• Sean: Oh great! You mean a hotel?
• Kay: No, we’re self-catering. It’s a little cottage near Loch Ness.
• Sean: Nice! And what about the flights?
• Kay: Well that’s the problem, actually. They’re just so pricey at the moment – I’m struggling to find any flights at all. I wish I hadn’t left it so late!
• Sean: Yeah, I know. It’s always expensive when you book last-minute, isn’t it? Have you thought about taking the train instead?
• Kay: Yeah, but we’ve got so much stuff, and I think we’ll struggle to carry it all.
• Sean: Couldn’t you just drive up there?
• Kay: Yeah, I guess so, but it’s just such a long way, you know? I’ll probably have another check for flights tonight, and if I can’t find anything, then, yeah, you’re right, we’ll just have to take the car, I guess.