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60 Interesting Public Speaking Topics to Engage Your Audience

If you’re the type of person who gets head spinningly, palms-sweaty nervous when asked to make a public speech, you’re certainly not alone. As intimating and intimidating as it may seem, it’s true that having the ability to confidently stand in front of an audience and deliver a speech can be a super useful tool. Not only could it bring you better marks in school, it’ll also come in handy in future job applications, leadership positions, and even in everyday conversation. Now that you’re serious about conquering public speaking , the next step is knowing what to say. We’ve got your back on this one. Here’s a list of 60 interesting public speaking topics which promise to keep your audience engaged and eager to hear what you have to say. Customize them however you please, add more information and ideas of your own, and let your ideas do the talking! Let’s get going!

Interesting Public Speaking Topics

Public speaking provides a unique opportunity for speakers to share their opinions, experiences, and knowledge in an interesting way. Interesting public speaking topics can range from controversial to informative, from historical to present day, from fun to serious. When selecting a topic , it’s important to consider the interests of your audience as well as what you can provide appropriate supporting information on. Controversial or opinion-based topics can be engaging, but it’s important that all sides of the argument are presented fairly and no one in the audience is disparaged or excluded. Additionally, providing both sides of an argument here helps inform your audience and may even expose them to different perspectives. Informative topics are great for teaching audiences about specific subjects or movements, while delivering the information in an entertaining and interesting way. Explain how each piece fits into the bigger picture and build suspense throughout your talk. Additionally, if you have personal stories associated with the topic, by all means include them; these stories help make your presentation more memorable and engaging for your audience. Historical topics provide excellent fodder for a public speaking engagement; beyond teaching about specific events that occurred in our past, you can also shed light on important dates in history or major events of the past century. Providing context helps bring to life lessons from those points in time that still influence us today. Current events are also great platforms for public speaking – highlighting what is happening now provides a powerful connection between speaker and audience as everyone is probably equally (or almost equally) knowledgeable about it—and if not? You get to teach them! When presenting current events as your topic, make sure you use up-to-date sources and highlight any compliance changes or other political matters that could affect your audience directly. Now let’s move on to discuss current events as an interesting public speaking topic…

Current Events

When it comes to public speaking, current events make for a highly engaging topics. Depending on the agenda and purpose of the speech, current events can be used either to inform and educate the audience or to galvanize support and motivate action. When dealing with current events, speakers should strive to remain impartial while bringing forth both sides of the argument. For example, if the event is to discuss international trade policy in light of recent tariffs disputes between major trading partners, speakers should present both advantages and disadvantages of increased tariffs. Understanding the core issue at hand without commenting on the efficacy of each side’s policies is key in order to maintain an impartial outlook. Similarly, when addressing a complex social issue like discrimination against minority groups or income equality, it is important to provide a sober and nuanced overview of the issue while ensuring that all sides are properly represented. Naturally, as certain issues become particularly salient in the public debate , more detailed analysis may be necessary in order to provide a full account of the situation. With that said, presenters must always exercise caution when discussing hot-button topics so as not to alienate any portion of their audience. Finally, speakers may choose to conclude their discussion by proposing a plan for action or connecting their topic with wider implications for society. As such, choosing current events as one’s topic allows for an opportunity to create real change that can have tangible benefits for members of their audience. With this potential impact in mind, let us now explore creative ideas that are just as interesting but offer a different approach.

10 Current Events Topics

• COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on society, economy, and healthcare systems
• Climate change and environmental issues, including wildfires, hurricanes, and rising sea levels
• Global politics and international relations, including tensions between countries and geopolitical conflicts
• Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of work
• Social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, and their impact on society
• Mental health and wellbeing, including the effects of the pandemic on mental health and access to mental health services
• Education and the challenges of remote learning and hybrid learning models
• Immigration and refugee crises, including the global response and the impact on individuals and communities
• Economic inequality and the wealth gap, including the effects of the pandemic on job losses and income disparities
• The role of media and technology in shaping public opinion and discourse, including issues of censorship and misinformation.

Fun Public Speaking Topics

Public speaking can be an incredibly effective method of communication and expressing ideas to an audience. When selecting a topic for a public speaking event, it is important to choose one that will be engaging, exciting and entertaining . Fun public speaking topics are a great way to captivate your audience’s attention. Some fun topics popular today include conspiracy theories, humorous anecdotes and weird trivia questions. In addition to topics that can evoke laughter, you could opt for a conversation-like approach by selecting topics tailored towards discussing or debating current events or pop culture trends. This type of discussion creates a sense of involvement amongst your listeners, as they are likely to have their own opinions on the subject matter at hand. Knowing the interests of your audience makes it easier to pick one of these types of interesting conversation starters. Yet another type of enjoyable public speaking topic is one related to personal experience. By sharing stories from your own life you can create a connection with your audience because they realize you are not only knowledgeable about academic subjects but also about human experiences. For example, you could talk about how traveling abroad changed your perspective or how volunteer work with animals opened up new opportunities in your life. No matter what route you take, having a fun element in each speech encourages conversations , making it more engaging for the listener.

Here are 10 fun topics for public speaking:

• The science of laughter and how it can improve mental and physical health
• The history of popular board games and how they have evolved over time
• The art of cake decorating and how to create beautiful and delicious desserts
• The world of cosplay and the art of creating intricate costumes
• The benefits of travel and tips for planning the perfect vacation
• The world of online gaming and the rise of esports
• The history of memes and how they have impacted popular culture
• The art of mixology and how to make creative cocktails at home
• The joys and challenges of pet ownership and the benefits of having a furry friend
• The world of improv comedy and how to master the art of improvisation.

These fun public speaking topics spark imagination and interest from all those involved in the discussion. While brainstorming ideas, it is important to keep in mind that the topic should contain enough material to elaborate upon while maintaining a lighthearted spirit; balance is key!

Controversial Public Speaking Topics

Controversial public speaking topics can be excellent ways to engage your audience and spark a lively discussion. It is best to keep the language used respectful, as well as being mindful of the makeup of the audience you are presenting to. Popular controversial public speaking topics range from opinions about current events and politics, religion, gender roles and LGBTQ issues, amongst other things. When debating each side of the argument, it is important to make sure that one doesn’t invalidate or insult the opposing views.

Here are 10 controversial public speaking topics:

• Gun control and the right to bear arms
• Abortion and reproductive rights
• Capital punishment and the death penalty
• Immigration policy and border control
• Affirmative action and equal opportunity employment
• LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality
• The legalization of marijuana and other drugs
• Animal rights and animal testing
• Freedom of speech and hate speech laws
• Climate change and the role of humans in causing and combating it.

No matter which topic you decide to explore, controversial public speaking topics provide a great opportunity for learning experiences. With great research beforehand, ambitious speakers can use these occasions to inform their audiences in meaningful ways. Moving on to the next section, motivational public speaking topics have become increasingly popular within the last several years. This type of speech aims to inspire its audience by inciting positive feelings and emotions while promoting an inspiring idea or action plan.

Key Points to Remember

Controversial public speaking topics can be engaging to an audience, but the language used should remain respectful regardless of opinions held. Popular topics include current events, politics, religion, gender roles, and LGBTQ issues. When debating both sides of a controversial argument, it is important not to insult or invalidate another viewpoint. Controversial public speaking gives speakers a great opportunity to enhance learning experiences with thorough research and information .

Motivational Public Speaking Topics

Motivation is a powerful tool that can influence and inspire people to realize their potential and reach unseen levels of success. When applied effectively, motivational public speaking topics can be incredibly impactful and help an audience take action on ideas they can implement in their daily life. The key to delivering an effective motivational talk is to focus on the idea of progress. Talk about how something good can be accomplished over time if dedication and hard work are continually applied. Present stories of real-life successes, as well as struggles, to illustrate these points and increase the audience’s engagement level. Make sure to inject positive energy into your speech by outlining strategies the audience can use to stay motivated while achieving their goals. By presenting topics in a motivational manner, you can help ensure that members of your audience feel encouraged, empowered, and inspired. If you are debating a controversial topic, make sure to present both sides of the argument within the same motivating framework.

Here are 10 motivational public speaking topics:

• Overcoming obstacles and achieving success
• Finding purpose and meaning in life
• Building self-confidence and self-esteem
• The power of perseverance and determination
• Mindfulness and living in the present moment
• Overcoming fear and taking risks
• The importance of setting and achieving goals
• Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth
• Developing a positive mindset and attitude
• The benefits of gratitude and appreciation in life.

Keeping these important principles in mind will allow you to deliver a compelling motivational presentation that helps your audience believe in themselves and develop clear directions for taking action. Taking the right steps today will bring better results tomorrow — this is a concept worth discussing during your talk.

Historical Topics for Public Speaking

History is a rich and complex tapestry of events, ideas, and movements that have shaped the world we live in today. Exploring historical topics can help us gain a deeper understanding of our collective past, and shed light on the challenges and triumphs of human experience. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Civil Rights Movement, there are countless historical topics that continue to fascinate and inspire us. In this list, we explore ten historical topics that offer a glimpse into the great events and movements that have shaped our world.

Here are 10 historical topics to talk about:

• The fall of the Roman Empire and its impact on European civilization
• The French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
• The Industrial Revolution and its impact on society, economy, and technology
• The American Revolution and the birth of the United States of America
• The Renaissance and its impact on art, science, and culture
• The colonization of the Americas and the impact on indigenous populations
• The World Wars and their impact on global politics and international relations
• The Age of Exploration and the impact of European colonization on the world
• The Civil Rights Movement and the fight for racial equality in the United States
• The Cold War and the global tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Persuasive Speech Topics

Persuasive speeches are designed to convince the audience to take a particular action, adopt a certain viewpoint, or support a specific idea. These speeches can be powerful tools for effecting change and promoting important causes. From protecting the environment to advocating for social justice, persuasive speech topics cover a wide range of issues that are relevant to our world today. In this list, we explore ten persuasive speech topics that can inspire and motivate audiences to take action and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Here are 10 persuasive speech topics:

• The importance of recycling and reducing waste to protect the environment
• The benefits of meditation and mindfulness for mental health and well-being
• The need for stricter gun control laws to reduce gun violence
• The importance of early childhood education for future success
• The benefits of a plant-based diet for health and the environment
• The need to address income inequality through progressive taxation
• The importance of access to affordable healthcare for all individuals
• The need for comprehensive sex education in schools
• The benefits of renewable energy sources for a sustainable future
• The need for increased support for mental health resources and services

Public speaking is not always an easy task. Whether you are presenting a persuasive or informative speech, it can be difficult to keep your audience interested and engaged. In order to do this, it is essential to choose the appropriate public speaking topics. The fifty-plus interesting public speakings topics suggested in this article can provide plenty of inspiration and help you deliver a powerful message to your audience. Whether you take a light-hearted approach or focus on a more serious subject matter, picking the right public speaking topics can make all the difference. Larger philosophical questions may prove intimidating and impractical as public speaking topics, while trivial conversation starters may bore your audience before they even start listening. To get the most out of your speeches, it is important to pick a topic that walks the line between engaging your listeners without making them uncomfortable or unsure of how to respond. It is also imperative that you develop solid argumentation and presentation skills if you want to succeed in public speaking. An entertaining speech must still provide solid facts and evidence while at the same time grabbing the attention of your listeners. A good balance between interesting content and persuasive rhetoric should help make any speech successful.

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative public speaking topics.

Creative public speaking topics can range from the exploration of current trends, to unique takes on traditional topics. For example, if discussing the current state of education, one could focus on the trend of more expensive tuition for higher education and dive into the implications this has for students and the job market, or discuss emergent strategies for providing greater access to educational opportunities in economically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, one could explore the current technology landscape and how it will shape future generations, or investigate developments in artificial intelligence that are redefining our understanding of what “intelligence” means. One could also take a more artful approach to public speaking and open up a dialogue about the power of creativity in solving problems or elicit discussion around empathy as a form of communication. Ultimately, creative public speaking topics are limited only by creative thought and provide an exciting opportunity for speakers to present inspiring ideas in entertaining ways.

What are some tips for choosing public speaking topics?

Some tips for choosing public speaking topics include: 1. Choose topics that are relevant to your audience. Make sure the topic is of interest to them and will keep their attention. 2. Research the topic thoroughly before speaking. Knowing the subject matter well will make it easier to engage your audience. 3. Select a topic that is both challenging and interesting. While choosing a subject that people might be familiar with can be safe, make sure it is still engaging and stimulating. 4. Avoid topics that are too controversial or sensitive. Refrain from such topics as they could lead to arguments or displeasing reactions amongst the audience members. 5. Expand on popular material but don’t plagiarize other speakers’ ideas. People like new concepts and appreciate hearing new information so challenge yourself to come up with something original!

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45 Public Speaking Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Helen Hooper

Do you enjoy standing up in front of a large audience and making a speech? Or do you get so nervous that you forget what you were going to tell the audience about?

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then you’re not alone. Many people, including well-known entrepreneurs, politicians, and actors, aren’t fans of public speaking. For example, did you know that Richard Branson is among them? Yes, one of the best entrepreneurs in history has a real far of public speaking!

“I loathe making speeches, and always have,”  Branson admitted  in one of the interviews. “Over the years, however, I have become much more practiced at giving speeches, though it still makes me a bit nervous.”

“Fortunately, the fear of public speaking shouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle for you with some learning and practice,” says Gordon Stevens, a motivational coach. “The more you develop your skills, the more confident you’ll feel during your speeches.”

Moreover, having strong public skills can greatly boost your career and improve your position in the labor market.  Warren Buffet stated  “you can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills – public speaking”

So, whether you’re looking for topics for your next public speech or just for practice, take a look at these 45 ideas, including tips on how to choose the best ones for your purpose.

Public speaking topics

Category: science.

1. Why humans should colonize mars

Let’s be honest here, humans are endangered species because all of us live only on one planet. Colonizing mars increases the chance of long-term survival of humankind and has many other benefits, so it’s definitely a great topic to talk about.

2. When will AI exceed human performance?

It’s one of the most discussed topics in science right now because AI has been developing at an amazing speed in the recent years. So, there are tons of quality materials to retrieve information from, such as  this article from cornell university .

3. What is the future of commercial space flight?

Elon musk has recently announced the name of the first space tourist who will orbit the moon several times on SpaceX’s most advanced spacecraft, the BFR. When do you think this will happen?

4. Should nanotechnology research continue?

With all the risks and ethical issues that nanotechnology research is facing now, it could be an interesting topic to discuss.

5. Should we bring extinct species back from the dead?

Animal cloning is becoming more common, so cloning extinct species appears to be a matter of time. But should we really bring back animals like mammoths? What would we do with them if we succeed?

6. Potential for super greenhouse effect on earth

Global warming is the real thing, and governments around the world are starting to take this issue seriously. But where are we on our way to triggering a runaway greenhouse effect that turned our neighboring planet Venus into a hellish world?

7. What is gene therapy?

For example, could we use it to prevent diseases and conditions?

8. Why whales should not be hunted for food

Also an interesting topic that touches upon one of the most relevant issues in environmental health.

9. Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science

One of the greatest minds in history, Stephen Hawking, passed away recently, so it would be great to share his main contributions to science.

10. When will the next solar superflare hit earth?

The scientists know it’s coming, but can we make some predictions?

Category: self-development and self-help topics

11. How can you improve public speaking skills?

Why not, right?

12. What leadership style is the most suitable for your personality?

There are a number of leadership styles, so finding out which one suits you is an interesting idea.

13. How to get a fresh start after a breakup / divorce?

14. Why you should become a freelancer

15. Why being lazy isn’t always a bad thing

16. What Richard Branson recommends to everyone to make everyday a success

Here are  some materials  for you to start researching.

17. Why you should visit at least 5 countries by the time you’re 30

18. Gluten isn’t bad for health

19. Scientific evidence on why you shouldn’t skip your breakfast

20. Why success if often an extreme tolerance for failure (Jeff Bezos experience)

Jeff Bezos is an excellent example of a person who  thinks of a failure as a chance to learn .

Category: society

21. Do professional athletes make too much money?

22. Why the your country should promote legal immigration

23. Is it possible to eliminate poverty in every country in the world?

24. The internet should be free for everyone

25. Why punishing children for bullying others isn’t a solution

This conversation article  has some good ideas on that for you to explore.

26. The U.S. should encourage the spirit of volunteerism

27. Society should make monopolies illegal

28. Is our society too dependent on technology?

29. Why we need to support local businesses

30. Being gay: choice or nature?

31. Cell phone use while driving should be banned in all U.S. states.

Category: workplace

32. How to spot a toxic employee?

33. Give 5 reasons why we should abolish tipping restaurant servers

This Huffington Post article  will be of great help to you on this topic.

34. Why the minimum wage should be raised?

35. Top reasons why best employees invest in employee wellness programs

36. The best ways to increase employee engagement for better performance

37. Should age discrimination be a criminal offence?

38. All internships should be paid internships

39. The minimum age for unsupervised driving should be raised to 18

40. LGBT workers are protected from workplace discrimination.

Category: controversial

41. Airline passengers should sacrifice their privacy for the sake of flight safety

42. Your government should promote conservation

43. Your government should make animal testing illegal

44. The use of the internet by teens should be limited

45. The internet contributes to media bias

How to choose a public speaking topic?

Check out these quick tips for picking a great topic:

• Choose a topic that you’re fairly familiar with or have an interest in. This might help you to include some personal experience as a bonus to your speech.
• Know your audience. Your topic should always resemble the interests of your audience, otherwise they could find it boring. In this case, you’ll be wasting yours and their time.
• Pick up a hot topic that describes a current event, place, or process.

Read this article for additional information on  choosing a public speaking topic .

120+ Examples of Interesting Topic For Speaking in 2023

Jane Ng • 16 May 2023 • 9 min read

Are you looking for good topics for a speech, specifically public speaking topics?

Are you a college student who is struggling to come up with an interesting topic for public speaking in a university contest, or simply to finish your speaking assignment with a high mark?

If you are looking for a motivational or persuasive speech topic that will both interest you and captivate your audience, we are here to help you. So, how to choose an attractive public speaking topic that not only excites your audience but also helps you beat Glossophobia !?

AhaSlides will introduce you to 120+ Examples of Interesting Topic For Speaking and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Table of Contents

• How To Find An Interesting Topic For Speaking
• 30 Persuasive Speech Examples
• 29 Motivational speaking topics
• 10 Random Interesting Topic For Speaking
• 20 Unique Speech Topics

15 Topics for Public Speaking at University

16 topics for public speaking for college students.

• 17 Speaking Topics for Students
• How to Make your Speech Better

Frequently Asked Questions

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Public Speaking Tips with AhaSlides

• What is Public Speaking?
• Types of Public Speaking
• Why is Public Speaking Important?
• External Resource: MySpeechClass

How To Find An Interesting Topic For Speaking?

#1: identify the theme and purpose of the speaking event.

Determining the event’s purpose saves a lot of time and effort to figure out ideas for the speech. Although this is the main step and seems obvious, there are still speakers who prepare sketchy speech that doesn’t have strong point and doesn’t fit the event.

#2: Know your audience 

Before having unique speech topics, you must know your audience! Knowing what your audience has in common can help you choose a relevant topic. 

A reason why they are all sitting in the same room listening to you. General characteristics may include age, gender, seniority, education, interests, experience, ethnicity, and employment.

#3: Share your personal knowledge and experience

Keeping in mind the nature of your speaking event and audience, what related interesting topic for speaking are you interested in? Finding relevant topics will make researching, writing, and speak it more enjoyable.

#4: Catch any latest related news

Is there media coverage of a particular topic you and your audience want to know? Interesting and trending topics will make your talk much more engaging.

#5: Make a list of possible ideas

Time to brainstorm and jot down all potential ideas. You can ask your friends to add more ideas, or comments to make sure no opportunity is missed.

#6: Make a short topics list 

Reviewing the list and narrowing it down to three finalists. Consider all the factors like

• Which of your interesting topic for speaking is the best fit for the speaking event? 
• Which idea is most likely to appeal to your audience? 
• What topics do you know the most about and find interesting?

#7: Make a decision and Stick With 

Picking a topic that surprises you, you find yourself naturally attached to, and stick it in your mind. Outline the selected topic, if you find it easiest and fastest to complete the outline. That’s the theme you should choose!

Still need more interesting speech topics? Here are some interesting topics for speaking ideas you can try.

30 Persuasive Speech Examples

• Being a mom is a career. 
• Introverts make excellent leaders
• Embarrassing moments make us stronger
• Winning is not what matters
• Animal testing should be eliminated
• The media should give equal coverage to Female sports 
• Should there be restrooms exclusively for transgender people?
•  The dangers of young people becoming famous online as children or teens.
• Intelligence depends more on the environment than genetics
• Arranged marriages must be outlawed
• How marketing affects people and their perceptions
• What are current global issues between countries?
• Should we use products made with animal fur?
• Is the electric car our new solution for the fossil fuel crisis?
• How do our differences make us unique?
• Are introverts better leaders?
• Social media make people’s self-image and self-esteem
• Does technology harm the youngster?
• Learning from your mistake
• Spending time with your grandparents
• A simple way to overcome stress
• How to learn more than two languages at the same time
• Should we use Genetically modified foods
• Tips to overcome covid-19 pandemic
• E-sports is important as other sport
• How to be self-employed?
• Does TikTok designed for an addition?
• How to enjoy your campus life meaningfully
• How can writing a journal help you become a better person?
• How to speak confidently in public?

29 Motivational Speaking Topics

• Why losing is necessary to succeed
• The dress code is unnecessary for office employees
• Parents should become their kids’ best friends
• Effective listening is more important than talking
• Why it is important to support local businesses
• How to turn Challenges into Opportunities
• Underrated art of patience & silent observation
• Why have personal boundaries important?
• Life is a chain of ups and downs
• Being honest about your own mistakes
• Being a winner
• Being a better role model to our children
• Don’t let others define who you are
• Donations make you happy
• Protech environment for the future generation
• Being confident
• Starting a healthy life by breaking a bad habit
• Positive thinking changes your life
• Effective leadership
• Listening to your inner voice
• Restarting a new career
• Starting a healthy life
• Women’s place at work
• To be successful, you have to be disciplined
• Time management
• Strategies for focusing on study and work
• Tips for quick weight loss
• Most inspiring moment
• Balancing social life with studies

10 Random Interesting Topic For Speaking

You can use a spinner wheel to choose a random, weird speech topics, as it’s humorous, or interesting topic to speaking

• Thirteen is a lucky number
• 10 best ways to make your kids leave you alone
• 10 ways to annoy your parents
• Hot girl problems
• Boys gossip more than girls do
• Blame your cats for your problems
• Do not take life too seriously.
• If men had a menstrual cycle
• Control your laugh at serious moments
• The game of Monopoly is a mental sport

20 Unique Speech Topic s

• Technology is a double-edged sword
• There is life after death
• Life is never fair for everyone
• A decision is more important than hard-working
• We live once
• The healing power of music
• What is the most ideal age to get married
• Is it possible to live without the internet
• Clothes do influence how people react to you
• Untidy people are more creative
• You are what you say
• Boarding game for family and friend bonding
• Gay couples can raise a good family
• Never give money to the beggar
• Crypto-currency
• Leadership cannot be taught
• Overcome the fear of Maths
• Should exotic animals should be kept as pets
• Why are so many beauty contests?
• Giving birth to a twins
• The virtual classroom will take over in the future
• Peer pressure is necessary for self-development
• Go to career fairs is a smart move
• Technical training is better than a bachelor’s degree
• Pregnancy is not the end of a student’s university dream
• Fake personas and social media
• Ideas for spring break trips
• Credit cards are harmful to college students
• Changing a major is not the end of the world
• The harmful effects of alcohol
• Dealing with adolescent depression
• Universities should have career counseling programs now and then
• Colleges and universities should be free to attend
• Multiple choice tests are better than essay tests
• Gap years are a very great idea

• State colleges are better than private colleges
• College dropouts are more successful than college pass outs
• Beauty > Leadership skills while participating in college elections?
• Plagiarism checks have made life more miserable
• Decorating your college apartment with a low budget
• How to be Happy Being Single
• College students should live on campus
• Saving money while in college
• Education should be available to everyone as a human right
• How we undermine depression by normalizing it
• Pros and cons of community college vs. a four-year college or university
• Media psychology and communication relationship
• Why are so many students afraid of public speaking?
• How is Emotional Intelligence measured?
• How to pick up a topic for your graduation project
• Can a hobby turn into a profitable business?

17 Speaking Topics for Students

• Teachers should be tested like students.
• Is higher education overrated?
• Cooking should be taught in schools
• Boys and girls are potentially equal in every aspect
• Are birds comfortable in the zoo?
• Online friends show more compassion
• Consequences of cheating in exams
• Homeschooling is better than normal schooling
• What are the best ways to stop bullying?
• Teens should have weekend jobs
• School days should start later
• Why reading is more beneficial than watching television?
• TV shows or movies about teenage suicide encourage it or prevent it?
• Students should be allowed to have cell phones in elementary, middle, and high school
• Internet chatrooms are not safe
• Parents should let students fail

You can take one of the ideas above and turn them into an interesting topic for speaking.

How to Make your Speech Better!

#1: outline public speaking.

An Interesting topic for speaking makes an excellent speech if it has a clear structure. Here is a typical example:

Introduction

• A. Capture the audience’s attention
• B. Introduce the main idea you are talking about
• C. Talk about why the audience should listen
• D. Brief overview of the main points of your speech

A. First main point (spoken as a statement)

• Subpoint (spoken as a statement, supporting the main point)
• Evidence to support the main point
• Any other potential sub-points, interpreted in the same way as 1

B. Second main point (expressed as a statement)

• Subpoint (expressed as a statement; supporting the main point)
• (Continue to follow the organization of the First Main Point)

C. Third main point (expressed as a statement)

• 1. Subpoint (expressed as a statement; supporting the main point)
• (Continued to follow the organization of First Main Point)
• A. Summary – A brief review of the main points
• B. Closing – Complete speech
• C. QnA – Time to answer questions from the audience

#2: Craft and Deliver an Interesting Inspirational Speech

Once you have chosen your ideal topic, now it is time for you to begin preparing content. Preparation is the key to delivering an impressive speech. You need to work hard to make sure each paragraph of your speech is informative, clear, relevant, and valuable to listeners. There are some guidelines and tips that you can follow to make your speech expressive and effective.

• Research your speech topic

It can be time-consuming and frustrating at the beginning but believe it or not once you adopt the right mindset and passion, you will enjoy the process of looking for different information. Make sure you follow the audience-centric and fill your knowledge gaps. Because above all, your goal is to educate, persuade or inspire your audience. Therefore, read everything that is related to the topic you are exploring as much as you can.

• Create an outline

The best way to make sure your speech is spoken perfectly is to work on your draft which lists important outlines. It is the plan to help you stay on track, at the same time, ensure your paper is organized, focused, and supported. You can write down all the points and possible transitions between paragraphs.

• Choosing the right words

Make sure you avoid the fluff and superfluous words that make your speech sounds cliche or boring. Put it shortly and concisely as Winston Churchill once said, “Short words are best, and old words, when short, are best of all.” However, don’t forget to stay true to your own voice. Moreover, you can ultimately use a sense of humor to engage your listeners but don’t overuse it if you don’t want to be blamed for the offense.

• Support your main idea with persuasive examples and facts

There are a variety of useful sources that you can facilitate such as library sources, peer-reviewed academic journals, newspapers, Wikipedia… and even your personal library sources. One of the best inspiring examples can come from your own experience. Using anecdotes from your own life or someone that you know can stimulate the audience’s heart and mind at the same time. Additionally, you can quote reputable sources to prove your point of view more solid and persuasive.

• Ending your speech with a strong conclusion

In your closing, restate your opinion, and exert the audience’s heartstrings at the last time by summarizing your points in a short and memorable sentence. Besides, you can call for action by giving the audience challenges which leave them motivated and remember your speech.

• Practice makes perfect

Keeping on practicing is the only way to make your speech perfect. Don’t worry if you are not a good speaker. Again, practice makes perfect. Practicing before the mirror repeatedly or getting feedback from professionals will help you to build confidence and coherence while speaking.

• Using AhaSlides to brighten up  your speech

Make use of this powerful tool as much as possible. Engaging visual presentation slides will absolutely help you capture the audience’s attention at the beginning as well as at the end of the speech. AhAslide is easy to use and portable for edit on almost devices. It is highly recommended by professionals around the world. Pick a template and have a go, your public speaking will never be the same again.

What are good speech topics? It can be difficult to choose an interesting topic for speaking from among such a wide variety of ideas. Think about which of the above topics you are most knowledgeable about, most comfortable with, and which opinions can be highlighted.

Follow AhaSlides’ articles on public speaking to improve your public speaking skills and make your speaking more attractive than ever!

Got a question? We've got answers.

6 steps to find Interesting Topic For Speaking?

Why interesting topics to speak are important, why interesting topics should be in short format.

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More from AhaSlides

151 Best Public Speaking Topics In 2021

Thu Oct 21, 2021

Do you love giving a speech in front of a large group of people or simply feel nervous about it? Sometimes, the lack of preparation and planning a good speech may cause the latter. With today's fast-paced environment, you will have to step up on stage to deliver a speech at some time in your life. Writing a compelling and insightful speech necessitates the selection of a suitable topic, extensive research. It will need the creation of individual ideas to communicate everything fact and opinion. It might be difficult to select a suitable speech topic for your speech . But don't worry, the work has been done for you! This blog provides a list of popular English speaking themes as well as some useful tips and methods. Be ready to effectively communicate your views and suggestions in front of the public. Table Of Contents:

List Of Best Speech Topics For Public Speaking

1-minute speech topics.

• 2-Minute Speech Topics

Unique Speech Topics

Interesting speech topics, easy speech topics, speech topics on environment.

• Speech Topics On Social Issues

Speech Topics On Greatest Leaders

Speech topics on education, speech topics on health, frequently asked questions.

Speeches are entirely about the speaker's own ideas. It should not be duplicated from another source. It ultimately boils down to what the speaker believes about any particular issue. Examine the following collection of English Speaking Ideas on various current topics and themes.

A 2-minute speech is an excellent method to start into public speaking and is often utilised in the classroom. It's brief. It's quick.

To make things easier for yourself, choose a topic that fascinates you and about which you can speak passionately.

• Public Smoking
• Bar Hours of Operation
• Confirmed Alien Sightings
• The Rape Culture
• Indian Reservation Casinos
• Marijuana Legalization
• Making Prostitution Legal
• The Dangers of Cosmetic Surgery
• Adoption Across Cultures
• What Causes Men to Have Affairs?
• What Is the Importance of Reading?
• Homelessness in the United States
• Reducing the Legal Drinking Age
• General Education Courses (20)
• Is Online Dating Dangerous or Safe?
• How to Speak English in America
• Getting Your Pets Spayed/Neutered
• Are Video Games Beneficial to Your Health?

Choosing new and exciting unique speech themes for your public speaking skills is vital. It can also help with any other special event that necessitates developing your own exceptional experiences. Read through these ideas and choose just the ones that are unique to you.

• Seniors are no longer able to adopt children.
• TV commercials are not works of art.
• Allow students to use social media at school.
• Cash will be phased out.
• Music has the ability to heal.
• Historic structures must be protected.
• There should be a one-car-per-family regulation.
• Marriage should be permitted only after the age of 25.
• Parents who home educate their children should first have to pass examinations.
• The Bermuda Triangle is not a work of fiction.
• Medication has no effect on hyperactive youngsters.
• It is possible to survive without internet access.
• Leadership cannot be learned.
• Married couples should engage in extramarital relationships.
• Modern art just requires ambition.

Almost always, you will be required to present one or more compelling speeches throughout your career.

Unless the topic is appropriate, no matter how good your material or delivery is, you will fail to make an impression. As a result, when making this decision, one must use extreme caution and wisdom. Here are some interesting topics to choose from, especially if it’s your first on stage.

• Reality television is a source of exploitation.
• Reality programmes are far from authentic.
• Computer-based learning is the most efficient.
• Gamification and virtual reality are the educational technologies of the future.
• Juvenile criminality is tolerated.
• Prostitution need to be legalised.
• To conserve endangered species, severe fines should be imposed.
• Pollution of the environment is a worldwide issue.
• The developed world is to blame for global warming.
• Is Pink appropriate for men
• Eco-fashion is the way of the future.
• Fashion shows one's actual self.
• Travel introduces fresh experiences.
• Travel broadens your horizons.
• Rhetorical learning is less essential than personal experience.

If you don't have much time to prepare or research , it's necessary to adhere to what you know. This will greatly reduce your burden because you already know the majority of what there is to know.

Here are some simple and easy speech topics on popular topics.

• There are less professional ads in schools.
• Why are single-gender public schools preferable than co-ed?
• From cradle to finish, schools should educate students on healthy nutrition.
• Students who engage in cyberbullying should be expelled from school.
• Before getting married, you should live together.
• Higher education is a basic requirement for success in today's world.
• French fries and drinks should not be served in schools.
• Students who study online are more likely to cheat.
• Classic literature should be reserved for college students alone.
• Every kid at every school should be required to wear a uniform.
• After completing a basic education, students should be put in trade schools.
• Exam results provide little insight into a student's skills.
• History textbooks do not always tell the entire storey.
• It is critical for students to learn about all global faiths in school.
• Homeschooling outperforms formal education.

For public speaking , consider environmental speech themes and essay writing on many elements of our ecology. https://www.letstute.com/s/store/courses/Spoken%20English

Do you want to write about sustainability in the environment? These suggestions will serve to enliven your imagination.

• The dangers of oil spills in the water.
• Recycling should be made compulsory.
• Why is it necessary to save oil?
• Why should we use reusable bags?
• Why should palm oil be banned?
• Mining should be prohibited in environmentally vulnerable regions.
• Disposable diapers pollute the environment.
• In deciding how a person will turn out, the environment is more significant than heredity.
• The dangers of drilling for oil in Alaska.
• Fishing restrictions are required to protect the ecosystem.
• Endangered species must be protected.
• We need to put more money into alternate fuels.
• Endangered oceans ought to be protected.
• We should work for a paperless society.
• Conserve the world's resources.
• Rain forests must be safeguarded.

You may also like:

• The massive list of 51 English speaking tips
• How talk in English
• 13 Actionable tips to learn English Speaking

Speech Topics on Social Issues

When working on a speech that asks you to write about a societal topic, you must be neutral in your research and writing. The topic you choose should be related to and relevant to the societal issue addressed in your speech. Here are a few issues that will have a bigger influence in terms of social affairs.

• The notion that all individuals are equal
• The statistics on homelessness in the United States are accurate. Fashion is the biggest cause of kid misbehaviour.
• Corporate corruption is a major factor of poor economies in many countries.
• Never take your right to privacy for granted.
• People are not killed by firearms. People kill one other, and the meaning of beauty pageants is muddled.
• The prevalence of spoiled children has increased as a result of media violence.
• The world's biggest population has lost its cultural identity.
• There is an urgent need to put an end to the maiming and abuse of schoolgirls.
• China's one-child policy is justifiable.
• In current culture, correct tipping etiquette and procedures
• Unemployment, a growing crisis
• The Importance of the Right to an Education
• Child trafficking as an unspoken issue

The capacity to lead is extremely powerful since it allows you to influence the future and control the behaviour of others.

Choose a theme for your speech that focuses on the notion of leadership. By delving into this subject and expanding on it in your speech, you may not only increase your personal understanding of what makes a successful leader. However, also communicate your insights with your listening crowd. Pick on the topics below to exemplify leadership.

• Jacinda Adern
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Nelson Mandela
• Winston Churchill
• Martin Luther King Jr
• Abraham Lincoln
• Mother Teresa
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• George Washington
• Julias Caesar
• Franklin D Roosevelt
• Francoise Hollande
• Pope Francis
• Akbar the Great

Education is a human right to which everyone is entitled. When individuals differ on what is good and wrong with education, problems occur. As a part of public speaking, education becomes an important topic to address the audience about.

The topics listed below are ones that everyone working in or with education must deal with at some time.

• The value of education in advancing one's career
• Outside the classroom, there is a lesson to be learned.
• The Advantages of E-Learning
• E-learning vs. traditional classroom instruction
• What will the future of education look like?
• Is it appropriate for instructors and students to connect on social media?
• Should homework be assigned in schools?
• How to Achieve Academic Success in College Through Online Learning
• Which is the better measure of success: theory or practise?
• Various modes of learning and teaching
• Before being admitted to school, one should undergo a psychological evaluation.
• Do you believe it should be permissible for students to drop out before reaching the age of 18?
• Should life skills classes be required in schools?
• Should public universities be free?
• Should laptops take the role of textbooks?

Today, public health speeches are required so that people may concentrate on promoting and safeguarding community health. It is critical to implant the concept of well-being in broad groups of people, with a focus on wellness.

Here is a list of compelling and instructive health and wellness speech themes. These are certainly, also for the purpose of enhancing your own thinking and that of others.

• Diet beverages are frequently not diet at all, while ordinary beverages are not quite regular.
• Going barefoot in the summer is beneficial to your feet.
• Take a test to determine whether you are susceptible to any hazardous diseases or viruses.
• Why you shouldn't work too hard if you have diabetes.
• Breakfast is the most essential meal of the day for several reasons.
• Fast food establishments should provide healthier choices.
• Do you believe that sex education should be taught in schools?
• People who live in cities will die younger.
• Excessive salt consumption is harmful to one's health.
• Consumption of meat should be decreased.
• People should be more concerned about their sleep.
• Why should you become an organ donor?
• Why should we utilise homoeopathic remedies?
• Why are vaccinations beneficial?
• Are e-cigarettes preferable to cigarettes?

1. What are the 4 types of public speeches?

To master public speaking, you must first distinguish between four styles of public speaking:

• Ceremonial Speaking
• Demonstrative Speaking
• Informative Speaking
• Persuasive Speaking

2. What do you say in a 2-minute public speech?

Prepare your 2–3 main points ahead of time, and keep in mind that a successful presentation would include:

• Captivating start, such as a strong quotation or questions that pique your audience's attention.
• Introduction, major body, and conclusion are all well-structured.
• A strong conclusion that will stay with the viewers.

3. What is the best topic for students?

The Best Speech Topics for Students:

• Noise Pollution
• Women Empowerment
• Environment Pollution
• Health and Wellness

4. What are the 7 elements of public speaking?

The 7 aspects of public speaking are:

• The speaker
• The message
• The channel
• The listener
• The feedback
• The interference
• The circumstance

5. How do you practice impromptu speaking?

You may practise spontaneous speeches in two ways:

• You're on your own. Every day, pick a different random topic and talk out about it.
• Speak in front of a group. The greatest method to master spontaneous speaking is to practise in front of a group and receive expert criticism.

People are generally encouraged to talk about a current issue in order to help them become better public speakers. They are also required to acquire the skill of expressing themselves in front of an audience. Choosing the appropriate topic before you begin practising your speech may make all the difference. It is a method of keeping your audience engaged and from being bored. You may also choose one about which you are enthusiastic so that you can express it properly. When considering these persuasive English speech ideas, ensure you keep it interesting, engaging, short, and clear. Do you think we left something out? Or do you have a topic that you believe is significant and would want to add? Please mention them in the comments section below!

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150+ Topics for Conversation and Speech in English [PDF Download]

• Updated on Nov 12, 2023

•   shares

If you want to jump straight to downloading the conversation topics, you may scroll down to the end of the page. However, I would suggest you still read the first part of the post, which delves into how you can get the most out of your conversation practice.

Best practices for conversation or speaking

1. pick the side you want to speak for.

Most topics have two sides to argue on. You can pick either of the side – favor or against – or sometimes just take an entirely different direction. For example, if the discussion topic is ‘should laptops be allowed in classrooms?’ you can argue either in favor of the topic (allow laptops in classrooms) or against it (don’t allow laptops in classrooms).

2. Make a mental note of your regular mistakes few minutes before you start

Few minutes before you start speaking, make a mental note of your regular 1-2 mistakes you won’t repeat. Even if you’ve to go slow or take other measures to curb these mistakes, do it. That’s how you improve.

3. Prepare a structure

Take even practice sessions seriously if you want to get better at speaking , because what you do in practice comes out in real situations as well. Prepare before opening your mouth to avoid rambling and frequent pauses. Get your thoughts organized in bullet points in the order you plan to speak. For example, if you’re speaking against allowing laptops in classrooms, following could be a structure for what you want to say:

• Laptops shouldn’t be allowed in classrooms [State what you stand for right in the beginning]
• Laptops distract even if the intention is to just take notes because users invariably drift to internet or offline games
• They also distract those who are not using it
• They also add to our screen-time, which is gathering menacing proportion these days
• Therefore, I believe… [Conclude]

4. Support your argument

Add any statistic, expert opinion, quote, anecdote, or personal experience in support of your assertion (you need to think of them when preparing your structure as mentioned in the previous point). That’s how you strengthen your argument. For example, you can narrate your or someone else’s experience of how distracting use of laptop in the classroom was.

When the other person is speaking, don’t think of what you would say next. Listen. Listen. And listen. If you listen, you would be able to counter his point if you don’t agree with it or build on what he said if you’ve more to say on it. A good response takes cues from what the other person said and reacts to it, and doesn’t get fixated on what you’ve already prepared.

6. Review after the conversation ends

Most people just hang up after finishing speaking, which isn’t the best way. Instead, you should spend few minutes analyzing what went right and what went wrong. Few areas of improvement would be obvious to you, but few can be discovered through feedback from the other person. Identifying your mistakes is gold. Work on them. That’s the fastest way to improve. If you don’t critique your performance and take corrective steps, your communication skills would barely improve even after years of practice.

Few logistical points to note on the topics that follow:

1 . Whereas most topics are in the form of question (example: Should violent video games be banned?), some are statements (example: Real learning doesn’t happen in a classroom). Few end in three dots (example: If I were invisible for a day…), which means you can take the topic whichever way you want.

2 . Whatever the topic, make sure to answer why you’re taking the stand even if it is not explicitly asked. Otherwise, your reply would end in seconds. For example, if you don’t answer ‘why’ for the topic ‘what is the best letter in English alphabet?’, you would finish in a blink.

3 . Try to speak for at least five minutes, the longer the better.

Without further ado, here are more than 150 topics on which you can hold conversation or make speech. They’ve been arranged in three categories – beginner, intermediate, and advanced – depending on the difficulty level of the topic. Feel free to download the topics as a PDF (link at the end of the page).

Participate in a short survey

If you’re a learner or teacher of English language, you can help improve website’s content for the visitors through a short survey.

Beginner-level conversation and speech topics

1. Should cell phones be banned in classrooms?

2. Should laptops be allowed in classrooms?

3. Are single-sex schools more effective than co-ed schools?

4. Are smartphone and television making children unhealthy, distracted, and irritable?

5. Should we play sports that involve animals and make them uncomfortable?

6. Should schools do away with uniform?

7. Should time on social media sites be limited to an hour a day?

8. Should violent video games be banned?

9. Should homework in schools be done away with?

10. Should animal dissections be banned in schools?

11. Should attendance in college be made optional?

12. My top-three foods. Why?

13. My top-three movies. Why?

14. My top-three travel destinations. Why?

15. My three best friends. What do you like about them?

16. My top-three movie stars. Why?

17. My top-three sports persons. Why?

18. My top-three sports persons who don’t play my favorite sport. Why?

19. My top-three animals. Why?

20. Which has been your most memorable vacation?

21. What’s the best surprise you’ve received?

22. When have you felt the most frightened?

23. Which subject in your school or college days you disliked the most? Why?

24. What has been your biggest success so far? What efforts you made to pull it off? How it changed your life?

25. Which is the best season of the year?

26. The most important lesson in life I’ve learnt so far is…

27. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?

28. Summer is the best and worst of times. Why?

29. What are the three biggest problems your city faces?

30. Three surprising things about me are…

31. How do you plan a party?

32. What is your dream job? Why?

33. If you could have dinner with anyone, who would he/ she be? What ten questions would you ask?

34. What is your favorite book? Why?

35. Most successful person I know is…

36. Most memorable moment of your life

37. Worst moment of your life

38. Should internet access be limited?

39. Have you been bullied? How did you tackle it?

40. What foods you’ll never eat? Why?

41. What are the three things you’re scared of? Why?

42. Movies are providing cues to people to commit crime. Should the movie content be regulated for this?

43. Should physical education be compulsory up to High School?

44. Should students be graded for their handwriting in schools?

Intermediate-level conversation and speech topics

45. Should animals be subjected to scientific and commercial tests?

46. What impact does social networking sites have on society?

47. Is the grading system used in colleges effective?

48. Do celebrities have higher chance of getting away with crime than non-celebrities?

49. Should nuclear energy be exploited for commercial purpose or abandoned because of associated risks?

50. Are humans to blame for certain animal extinctions?

51. Should we kill animals for food?

52. Is peer pressure harmful or beneficial to individuals?

53. Should cigarettes be banned?

54. Do celebrities make for bad role models?

55. Are credit cards worse than debit cards?

56. Should zoos be banned because they keep animals in confinement?

57. Should sex education be banned in schools?

58. Are we too dependent on computers?

59. Does money motivate people more than any other thing in the workplace?

60. Is boarding school system better than day-school system?

61. Will posting a student’s grades on a notice board motivate him to improve?

62. How can bullying and ragging be stopped in schools and colleges?

63. Are video games responsible for bad behavior among children?

64. Which is better: daydreaming or night-dreaming?

65. Is there life after death?

66. If you could transform into an animal, which animal would it be and why?

67. If you could go into past through a time machine, which era would you like to go into and why?

68. Whom would you prefer to date – attractive and popular or intelligent and smart?

69. Which is better to have as a pet – cat or dog?

70. What is a better measure of success – money or wisdom?

71. Is intelligence sufficient to achieve success?

72. Is lying OK? If yes, when?

73. What human quality do we need more in the world? Why?

74. Does media influence how and what we think?

75. Real learning doesn’t happen in a classroom.

76. Should we be judged by how we dress?

77. Should we be judged by how we speak?

78. What would you do if you get one million US dollars?

79. How would you spend three months on an uninhabited island with no escape? Describe your daily routine.

80. Good grades matter.

81. What would you do for living if you know you can’t fail in it?

82. If I were invisible for a day…

83. What are you grateful for?

84. Are exams a good way to assess students? What could be other ways?

85. Does life exist outside our solar system? Why? Why not?

86. Is assassination of a dictator justified?

87. How can one become millionaire?

88. Are professional athletes overpaid?

89. What are three keys to a happy life?

90. Are Reality TV shows fixed?

91. Is glass half full or half empty for you?

92. If you become head of the government, what five steps would you take for the welfare of people?

93. What twenty things can you make from snow?

94. Three tips you would like to give to others on growing their money.

95. If I was in charge of designing school’s curriculum, I would…

96. Should religious places remain tax exempt?

97. Should drinking age be lowered?

98. Is chess a sport?

99. Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?

100. Are standardized tests good or bad for education?

101. Freedom of speech should be absolute without any restrictions.

102. Citizens who do not vote in elections should be fined.

103. Driving age should be lowered to 16.

104. Cosmetic surgery should be banned.

105. Internet should be censored.

106. Beauty contests should be banned.

107. Prisoners shouldn’t be allowed to vote.

108. Obesity tax should be implemented to control obesity.

109. Gambling should be banned.

110. Corporal punishment in schools serves a purpose and shouldn’t be stopped.

111. Performance by children shouldn’t be allowed on television.

Advanced conversation and speech topics

112. Should capital punishment be banned?

113. Is global warming really an issue or just a hype by elitists?

114. Is euthanasia justified?

115. Is cloning animals ethical?

116. Does God exist?

117. Is torture by police justified for national security?

118. Are beauty pageants a way to objectify women?

119. Should animal safaris in the wild be banned because they’re intrusive?

120. Should juveniles be tried and treated as adults?

121. Is human cloning justified, and should it be allowed?

122. Should companies market their products directly to children?

123. Should libraries have banned books?

124. Should humans eat to live or live to eat?

125. Is it better to be honest and poor or dishonest and rich?

126. Do nice people finish last?

127. Should we spend on sending people to Mars or to more pressing needs such as eradicating poverty?

128. Who would win the battle of the two big cats – tiger and lion?

129. Will machines take over humans in 100 years?

130. Which of the two – success or failure – teaches you the most?

131. Are Batman, Superman, and Spiderman misleading idols?

132. What is your biggest worry about your future?

133. What is your biggest worry about your country?

134. Should companies be allowed to market junk food?

135. To err is human. To forgive is divine. Discuss.

136. The more we communicate, the less we really say.

137. Wisdom is not dependent on age.

138. If I ruled the world…

139. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

140. You become the average of your five best friends.

141. Would you want to become wise or intelligent?

142. What is the best letter in English alphabet?

143. Why are humans so interested in understanding the universe?

144. Is capitalism the best political and economic system?

145. Can renewable energy effectively replace fossil fuels?

146. Should guns be easily available to adults for self-defense?

147. Should government bailout banks when they face bankruptcy?

148. Should dictatorship replace democracy in countries where progress is slow and corruption is significant?

149. Advertising is harmful.

150. All nations should have nuclear weapons.

151. Developed countries should contribute more than developing countries to combat climate change.

152. Billions of dollars shouldn’t be spent on Olympics and should better be spent on noble causes.

153. Animals have rights.

154. Newspapers will be a thing of past in twenty years.

155. Bribery for safeguarding national interest is fine.

You can download a PDF version of the above list here:

Anil is the person behind content on this website, which is visited by 3,000,000+ learners every year. He writes on most aspects of English Language Skills. More about him here:

When we try to learn any second language it seems difficult, because we don’t find the environment to adopt that language. It is possible if we shall do practice and will use the second language.

I am also facing the problem. So I want to say that keep practising on your own or with your friend . And try some app that improves your speaking.

Is there someone here that I can talk with? I need him/her as a partner to improve my speaking skill

Hi Anil, This is a good website for learning good English, but nowhere I found pdf for download which you have given in description (150+ English Conversation Topics, with Best Practices (PDF Download)). Can you please guide me how to download the pdf? Thank you.

It’s where the post ends and the comments begin.

I like to improve my English languages by daily conversation and prefer British English over American English.

I really enjoyed this post. I appreciate your work on this gives in-depth information. I am really happy with the quality of learning tips for Beginners in this article. Thanks for sharing.

I would like to receive daily topics and conversations so that I improve my speaking skills

Comments are closed.

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English Speech Topics for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 2, 2024

Writing an exciting and thoughtful speech requires selecting a good topic, researching it thoroughly, and forming individual opinions to express the same. School students are usually asked to speak on a contemporary topic to help them become good public speakers as well as learn the art of expressing oneself in front of an audience. While many speech competitions often allot topics beforehand, you might also have heard of extempore where topics are given on the spot for speech. This blog brings you a list of common English speech topics as well as some helpful tips and tricks that can assist you in effectively expressing your thoughts and opinions in front of an audience. Let’s begin!

Checkout our 200+ Essay Topics for Students in English

This Blog Includes:

List of best english speech topics for students, 1-minute speech topics, 2-minute speech topics, 3-minute speech topics, easy topics for speech in english, english speech topics on environment, english speech topics on technology, english speech topics on independence day, english speech topics on diwali, english speech topics on corruption, english speech topics on feminism, english speech topics on mother’s day, english speaking topics on capitalism, engish speech topics on gandhi jayanti, english speech topics on reading, english speech topics on communism, english speech topics on deforestation, english speech topics on social issues, english speech topics on important days & events, english speech topics on greatest leaders in india & around the world, english speech topics on indian culture, english speech topics on proverbs, english speech topics on human rights, english speech topics on education, english speech topics on the importance of water, miscellaneous speech topics, types of persuasive speech topics, tips for writing and speaking a speech.

Speeches are all about one’s thoughts. It should not be copied from somewhere. It is all about what the speaker thinks of any given topic. However, take a look at the following list of English Speech Topics on different contemporary issues as well as concepts.

• The Best Day of My Life
• Social Media: Bane or Boon?
• Pros and Cons of Online Learning
• Benefits of Yoga
• If I had a Superpower
• I wish I were ______
• Human Rights
• Environment Conservation
• Women Should Rule the World!
• The Best Lesson I Have Learned
• Paperbacks vs E-books
• How to Tackle a Bad Habit
• My Favorite Pastime/Hobby
• Why should every citizen vote?
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Is it real or not?
• Importance of Reading
• Importance of Books in Our Life
• My Favorite Fictional Character
• Introverts vs Extroverts
• Lessons to Learn from Sports
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Quick Read: English Speaking Books

Quick Read: Essay on Peer Pressure

Quick Read: Essay on Health and Fitness for Students

• I mportance of Kindness
• Is there Value in Homework?
• Things I learned in Lockdown
• How can food be recycled?
• Should Art be a part of the school curriculum?
• Should schools teach sign language?
• Women make better presidents/prime ministers
• Why books are better than movies?
• Life was better when technology was simple
• Impact of technology on our health
• Should children’s reality shows be banned?
• Learning in the Wake of COVID-19
• Hard Work vs Smart Work
• What Makes Learning Fun?
• The Coolest Inventions You’ve Seen
• Nuclear Energy
• Importance of AI in Education
• Importance of Extracurricular Activities
• Should exams be banned?
• How to Tackle Bullying in Schools?

• Speech about dreams
• Speech about life
• Speech on time
• Speech on discipline
• Speech on happiness
• Speech on kindness
• Speech on value of time
• Speech on health and fitness
• Speech on Doctor
• Speech on Nurse
• Graduation Day Speech
• World Health Day Speech
• Sex Education Speech
• Importance of Education
• Is it beneficial to learn a Second Language?
• Music has healing power
• Success in life
• Self Confidence
• 18th birthday
• Love is more powerful than hate
• Social Impact of Covid-19
• How can Online Learning be Fun?
• Make Public Transport Free
• Should violent video games be banned?
• Speech on Learning

Exploring English Speech Topics? You must also take a look at Extempore Topics !

• Climate Change
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Reducing Water Levels
• Deforestation
• Global Warming
• Waste Management
• Water-Saving Techniques
• Reducing the Green Cover of Earth
• Endangered species need protection
• Importance of fishing regulations
• Importance of investing in alternative fuels
• Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms
• The misuse of the term “sustainable development” by environmentalists
• Microbial benefits
• E-Waste Management
• Natural Disasters and their impact on economic growth
• Energy alternatives – Only solution to the environmental damage
• Extinction of rare species
• World Environment Day
• Disaster Management
• Over and Improper Use of Natural Resources
• Air, Water and Soil Pollution
• Efficiency of Recycling

Also Read: How to Write Dialogue: Format, Tips and Examples

• Technology and Mental Health
• Privacy in the Digital Age: Navigating the Challenges of Data Collection and Surveillance
• The Impact of Technology on Society
• Artificial Intelligence: The New Normal
• The Role of Social Media in Communication and Social Interactions
• Sustainable Technology: Innovations for a Greener Future
• The Rise of E-commerce
• Gaming Technology: Entertainment, ESports and Interactive Experiences
• The Digital Divide: Bridging the Gap for Equal Access to Technology
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Emerging Technologies

Also Read: English Vocabulary: Meaning, Types, Tips to Improve

• The Journey of Independence Day
• The Significance of Independence Day
• Indian Independence Day
• Remembering the Founding Fathers
• The Spirit of Independence
• Independence Day and Volunteering
• Independence Day Speeches
• India’s Road to Freedom
• Independence Day and National Identity
• Independence Day in the Digital Age
• Independence Day and Women’s Empowerment
• Diwali: The Festival of Lights and Its Significance in Hindu Culture
• Diwali and the Victory of Good Over Evil
• Diwali and the Art of Giving
• Diwali and the Spirit of Forgiveness
• Diwali and Cultural Exchanges
• Diwali and the Essence of Joy
• Diwali and Social Responsibility
• Diwali and Artistic Expressions
• The Rituals and Traditions of Diwali
• Diwali and the Symbolism of Light
• The Economic Consequence of Corruption
• Corruption and International Aid
• Media and Corruption
• Fighting Corruption
• Corruption in Politics
• The Role of Transparency and Accountability in Curbing Corruption
• The Role of Technology in Combating Corruption
• Whistleblowing and Protecting Mechanism
• Corruption in Business and Corporate Practices
• Understanding Feminism
• The Future of Feminism
• Feminism and Parenting
• Feminism and Online Activism
• Feminism and Environmental Activism
• Feminism and Reproductive Rights
• The Gender Pay Gap: Examining Inequalities in the Workplace
• Feminism and its Evolution
• Feminism and Body Positivity
• Feminism and Media Representation: Encouraging Authentic and Diverse Portrayals of Women
• Expressing Gratitude and Love to Mothers
• The Influence of Mothers in Shaping Our Values and Beliefs
• Motherhood and Education
• Mother’s Day and Volunteerism
• Mother-Daughter Relationship
• The Role of Mothers in Shaping Society
• Mother’s Day Crafts and DIY Gifts
• Learned Lessons from Mothers
• Mother’s Day Around the World: Cultural Traditions and Celebrations
• Capitalism: An Introduction to the Economic System and its Principles
• The Future of Capitalism
• Pros and Cons of Capitalism
• Capitalism and Globalisation
• Capitalism and Consumerism
• Capitalism and Financial Crisis: Undertaking the Risk and Mitigation Measures
• Capitalism and Environmental Sustainability
• Capitalism and the Role of Government
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Capitalism
• Capitalism and the Digital Economy
• Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation and His Ideals
• Remembering Gandhi: Reflecting On His Life and Legacy
• Gandhi’s Influence on the Indian Independence Movement
• Satyagraha: The Power of Truth and Nonviolent Resistance
• Gandhi’s Philosophy of Swaraj
• The Role of Women in Gandhi’s Freedom Struggle
• Gandhi’s Teaching on Education and Moral Values
• Gandhi’s Lasting Legacy
• Gandhi’s Vision for a Just and Inclusive Society
• The Relevance of Gandhi’s Principles in Today’s World
• The Influence of Reading on Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
• Reading and Mental Health
• Benefits of Reading
• Reading and Empowerment
• The Role of Reading in Academic Success and Lifelong Learning
• Promoting a Reading Culture: Encouraging Reading Habits in Society
• Reading Biographies and Memoirs
• Reading and Social Connections
• The Joy of Reading: Escaping Into the Different Worlds and Characters
• Reading and Personal Identity
• The Current State of Communism
• Communism: An Introduction to the Ideology and Its Historical Context
• The Evolution of Communist Movements
• The Role of the State in a Communist Society
• The Fall of Communist Regimes
• Communism and Religious Freedom
• Communism and Gender Equality
• Communism and Workers’ Rights
• The Criticisms of Communism
• Deforestation: Causes, Consequences and Global Impact
• Deforestation and Climate Change
• Deforestation and Carbon Sequestration
• Deforestation and Individual Actions
• Deforestation and Wildlife Trafficking
• Deforestation and Sustainable Development
• Deforestation and Indigenous Communities
• Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss
• Deforestation and Forest Fires
• The Importance of Forests

Quick Read: Speech on Nuclear Energy

• Women Empowerment
• Education of Girl Child
• Unemployment
• Casteism 
• Reservation
• Importance of Maintaining Hygiene
• Child Labour
• Social Distancing
• Organ Donation
• Importance of the Right to Education
• Child Trafficking
• Cultural Diversity
• Struggles of Immigrants
• Impact of Globalisation
• Adult education
• Independence Day
• Mother’s Day
• World Cancer Day
• World Population Day
• World Health Day
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights Day
• Zero Discrimination Day
• Women’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Anti-Terrorism Day
• Hindi Diwas 

Check out this list of all the important national and international days in 202 4 !

• Mahatma Gandhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Raja Rammohan Roy
• George Washington
• Albert Einstein
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Nelson Mandela
• Kailash Satyarthi
• Diversity in India
• Speech on Holi
• The Role of Yoga and Meditation in Indian Culture and Its Global Impact
• The Importance of Traditional Indian Clothing
• Indian Folklore
• Indian Festivals
• The Art of Indian Dance
• Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda)
• Indian Epics and Mythology
• Social Customs and Etiquettes in Indian Society
• Indian Sports and Games

Also Read: Speech on Indian Culture

• Honesty is the best policy
• When there’s a will, there is a way
• Actions speak louder than words
• Knowledge is Power
• Ignorance is Bliss
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Hard work is the key to success

Explore these proverbs & their meanings through this blog on Difficult Phrases !

• The Role of International Organisations in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Milestone in Human History
• Gender Equality: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women
• Ensuring a Safe and Sustainable Environment for the Next Generation
• The Right to Education: Empowering Minds
• Bridging the Gap Between the Rich and Poor
• Human Rights and Armed Conflicts
• Global Fight to Combat Human Trafficking
• Human Rights and Climate Change
• Religious Freedom: Tolerance and Coexistence in a Diverse Society

To know what to mention in such speech topics, explore the Great Personalities in the World !

• Importance of teacher in your life
• SAT scores for college application
• Student bullies should be expelled
• Consequences of cheating in exams
• Homeschooling is better than normal schooling
• Importance of value education
• Importance of sports and physical exercises
• Schools vs colleges
• What is the difference between a school, college and university in the USA?

Check Out: Synonyms List

• The Water-Energy Nexus
• The Essence of Water: Exploring the Live-giving Properties of H2O
• Water as a Driver of Economic Growth and Prosperity
• Water Security: Ensuring Equal Access and Quality for All
• Water and Agriculture
• The Role of Water in Ecosystems
• Water and Blue Economy
• Water Diplomacy: Promoting Collaboration for Transboundary Water Management
• Water and Cultural Significance: Exploring Symbolisms and Rituals
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Foundational for Human Health and Dignity
• Article 370
• Women rights
• The Constitution of India
• Youth of India
• Culture of India
• Importance of Unity
• Generation Gap
• Importance of Value Education
• Old Age Homes
• Family Values
• Leadership skills
• Rise of Smart Classes
• Grading System
• Importance of Practical Education
• Benefits of Co-Education
• Importance of Co-Curricular Activities
• The uselessness of Power-Point Presentations
• Rise of Technology
• Excessive usage of the Internet
• Speech on Fear
• Speech on Dependence on Technology
• Importance of Social Media
• Speech on India of My Dreams
• Indian Education System
• Speech on My India

While exploring persuasive English speech topics, you must make sure that they are stimulating, engaging, concise and clear. There are three main types of Persuasive Speech topics which are:

1. Factual Persuasive Speech : These topics include facts, figures and statistics to thoroughly analyse the given topic and assess whether it’s true or false.

2. Policy Persuasive Speech : Discussing policies, laws and reforms, these speech topics critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the given policy or law and suggest the improvements that can be made.

3. Value Persuasive Speech : Mainly focusing on social or political issues, these speech topics present the critique and argument of whether certain actions are morally right or not.

While speaking on a particular topic, there are certain things that you must keep in mind to make your speech expressive and effective. Let’s take a look at some useful topics that help you in acing any topic you are speaking on.

• Always research the topic. If you are participating in an extempore, then make sure to go through the common and popular topics as well as the unconventional ones that you might get. Preparation is the key to delivering an impressive speech.
• Whether you are given a topic on the spot or you are prepared for the speech, it is always pivotal that you seem interested in speaking about it. Relate the given issues to your own life and this will help you in giving it your twist.
• Pay extra attention to your body language and enunciation. While a gesticulative approach will make you seem outward, having timid body language can cause a wrong impression.
• Ponder upon the different viewpoints on a topic . Try to present a holistic view of the given topic but don’t forget to present your opinion on it as well. Along with this, don’t try to take sides unless the topic demands you to.
• Involve your audience, if possible. This way, you will be able to interact with the people and it will also be useful in fighting the fear of public speaking.
• Don’t mug up a speech. It becomes evident when someone just speaks on a topic continuously and the audience might realise that you have memorized it or you might forget a certain part which will let the whole speech fade away from your brain.
• Instead, make notes about the topic in your mind, remember certain keywords and try to maintain a particular flow in your speech.
• Incorporate humour in your speech in a way that you do not offend anyone or overdo it but get a positive reaction from the audience. Humour is a great way of lightening the mood as well as ensuring the whole speech is interactive and engaging.
• When you need more specialized assistance, a  US essay writing service  can be a valuable resource for crafting your speech.

While preparing for English Speech topics, you must also check out IELTS Speaking Topics !

Juvenile delinquency is acceptable. Prostitution should be legal. Underage driving should be punishable by law. Beauty pageants for children should be banned. Prisoner’s right to vote. Voting rights should not be universal. Guns should be banned from college campuses.

A three-minute speech is undoubtedly a wonderful starting point for public speaking. This is because you need to communicate with your audience more effectively when you just have a short amount of time. In addition, the speech ought to be concise, pertinent, and clear.

Life is the gift of God in the form of trust that we will make it meaningful in whatever we can. We are all unique individuals. No one is born like you and no one will ever be, so cherish your individuality. Many times, I come across people accusing God of things that they don’t have. They always cursing their lives.

 2-minute speeches are  short and crisp speeches of about 260-350 words .

Related Reads

Thus, we hope that this list helps you in preparing for different English speech topics. Gearing up for IELTS ? Sign up for an online demo session with our experts at Leverage Edu and we will assist you in preparing for its different sections as well as improving your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to ensure that you ace the exam with flying colours!

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14 comments

I take english speaking classes, please provide me sone more material to help student’s.

Here are some articles on books and study material that will help your students- https://leverageedu.com/blog/english-speaking-books/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/books-by-charles-dickens/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/best-books-by-george-orwell/

I want topic on students and online classes

It is helpful for my school homework thanks 😸

Glad we could help!

Nice advise 👍

Thank you, Pragya!

Not good topics 🤔🤔

Thanks for the suggestion. We will update the blog!

Helpful for students . So I like it

Thanks for reading! Also, read: Daily Used English Words Speech on Importance of English Reach us at 1800 57 2000 for study-abroad related matters!

You people are giving great contribution in internet learning and it is for all….

Hi, thank you for your valuable feedback.

Awesome! Its really awesome article, I have got much clear idea concerning from this post.

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416 English speaking topics for your conversation practice

We are frequently asked language-related questions on our Discord server . A lot of them sound like this: “I’m a beginner level English student. I only know a few words in English. Can I start speaking?”.

Even students with beginner English skills are encouraged to start communicating as soon as possible on our Discord. You will never improve your speaking skills if you do not speak. It is preferable to begin speaking practice now rather than wait until you have impeccable grammar and a large vocabulary. When you begin speaking, your grammar and vocabulary will improve automatically.

So what Conversation topics do we use with beginner-level English students? Conversation subjects for someone who is just starting with the language should be straightforward and provide plenty of opportunities to acquire and utilize basic vocabulary phrases. Consider these exchanges as building blocks: language fragments that you can utilize later in a longer or more complex conversation with someone you’ve recently met.

Here are some things that beginners in English should feel comfortable discussing:

Work or school

The majority of those who are learning English will either be in school or working. You can talk about where your school or workplace is (downtown? In the country? ), how you get there (vehicle, bus, foot, etc. ), what you do there (read, conduct meetings, have lunch), and who you see while you’re there (teachers, bosses, colleagues, or classmates).

Shopping for groceries

Everyone needs to eat, therefore understanding how to buy food in English is essential. Learning the names of goods such as fruits and vegetables, meats, and cheese, as well as talking about money and pricing, nutrition, and health, are all part of discussing the grocery shop. This can assist kids in learning how to inquire about prices and make a basic financial transactions.

Cooking is strongly tied to shopping and introduces a new word set. How will you prepare the food once you got it from the store? Do you like to cook? In your household, who does the cooking? Can you describe your favorite recipes? What are some of the typical foods from your homeland? Do you consume different dishes on special events and holidays? Cooking discussions are also beneficial for learning terms related to preferences (like, dislike, enjoy, avoid, etc.).

When you talk about where you reside, you get a lot of useful vocabulary practice. Are you a homeowner, an apartment dweller, or a farmer? Who do you share your home with? What kind of furnishings do you have? What colors are used in the rooms? You can also discuss what you enjoy doing at home, such as reading, watching TV , playing games, sleeping, and so on. This will assist you in learning the terminology for rooms and furniture in your home.

Discussing your family is a logical extension of the preceding. What is the size of your family? Who are your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, and cousins? Do you have step-parents or siblings, if somebody gets divorced or remarried? Who is the oldest and youngest sibling? This is useful for learning the names of various relatives and explaining terms like son, daughter, nephew, cousin, and so on.

Another simple and enjoyable topic of conversation for new language speakers is pets. Do you own any animals? What kind of animal are they, if so? Maybe the names of your pets? Their ages? You can discuss how you look after them, such as walking the dog or feeding the fish. Would you prefer a pet if you don’t own one? Do you have allergies that restrict you from doing so? This topic is excellent for learning the names of popular domestic animals as well as constructing short sentences using simple verbs.

The weather is undoubtedly the most overused topic in history, but for good reason: it affects everyone, regardless of where they live, and it’s crucial to know how to talk about it. Is it sunny or rainy outside? Snowing? Is it hot or cold where you live and do you have seasons, or is it rather consistent all year? Do you really need a coat or an umbrella today? What does the weather forecast say? This is also useful in learning to use the future tense.

Every beginner-level English learner should be able to talk about clothing. You can discuss what you’re wearing, what color it is, what additional clothes you have, what you need to wear to school, work, or other locations, and so on.

You can discuss your friends: who they are and how/where you met them. How long have you been friends? What activities do you enjoy doing together? Do you have any long-distance friends? This is a fantastic opportunity to discuss feelings – how do our buddies make us feel?

And lastly: to blow your mind even more, here are 416 additional topics. They are divided into 23 categories (with a number of entries in brackets), so you can navigate through them more easily.

Extra topic categories

Beginner (44) Intermediate (63) Advanced (34) Advertising (10) Ambitions (10) Competitiveness (10) Controversial (20) Culture Differences for Adults (12) Culture Differences for Kids (8) Economic issues (10) Have you ever… (20) If you… (21) Independence (10) Lifestyles (10) Other (11) Personal (10) Role models (10) Stereotypes (10) The arts (10) The media (10) The rights of the individual (10) Would you rather… (53) Young people’s rights (10)

416 English conversation topics

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100 Best Communication Topics You’ll Ever Need

Public speaking has gained great recognition over the past few years. Where it wasn’t even considered a valuable skill a decade ago, public speaking has now become the main part of college curriculums. Students who are good at delivering speeches are encouraged to do better and hone their skills.

If you are fond of public speaking or know someone who is into speeches and debates, this guide is going to serve you the right way. It will provide you with interesting communication research topics and give you the best writing help ever.

What Are Communication Topics?

If you are a newbie in this field, you might be wondering what public speaking is and how to ace it.

Basically, public speaking is any kind of speech that is given in front of an audience – be it an official event, a college competition, or any other occasion. It consists of a large range of interpersonal communication topics and has many benefits.

Public speaking is done for many different reasons, where education stands on top of the list. People who are studying communication topics are always on the lookout for communication research topics such as interpersonal communication research topics, communication thesis ideas, social media research topics, and whatnot.

Everyone wants to bag in the best communication thesis ideas and make sure their presentations are the finest of all. We are sure you are one of those people; that is why we have written this guide to give you an insight into lots of topics in interpersonal communication.

Benefits Of Public Speaking

As we mentioned above, there are numerous advantages to this skill, and it really helps you in all stages of your life. Here is a brief list:

Boosts up your confidence Improves your research skills Builds your patience Helps in educating other people through your knowledge Aids your mental growth Results in great exposure Better conclusive skills Makes you a convincing person You automatically build an opinion about everything after going through all the communication research ideas Transforms your body language

Now you probably know what we were talking about in the previous paragraphs. If you are not a speaker at the moment, it is high time you consider doing it from now on because you can see all the amazing benefits it will bring your way. It will certainly make you a better and more learned person who can actually influence people’s opinions about how they see the world.

100 Interpersonal Communication Topics For You

In case you are still stuck with interpersonal communication research topics, we have written down a long list of research topics for communication to help you with your studies as well as give you public speaking ideas.

Funny speech topics

• No one wants to grow up
• Parents should ask for our consent before bringing us into the world
• Vegetarians not allowed
• Why is there a temptation in only the prohibited things
• Our favorite childhood memories
• Let us travel back to happy times when we were not born
• You should smile more often
• A billion reasons why telling the truth doesn’t always work
• Let us just say no to growing up
• Mayonnaise beats ketchup
• Being weird is good

Informative speech topics

• The history of evolution
• Is the earth flat or round?
• Let us give our women their rights
• 100 reasons why racism should not exist
• Let us clean our motherland
• Deep-rooted causes of coronavirus
• History and origin of America
• The era of believers
• How did the internet affect us?
• How continents came into existence

Beauty and fashion related speech topics

• The history and origin of makeup
• Why is skincare your best friend
• Skincare is all about your water intake
• Miniskirts vs. trousers
• Reasons to wear makeup
• How makeup impacts confidence
• High heels or sneakers?
• Ideal skincare routine for everyone
• Makeup is not for a specific gender
• Skincare over makeup

Sports-related speech topics

• Football releases stress
• College athletes should be paid
• Girls need more inclusion in sports
• Health benefits that sports bring
• Why choose cricket over baseball?
• Female vs. male wrestlers
• Is wrestling a healthy sport?
• Make sports safe for LGBT sportsmen
• Paralympics and its benefits
• Its high time we stop sexism in sports

Inspirational interpersonal communication topics

• We got this!
• There is way more to life than you think
• Get your life together
• Make yourself proud before anyone else
• Way to love yourself
• Forgiveness is not easy but always gives you relief
• The key is to hold on
• You should be the most important person in your life
• 100 reasons why we should be more kind
• Fake it till you make it!
• Work hard in silence and let your success make the noise

Mental health awareness speech topics

• Personality disorders amongst teens and their solutions
• Is the medication required for mental illnesses?
• How important is therapy?
• Rub off those suicidal thoughts
• You are important
• Physical and mental health should be given equal importance
• Men have the right to show their emotions, and no one should tell them otherwise
• Peer pressure and its side effects
• Deaf your ears to everything but your heart
• Let us break stereotypes

Communication research topics for kids

• Mobile phones or books?
• The better side of technology
• Play-time is as important as studies
• No more homework!
• Should homeschooling become more common?
• Introduce evening shifts in schools!
• How to be a pro at maths
• Always stand up to bullies
• Be a kinder version of yourself, every day
• Should watching cartoons be allowed in schools?

Health and medical speech topics

• Every doctor should get a gold medal for his services
• Accept your body
• The importance of drinking water
• Take care of your diet
• Here is why you should never step near drugs
• Why should a headache never be ignored?
• The correct first aid kit can help save a life
• How do cell-phones affect our health?
• Top things to do for better brain functioning
• What should be done to improve immunity?

Political speech topics

• Is democracy really the best option?
• The problem of investing in biological weaponries
• Why are taxes needed?
• Should chain-smokers pay a health tax?
• Does voting actually help?
• We want justice
• Why isn’t the government against racism?

Environmental interpersonal communication topics

• Recycle paper as much as possible
• How to make recycling a part of daily life?
• Plastic should be completely banned
• Only one car per house should be allowed
• Let us beat global warming together
• Why we need to plant more trees
• We lack fresh air – aren’t you worried?
• An animal’s life is just as important as a human’s.
• It is high time you stop wasting water
• Adopt a stray cat instead of buying an expensive breed
• No one can save our planet but us!

Now that you have reached the century, we are sure you know what your next speech will be about. We hope this guide helped you out! However, should you need a professional writer by your side , feel free to contact our experts – they will nail it in no time!

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My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

75 Group Discussion Topics

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Group discussion topics, ideas and themes – small and large groups. Please see below a list of over 40 public speaking topics for discussions and analyses in debates between people. They can be used in communication class for persuasive speaking assignments or education articles.

Group discussion topic types are:

• Factual propositions
• Controversial and argumentative issues
• Abstract discussion material
• Case studies
• Short stories

In this article:

Controversial

Case studies, short stories, group discussion topic ideas.

Factual  group discussion topics are – as the word says – about facts. This is a sample list of speech topics on current issues and facts:

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• Conspiracy is a very common form of political behaviour.
• The pros and cons of having a credit card.
• A chain gang is a modern form of slavery.
• Why drinking and driving is dangerous to yourself and others.
• Passive smoking is equally harmful.
• The economic boycott causes most of the problems in Cuba.
• International trade barriers work.
• City curfews help to prevent juvenile crime and to protect youth from victimization.
• The U.N. is mainly based on diplomacy and enhancing relationships.
• Affirmative action draws people to work they never considered before.
• Ban child stars from stages and movies – it will ruin their lives.
• Gambling should be allowed from the age of sixteen.
• It is important to hold value in what you argue.
• Public schools are not safe.
• Software should be free for everyone.

A  controversial speech topic is one with many controversies, read: the pros and the cons. Keep in mind that all current group discussion topics are  not my opinion, but just a sample list of speech topics!

• Sustainable urban living without the use of excessive natural resources must be our future.
• Are there extraterrestrials who influence events on Earth?
• Marijuana has a medical value.
• Direct mail is a special form of junk mail.
• The pros and cons of a female President.
• Online dating chats have nothing to do with a search for a soul mate.
• Should schools distribute condoms?
• Most people support embryonic stem cell research.
• Life imprisonment is a good alternative to capital punishment.
• What is wrong with child labor?

More  abstract discussion topics  for a group are things that cannot be touched, not be easily defined or formulated. Just think in a creative manner and start a vivid group discussion with one of these abstract motifs to talk about:

• The Nostradamus Code – the value of these predictions on judicial astrology.
• Breast Implants – saline and silicone types and safety.
• Bribery in Business – why it is unethical and not honest and causes inequality.
• Computer Viruses – recent attacks and removal strategies.
• Bigamy – compare federal laws with state regulation.
• Hidden Persuaders – why subliminal advertising is banned.
• Moral Majority – examine the faith and values of this political action coalition.
• Hippocratic Oath – ethical medical professional behavior in modern times.
• Political Correctness – when does this policy cross a line?
• Vegetarianism – benefits and disadvantages of such a diet in relation to the food pyramid.

The fourth type of group discussion topics are so-called  case studies . You determine a problem and together with the other team members you have to find a satisfying solution.

These are small-team ideas. Just modify and alter where necessary, these are just guiding light topic ideas:

• Leadership – What necessary changes are needed in your community organization and how do you want to lead the process?
• Malpractice Insurance – Doctors walk out on the job to protest the rising malpractice insurance costs. What to do about it?
• Work Ethics – Can we shape workers who have the sense that they serve the company ГЎnd community?
• School Violence – What are the real causes of violence and bullying in Schools?
• Recycling – Sort out how to make money with recycling.
• Dropouts – Individual attention in safe schools and smaller classes; is that the way to stop students to drop out?
• Iraq – What are the best exit strategies?
• Privacy – What are the best technologies to safeguard the right of free speech privacy on the internet?
• Minimum Wage – Why should we have a minimum wage or why not?
• Burnout – Should everybody check his or herself of burnout signs? How?

Tip:  Try to make an inventory of various angles of view and opinions you find in education articles on the themes you consider to work out as group discussion topics.

The fifth type of group discussion topics are  short stories . These short stories are good group speech topics:

• A Dark Brown Dog by Stephen Crane
• A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
• A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
• A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury
• Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby by Joel Chandler Harris
• How the Leopard Got His Spots by Rudyard Kipling
• In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka
• Resumed Identity by Ambrose Bierce
• Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
• Scarlet Stockings by Louisa May Alcott
• The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky by Stephen Crane
• The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Dancing Partner by Jerome K. Jerome
• The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
• The Doctor’s Son by John O’Hara
• The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
• The Idiots by Joseph Conrad
• The Imp of The Perverse by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Killers by Ernest Hemingway
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
• The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
• The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley
• The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
• The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
• The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
• The Vampyre by John Polidori
• To build a fire by Jack London

292 Sports Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

190 Society Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative, Argumentative]

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50 Topics for English Speaking Practice with Step-by-Step Guidance

Do you often struggle to find the perfect topics for English speaking practice?

You might also fail to develop English speaking skills due to a lack of proper guidance on conversation topics.

In this blog, you will find topics for practicing English speaking along with helpful guidance to enhance your speaking abilities.

Before you start looking at specific English topics, let us make sure you are familiar with the rules to improve your language skills

Topics for English Speaking Practice – The Top Secret

Do you believe that having access to the best conversation topics is enough to enhance your speaking abilities?

Finding engaging topics for English speaking practice is just the beginning of the journey. However, h aving the best conversation topics will not help you enhance your English speaking abilities if you lack enthusiasm during practice. It is crucial to practice with complete interest and focus.

Whether you have a short window of two minutes or a longer span of 30 minutes, approach your English practice with complete enthusiasm. Even if time is limited, two minutes of focused English practice multiple times a day can have a significant impact.

The first lesson : For best results, practice speaking English for two minutes, ten to fifteen times a day, with full enthusiasm and concentration.

By following this strategy, you will never experience a shortage of time to improve your spoken English abilities .

Why should You Practice Speaking English every day?

Donald Trump emphasized the importance of momentum for achieving success in any field. Consistent daily English practice is the key to enhancing your English speaking abilities .  

Daily practice not only builds confidence but also turns you into an expert, much like regular study makes you intelligent, consistent sports practice turns you into a champion, and daily job learning makes you proficient in your field.

Therefore, the Second lesson is clear : You must practice speaking English every day no matter what happens.

The Most Important Step to Learn a New Language

Neglecting this step would be the biggest mistake, as it forms the foundation of language learning.

Think about how children pick up their native tongue or how illiterate individuals learn to communicate without formal education. Their method is simple: attentive listening. Interestingly, even without books or schooling, we learn the nuances of our first language by observing and listening.

Here are free resources to improve your English listening skills . 

Therefore, the third lesson is crystal clear: To improve your English speaking skills, prioritize listening practice . Engage in 30 to 60 minutes of daily English listening practice.

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Your Speaking Partner for Practice

You might complain that you do not have a speaking partner for practice. You think it is the biggest hurdle that stops you from improving your English speaking skills.

First, you can practice speaking English in front of a mirror or a video camera. You can speak confidently before them as they don’t judge you. Moreover, you can observe your speaking performance every day by making video recordings.

Second, using the Open Talk App, you can connect with people worldwide and refine your English speaking every day.

But remember, simply installing the app won’t do the trick; daily practice is the real secret. No apps can provide you with varied topics for English speaking practice. These apps provide a platform for consistent improvement.

So, the fourth lesson : Practice speaking English in front of a mirror or camera if you do not have a speaking partner. Alternatively, you can speak to people around the globe who are also looking for speaking partners using the Open Talk App.

English Topics for Students and Beginners

You may find it hard to find engaging topics for English speaking practice as a beginner. You may simply observe your daily life closely for inspiration. Here are some unique speech topics for beginners to enhance their English speaking skills:

• Your daily routine
• What you admire most about your parents
• The person you love the most and why
• A mistake you’re determined not to repeat
• Your favorite figure – teacher, person, celebrity, or politician
• Key lessons from your first job, school, or college
• Your most unforgettable incident
• Your personal definition of success
• Sharing experiences from a specific restaurant or city

You can easily select similar topics or explore your hobbies, passions, and profession. And if you struggle to articulate your thoughts, check out ‘Discover How to Speak on Any Topic in English .’

Hence the fifth lesson : You can tell a joke, a small story, a brief incident, or speak on the simplest topics as stated above when you start speaking English. 

Topics for English Speaking practice

Here are 50 topics for English Speaking Practice:

1. My struggle to find my first job

2. Describe your day

3. Your experience with corporate

4. Your Childhood

5. Your school days

6. Your college days

7. Funniest incident of your life

8. Your experience with corporate

9. One mistake you do not want to repeat

10. Your learning from corporate experience

11. A story of your choice

12. Three things you want to do before you die.

13. What do you want to do for the person you love the most?

14. Describe an incident when you hurt someone willingly or accidentally.

15. Describe one thing your parents wanted you to do but you never did it.

16. An unforgettable incident in your life

17. An incident when your boss was angry with you

18. Unforgettable incident of your life

19. Describe your teacher

20. Describe your parents

21. Describe one of your siblings

22. Describe one of your best friends

23. Your boss

24. Your company

25. A place you visited recently 

26. About your hometown

27. How to make chapatti

28. How to make pulao

29. How to make butter paneer masala or any other recipe

30. Three benefits of workout

31. Three learning from your experience

32. Three tips to improve English

33. Three most important things a beginner should know in your

34. Five jokes of your choice

35. Conversation with a friend

36. Conversation with a client

37. Conversation with your boss

38. Explain your job

39. Explain a personal and professional problem you are facing currently.

40. Describe the three most important learnings from your parents.

41. Guide someone on how to reach your hometown

42. How to maintain good tuning with your boss

43. Tell how you became the most successful actor in the industry

44. Tell how you became the most successful businessman in

the industry (Assume you are a successful businessman)

45. Tell how you became the most successful politician 

46. Scold your audience for three minutes

47. Describe three things you want to do for your parents.

48. Speak about a challenge you have and its consequences

49. What is more important in life, love or electricity?

50. Non-stop practice

You can find other topics for English speaking practice online. 

English Speaking for Beginners

Here’s an additional strategy to elevate your English conversation skills: speak a few sentences on any topic without worrying about grammar and presentation skills. Your English skills will improve with daily practice. 

Do not be upset if you commit a few mistakes because it is impossible to learn new skills without making errors.  Before going through a sample script, let us understand what stops you from developing English speaking skills:

Here is a sample script for you.

Three Things I Want to Do Next Year

Here are three things I want to do next year:

I want to go on a world tour because I love traveling to new places.

I want to become an excellent public speaker so that I can address a big crowd.

I want to learn to sing as it is my favorite pastime.

Practice Instructions: Read this script 3 to 4 times to understand it completely, and now speak it before a mirror 4 to 5 times.

You fail to speak English fluently because you never got the right guidance to improve your speaking abilities.

If you want step-by-step guidance and readymade scripts for English speaking, you can also get How to Speak English Fluently – English Speaking Mastery in 7 Simple Steps .

Topics for English Speaking Practice – Conclusion

It is time to act! Make use of the topics mentioned earlier to enhance your English communication skills through practice. I sincerely hope that “50 Topics for English Speaking Practice” is helpful for you.

I would love to read your comments because your input will shape the future of this blog.

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6 thoughts on “50 topics for english speaking practice with step-by-step guidance”.

It was really valuable. Have gone through so much content but that was not relatable.

Thank you Sonia for the kind words. Please write to me for any further assistance or guidance.

You repeated number of topics on (Here Are 50 Topics For English Speaking Practice).

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Very useful article..i would be trying everything.

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49 Communication Activities, Exercises & Games

Read on to learn about how important communication is in a relationship and how you can work on improving your communication skills.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free . These science-based tools will help you and those you work with build better social skills and better connect with others.

This Article Contains:

What are communication activities, exercises, and games, the role of communication in a relationship, how can we develop better communication skills, 18 communication games and activities for adults, 17 exercises to help improve communication in a relationship, the importance of communication in the family unit, 14 family therapy activities for communication, a take-home message.

The resources in this piece include tips, techniques, exercises, games, and other activities that give you the opportunity to learn more about effective communication, help guide your interactions with others, and improve your communication skills.

Some might feel like a chore you need to cross off your to-do list while others may make you forget you’re not just having fun with your family , but actually boosting vital life skills; however, they all have one thing in common: they will help you become a better, more effective, and more positive communicator with those who mean the most to you.

But what’s the deal with these activities, exercises, and therapy games ? Are they really that important or impactful? Do we really need to work on communicating when it seems like we’re pretty good at it already?

Check out this quote from Stephen R. Covey and take a minute to think about how vital communication really is.

The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are. And if our words and our actions come from superficial human relations techniques rather than from our own inner core, others will sense that duplicity. We simply won’t be able to create and sustain the foundation necessary for effective interdependence.

Stephen R. Covey

As Covey notes, communication is the foundation of all of our relationships , forming the basis of our interactions and feelings about one another.

According to Australia’s Better Health Channel, communication is “ the transfer of information from one place to another ” and within relationships, it “ allows you to explain to someone else what you are experiencing and what your needs are ” (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

When communication is good, we feel good about our relationships. Dr. Susan Heitler (2010) puts it this way:

When people say, ‘We have a great relationship,’ what they often mean is how they feel when they talk with one another. They mean, ‘I feel positive toward that person when we interact. I send and I receive positive vibes with them.’

Besides making our relationships easier, there are also relationship-boosting benefits to good communication:

• Effective communication shows respect and value of the other person.
• It helps us to better understand each other; not all communication is about understanding—some are intended to fight, dismiss, invalidate, undermine, etc.—but it should be!
• It makes us feel more comfortable with each other and encourages even more healthy and effective communication (Abass, n.d.).

Download 3 Communication Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to improve communication skills and enjoy more positive social interactions with others.

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Fortunately, all it takes to develop better communication skills is a commitment to do so and a little bit of effort.

These tips from Australia’s Better Health Channel can help guide you toward better communication with your partner or spouse (these tips can also apply to any other relationship in your life with a little tweaking):

• Set aside time to talk without interruption from other people or distractions like phones, computers or television.
• Think about what you want to say.
• Be clear about what you want to communicate.
• Make your message clear, so that your partner hears it accurately and understands what you mean.
• Talk about what is happening and how it affects you.
• Talk about what you want, need and feel – use ‘I’ statements such as ‘I need’, ‘I want’ and ‘I feel’.
• Accept responsibility for your own feelings.
• Listen to your partner. Put aside your own thoughts for the time being and try to understand their intentions, feelings, needs and wants (this is called empathy ).
• Share positive feelings with your partner, such as what you appreciate and admire about them, and how important they are to you.
• Be aware of your tone of voice.
• Negotiate and remember that you don’t have to be right all the time. If the issue you are having is not that important, sometimes let the issue go, or agree to disagree (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

If you’re experiencing high levels of conflict in your relationship(s), the Better Health Channel has some specific recommendations for you:

• Avoid using the silent treatment.
• Don’t jump to conclusions. Find out all the facts rather than guessing at motives.
• Discuss what actually happened. Don’t judge.
• Learn to understand each other, not to defeat each other.
• Talk using the future and present tense, not the past tense.
• Concentrate on the major problem, and don’t get distracted by other minor problems.
• Talk about the problems that hurt your or your partner’s feelings, then move on to problems about differences in opinions.
• Use ‘I feel’ statements, not ‘You are’ statements (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

8 Tips on How to Teach Communication Skills

This useful framework comes from Alice Stott at Edutopia (2018):

• Physical: How a speaker uses their body language, facial expressions, and voice.
• Linguistic: The speaker’s use of language, including their understanding of formality and rhetorical devices.
• Cognitive: The content of what a speaker says and their ability to build on, challenge, question, and summarize others’ ideas.
• Social and emotional : How well a speaker listens, includes others, and responds to their audience (Stott, 2018).

Once you have a good framework for understanding communication, try these 8 ways to foster effective communication in your children or students:

• Teach your kids empathy so they can get a sense of what the other person is thinking and feeling.
• Teach your kids conversation skills with techniques like puppets and video modeling, which they can then apply in exercises and activities.
• Establish listening and speaking procedures in the classroom or at home (e.g., Dr. Allen Mendler’s SLANT strategy : Sit up straight, Listen, Answer and ask questions, Nod to show interest, Track the speaker; Mendler, 2013).
• Teach respectful vocabulary and remind students that being “cold” (passive) or “hot” (angry) will probably result in less understanding and more conflict.
• Teach the power of pausing (e.g., encourage them to pause, think, and ask questions like “What do you mean by that?” and “Why?”).
• Have your kids practice speaking and listening in natural settings (e.g., outside of the home and classroom).
• Encourage introspection in your children; it will help them understand themselves better as well as those around them.
• Practice taking turns with a talking stick or a ball, teaching your children that they can speak when they have the object but they are expected to listen when others are talking (Stanfield, 2017).

One of the most effective ways to avoid unnecessary disputes is to practice non-violent communication (NVC). According to Rosenberg (1999), non-violent communication methods can serve us in three ways:

• It can increase your ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
• It helps connect empathically with yourself and others to have more satisfying relationships
• It shares resources so everyone is able to benefit

In an effort to exemplify the various forms that communication can take, we want to share some key differences between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles.

• Specifically, a passive communicator prioritizes the needs of others, even at their own expense. This often leads to being taken advantage of and having their own needs disregarded by others as well.
• An assertive communicator mirrors the values of NVC, which is what we should aim for. This communication style emphasizes the importance of all parties’ needs and is defined by confidence and the willingness to compromise
• Aggressive communication, also referred to as violent communication, disregards any other parties involved and consists of constant disrespect, interrupting, and domination.

Now that you are familiar with these types of communication styles, it’s time to analyze how you convey your thoughts to others (and if there is any room for improvement).

If you’re looking for some concrete ways to build communication skills in adults, you’ve come to the right place. Below are 18 games, activities, and exercises that you can use to help adults develop more effective listening and communication skills.

5 Communication Activities for Adults

To get started improving your (or your team’s, or your student’s) communication skills, give these 5 activities a try.

1. Card Pieces

This exercise from the team at MindTools is a good way to help participants develop more empathy, consider other perspectives, build their communication and negotiation skills.

First, make sure you have enough people for at least three teams of two, enough playing cards to give out between 4 and 6 cards to each person, and 15 minutes to spare.

Here’s how the activity works:

• Cut each playing card into half diagonally, then in half diagonally again, so you have four triangular pieces for each card.
• Mix all the pieces together and put equal numbers of cards into as many envelopes as you have teams.
• Divide people up into teams of three or four. You need at least three teams. If you’re short of people, teams of two will work just as well.
• Give each team an envelope of playing card pieces.
• Each team has three minutes to sort its pieces, determine which ones it needs to make complete cards, and develop a bargaining strategy.
• After three minutes, allow the teams to start bartering for pieces. People can barter on their own or collectively with their team. Give the teams eight minutes to barter.
• When the time is up, count each team’s completed cards. Whichever team has the most cards wins the round.

Afterward, you can use these questions to guide discussion on the exercise:

• Which negotiation strategies worked? Which didn’t?
• What could they have done better?
• What other skills, such as active listening or empathy, did they need to use?

2. Listen and Draw

This game is easy to play but not so easy to “win.” It requires participants’ full attention and active listening.

Gather your group of participants together and hand out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil to each player. Tell them you will give them verbal instructions on drawing an object, one step at a time.

For example, you might give them instructions like:

• Draw a square, measuring 5 inches on each side.
• Draw a circle within the square, such that it fits exactly in the middle of the square.
• Intersect 2 lines through the circle, dividing the circle into 4 equal parts.

As the exercise continues, it will get progressively harder; one misstep could mean that every following instruction is misinterpreted or misapplied. Participants will need to listen carefully to ensure their drawing comes out accurately. Once the instructions have all been read, compare drawings and decide who won.

For added engagement, decide in advance on what the finished product is supposed to represent (e.g., a spiderweb, a tree).

3. Communication Origami

This is a great exercise to help people understand that we all hear and interpret things differently, even if we are given the exact same information.

Here’s how it works:

• Give one sheet of standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches) to each participant.
• Tell your participants that you will be giving them step-by-step instructions on how to fold their piece of paper into an origami shape.
• Inform your participants that they must keep their eyes and mouths closed as they follow instructions; they are not allowed to look at the paper or ask any clarifying questions.
• Give the group your instructions on how to fold the paper into the origami shape of your choice.
• Once the instructions have all been given, have everyone open their eyes and compare their shape with the intended shape.

You will likely find that each shape is a little bit different! To hit the point home, refer to these discussion points and questions:

• Make the point that each paper looks different even though you have given the same instructions to everybody. What does this mean?
• Ask the group if you think the results would have been better if they kept their eyes open or were allowed to ask questions.
• Communicating clearly is not easy, we all interpret the information we get differently that’s why it’s very important to ask questions and confirm understanding to ensure the communicated message is not distorted.

4. Guess the Emotion

Another useful exercise from the Training Course Material website is called “ Guess the Emotion .” As you might expect, it involves acting out and guessing emotions. This helps all participants practice empathy and better understand their coworkers or group members’ reactions.

Follow these instructions to play this engaging game:

• Divide the group into two teams.
• Place on a table (or put in a box) a packet of cards, each of which has a particular emotion typed on it
• Have a participant from Group A take the top card from the table and act out (pantomime) the emotion for his/her group. This is to be done in a fixed time limit (such as a minute or two).
• If the emotion is guessed correctly by Group A, they receive ten points.
• Now have a participant from Group B act out an emotion; award points as appropriate.
• Rotate the acting opportunities between the two groups.
• After 20 to 30 minutes of acting and guessing, call time and announce the winning team based on its point total.

If you have a particularly competitive group, consider giving a prize to the winning team!

5. The Guessing Game

Finally, another fun and engaging game that can boost communication skills: “ The Guessing Game. ” You will probably recognize this game, as it’s similar to what many people know as “ Twenty Questions ,” except there is no hard limit on the number of questions you can ask.

To start, separate the group into two teams of equal (or roughly equal) size. Instruct one player from each team to leave the room for one minute and come up with a common object that can be found in most offices (e.g., a stapler, a printer, a whiteboard).

When this person returns, their teammates will try to guess what the object is by asking only “Yes or No” questions (i.e., questions that can only be answered with “yes” or “no”). The team can ask as many questions as they need to figure it out, but remind them that they’re in competition with the other team. If there’s time, you can have multiple rounds for added competition between the teams.

Take the last 10 minutes or so to discuss and debrief. Use the following points and questions to guide it:

• Tell the group that obviously it took a long time and effort for us to find out the object in each round, but what if we didn’t have time and only had one question to ask to find out the object, what would that question be?
• The question would be “What is the object?” which is an open-ended question.
• Open-ended questions are an excellent way to save time and energy and help you get to the information you need fast, however, closed questions can also be very useful in some instances to confirm your understanding or to help you control the conversation with an overly talkative person/customer.

5 Listening Activities for Adults

If you’re intent on improving listening skills, in particular, you have lots of options; give these 5 activities a try.

1. Telephone Exercise

This classic exercise from Becky Norman (2018) at Sift’s Training Zone illustrates why listening is such an important skill, and why we shouldn’t ignore any opportunities to improve it.

Split your group into two even lines. At opposite ends of each line, whisper a phrase or short sentence to the person on the end and tell them to pass it on using only whispers, one person at a time. They can only repeat the phrase or sentence once.

While participants are busy passing the message along to the next person in line, play music or engage them in conversation to create some white noise. This will make it a bit more difficult but it will mimic real-life conditions, where distractions abound.

When the messages have made it to the end of each line, have the last person to receive the message in each line report out on what they heard. Next, have the first person to receive the message in each line report the original message and compare it to the final message received.

2. Stop Listening Exercise

This exercise , also from Becky Norman’s piece (2018), will show participants the emotional consequences of not listening and—hopefully—encourage them to practice better listening skills.

Split your group into two smaller groups of equal size and take one group outside the room. Tell them that they are instructed to stop listening to their partner after about 30 seconds, and to be open in showing their disinterest. Tell the other group to think of something that they are passionate about and be prepared to tell their soon-to-be partner a meaningful or personally relevant story about this topic.

Bring the other group back in, put all the participants into pairs, and tell them to get started. Observe the behavior from the listeners and the reactions from the speakers until you’re sure each speaker has picked up on what’s happening. Stop the conversations at this point and explain the instructions that were given to each group.

Facilitate a group discussion on the importance of listening, how to use active listening, and what indicates that someone is truly listening.

3. Listener and Talker Activity

The “Listener and Talker” activity is another good activity for showing the importance of active listening and giving participants a chance to practice their skills.

Divide your group into pairs, with one partner assigned to the talker role and the other assigned to the listener role. The talker’s job is to describe what he or she wants from a vacation without specifying a destination. The listener’s job is to listen attentively to what is being said (and what is not being said) and to demonstrate their listening through their behavior.

After a few minutes of active listening, the listener should summarize the three or main criteria the talker is considering when it comes to enjoying their vacation. Finally, the listener should try to sell the talker on a destination for their vacation. After a quick debrief on how well the listener listened, the two should switch roles and try the exercise again.

This exercise gives each participant a chance to practice talking about their wants and needs, as well as an opportunity to engage in active listening and use the knowledge they gained to understand and relate to the speaker.

4. Memory Test Activity

This great activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is called the “Memory Test” activity.

• Tell participants that you are going to read them a list of words to test their memory.
• Instruct them to listen carefully, as they cannot write down any of the words. Tell them you will test them later to see how many of the words they can remember.
• When you finish reading the list of words, distract your participants by talking about something else for at least one full minute.
• Once you have finished talking, have each participant write down as many words as they can remember from the list.

You (and your participants) will find that it’s pretty difficult to remember a list of somewhat-random words, especially when there is a break in time and another discussion in between hearing them and recalling them! Relate this to real-life listening by emphasizing the importance of paying attention to people when they are speaking to you, especially if it’s an important conversation.

5. Just Listen Activity

This activity comes from the folks at MindTools.com and offers participants a chance to communicate their feelings and provide a recap or rephrasing of another person’s feelings on a subject.

To get started, you will need an even number of people to pair off (or prepare to partner with one yourself) and eight index cards per pair. These index cards should have one topic written on each card; try to make sure the topics are interesting but not too controversial, as you don’t want listeners to dislike the speakers if they disagree with their viewpoint (e.g., you should probably avoid politics and religion).

Use these instructions to conduct the activity:

• Have the team members sit down in their pairs.
• Give each pair eight of the index cards.
• Instruct one partner to choose a random card and then speak for three minutes on how he or she feels about the topic.
• Instruct the other partner to stay quiet while the first partner talks, just listening instead of speaking.
• After the three minutes is up, the listener has one minute to recap what the speaker said (not agree, disagree, or debate, just recap).
• Have each pair switch roles and repeat the exercise so both partners get a chance to speak and to listen.

After each participant has played both roles, end the activity and guide a discussion with the following questions:

• How did speakers feel about their partners’ ability to listen with an open mind? Did their partners’ body language communicate how they felt about what was being said?
• How did listeners feel about not being able to speak about their own views on the topic? How well were they able to keep an open mind? How well did they listen?
• How well did the listening partners summarize the speakers’ opinions? Did they get better as the exercise progressed?
• How can they use the lessons from this exercise at work?

You will find this activity at this link , exercise #4.

6 Nonverbal Communication Activities for Adults

Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication, if not more so!

Use these 6 activities to practice reading and “speaking” effective nonverbal messages.

1. Power of Body Language

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com will help your participants work on their body language skills.

• Tell the participants that you are going to give them a series of instructions and you want them to follow them as fast as they can.
• Put your hand to your nose.
• Clap your hands.
• Touch your shoulder.
• Stamp your foot.
• Cross your arms.
• Put your hand to your mouth (but while saying this one, put your hand to your nose).
• Observe how many participants copied what you did instead of what you said.

Share this observation with your group and lead a discussion on how body language can influence our understanding and our reactions. It can reinforce what we hear or it can interfere with the verbal communication we receive. The more aware we are of this possibility, the better communicators we become. It’s vital to keep your own body language in mind, just as it’s vital to notice and understand others’ body language.

2. Clap and Follow

The “Clap and Follow” activity is a great way to practice using your body in conjunction with verbal communication.

It works like this:

• Tell your group that this is a game that requires their full concentration.
• When they hear one clap from the leader (you), tell them this means they should stand up.
• When they hear two claps from the leader, they should hop once in place.
• When they hear three claps, they should rub their belly.
• When they hear four claps, they should do a 360-degree turn on the spot.
• When they hear five claps, they should pat their head.
• Begin the activity! Start with one clap, then two claps, and so on until you have given the group each instruction once.
• Now, mix it up! Switch between the five different instructions and begin to pick up the pace. This is when the eliminations begin.
• Each time a participant engages in the wrong activity, eliminate them from the game. Continue until there is one clear winner.

If you have a competitive group, you may want to bring a prize to ensure active engagement with the exercise. It will give participants a chance to practice nonverbal communication in a fun context.

3. Wordless Acting

This activity from Grace Fleming (2018) at ThoughtCo will show your participants how much we “speak” with our body language and facial expressions.

Here are the instructions:

• Separate your group into pairs.
• Assign one participant in each pair to be Partner A and the other to be Partner B.
• Give each participant a copy of the script (copied below).
• Instruct Participant A to read his or her lines out loud, but instruct Participant B to communicate his or her lines in a nonverbal way.
• Provide Participant B with a secret emotional distraction written on a piece of paper (e.g., Participant B is in a rush, is really bored, or is feeling guilty).
• Have each pair work through the script.
• After each pair has finished working through the script, have the “A” participants guess what emotion their partner was feeling.

This is the script you will give each participant:

A: Have you seen my book? I can’t remember where I put it. B: Which one? A: The murder mystery. The one you borrowed. B: Is this it? A: No. It’s the one you borrowed. B: I did not! A: Maybe it’s under the chair. Can you look? B: Okay—just give me a minute. A: How long are you going to be? B: Geez, why so impatient? I hate when you get bossy. A: Forget it. I’ll find it myself. B: Wait—I found it!

After the activity, guide a discussion on how much information we can pick up from nonverbal communication and how important it is to regulate our bodies and our facial expressions when communicating, even if we’re also using verbal communication.

4. We Have to Move Now!

Another great exercise from Grace Fleming (2018) is called “We Have to Move Now!” and it will help your participants learn how to express and detect several different emotions.

These are the instructions for this activity:

• Cut several strips of paper.
• On each strip of paper, write down a mood, feeling, or disposition, like guilty, happy, suspicious, paranoid, insulted, or insecure.
• Fold the strips of paper so you can’t see what is written on it and place them in a bowl or jar. These are your prompts.
• Have each participant take a prompt from the bowl or jar and read the exact same sentence to the class, but with the emotion the prompt specifies.
• The sentence everybody will read is: “We all need to gather our possessions and move to another building as soon as possible.”
• Have the participants guess the emotion of each reader by writing down what they think the speaker is feeling (or what they are supposed to be feeling).

After each participant has had a chance to read the sentence based on one of the prompts, run through the emotions displayed and see how many each participant guessed correctly. Finally, lead a debriefing discussion on how things like tone and body language can impact the way a message is received.

5. Stack the Deck

All you’ll need for this exercise is a deck of playing cards, a blindfold for each participant, and some space to move around.

Here’s how “Stack the Deck” works:

• Shuffle the deck of cards and hand one out to each participant.
• Instruct the participants to keep their cards a secret; no one should see the suit or color of another participant’s card.
• Tell the participants that they will not be allowed to talk at all during this exercise.
• Instruct your participants to assemble into four groups according to their suit (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades), but using only nonverbal communication.
• If you have the time and your participants have the inclination, try blindfolding each participant and giving the same instructions—it makes it much more difficult and more time-consuming!
• Once participants have all gathered into one of the four groups, have them line up according to their rank (Ace is the lowest, King is the highest); again, they cannot speak or show their cards to anyone during this part of the exercise.
• The group that lines up in the right order first wins!

As always, you can offer a prize to the winning team to motivate your participants.

This exercise will show how difficult it is to communicate without words, but it will also show your participants that it is not only possible, it gets easier as they start to pick up on one another’s nonverbal cues.

You can find this exercise at this link (Activity #3).

6. Silent Movie

Finally, facilitate this activity to really drive home the importance of effective nonverbal communication.

Divide your participants into two groups. For the first half of the activity, one group will be screenwriters and the other group will be actors. In the second half, the two groups will switch roles.

Instruct the screenwriters to write a silent movie, but to keep these things in mind:

• Silent movies tell a story without words. It’s important to start the scene with the actor doing an obvious task, like cleaning the house or rowing a boat.
• The scene must be interrupted when a second actor (or several actors) enter the scene, and their arrival should have a big impact. The character(s) could be anyone (or anything), including burglars, salesmen, children, or even animals.
• A physical commotion must occur.
• The problem that is caused by the commotion must be resolved by the end of the scene.

Give the screenwriters time to write out their script, then have the actors perform the script. Once the scene is finished, have the groups switch roles.

The communication game – Asgar Hussain

2 Communication Group Activities

Other great activities for group communication include the “Square Talk” and “Follow All Instructions” activities.

1. Square Talk Activity

For this activity , you will need one blindfold for each participant, one long piece of rope for each team (teams should be composed of around 5 participants each), and 25 minutes.

Follow these steps to give this activity a try:

• Divide your group of participants into groups of about 5 each.
• Clear the room so you have as much space as possible.
• Blindfold each participant and tell them their objective: to make a square from a rope (i.e., stand in the shape of a square with their team).
• Disorientate each participant by moving them a bit, spinning them around, etc.
• All team members are blindfolded and must remain so for the duration of the activity.
• The rope you are holding is approximately ___ feet in length.
• The role you are holding is knotted together to form a circle; it must not be undone.
• You must not let go of the rope.
• You will be told when you have 5 minutes remaining.
• Allow the teams to work on the activity and inform them when they have 5 minutes left.

Once the teams have given this activity their best shot, use these 5 discussion questions to review the importance of good group communication:

• Do you feel as a group you communicated effectively?
• During the Activity, what communication skills did you use effectively?
• During the activity, what communication skills could you have used to improve performance?
• How important is communication in the workplace? Why?
• What key points have you learned about communication from this activity, that you wish to apply in the workplace?

2. Follow All Instructions Activity

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is a great one for young people, but it can be used with participants of all ages. All you’ll need is a set of instructions for each participant.

• Write all of your teams initials at the top right-hand corner of this sheet.
• Write your first name on your sheet of paper.
• Write the total of 3 + 16 + 32 + 64 here: __________________
• Underline instruction 1 above.
• Check the time by your watch with that of one of your neighbor’s.
• Write down the difference in time between the two watches at the foot of this page.
• Draw three circles in the left-hand margin.
• Put a tick in each of the circles mentioned in 6.
• Sign your signature at the foot of the page.
• On the back of the page, divide 50 by 12.5.
• When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.
• If you have carefully followed all these instructions, call out ‘I have’.
• On the reverse of this page, draw quickly what you think an upright bicycle looks like from overhead.
• Check your answer to Item 9, multiply it by 5 and write the result in the left-hand margin opposite this item.
• Write the 5th, 10th, 9th and 20th letters of the alphabet here: ___________________
• Punch three holes with your pen here: o o o
• If you think you are the first person to get this far, call out ‘I’m in the lead’.
• Underline all the even digits on the left-hand side of the page.
• Draw triangles around the holes you punched in Item 15.
• Now you’ve finished reading all the instructions, obey only 1, 2, 20 & 21.
• Stand up and say, “We’re the greatest team in the World!”

As you can see, the instructions include lots of silly directives (e.g., “When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.”) that will identify who is following the directions and who is not—but the person that stands is actually the one not following directions!

The first and only verbal instruction you will give participants is to read all the written instructions first before engaging in any of the directives. The first person to complete the list will be declared the winner of the activity. You can offer a prize to the winner if you think the group would be motivated by it.

This exercise is a fun way to see who is paying attention and who is skipping the most vital instruction—to read everything before acting.

7 Communication Games for Couples

Defeating Divorce shares the following three games aimed at improving communication in a romantic relationship.

This game is goal-directed, meaning the couple is working towards a common goal, and that goal requires effective communication.

• The couple sits back to back with an identical set of building blocks in front of each of them.
• One partner uses their blocks to create some sort of building or structure.
• The builder partner then relays a series of instructions to the other partner to help him or her build the exact same structure.
• The listener partner must try to build the same structure based on the speaker partner’s instructions.

This game takes some serious teamwork and good communication, and it can be repeated as needed to help a couple build their skills.

2. Minefield

“Minefield” is a physical game that will not only get both partners up and moving, but it will also require a great deal of trust and communication to complete the challenge.

You will need a blindfold for one partner, some space to navigate, and some objects with which you can create a minefield or obstacle course. Once the course is ready to go, blindfold one partner and bring them into the room.

The challenge here is for the non-blindfolded partner to guide the blindfolded partner through the obstacle course using only verbal communication. The couple will only succeed if the blindfolded partner has trust in their partner and the non-blindfolded partner is an effective verbal communicator.

Feelings of frustration are common in this game, but it can be a great way to highlight issues in communication or, alternately, highlight the couple’s communication strengths.

3. Give Me a Hand

This game is another one that can be frustrating for the couple but ultimately provides a great opportunity to build effective communication skills and unite the two in a common goal.

In this game, the couple will be given a seemingly easy task to complete, such as buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe, but with a catch—each partner will have one arm tied behind their back. The couple will find that the lack of one arm makes the task much more difficult than they might expect!

To complete the task, the couple will need to communicate effectively and coordinate their movements. It will be tough, but immensely satisfying to successfully complete this challenge!

4. Twenty Questions Times Two

If you remember the game “Twenty Questions”, you’ll recognize this game. It can be used to help couples communicate, share important details, and strengthen their connection.

Here’s how:

• The couple should schedule some time alone, without distractions.
• Before playing the game, each partner should come up with a list of 20 detailed personal questions to ask the other partner. The couple should feel free to get creative here!
• Both partners take turns asking each other one question at a time.
• When they’ve finished asking each other their questions, they should reverse them! Instead of asking questions like, “What is your favorite color?” each partner will ask, “What is my favorite color?”

This fun twist on a familiar game will result in greater knowledge and understanding of your spouse and, hopefully, better communication skills.

5. Eye-to-Eye

This game is a good way for couples to work on communicating and improving their connection, and all you need is your eyes!

Here’s how to do it:

• The couple sits facing each other, close enough to hold hands.
• Each partner looks directly into the other partner’s eyes.
• Each partner should take a minute to notice the feelings they are experiencing at this point.
• One partner begins talking about something simple and easy to discuss, like what happened that day, what they had for lunch, or something they are grateful for.
• The other partner reciprocates with a similar conversation, all while holding eye contact.
• The couple continues sharing things one at a time until each partner has shared at least three or four times.
• The couple discusses what the experience was like.

Many people find this game uncomfortable at first, but with practice, it can greatly enhance your sense of intimacy with your partner.

6. The Top Three

Similar to the “three good things” exercise, this game’s aim is to boost a couple’s gratitude for one another and give them both a chance to practice expressing it. Couples should schedule a time for this game every day, but the good news is that it doesn’t take long—just a few minutes will do.

To play “The Top Three”, couples should follow these instructions:

• At the end of each day, take some time to reflect on your day. Think about what your partner has done for you today.
• Take turns sharing those three things with your partner and tell them what each thing meant to you.
• Don’t forget to say “thank you” or otherwise verbally express your gratitude to your partner!

This game gets couples to practice vocalizing their appreciation and expressing gratitude, two things that are not necessarily in everyone’s daily communications but can have a big impact on a relationship.

7. Make a Playdate

Playdates are not just for kids or puppies—they are a great idea for couples as well! A play date is not your average, regularly scheduled programming sort of date, but something that is different, spontaneous, unique, and/or just plain fun!

Here are the three ground rules for the playdate:

• It has to be something for just the couple to do and they cannot include the kids or discuss mundane things like chores or bills.
• It has to be something that requires both partners to be present in the moment; think sailing, rock climbing, or dance lessons rather than seeing a movie or going out to dinner.
• The couple should take turns picking the activity and try to surprise their partner with something new.

Planning this date will not only make it easier to feel connected and closer to one another, but it also provides couples with an opportunity to communicate their love for one another through their actions. Depending on the date activity, it can also provide some much-needed time for the couple to talk.

5 Exercises and Activities for Married Couples

These exercises , also from Defeating Divorce, are not just for married couples, but for anyone in a committed relationship.

1. Fireside Chats

This communication exercise is based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats,” in which he addressed the American people with the intention of making it feel as if he was speaking directly into their living room, carrying on a calm and rational discussion of important issues.

The intention of this exercise for couples is similar: to make the couple feel more connected, more aware of what is going on in each other’s lives, and to maintain a pulse on how the relationship is going.

The two partners should schedule a 15 to 30-minute “fireside chat” each week to practice their ability to speak calmly, respectfully, and effectively about important and relevant issues. They should minimize the chances of distraction (turn off the TV, put their phones on silent, etc.) and focus only on one another for these chats.

What the couple discusses is up to them, but if there are salient relationship issues, this is a good time to talk about them. If the issues are very serious, it may be a good idea to start out this exercise talking about less intense, less emotional topics before moving on to the problem areas.

2. High-Low Activity

The high-low activity also aims to help couples feel more connected and in touch with one another, which requires measured and thoughtful communication. Engaging in this exercise daily will give the couple a chance to practice their communication skills on a regular basis, as well as their active listening skills.

Here’s how the exercise works:

• Wait until the end of the day (e.g., at the end of dinner, around bedtime) to put it into practice.
• The couple will then “check-in” with each other about the other’s day.
• Each partner will ask the other to share their “high” of the day or the best part of their day.
• Next, each partner will ask the other to share their “low” of the day or the worst or most disappointing part of their day.
• As one partner is sharing, the other should practice active listening techniques, conveying their empathy and understanding to their partner.

This simple activity will result in a more intimate and understanding relationship between the two partners, all for just a few minutes a day.

3. Listening Without Words

If a couple wants to practice both their verbal and nonverbal communication, this is a great way to do it. The “Listening Without Words” activity allows each partner to apply both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, as it involves switching between only speaking and only listening.

This is how to practice it:

• The couple will schedule some time for themselves without kids, work, or other responsibilities interrupting them.
• They set a timer for somewhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
• Until the timer goes off, one partner acts as the speaker and the other acts as the listener. The speaker will talk about any subject they’d like to talk about.
• While the speaker talks, the listener will attempt to show the speaker compassion, empathy, and understanding through nonverbal communication only (e.g., smiling, nodding, taking their partner’s hand).
• When the timer goes off, the partners will have a chance to process what they experienced and discuss any thoughts or feelings that came up.
• Finally, the partners switch roles and repeat the exercise.

This exercise is a great way to boost your bond and your skills at the same time.

4. Eye See You

Similar to a previous exercise (“Eye-to-Eye”), this exercise relies heavily on eye contact; however, unlike the previous exercise, this one does not allow talking until the end.

Here’s how to give it a try:

• The couple should be in a quiet and relaxing environment, with as few distractions as possible.
• They sit in two chairs facing one another, near to one another but not touching.
• The couple sets a timer for five minutes and settles in their respective seats, making and holding eye contact with one another. They will hold eye contact but refrain from speaking or touching until the timer goes off.
• Both partners should be encouraged to note any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that come bubbling up during these five minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, the two should try to guess what the other person was thinking and feeling during the five minutes. Once they have a chance to guess, they should discuss these things that bubbled to the surface as they maintained eye contact.

It might surprise some people to hear what their partner was thinking and feeling during the activity, but a strong relationship depends on understanding and empathizing with one another, making communication like this a necessity.

5. Send Me a Postcard

Although we’ve mostly focused on verbal communication and communications via body language, facial expressions, and touch, there is another form that we haven’t mentioned: written communication. This activity guides the couple in developing more effective written communication skills.

Both partners should have two blank postcards and something to write with for this exercise. On one postcard, each partner will write down a message to the other partner communicating a frustration, a feeling, or a desire. They should take a few minutes to create a thoughtful message to their partner.

Once they have their postcard ready to “mail” each partner will deliver their message to their partner without any verbal communication. They will both read their partner’s message and take a few moments to process. When they feel ready, they will use their remaining blank postcard to craft a response to their partner’s message.

When both partners have finished writing their response, they will deliver those messages to one another as well. After they have both read the response postcards, the couple can debrief and discuss their messages to one another.

5 Communication Exercises for Couples Therapy

If you’re hungry for more couples’ communication exercises, maybe these five exercises will hit the spot!

1. Active Listening

Active listening is not the easiest skill to master, but it is an important one to develop. This exercise from marriage counseling expert Racheal Tasker will give you a chance to practice it with the person closest to you.

The next time you and your partner are talking about something important or sensitive, put these tips and techniques into practice:

• The speaker should remain focused on a single thought or idea.
• The listener should listen attentively to the speaker, concentrating on understanding their perspective and attempting to gain new insights into their thoughts and feelings.
• The speaker and listener should switch roles after a while to allow each to practice both types of communication.
• Both partners should practice speaking and listening with patience and love, allowing their feelings for their partner to guide them toward true understanding rather than just reacting (Tasker, n.d.).

2. Sharing Emotions Freely

It can be tough to be truly open with our emotions, but it’s vital for effective communication and a healthy relationship. Try this exercise to work on this skill.

The couple should agree to try this exercise together and follow these instructions:

• Decide on a specific time and place to put this exercise into practice.
• Let your partner know what you need to feel safe sharing your feelings, and listen to what your partner needs to feel safe sharing his or her feelings.
• Be sure to also ask your partner what would make him or her feel more comfortable as you share your feelings, as it can be just as difficult to hear as it is to share.
• Share with your partner! If it helps, use a timer to limit how much sharing can occur and to ensure equal time to share feelings.
• Listen to what your partner tells you and discuss what, if any, concrete steps you can take based on the information you’ve both shared. Commit to using the information you gained to improve your communication skills and your relationship in general (Tasker, n.d.).

3. Use Positive Language

Another great exercise from Racheal Tasker is focused on using positive language with one another. It can be surprisingly easy to slide into a pattern of mostly neutral or even negative language with your partner, but you can use this exercise to counter that tendency.

Here’s what to do:

• Commit to using positive language when you communicate with your partner.
• Ask your partner to make the same commitment to positive language.
• Avoid being overly critical or negative when communicating with your partner.
• Use a positive and encouraging tone when you speak to your partner.
• Keep an eye on the words you use; try to incorporate words like “love”, “feel”, “appreciate”, and ditch words like “fault”, “never”, and “hate” (e.g., “I hate it when you do X!”).

As partners continue to practice this exercise on a regular basis, they will find that their communication style grows more positive with less effort, and their relationship will flourish (Tasker, n.d.).

4. Take a Trip Together

There’s nothing like traveling with someone to work on your communication skills! Making a trip successful requires tons of communication, coordination, and clear expectations, but it can also open you up to fun new experiences and relaxation. To practice communicating with your partner, try planning and taking a trip together.

Plan your trip with a focus on doing things you both like, going to a place you’d both like to visit, and trying new food, activities, and other experiences together. Getting out of your routine and into a novel environment can do wonders for your communication—not to mention your overall mood.

Use some of the other tips and techniques mentioned in this article when you are planning your trip and while you are enjoying your trip; you’re sure to see some improvements to your communication with your partner (Tasker, n.d.).

You can find this exercise at this link , second exercise from the bottom.

5. I Feel (Blank)

The final exercise from Tasker is called “I Feel _____” and it’s a simple one.

We often have trouble sharing our feelings, even (or especially) with those we are closest to. A great way to work on communicating your feelings more often—and more effectively—is to practice saying “I feel (blank).”

The next time you are experiencing strong emotions or discussing a sensitive or difficult subject with your partner, try beginning your sentences with “I feel…” and continue from there. So, if you’re upset with your partner for forgetting about an important appointment or canceling plans at the last minute, instead of saying “You don’t respect my time,” try “I feel like you don’t respect my time.”

Framing your discussion in this manner—as a statement of your feelings rather than a personal attack or blaming session—is not only conducive to greater understanding, it also shows your partner that you care about having a constructive conversation and that your intentions are not to hurt them but to help them see from your perspective.

According to researchers Peterson and Green (2009), family communication is so important because:

“…it enables members to express their needs, wants, and concerns to each other. Open and honest communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another.”

The benefits of high-quality communication make spending time on improving the way family members relate to one another a task that is well worth the time spent on it. If you’re interested in working on your communication skills as a family, give the following activities and exercises a try.

These 14 activities are great tools to use in family therapy, but you can also try them at home.

4 Group Exercises for the Family

These four group exercises are a great introduction to communication skill-building as a family. They’re fun, engaging, and good for all ages!

1. What If?

The best time to work on communication skills is when families take the time to just sit and relax together. This simple game is a great way to do that, allowing families to improve how they communicate with one another while laughing together and putting their imagination to good use.

You will need strips of paper, a pencil or pen for each family member, and two bowls.

• Get two slips of paper and something to write with for each family member.
• On the first slip, have each family member write a question off the top of his or her head; it can be silly, serious, or anywhere in between. Put all the questions in one of the bowls and give them a good mix.
• On the second slip of paper, have each family member write an answer to the question they came up with. Place these slips in the second bowl and mix them up.
• Pass each bowl around the room and have each family member take one question slip and one answer slip.
• Have each family member read the question and the answer that they have in their hand. The questions and answers might fit well together or they may result in absurd combinations!
• Continue the game with two more slips of blank paper. It may take a few rounds for everyone to get the hang of the game, but family members will get more comfortable with the game and enjoy it more as they go along.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion as a family:

• Did the activity spark your imagination?
• Why did the questions and answers get funnier after several rounds?

2. Expressing Individuality

Although families usually share values, norms, and beliefs, that doesn’t mean all family members will see things the same way. It can be hard for some family members to communicate their thoughts and feelings when they feel like the odd one out or a “black sheep” in the family.

To make sure your family is a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings, give the “Expressing Individuality” activity a try. It will help each family member understand that they are a valuable part of the family and that they are always free to share their unique perspective.

You’ll need about an hour for this activity, 15 minutes to make the dough and 45 minutes for the activity itself. Use one of the recipes below to make your own play dough as a family.

If you want to make reusable play dough, mix together:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water (add food coloring to water if you want colored clay)
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon oil

After mixing these ingredients together, put over low heat and stir slowly. When the dough has formed into a small ball, remove it from the heat and knead while still warm. Store the clay in a sealed container.

If you plan on baking your designs at the end of this activity to preserve them, mix together:

• ½ cup water
• Food coloring (if desired—you can also paint the figures after you bake them)

Follow these instructions to encourage each family member to express their individuality:

• If you love Boy Scouts, you may want to mold the image of a person sitting on a log by a campfire.
• If you received an award as the “Employee of the Month,” you may want to mold the image of something that represents hard work, or dependability.
• If friendliness is a personal characteristic that you value, you may want to mold a face with a pleasant smile, or if you have a great love for animals, you may want to mold several of your favorite animals.
• After creating your unique design, you can preserve it by placing it on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven on warm for several hours (until hard). This will harden the clay hard so that it maintains its shape. If you did not use food coloring to color the clay, or if you like to paint, you could paint the hardened figure. Once everyone has completed a mold, display these molds in the home.

To continue working on communicating your individuality as a family, ask these questions and discuss your answers together:

• Why did you choose to make what you did?
• What does it mean to you?

If the idea of creating a figure out of play dough doesn’t appeal to you, you can also try these two alternatives:

• You could draw pictures using plain white paper and colored pencils/crayons. Drawing may allow you to express more ideas than if you use clay. Make sure that you do not place an emphasis on artistic abilities. It is okay to draw simple stick figures that represent people or other objects.
• You could cut pictures out of old magazines and paste them on a poster board. After each person has completed a mold, picture, or collage, allow each family member to explain how their collage, picture or mold represents them.

3. Hints of Anger

Anger is a normal human emotion, and we will all get angry at some point. Instead of trying to avoid or deny anger, it’s vital that families learn how to manage their anger and communicate it to others in a healthy way. This activity will help family members identify their anger cues (the signs that indicate they are getting angry) and help them regulate their emotions to ensure they don’t say or do something they will regret.

Here’s how to do this activity as a family:

• Tell family members to think about a time when they were angry or upset, and consider how they felt.
• Were your hands relaxed or clenched in a fist?
• Was your heart rate normal or beating fast?
• Were your muscles relaxed or tight with tension?
• What kind of thoughts was going through your head?
• As a family, discuss any discrepancies between what you think about your anger cues and what other family members think.
• How did your body feel during this period of time?
• In which scenario did you feel more comfortable, angry, or happy?
• Discuss the importance of knowing when you are getting upset and might need to take a break and think.

After the activity, discuss these questions as a family:

• Why is it important to recognize the signs that you are angry?
• Why is it important to control your anger?
• What do you feel like specifically, when you are upset?
• What are the things you are going to do to manage your anger so it does not hurt your family relationships?
• Can recognizing anger cues help in managing your anger?

4. Family Meetings

Family meetings are a good idea for a lot of reasons, but yet another benefit of these get-togethers is the potential for building and developing better communication skills as a family. Regular family meetings can help family members learn how to:

• Make joint decisions
• Plan together
• Accept responsibility
• Show concern for others
• Spend some quality time together

Pick one night of the week when your family can consistently get together for a weekly family meeting that lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and make sure it’s scheduled on everyone’s calendar.

Here’s how to conduct good family meetings:

• Set a regular time. Setting a regular time and place gives the family council a position of importance and results in it becoming a permanent part of family operations. If everyone knows that the family is meeting together regularly, they find that most problems can wait a few days to be discussed. For this reason, some families like weekly meetings.
• Use an agenda. Post a paper during the week where family members can list concerns they want brought up (possibly, the message center). Discuss things in the order listed. This also reduces problems between meetings when parents can say, “List it on the agenda and we’ll discuss it at the meeting.”
• Attendance is voluntary . All members of the family are invited to attend — but attendance is voluntary. However, if a member is not present, he/she is still expected to abide by any decisions made by the family council.
• Each person has an equal voice . Everyone should be encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions. All members must be treated the same, regardless of age. Using the steps of negotiation to (1) introduce the problem, (2) discuss solutions, and (3) vote on a solution. This gives everyone a chance to be involved. Councils do not always run smoothly. Teenagers are often suspicious that the new program is just another way for parents to gain compliance with their demands. In the first council meetings, rebelliousness may be exhibited to deliberately test whether parents are sincere about including them in family decision-making.
• Use rules of order . If participation is to be equal, then some type of order must be maintained. If a person has the right to express himself, then he also has the right to be heard — which implies that others have the obligation to listen. Rules of order help this situation.
• Rotate chairmanship . If the same person conducts all meetings, that person eventually begins to assume an air of superiority. To help maintain a feeling of equality, family members should take turns conducting the councils. This allows each person to experience the privileges and the responsibilities of this position.
• Accentuate solutions . Family council should not be “just a gripe session” — a time to get together and complain. In order to prevent this, you may decide that the person presenting a problem must also suggest one possible solution. Family members could then discuss alternate solutions or modify the one presented. In practice, some solutions do not work as well as anticipated. As family members begin to live with a decision, they may decide it needs to be changed. This change, however, must wait until the next regular meeting. Children soon recognize a need for better solutions and they learn by experience to make wiser choices. When family council is held regularly, each member learns to project ahead and anticipate problems. When this occurs, the emphasis at council meetings shifts from problem-solving to problem prevention and planning. Family council can also be a time to plan fun things like vacations or family outings. Families can talk about different places to visit and how they want to spend the time available.
• Decide on the authority level . The family council can be the final authority for the family, or a family can have a modified version of decision making. For it to be effective, however, most decisions made by the council need to be binding. If parents always overrule the council, children will soon lose interest.
• Keep a record . There sometimes develops a difference of opinions as to who conducted the last meeting, what matters were discussed, and what plans were agreed upon. For this reason, a secretary to record minutes is most helpful. The secretary can rotate with each meeting.

After your first family meeting, discuss these questions as a family:

• How did your first family meeting go?
• What about the meeting was good? What was bad?
• What do you want to incorporate in future meetings?

4 Active Listening Exercises

Active listening is a vital part of communication and can greatly improve relationships between family members. These four active listening exercises are a great way to boost your skills.

1. Precision Communication

Another activity that can help your family build and continue to develop good communication skills is called “Precision Communication.” It’s focused on active listening, which is a vital part of communication and conducive to better understanding and stronger, healthier relationships.

Here’s how to put this activity into practice:

• Set up a maze in your home using furniture, such as kitchen chairs or other pieces of furniture that can act as a barrier.
• Tie string or yarn between the furniture to create a clear path through the maze.
• Select a family member that will try to walk through the maze blindfolded. This person must not see the maze prior to being blindfolded.
• Have someone give voice instructions so the family member can be directed through the maze.

This activity’s aim is to see if the family member giving instructions can help the blindfolded family member get through the maze without bumping into the furniture, walls, or string. This means that not only must the speaking family member communicate clear and detailed instructions, but the blindfolded family member must also use their active listening skills to receive the instructions and implement them effectively.

Use these discussion questions to debrief and maximize this learning opportunity:

• Why was clear detailed communication necessary for this exercise?
• How important was it to listen carefully to the one giving instructions? Why?
• What were some of the difficulties associated with helping a family member complete this exercise?
• Using some of the ideas from this exercise, how can you, as a family, improve your communication skills?

If you want more from this activity, try this follow-up:

Draw a simple picture or pattern on a piece of paper. Without letting family members see the diagram, tell them what they need to do to make a copy of your picture that matches as closely as possible. After giving detailed instructions, see how accurately the pictures match up.

2. End of the Word—Beginning of the Next

This is a fun game on the Encourage Play website that can keep your kids actively engaged in building their listening skills.

Here’s how to play:

• One person (probably an adult) starts the game by giving out one word—it can be any word, it just needs to be one that every family member knows how to spell.
• The next family member must listen to the word the previous person said, then come up with a word that starts with the letter the last word ended with.

This is an easy game to play since you don’t need any materials, just a few minutes and the ability to hear one another! That makes it a great game for car rides, waiting in restaurants, or standing in a long line. To make it more challenging, give it a bit of complexity by limiting the words to a category, like animals or cities.

3. Red Light Green Light

Another exercise from the Encourage Play website is a familiar one. It’s based on the classic “Red Light, Green Light” game in which the leader gives instructions by color: saying “red light” means stop and saying “green light” means go.

To make the game a bit more challenging and really emphasize the importance of active listening, incorporate these three variations to the game:

• Different colors refer to different types of movement; for example, yellow light could mean skipping, purple light could mean crab walking, and blue light could mean hopping.
• Pretend to be a different animal for different colors (yellow = lion, green = bunny, purple = frog, etc.).
• Use words that rhyme with red or green to see if the players catch the difference (e.g., “Bread Light! Teen Light!”).

4. Tell a Group Story

Group stories are a great way to practice active listening with the whole family. It also gives kids a chance to be creative and silly, which helps to keep them engaged in the activity.

• The first person (probably an adult) starts a story with just one sentence (e.g., “Once upon a time, there was a very curious brown bunny”).
• The next person adds onto the story with just one sentence as well (e.g., “This bunny lived with her mother and father in a cozy little burrow under a willow tree”).
• The story continues until everyone has contributed at least a couple of sentences to the story.

This activity boosts active listening skills because it requires careful and attentive listening to what has already been said in order to make a good contribution to the story.

3 Assertive Communication Exercises

One of the best skills to teach your kids is how to be assertive instead of aggressive or passive (or passive-aggressive). Use these three assertive communication activities to help them learn this important skill.

1. Assertive Communication Worksheet

This worksheet is a great way to help older kids understand the difference between types of communication and to learn how to communicate assertively.

The worksheet first provides a good working definition of assertive communication:

“A communication style in which a person stands up for their own needs and wants, while also taking into consideration the needs and wants of others, without behaving passively or aggressively.”

It also outlines the traits of people who are assertive communicators, including:

• Clearly state needs and wants
• Eye contact
• Listens to others without interruption
• Appropriate speaking volume
• Steady tone of voice
• Confident body language

Next, it shares four tips on communicating assertively:

• Respect yourself—your wants and needs are as important as everyone else’s.
• Express your thought and feelings calmly rather than using the silent treatment or yelling and threatening.
• Plan out what you’re going to say before you say it.
• Say “no” when you need to, say it clearly, and do it without lying.

After some examples of assertive communication, we get to the active part of the worksheet. It’s geared toward adults, but the scenarios can be tweaked to fit kids as well.

There are four situations presented and space to write out your own assertive response to each. These situations are:

• Your partner says, “ I know you have plans for the weekend, but I really need you to watch the kids. I have a friend coming to town, and we made plans .”
• Situation: You’ve just received your food at a restaurant, and it was prepared incorrectly. Your sandwich seems to have extra mayo, instead of no mayo.
• Your friend says, “ Hey, can I borrow some money? I want to buy these shoes, but I left my wallet at home. I’ll pay you back soon, I swear. It won’t be like last time .”
• Situation: Your neighbor is adding an expansion to their house, and the crew starts working, very loudly, at 5 am. It has woken you up every day for a week.

Working through these scenarios as a family can help your kids see what healthy assertive communication looks like and show them that it’s okay to say “no” sometimes.

2. The Aggressive Alligator

The Aggressive Alligator is a great tool from Kristina Marcelli-Sargent, for teaching assertiveness over-aggressiveness or passiveness. It makes what can be a dry and boring subject more interesting and engaging.

Start by giving simple definitions to the terms “passive,” “aggressive,” and “assertive.” Next, show them a list of animals or a bin of small stuffed animals and allow them to choose an animal that they feel represents each definition. The aggressive animal doesn’t need to be an alligator, it can be anything that makes sense to your children.

After your kids have chosen an animal for each term, describe some social situations and instruct your kids to act them out with their animals. Each animal should act according to the definition it represents (e.g., the aggressive alligator should act aggressively, the passive panda should act passively, and the assertive anteater should act assertively).

Once all scenarios have been acted out, talk to your kids about how the outcomes differed between the three animals. Point out which one(s) resulted in a positive outcome and which one(s) should probably be avoided. In the future, you can refer back to the assertive anteater to remind your kids to be assertive instead of passive or aggressive (Sargent, 2015).

3. Keeping Cool

A great lesson for kids to learn is that assertive communication is about being firm and direct without being angry or upset. This activity will help you teach healthy assertiveness to your kids or students.

Here’s how to go about it:

• First, ask your kids how people might feel when they are bullied. If they have trouble coming up with answers, talk about how people might feel angry, scared, sad, upset, embarrassed, or confused.
• Next, ask your kids what kinds of things people want to do when they feel this way. If they can’t think of things people might do when they feel upset, angry, or sad, mention that they might yell, throw something, hit something, hide, cry, or do something else to make another person feel as bad as they feel.
• Ask your kids if they think these are good or helpful things to do. Explain how everyone has strong, negative feelings like this sometimes, and that it’s okay to feel them. These feelings have a purpose; they tell us that something is wrong or that something needs to be fixed, but they can also encourage us to do the wrong thing unless we learn how to keep a cool head.
• Close your eyes and take several slow deep breaths
• Count to ten
• Relax the muscles in your face and body
• Talk silently to yourself and repeat a soothing phrase, such as “Keep calm” or “I control my feelings”
• Get a drink of water
• Go sit by a person you trust

Discuss these options with the whole group and decide together on what the best techniques are, then practice using them together.

Click here to read about this exercise from the Education Development Center’s Bullying Prevention program.

3 Nonverbal Communication Exercises

Finally, although verbal communication is generally the focus of skill-building exercises and activities, nonverbal communication is also a vital skill to develop.

Use these 3 exercises to help your kids build their nonverbal skills.

1. Understanding Non-Verbal Communication

Things like tone of voice, facial expressions, body posture, and hand gestures are all non-verbal, but they are hugely important in our communication with others. If we say one thing with our words and another with our face or body, we can end up giving mixed messages and confusing others.

To make sure we are saying what we want to say with our words and our face, body, and tone, help your kids learn how to understand and “speak” non-verbal communications.

Here’s s description of this activity:

“As a family, make a list of different non-verbal actions. For example, folding your arms, snorting, frowning, etc… Select a TV program or a segment of a video. Watch about 5 to 7 minutes of the program with the volume off. While watching the program without volume, identify the different non-verbal messages, especially the feelings that are expressed. After 5 to 7 minutes, turn off the TV and discuss what you observed. You could even carry on the discussion as the program continues.”

To get the discussion started, use questions like:

• What were the non-verbal messages that you observed?
• How important do you think the non-verbal messages are in helping you to enjoy the movie and understand what was going on in the movie?
• Did you observe any confusing non-verbal messages?
• What feelings were expressed through non-verbal communication?
• What were some of the difficulties of this activity?
• What can you do to be more aware of non-verbal messages?
• Did everyone think the non-verbal message meant the same thing?
• Are non-verbal messages always obvious in real life?

If you want more from this exercise, try this follow-up activity. Seat two family members away from each other and have them carry on a conversation about giving directions to somewhere or explaining how to do something. As they talk, they should focus on trying to understand the other person’s feelings.

After doing this for a few minutes, the two should turn around, face each other, and continue the discussion—they will likely find it much easier!

Use the following questions to guide your discussion after the follow-up:

• When you had your backs to each other, did a lack of non-verbal communication affect your ability to communicate with the other person? If so, how?
• What feelings did you experience as you communicated with your back to the other person?
• When you spoke to the other person face-to-face, did this improve your ability to communicate and understand the other person’s feelings? If so, how?
• Did face-to-face communication improve your ability to understand the other person’s feelings?
• How can you increase your awareness of non-verbal messages you do not mean to be sending?
• How can you be aware of how we may misinterpret someone else’s non-verbal messages?”

2. Charades

Charades is a popular game with kids since it’s fun, easy to play, and can result in some seriously silly situations.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Animals: Monkey, dog, cat, rabbit, kangaroo, snake
• Activities: brushing teeth, playing cards, shining a flashlight, fishing, playing frisbee
• Emotions: scared, sad, bored, angry, happy, wary, proud

Acting out these prompts will give kids an opportunity to practice communicating non-verbally, a skill that they can easily build over time (Simmons, n.d.).

This nonverbal communication activity  is available from Sue Simmons at Equinox Family Consulting.

3. Silent Snack

Finally, another activity from Sue Simmons is called “ Silent Snack ” and it gives young children a chance to have fun while building their nonverbal communication skills.

Follow these instructions to give it a try:

• Put out a few different snacks in individual bowls.
• Tell everyone it’s “Silent Snack Time,” meaning there’s no talking allowed!
• Offer each person a taste of each snack.
• Each player should take turns sharing their opinion on each snack. They can use indicators like thumbs up and thumbs down or facial expressions to communicate their opinions.

It’s a simple activity, but an effective one! Give it a try at your next snack time.

17 Exercises To Develop Positive Communication

17 Positive Communication Exercises [PDF] to develop help others develop communication skills for successful social interactions and positive, fulfilling relationships.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

I hope you leave this piece with a treasure trove of new resources you can use to improve your own life or the lives of your clients.

Communication skills are one of the most important skills a person can have, making it well worth your while to devote some time and energy to develop them.

What are your favorite ways to work on communicating with your spouse? Do you schedule a time to talk about how your relationship is doing or do you just let it flow naturally? What do you think are the best ways to build, enhance, and maintain your communication skills? Let us know in the comments section.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free .

• Abass, S. (n.d.). 3 benefits of effective communication in a relationship. Lifehack. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/509189/3-benefits-effective-communication-relationship
• https://defeatingdivorce.com/communication-exercises-for-couples/
• Fleming, G. (2018). 4 helpful nonverbal communication activities. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/nonverbal-communication-activities-1857230
• Heitler, S. (2010). What does communication have to do with a good relationship? GoodTherapy. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-does-communication-have-to-do-with-good-relationship
• Lee, T. R., & Pyfer, T. (n.d.). Helping youth succeed: Strengthening family ties: A workbook of activities designed to strengthen family relationships . Utah State University Extension. Retrieved from https://www.families-first.net/uploads/userfiles/files/FL_Youth_02.pdf
• Mendler, A. (2013). Teaching your students how to have a conversation. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-your-students-conversation-allen-mendler
• Norman, B. (2018). Trainers’ tips: Active listening exercises. Training Zone . Retrieved from https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/develop/cpd/trainers-tips-active-listening-exercises
• Peterson, R., & Green, S. (2009). Helping Youth Succeed: Keys to successful family functioning: Communication . Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/350/350-092/350-092_pdf.pdf
• Reichmann, D. (n.d.). 5 communication games guaranteed to bring you closer. Engaged Marriage . Retrieved from https://www.engagedmarriage.com/5-communication-games/
• Rosenberg, M. B. (1999). Nonviolent communication: A language of compassion. Del Mar.
• Sargent, K. M. (2015). The aggressive alligator: Fun ways to teach assertiveness to children. Art of Social Work . Retrieved from https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/the-aggressive-alligator-fun-ways-to-teach-assertiveness-to-children/
• Simmons, S. (n.d.). Nonverbal games: 10 simple activities . Equinox Family Consulting, Ltd. Retrieved from https://equinoxfamilyconsulting.com/communication/nonverbal-games-10-simple-activities/
• Stanfield, J. (2017). 8 tips to teach effective communication skills. James Stanfield. Retrieved from https://stanfield.com/blog/2017/11/8-tips-teach-effective-communication-skills/
• Sott, A. (2018). Teaching communication skills. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-communication-skills
• Tasker, R. (n.d.). 6 amazing couples therapy exercises for improving communication . GuideDoc . Retrieved from https://guidedoc.com/couples-therapy-exercises-for-improving-communication
• Victoria Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Relationships and communications . Better Health Channel. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/relationships-and-communication

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ESL Conversation Questions

Questions That Will Make You Speak

50 ESL Conversation Questions about Communication

• Why is communication important in our daily lives?
• How do you usually communicate with your friends and family?
• What are some common methods of communication?
• Can you give an example of a situation where effective communication is crucial?
• How do you feel when there is a breakdown in communication?
• Do you think effective communication skills can be learned or are they innate?
• How has technology changed the way we communicate?
• What are some non-verbal forms of communication?
• Can you describe a time when you had to communicate with someone who spoke a different language?
• How does effective communication contribute to building relationships?
• What are some challenges people face in communicating with others?
• How does cultural background influence communication styles?
• Can you discuss any differences between face-to-face communication and online communication?
• How do you handle conflicts or misunderstandings in communication?
• Have you ever had to communicate in a professional setting? How did you prepare for it?
• Can you describe a time when you had to give a presentation or speak in public?
• How does active listening contribute to effective communication?
• What role does body language play in communication?
• Can you discuss any gender differences in communication styles?
• How can effective communication contribute to personal and professional success?
• Have you ever had to communicate with someone who had a different communication style than yours? How did you adapt?
• Can you discuss the importance of clarity and precision in communication?
• How do you think communication has been impacted by social media and online platforms?
• Have you ever faced a language barrier while trying to communicate with someone? How did you overcome it?
• Can you give an example of a time when miscommunication had serious consequences?
• How do you think technology has both helped and hindered communication?
• Can you discuss any cultural norms or etiquette related to communication in your country?
• What are some strategies for effective cross-cultural communication?
• Have you ever had to communicate in a high-pressure or stressful situation? How did you handle it?
• Can you describe a time when you had to communicate in a team or group setting?
• How do you think communication skills are valued in the workplace?
• Can you discuss the role of empathy in effective communication?
• How has the use of emojis and emoticons influenced communication?
• Have you ever experienced miscommunication due to language barriers or accents?
• Can you discuss the impact of non-verbal cues in face-to-face communication?
• How do you think communication styles vary across different generations?
• Can you give an example of a time when you had to communicate a difficult or sensitive message?
• What are some effective strategies for resolving conflicts through communication?
• Can you discuss any ethical considerations in communication, such as privacy and confidentiality?
• How does effective communication contribute to teamwork and collaboration?
• Have you ever had to communicate with someone who had a different cultural perspective? How did you navigate the differences?
• Can you discuss the role of active listening in building strong interpersonal relationships?
• How do you think communication skills are valued in leadership positions?
• Have you ever had to communicate in a crisis or emergency situation? How did you handle it?
• Can you give an example of a time when you had to adapt your communication style to suit a specific audience?
• How does the use of technology affect the quality of communication in personal relationships?
• Can you discuss the role of non-verbal communication in public speaking or presentations?
• What are some challenges people face in communicating through written messages, such as emails or texts?
• Can you give an example of a time when effective communication helped you achieve a desired outcome?
• How do you see the future of communication evolving with advancements in technology?

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

• Test Information FAQ
• Band Scores
• IELTS Candidate Success Tips
• Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
• How to Prepare
• Useful Links & Resources
• Recommended Books
• Writing Task 1
• Writing Task 2
• Speaking Part 1 Topics
• Speaking Part 2 Topics
• Speaking Part 3 Topics
• 100 Essay Questions
• On The Day Tips
• Top Results
• Advanced IELTS

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

IELTS speaking part 1 topics and questions. Prepare for your test by developing ideas for topics and practicing answering questions. There is a download link at the bottom of the page for the list of topics. These topics will be used most years and will mostly likely be used at some point in 2024.

What is IELTS speaking part 1?

A face to face interview with the examiner (4-5 minutes) 12 Questions based on 3 Topics Questions about yourself, your life and your country

Speaking Part 1 Common Topics List

Below is a list of topics and questions that the examiner can ask you in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test. You should prepare ideas for these topics but not memorise whole answers. Your answers should be natural when you speak in the test. Prepare your daily life, your recent memories, your childhood memories, your opinions, popular things in your country etc. Remember – part 1 is all about you and your country.

• Daily routine
• Dictionaries
• Family & Friends
• Leisure time
• Neighbours & Neighbourhood
• Shopping Sport

Questions & Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 1

These four topics are the most common in IELTS speaking part 1. You should prepare ideas and practice answering these questions. You are VERY LIKELY to get one of these four for your first topic.

Work What is your job? Where do you work? Why did you choose that job? Is it a popular job in your country? Do you like your job? Do you get on well with your colleagues? What was your first day like? What responsibilities do you have at work? If you had the chance, would you change your job? Do you plan to continue with your job in the future?

Study What do you study? Where do you study that? Why did you choose that subject? Is it a popular subject in your country? Do you like that subject? Do you get on with your colleagues? What was your first day like? What are the main aspects of your subject? If you had the chance, would you change subject? Do you plan to get a job in the same field as your subject?

Note: if you don’t work or study, please say so. When the examiner asks “Do you work or do you study?”, this isn’t a trick question. Just be open and honest. For example, “I don’t work or study at the moment.” or “I’m a housewife.” If you don’t work or study, the examiner will ask about your home or hometown instead.

Note: Your hometown refers to the village, town or city where you spent most of your childhood. It might not be the same place you were born. If you grew up in many different places, choose the place you are most connected to.

Hometown Where is your hometown? Do you like your hometown? Do you often visit your hometown? What is your hometown like? What is the oldest place in your hometown? What is there for a foreigner to do or see in your hometown? How could your hometown be improved? Has your hometown changed much since you were a child? Is there good public transportation in your hometown? Do you think your hometown is a good place to bring up children?

Home Where is your home? Do you live in a house or a flat? Who do you live with? Are there many rooms in your home? What is your favourite room? How are the walls decorated? What would you change about your home? Do you plan to live there in the future? What facilities are there near your home? What is your neighbourhood like? Do most people live in houses in your country?

Common Questions in Speaking Part 1

Art Are you good at art? Did you learn art at school when you were a child? What kind of art do you like? Is art popular in your country? Have you ever been to an art gallery? Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?

Bicycles Do you have a bike? How often do you use it? How old were you when you learned to ride a bike? Do many people in your country using bicycles? Do you think using bicycles should be encouraged?

Birthdays Do you usually celebrate your birthdays? How did you celebrate your last birthday? Which birthdays are the most important ones in your country? Do you think children should celebrate their birthdays with a party?

Childhood Did you enjoy your childhood? What is your first memory of your childhood? Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child? What did you enjoy doing as a child? Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the countryside?

Clothes Are clothes important to you? What kind of clothes do you usually wear? Do you ever wear the traditional clothes of your country? Where do you usually buy your clothes? Have you ever worn a uniform? Do most people in your country follow fashion?

Computers Do you often use a computer? How do you usually get online? Do you prefer desktops or laptops? What do you use your computer for? Do you think it is important to learn how to use a computer?

Daily Routine When do you usually get up in the morning? Do you usually have the same routine every day? What is your daily routine? Do you ever change your routine? Is your routine the same today as it was when you were a child? Do you think it is important to have a daily routine?

Dictionaries Do you often use a dictionary? What do you use dictionaries for? What kinds of dictionaries do you think are most useful? Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language? What kind of information you find in a dictionary? Useful video lesson: Dictionary vocabulary

Dreams Do you often have dreams when you sleep? Do you usually remember your dreams? Do you think dreams are important to remember? Do you ever have daydream? What kind of daydreams do you usually have?

Drinks What is your favourite drink? Is it common for people to drink tea and coffee in your country? Did you prefer different drinks as a child? Do you think it is important to drink lots of water? What is a traditional drink in your country for celebrating?

Evenings What do you often do in the evenings? Do you do the same thing every evening? Do you prefer to spend your evenings with family or friends? Do you ever work or study in the evenings? What is a popular activity for young people in your country in the evenings? Do you do the same thing in the evenings as you did when you were a child?

Family & Friends Do you spend much time with your family? Who are you closest to in your family? Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends? Who is your best friend? Are you still friends with people from your childhood? Is family important in your country?

Flowers Do you like flowers? What’s your favourite flower? When was the last time you gave someone flowers? Do any flowers have a special meaning in your country? Why do you think women like flowers more than men? See similar topics for part 2 and 3: Parks, Gardens, Trees & Flowers

Food What’s your favourite food? Have you always liked the same food? Is there any food you dislike? What is a common meal in your country? Do you have a healthy diet? What do you think of fast food?

Going Out Do you often go out in the evenings? What do you like to do when you go out? Do you prefer going out on your own or with friends? How often do you go out in a week? Where do most young people like to go out in your country?

Happiness Are you a happy person? What usually makes you happy or unhappy? Does the weather ever affect how you feel? What makes you smile? Do you think people in your country are generally happy people?

Hobbies Do you have a hobby? What equipment do you need for it? Do you think hobbies should be shared with other people? Did you have a hobby as a child? What hobbies are popular in your country? Why do you think people have hobbies?

Internet How often do you go online? What do you use the internet for? How do you get online? Do you have your own computer? What’s your favourite website? Do you think children should be allowed unsupervised access to the internet?

Languages How many foreign languages do you speak? When did you start learning your first foreign language? How many foreign languages do children in your country learn at school? Do you think it is important to learn a foreign language?

Leisure Time What is your favourite leisure activity? What did you enjoy doing in your free time as a child? Do you prefer to spend your free time with other people or alone? What is a common leisure activity in your country? Do most people in your country get two days off a week? Do you think leisure time is important?

Music Do you like music? What’s your favourite type of music? Can you sing? Did you learn music at school? If you could learn a musical instrument, what would it be? Do you think music is important?

Neighbours & Neighbourhood Do you like your neighbours? Are neighbours usually close to each other in your country? What is your neighbourhood like? Do you think your neighbourhood is a good place for children? How could your neighbourhood be improved? Do you think it is important to have a good relationship with your neighbours?

Newspapers How do you usually get your news? Do you often read the newspapers? What kind of news do you usually follow? How do most people get the news in your country? Do you think international news is important?

Noise Do you live in a noisy area? What kinds of sounds you you hear on a daily basis? Where do you go to spend time in peace and quiet? Are there any sounds which you think are pleasant? Do you have any noisy friends?

Patience Are you a patient person? Do you ever get impatient? When was the last time you lost your patience? Which person in your family is the most patient?

Pets Do you have a pet? Do you like animals? What’s your favourite animal? What is a popular pet to have in your country? Did you have a pet as a child? Why do people have pets?

Reading Do you often read? What is your favourite kind of book to read? Do you often read newspapers? Do you have any e-books? What books did you read as a child? Do you think it is important to encourage children to read?

Shopping Do you like shopping? What’s your favourite shop? Do you prefer shopping alone or with others? What kinds of shops are there where you live? Have you ever bought anything online? Do you think men and women have different opinions about shopping?

Sport Do you like sport? What’s your favourite sport? Do you often watch sport on TV? Did you play sport as a child? What is the most popular sport in your country? How do most people in your country keep fit?

TV Do you often watch TV? What sorts of things do you watch on TV? What is your favourite TV program? Do you ever watch foreign programs or films? What did you watch on TV when you were a child? Do you think children should watch TV?

Transport How did you get here today? What is your favourite mode of transport? Do you ever use public transport? Do you like the transport system in your country? What is the difference between taking a bus and taking a train?

Weather What’s the weather like today? What’s your favourite weather? Do you like the weather in your country? Is the weather the same in all parts of your country? Does the weather ever affect the way you feel? Does the weather in your country ever affect transportation?

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100 Best Communication Topics For Your Academic Paper

The key to any great research project is developing an exceptional research topic. When it comes to communication topics we know that many students will struggle to come up with something that is both interesting and original while still being challenging enough to impress the strictest professors. Our experts have developed a list of 100 communication research paper topics that are sure to make a splash. Feel free to modify them in any way you please:

Nonverbal Communication Research Topics

This interesting group of communication research topics for college students deals with nonverbal cues we use to express our thoughts:

• Discuss the importance of non-verbal communication in society.
• What are the main factors behind instances of employee non-verbal communication?
• How important is interpersonal communication in improving family relations?
• Why is nonverbal important to the foodservice industry?
• Human social distancing and how it can negatively impact normal nonverbal communication.
• Does low self-esteem affect the way we communicate with our facial expressions?
• How are infants impacted by facial expressions made by their parents?
• Discuss how children take nonverbal cues from parents and understand their surrounding situations?

Mass Communication Topics for College Students

These mass communication research topics are ideal for college-level students and up:

• How is mass communication affected by what gets incorrectly reported by the news?
• Should the President of the United States be held accountable for falsifying claims?
• How trusting should the American public be about pandemic outbreaks in the country?
• Evaluate how mass communication affects the way information is reported to the people.
• Mass media is a method of communicating information to a larger group of people. But how accurate is it in sharing valuable information that can save lives?
• Are newspapers still a relevant source of information in today’s digital world?
• Discuss the different kinds of scare tactics mass communication employs to keep people in line.
• Are news agencies responsible for spreading information politically biased in any way?

Interesting Communication Topics for Grad Students

These topics about communication cover a wide range of study areas perfect for a graduate course where students can introduce communication topics:

• The negative impact that miscommunication has on a society’s confidence.
• Religions communication across television networks.
• Examine the most effective methods to communicate in a classroom.
• Dependence on media communications across different age groups
• What are the most effective ways of mastering different types of communication methods?
• History of communication through national media outlets.
• What is the negative impact of poor communication between media agencies?
• How does media communication instill confidence in the American public?

Technical Communication Topics for Students Seeking a Doctorate

This group of possible topics for communication research represents the current issues being discussed by industry leaders and is perfect for those seeking a Ph.D.:

• Is the information shared on the web more reliable than what is shared in print or on TV?
• In what ways has television impacted the way people view foreign affairs?
• Has censorship changed what is viewed as appropriate to show on television?
• Are more people dependent on the news information they receive over the web?
• How has communication technology affected the way children learn?
• How have communication tools that used advanced tech impacted the workplace?
• How does technology impact the way people receive their education?
• Should people rely on cell phone technology to do their shopping?

Health Communication Research Topics for Any Level

The following health communication topics explore the pros and cons of introducing new methods to improve the health and welfare of people from all over the world:

• Why is it important for those working in the health field to possess good interpersonal skills?
• What is the most effective method of communicating with one’s patients?
• What challenges do health professionals face when they try to communicate with patients?
• Explain how socio-psychological relationships improve as a result of positive communication.
• Discuss the importance of developing two-communication between doctors and nurses.
• Explain the trouble patients have in communicating their ailments accurately to doctors.
• Evaluate methods of communicating patient diagnoses to doctors taking on new patients.
• How important is humor in the treatment of seriously ill patients?

Organizational Communication Research Topics for Grad Students

This group deals with a lot more than business communication topics. Here you will also find several communication essay topics that are important to both domestic and foreign organizations:

• Discuss the barriers that exist in an organization that prevent effective communication.
• Why are regular staff meetings an important way of establishing communication channels?
• What role does culture play in limiting effectiveness and efficiency or organizational communication?
• Discuss company culture and how it impacts the way employees communicate.
• What are the biggest ethical challenges in workplace communication between superiors and inferiors?
• How does communicating during work interviews and evaluations improve employee morale?
• What does the presence of a toxic communicating culture have on employee productivity?
• How much do privacy and space play a part in the way employees communicate?
• Should organizations adopt a more lax view when it comes to “wasted time” as a result of non-work related chatter?
• Water-cooler talk has often been viewed as a way of improving bonds between employees. Should organizations encourage this activity?

Global Intercultural Communication Research Topics

These excellent intercultural communication topics are ideal of long research projects in college or graduate school. Our social media essay writing tips may help you here.

• Misunderstanding and confusion in ESL elementary classrooms effect on students.
• Key account management and the challenges that intercultural communication may bring.
• Cultural communicative differences between Northern American and European countries.
• Social media and its uses to improve the state of intercultural communication.
• The importance of learning Chinese or Japanese culture for future business relationships.
• How important is cultural education in promoting enhanced communication policies?
• Should people from foreign nations studying in the U.S. be encouraged to embrace their cultural heritage?
• What does it mean to create a respectful community of intercultural languages?

Research Topics in Media and Communication

These communication topics for research focus on the changing ways that media has changed the way we handle international affairs and address important issues from around the world:

• How have journalistic practices changed in newly formed spaces of information?
• How are socio-economic concerns addressed by media participation?
• Application of strategic language to communicate important information.
• What are the most controversial approaches to the exchange of information in the 21 st century?
• Ethical questions need to be asked about modern media and communication.
• Discuss the impact globalization has had on how the U.S. presents world news.
• How does media participation affect social matters in the United States?
• How does culture affect media and communication policies?
• Are our virtual classrooms effective in improving a student’s ability to learn difficult subjects?
• How is communication affected by a country’s availability of technology?

Business Communication Topics for Research Paper

Business communication presentation topics can be hard to develop on the fly. If you’ve left your project to the last minute then these eight ideas might be right for you:

• Describe the importance of business etiquette in communication strategies.
• Business negotiation as an effective skill in communication and success.
• What are the major challenges of applying a business communication formula?
• What is the best way to manage during times of organizational uncertainty?
• How has communication changed in businesses with a vast global reach?
• Describe the importance of communication management during times of crisis.
• Why is corporate communication important for addressing the public?
• How does communication affect overall organizational confidence in employees?

Interpersonal Communication Topics

Here is a list of interpersonal communication research topics ideal for a college senior-level or graduate-level assignment in this field:

• How do perception and emotion affect the way we communicate at an interpersonal level?
• What role does deception play in the ways we develop interpersonal communication?
• How important is interpersonal communication in bringing about professional success?
• Intimate and familial relationship building and how it impacts ways of communicating.
• How do language, verbal, and voice clues affect our ability to communicate?
• What does it mean to be a competent communicator in today’s world of social media?
• What role does culture have on the way we establish interpersonal dialogue?
• What are the positive and negative impacts of communicating via technology?

Communication Topics for Presentation

This list of business communication topics for presentation is perfect for anyone who needs to put together a great presentation in a limited amount of time:

• How is cultural expression affected by communicating virtually?
• Analyze the way businesses establish trust in virtual teams working in different countries.
• How has the art of negotiating changed in response to increasing social media use?
• How does birth order affect the ways siblings develop communication skills?
• How have communication technologies impacted the way we consume art?
• Does communication increase the number of divorce cases?
• Does communicating in the 21 st century affect the functionality of family?
• Do visual cues affect how we perceive the messages we receive from others?

Communication Phenomenon Topics

Like the list above, these communication speech topics are great for a presentation. But they can also be used for any standard research paper project in the field:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of communication among virtual teams.
• People are no longer communicating face to face. What impact does this have on business?
• How do managers lead utilizing today’s technological communication tools?
• Does communication play a role in developing a sense of sexuality in teenagers?
• Poor communication ability and the rise of interpersonal conflict in the workplace.
• Does communication affect the way we first perceive someone we meet?
• Life improvement or enhancement through the development of communication skills.
• What role does interpersonal communication have on classroom behavior?

We are a writing and editing agency that also specializes in developing communication thesis topics for every situation and every level. Keep checking back for updated lists of ideas and feel free to contact our essay writers to have a customized collection of communication research topics tailor-made for your specific project needs.

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37 Chapter 12: Informative Speaking

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, the student will be able to:

• Recognize opinion versus factual information;
• Recognize the different types of informative speeches;
• Decide on the best organizational approach for types of informative speeches;
• Follow proven guidelines for preparing an informative speech;
• Construct an informative speech.

Chapter Preview

– What is an Informative Speech?

– types of informative speeches, – guidelines for selecting an informative speech topic, – guidelines for preparing an informative speech, – giving informative speeches in groups.

Informative speecha speech based entire- ly and exclusively on facts and whose main purpose is to inform rather than persuade, amuse, or inspire Defining what an informative speech is can be both straight-forward and somewhat tricky at the same time. Very simply, an informative speech can first be defined as a speech based entirely and exclusively on facts.

Basically, an informative speech conveys knowledge, a task that every person engages in every day in some form or another. Whether giving someone who is lost driving directions, explaining the specials of the day as a server, or describing the plot of a movie to friends, people engage in forms of informative speaking daily. Secondly, an informative speech does not attempt to convince the audience that one thing is better than another. It does not advocate a course of action. Consider the following two state- ments:

George Washington was the first President of the United States.

Irrefutablea statement or claim that cannot be argued In each case, the statement made is what can be described as irrefutable , meaning a statement or claim that cannot be argued. In the first example, even small children are taught that having two apples and then getting two more apples will result in having four apples. This statement is irrefutable in that no one in the world will (or should!) argue this: It is a fact.

Similarly, with the statement “George Washington was the first President of the United States,” this again is an irrefutable fact. If you asked one hundred history professors and read one hundred history textbooks, the professors and textbooks would all say the same thing: Washington was the first president. No expert, reliable source, or person with any common sense would argue about this.

(Someone at this point might say, “No, John Hanson was the first presi- dent.” However, he was president under the Articles of Confederation for a short period—November 5, 1781, to November 3, 1782—not under our present Constitution. This example shows the importance of stating your facts clearly and precisely and being able to cite their origins.)

Opiniona personal view, atti- tude, or belief about something Therefore, an informative speech should not incorporate opinion as its basis. This can be the tricky part of developing an informative speech, be- cause some opinion statements sometime sound like facts (since they are generally agreed upon by many people), but are really opinion.

For example, in an informative speech on George Washington, you might say, “George Washington was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.” While this statement may be agreed upon by most people, it is possible for some people to disagree and argue the opposite point of view. The statement “George Washington was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States” is not irrefutable, meaning someone could argue this claim. If, however, you present the opinion as an

opionion from a source, that is acceptable: it is a fact that someone (hope- fully someone with expertise) holds the opinion. You do not want your central idea, your main points, and the majority of your supporting mate- rial to be opinion or argument in an informative speech.

Additionally, you should never take sides on an issue in an informative speech, nor should you “spin” the issue in order to influence the opinions of the listeners. Even if you are informing the audience about differences in views on controversial topics, you should simply and clearly explain the issues. This is not to say, however, that the audience’s needs and inter- ests have nothing to do with the informative speech. We come back to the WIIFM principle (“What’s in it for me?) because even though an informa- tive speech is fact-based, it still needs to relate to people’s lives in order to maintain their attention.

The question may arise here, “If we can find anything on the Internet now, why bother to give an informative speech?” The answer lies in the unique relationship between audience and speaker found in the public speaking context. The speaker can choose to present information that is of most value to the audience. Secondly, the speaker is not just overloading the audience with data. As we have mentioned before, that’s not really a good idea because audiences cannot remember great amounts of data and facts after listening. The focus of the content is what matters. This is where the specific purpose and central idea come into play. Remember, public speak- ing is not a good way to “dump data” on the audiene, but to make informa- tion meaningful.

Finally, although we have stressed that the informative speech is fact- based and does not have the purpose of persuasion, information still has an indirect effect on someone. If a classmate gives a speech on correctly using the Heimlich Maneuver to help a choking victim, the side effect (and probably desired result) is that the audience would use it when confronted with the situation.

While the topics to choose from for informative speeches are nearly limit- less, they can generally be pared down into five broad categories. Under- standing the type of informative speech that you will be giving can help you to figure out the best way to organize, research, and prepare for it, as will be discussed below.

Type 1: History

A common approach to selecting an informative speech topic is to discuss the history or development of something. With so much of human knowl- edge available via the Internet, finding information about the origins and

evolution of almost anything is much easier than it has ever been (with the disclaimer that there are quite a few websites out there with false infor- mation). With that in mind, some of the areas that a historical informative speech could cover would include:

(Example: the baseball; the saxophone). Someone at some point in history was the first to develop what is considered the modern baseball. Who was it? What was it originally made of? How did it evolve into the baseball that is used by Major League Baseball today?

(Example: your college; DisneyWorld). There is a specific year that you college or university opened, a specific number of students who were ini- tially enrolled, and often colleges and universities have name and mission changes. All of these facts can be used to provide an overall understanding of the college and its history. Likewise, the DisneyWorld of today is dif- ferent from the DisneyWorld of the early 1970s; the design has developed over the last fifty years.

(Example: democracy; freedom of speech). It is possible to provide facts on an idea, although in some cases the information may be less precise. For example, while no one can definitively point to a specific date or indi- vidual who first developed the concept of democracy, it is known to have been conceived in ancient Greece (Raaflaub, Ober, & Wallace, 2007). By looking at the civilizations and cultures that adopted forms of democra- cy throughout history, it is possible to provide an audience with a better understanding of how the idea has been shaped into what it has become today.

Type 2: Biography

A biography is similar to a history, but in this case the subject is specifically a person, whether living or deceased. For the purposes of this class, biog- raphies should focus on people of some note or fame, since doing research on people who are not at least mildly well-known could be difficult. But again, as with histories, there are specific and irrefutable facts that can help provide an overview of someone’s life, such as dates that President Lincoln was born (February 12, 1809) and died (April 15, 1865) and the years he was in office as president (1861-1865).

This might be a good place to address research and support. The basic dates of Abraham Lincoln’s life could be found in multiple sources and you would not have to cite the source in that case. But it you use the work of a

specific historian to explain how Lincoln was able to win the presidency in the tumultuous years before the Civil War, that would need a citation of that author and the publication.

Type 3: Processes

Examples of process speech topics would be how to bake chocolate chip cookies; how to throw a baseball; how a nuclear reactor works; how a bill works its way through Congress.

Process speeches are sometimes referred to as demonstration or “how to” speeches because they often entail demonstrating something. These speeches require you to provide steps that will help your audience un- derstand how to accomplish a specific task or process. However, How To speeches can be tricky in that there are rarely universally agreed upon

(i.e. irrefutable) ways to do anything. If your professor asked the students in his or her public speaking class to each bring in a recipe for baking chocolate chip cookies, would all of them be the exact same recipe?

Probably not, but they would all be similar and, most importantly, they would all give you chocolate chip cookies as the end result. Students giving a demonstration speech will want to avoid saying “You should bake the cookies for 12 minutes” since that is not how everyone does it. Instead, the student should say something like:

“You can bake the cookies for 10 minutes.”

“One option is to bake the cookies for 10 minutes.”

“This particular recipe calls for the cookies to be baked for 10 min- utes.”

Each of the previous three statements is absolutely a fact that no one can argue or disagree with. While some people may say 12 minutes is too long or too short (depending on how soft or hard they like their cookies), no one can reasonably argue that these statements are not true.

On the other hand, there is a second type of process speech that focuses not on how the audience can achieve a result, such as changing oil in their cars or cooking something, but on how a process is achieved. The goal is understanding and not performance. After a speech on how to change a car tire, the audience members could probably do it (they might not want to, but they would know the steps). However, after a speech on how a bill goes through Congress, the audience would understand this important part of democracy but not be ready to serve in Congress.

Type 4: Ideas and Concepts

Sometimes an informative speech is designed to explain an idea or con- cept. What does democracy mean? What is justice? In this case, you will want to do two things. First, use the definition methods listed in Chapter 6, such as classification and differentiation. The second is to make your concept concrete, real, and specific for your audience with examples.

Type 5: Categories or divisions

Sometimes an informative speech topic doesn’t lend itself to a specific type of approach, and in those cases the topics tend to fall into a “general” category of informative speeches. For example, if a student wanted to give an informative speech on the four “C’s” of diamonds (cut, carat, color, and clarity), they certainly wouldn’t approach it as if they were providing the history of diamonds, nor would they necessarily be informing anyone on “how to” shop for or buy diamonds or how diamonds are mined. The ap-

proach in this case would simply be to inform an audience on the four “C’s” and what they mean. Other examples of this type of informative speech would be positions in playing volleyball or the customs to know when trav- eling in China.

As stated above, identifying the type of informative speech being given can help in several ways (conducting research, writing the introduction and conclusion), but perhaps the biggest benefit is that the type of informative speech being given will help determine, to some degree, the organizational pattern that will need to be used (see Chapter 6). For example, a How To speech must be in chronological order. There really isn’t a way (or reason) to present a How To speech other than how the process is done in a time sequence. That is to say, for a speech on how to bake chocolate chip cook- ies, getting the ingredients (Main Point 1) must come before mixing the ingredients (Main Point 2), which must come before baking them (Main Point 3). Putting them in any other order will only confuse the audience.

Similarly, most Histories and Biographies will be organized chronologi- cally, but not always. It makes sense to explain the history of the baseball from when it was first developed to where it is today, but certain approach-

es to Histories and Biographies can make that irrelevant. For an informa- tive speech on Benjamin Franklin, a student might choose as his or her three main points: 1) His time as a printer, 2) His time as an inventor, 3) His time as a diplomat. These main points are not in strict chronological order because Franklin was a printer, inventor, and diplomat at the same time during periods of his whole life. However, this example would still be one way to inform an audience about him without using the chronological organizational pattern.

As for general informative speeches, since the topics that can be includ- ed in this category are very diverse and cover a range of subject matter, the way they are organized will be varied as well. However, if the topic is “types of” something or “kinds of” something, the organizational pat-

tern would be topical; if it were the layout of a location, such as the White House, it would be spatial (refer to Chapter 6 for more on Organization).

While some of the guidelines for selecting a topic were discussed in Chap- ters 2, 4, and 5, this section will more specifically focus on informative speech topics and problems that can arise when choosing them.

Pick a specific or focused topic

Perhaps one of the biggest and most common misconceptions students have about informative speech topics is that the topic needs to be broad in order to fill the time requirements for the speech. It is not uncommon for a student to propose an informative speech topic such as “To inform my audience about the history of music.” How is that topic even possible? When does the history of music even begin? The thinking here is that this speech will be easy to research and write since there is so much informa- tion available. But the opposite is actually true. A topic this broad makes doing research even harder.

Let’s consider the example of a student who proposes the topic “To in- form my audience about the Civil War.” The Civil War was, conservatively speaking, four years long, resulted in over 750,000 casualties, and argu- ably changed the course of human history. So to think that it is possible to cover all of that in five to seven minutes is unrealistic. Also, a typical

college library has hundreds of books dealing with the Civil War. How will you choose which ones are best suited to use for your speech?

The better approach in this case is to be as specific as possible. A revised specific purpose for this speech might be something like “To inform my audience about the Gettysburg Address.” This topic is much more compact

(the Gettysburg Address is only a few minutes long), and doing research will now be exponentially easier—although you will still find hundreds of sources on it. Or, an even more specific topic would be like the one in the outline at the end of this chapter: “To inform my classmates of the specific places in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that are considered haunted.”

Instead of looking through all the books in your campus library on the Civ- il War, searching through the library’s databases and catalog for material on the Gettysburg Address will yield a much more manageable number of books and articles. It may sound counterintuitive, but selecting a speech topic that is very specifically focused will make the research and writing phases of the informative speech much easier.

Avoid faux or fake informative speech topics

Sometimes students think that because something sounds like an informa- tive speech topic, it is one. This happens a lot with political issues that are usually partisan in nature. Some students may feel that the speech topic “To inform my audience why William Henry Harrison was a bad president” sounds factual, but really this is an opinion. Similarly, a number of topics that include conspiracy and paranormal subject matter are usually mistak- en for good informative topics as well.

It is not uncommon for a student to propose the topic “To inform my au- dience about the existence of extraterrestrials,” thinking it is a good topic. After all, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim, right? There are pictures of unidentified objects in the sky that people claim are from outer space, there are people who claim to have seen extraterrestrials, and most powerful of all, there are people who say that they have been abducted by aliens and taken into space.

The problem here, as you have probably already guessed, is that these facts are not irrefutable. Not every single person who sees something unknown

in the sky will agree it is an alien spacecraft, and there can be little doubt that not everyone who claims to have been abducted by a UFO is telling the truth. This isn’t to say that you can’t still do an informative speech on alien sites. For example, two viable options are “To inform my audience about the SETI Project” or “To inform my audience of the origin of the Area 51 conspiracy.” However, these types of speeches can quickly devolve into opinion if you aren’t careful, which would then make them persuasive speeches. Even if you start by trying to be objective, unless you can present each side equally, it will end up becoming a persuasive speech. Additional- ly, when a speaker picks such a topic, it is often because of a latent desire to persuade the audience about them.

Don’t Be Too Broad

In preparing and writing an informative speech, one of the most common mistakes students make is to think that they must be comprehensive in covering their topic, which isn’t realistic. Take for example an informative speech on Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was 56 years old when he died, so to think that it is possible to cover his entire life’s story in 5 to 7 minutes is un-realistic. As discussed in Chapter 4, the better option is to select three aspects of his life and focus on those as a way to provide an overall picture of who he was. So a proposed speech on Lincoln might have the specific purpose: “To inform my audience about Abraham Lincoln’s administra- tion of the Civil War.” This is still a huge topic in that massive books have been written about it, but it could be addressed in three or four main points such as:

• The Civil War began in the aftermath of Lincoln’s Election and Inauguration
• Finding the right military leaders for the Union was his major chal- lenge at the beginning.
• The Emancipation Proclamation changed the nature of the War.
• Lincoln adopted a policy that led to the North’s victory.

Regardless of the topic, you will never be able to cover everything that is known about your topic, so don’t try. Select the things that will best help the audience gain a general understanding of the topic, that will interest them, and that they hopefully will find valuable.

Be Accurate, Clear, and Interesting

A good informative speech conveys accurate information to the audience in a way that is clear and that keeps the listener interested in the topic.

Achieving all three of these goals—accuracy, clarity, and interest—is the key to being an effective speaker. If information is inaccurate, incomplete, or unclear, it will be of limited usefulness to the audience.

Part of being accurate is making sure that your information is current. Even if you know a great deal about your topic or wrote a good paper on the topic in a high school course, you will need to verify the accuracy and completeness of what you know, especially if it is medical or scientific information. Most people understand that technology changes rapidly, so you need to update your information almost constantly. The same is true for topics that, on the surface, may seem to require less updating. For example, the Civil War occurred over 150 years ago, but contemporary research still offers new and emerging theories about the causes of the war and its long-term effects. So even with a topic that seems to be unchanging, carefully check the information to be sure it’s accurate and up to date.

What defines “interesting?” In approaching the informative speech, you should keep in mind the good overall principle that the audience is asking, “what’s in it for me?” The audience is either consciously or unconsciously wondering “What in this topic for me? How can I use this information? Of what value is this speech content to me? Why should I listen to it?” One reason this textbook uses examples of the Civil War is that the authors’ college is located by several Civil War sites and even a major battlefield.

Students see reminders of the Civil War on a regular basis.

You might consider it one of the jobs of the introduction to directly or in- directly answer these questions. If you can’t, then you need to think about your topic and why you are addressing it. If it’s only because the topic is interesting to you, you are missing the point. For example, why should we know about Abraham Lincoln’s administration of the Civil War? Obviously, because it had significant, long-term consequences to Americans, and you should articulate that in terms the audience can understand.

Keep in Mind Audience Diversity

Finally, remember that not everyone in your audience is the same, so an informative speech should be prepared with audience diversity in mind. If the information in a speech is too complex or too simplistic, it will not hold the interest of the listeners. Determining the right level of complexity can be hard. Audience analysis is one important way to do this (see Chapter 2). Do the members of your audience belong to different age groups? Did they all go to public schools in the United States, or are some them internation- al students? Are they all students majoring in the same subject, or is there a mixture of majors? Never assume that just because an audience is made up of students, they all share a knowledge set.

There are instances where you will be called upon to give an informative speech as part of a group of other informative speakers. This situation may be referred to as a panel or as a symposium. The difference is that in a panel, the focus is on a discussion by experts in front of an audience. The expert speakers may start with an opening statement, but typically the panelists are seated and their opening remarks are designed to pres- ent their basic position or stance and the bulk of time is spent in ques- tion-and-answer from the audience, from the moderator, or from each other. Some tips for panels are given here . (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo)

A symposium is more formal and the experts or presenters have put to- gether prepared speeches on different aspects of an overall topic. For example, they may all be experts on juveniles in the criminal justice sys- tem, but they have chosen or been assigned a specific informative topic for the audience, who are probably also professionals in that field. One might speak on challenges with legal representation for juveniles, another on family reconciliation, another on educational opportunities, and so on. While there may be time for question and answers at the end, the bulk of the time is taken up by the prepared speeches.

The author has used the symposium format in her teaching of the informa- tive speech for over 25 years. The students at first are skeptical, but usu- ally afterward they see the benefit of the experience in the classroom. For one thing, instead of a class of 25-30 separate and unrelated informative speeches in the class, there are four sets of related speeches that explore a topic in more depth. Some popular topics have been physical and mental health issues (diabetes, breast cancer, pets, schizophrenia, phobias), the arts (musical genres, history of film), travel, and food. In those years, there have been topics that didn’t work. Serial killers and sexually transmitted infections were two of them. One speech on that is acceptable. Six or seven, not so much. Just to clarify, the author always assigns the groups but the students pick the topics.

Here are some pointers if you are assigned to give a symposium-style in- formative speech. 1. Spend ample time discussing the topics so that every- one is supportive of the overall topic and the way the topic is broken down into separate speech topics. Do not let one person run the show and insist on a specific topic. A strong personality can sway the rest of the group

and then later the other members become unhappy about the topic and resentful of the persuasive member. 2. Try to develop topics in different ways; for example, let’s take the overall topic of phobias. The temptation is for each separate speech to be a specific phobia. While this is all right, it becomes repetitive to the audience. There are other ways to develop the subtopics (origins, different treatment options, phobias related to certain

demographic groups) instead of six or seven speeches on different pho- bias. 3. Be in constant communication with your peers so that you know exactly what their topics are and how they are being developed. You don’t want one or two co-presenters to “go rogue” and change their topics with- out the knowledge of the others in the group. You also do not want to end up overlapping, so that part of your speech is actually in someone else’s speech. Share phone numbers so you can text or call each other, if the members are willing. 4. You should appoint a moderator who will intro- duce the speeches and speakers and close or call for questions when the speeches are completed, and possibly summarize the set of speeches at the end. This member does not have to be the first or last speaker in the group.

• Be sure the order of speeches is logical, not random. 6. Be sure to get to the class early so you can set up and feel secure that your team members are present. 7. If you are required to have a question-and-answer session at the end, the moderator should try to make sure that the participation is balanced and one talkative person doesn’t answer all the questions. There will be questions you cannot answer, so just be honest and say, “I didn’t find that answer in my research.”

Many instructors use this format because it not only teaches informative speaking skills, but because it emphasizes team work. You will be expect- ed to do many team projects in your educational and professional careers, and this is a good way to start learning effective teamwork skills.

Learning how to give informative speeches will serve you well in your col- lege career and your future work. Keep in mind the principles in this chap- ter but also those of the previous chapters: relating to the informational needs of the audience, using clear structure, and incorporating interesting and attention-getting supporting evidence.

Something to Think About

Here are three general topics for informative speeches. Write specific pur- poses for them and explain how you would answer the WIIFM question.

• Type 1 diabetes
• The psychological effects of using social media

Two outlines for informative speeches are provided on the following pages. They utilize slightly different formats; other outline formats are included in one of the appendices. Your instructor will let you know which one he or she prefers or will provide examples of another format.

Sample Outline: Informative Speech on Lord Byron

By shannon stanley.

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the life of George Gordon, Lord Byron.

Central Idea: George Gordon, Lord Byron overcame physical hardships, was a world-renowned poet, and an advocate for the Greek’s war for free- dom.

Introduction

• Imagine an eleven year old boy who has been beaten and sexually abused repeatedly by the very person who is supposed to take care of him.
• This is one of the many hurdles that George Gordon, better known as Lord Byron, overcame during his childhood.
• Lord Byron was also a talented poet with the ability to transform his life into the words of his poetry.
• Byron became a serious poet by the age of fifteen and he was first published in 1807 at the age of nineteen.
• Lord Byron was a staunch believer in freedom and equality, so he gave most of his fortune, and in the end, his very life, supporting the Greek’s war for independence.
• While many of you have probably never heard of Lord Byron, his life and written work will become more familiar to you when you take Humanities 1201, as I learned when I took it last semester.
• Lord Byron was born on January 22, 1788 to Captain John Byron and Catherine Gordon Byron.
• According to Paul Trueblood, the author of Lord Byron, Lord Byron’s father only married Catherine for her dowry, which he quickly went through, leaving his wife and child nearly penniless.
• By the age of two, Lord Byron and his mother had moved to Aberdeen in Scotland and shortly thereafter, his father died in France at the age of thirty-six.
• Lord Byron was born with a clubbed right foot, which is a deformity that caused his foot to turn sideways instead of remaining straight, and his mother had no money to seek treatment for this painful and embarrassing condition.
• He would become very upset and fight anyone who even spoke of his lameness.
• Despite his handicap, Lord Byron was very active and liked competing with the other boys.
• At the age of ten, his grand-uncle died leaving him the title as the sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale.
• With this title, he also inherited Newstead Abbey, a dilapidated estate that was in great need of repair.
• Because the Abbey was in Nottinghamshire England, he and his mother moved there and stayed at the abbey until it was rented out to pay for the necessary repairs.
• During this time, May Gray, Byron’s nurse had al- ready begun physically and sexually abusing him.
• A year passed before he finally told his guardian, John Hanson, about May’s abuse; she was fired im- mediately.
• Unfortunately the damage had already been done.
• In the book Lord Byron, it is stated that years later he wrote “My passions were developed very early- so early, that few would believe me if I were to state the period, and the facts which accompanied it.”
• Although Lord Byron had many obstacles to overcome during his childhood, he became a world renowned poet by the age of 24.
• Lord Byron experienced the same emotions we all do, but he was able to express those emotions in the form of his poetry and share them with the world.
• According to Horace Gregory, The author of Poems of George Gordon, Lord Byron, the years from 1816 through 1824 is when Lord Byron was most known throughout Europe.
• But according to Paul Trueblood, Childe Harold was pub- lished in 1812 and became one of the best-selling works of literature in the 19th century.
• Childe Harold was written while Lord Byron was traveling through Europe after graduating from Trinity College.
• Many authors such as Trueblood, and Garrett, the author of George Gordon, Lord Byron, express their opinion that Childe Harold is an autobiography about Byron and his travels.
• Lord Byron often wrote about the ones he loved the most, such as the poem “She Walks in Beauty” written about his cousin Anne Wilmont, and “Stanzas for Music” written for his half-sister, Augusta Leigh.
• He was also an avid reader of the Old Testament and would write poetry about stories from the Bible that he loved.
• One such story was about the last king of Babylon.
• This poem was called the “Vision of Belshazzar,” and is very much like the bible version in the book of Daniel.
• Although Lord Byron is mostly known for his talents as a poet, he was also an advocate for the Greek’s war for inde- pendence.
• Lord Byron, after his self-imposed exile from England, took the side of the Greek’s in their war for freedom from Turkish rule.
• Byron arrived in Greece in 1823 during a civil war.
• The Greek’s were too busy fighting amongst them- selves to come together to form a formidable army against the Turks.
• According to Martin Garrett, Lord Byron donated money to refit the Greek’s fleet of ships, but did not immediately get involved in the situation.
• He had doubts as to if or when the Greek’s would ever come together and agree long enough to make any kind of a difference in their war effort.
• Eventually the Greek’s united and began their cam- paign for the Greek War of Independence.
• He began pouring more and more of his fortune into the Greek army and finally accepted a position to oversee a small group of men sailing to Missolonghi.
• Lord Byron set sail for Missolonghi in Western Greece in 1824. 1. He took a commanding position over a small num- ber of the Greek army despite his lack of military training.

2. He had also made plans to attack a Turkish held fortress but became very ill before the plans were ever carried through.

• Lord Byron died on April 19, 1824 at the age of 36 due to the inexperienced doctors who continued to bleed him while he suffered from a severe fever.
• After Lord Byron’s death, the Greek War of Indepen- dence, due to his support, received more foreign aid which led to their eventual victory in 1832.
• Lord Byron is hailed as a national hero by the Greek nation.
• Many tributes such as statues and road-names have been devoted to Lord Byron since the time of his death.
• In conclusion, Lord Byron overcame great physical hardships to become a world-renowned poet, and is seen as a hero to the Greek nation and is mourned by them still today.
• I have chosen not to focus on Lord Byron’s more liberal

way of life, but rather to focus on his accomplishments in life.

• He was a man who owed no loyalty to Greece, yet gave his life to support their cause.
• Most of the world will remember Lord Byron primarily through his written attributes, but Greece will always re- member him as the “Trumpet Voice of Liberty.”

Garrett, M. (2000). George Gordon, Lord Byron. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Gregory, H. (1969). Poems of George Gordon, Lord Byron. New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

Trueblood, P. G. (1969). Lord Byron. (S. E. Bowman, Ed.). New York, NY: Twayne Publishers.

Sample Outline: Informative Speech on Haunted Places in Gettysburg

By leslie dean.

Specific Purpose: To inform my classmates of specific places in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that are considered to be haunted.

Introduction: Do you believe in paranormal activity? Have you ever been to a place that is haunted? My personal opinion on this subject matter is open to question; however, there are a lot of people that have had first- hand encounters with the paranormal. Throughout the world there are countless places that are considered to be haunted by tormented souls that still lurk among us in search of a way to free their souls. Most places that claim to be haunted are intertwined with tales of battles and as a re- sult many fatalities. Tragic times in history make for the perfect breeding grounds for the haunted places that exist today.

Thesis/Preview: Gettysburg is a city that is plagued by historical events that play a role in the manifestations that haunt Gettysburg today. These include locations at The Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and the Hummel- baugh House.

• The Devil’s Den is considered a site for paranormal activity.
• The Devil’s Den has historical significance retained during the American Civil War.
• Location held heavy fighting during battle that took place on July 2, of 1863.
• The total death toll estimated during battle consist- ed of 800 for the Union and more than 1,800 for the

Confederates.

• Some reported paranormal activity at the Devil’s Den.
• According to author, consultant, and lecturer Dennis William Hauck, he states in his book Haunted Places that if you stand outside at the Devil’s Den there can be the sounds of drum rolls and gunshots heard.
• According to many visitors there have been many people that claim to have seen and/or taken pictures of and had conversations with a friendly soldier who either disappears or doesn’t show up in photographs.

Transition: Spooky, unexplainable things happen at the Devil’s Den but there is also paranormal activity in another area of Gettysburg, Little Round Top.

• Another location said to be haunted is Little Round Top.
• Little Round Top’s historical significance.
• A site where Union soldiers held up to maintain an advantage over the Confederate soldiers.
• According to James Brann, an author from Civil War Magazine, this was a site Union Colonel Joshua

Lawrence Chamberlain led his 20th Maine Regiment in perhaps the most famous counterattack of the Civil War.

• Manifestations at Little Round Top.
• During filming of the movie Gettysburg (1993), extras portraying Union soldiers were greeted by a man in the uniform of a Union private.
• Handed them musket rounds.
• Actual rounds that dated back to the Civil War.
• Ghostly solders can still be seen marching in for- mation and riding horses in the fight against their enemy.

Transition: It seems that a lot of landmarks are haunted but there are also structures known to be stricken with paranormal activity.

• Hummelbaugh House is a non-battlefield place for ghost-sightings.
• Historical significance of Hummelbaugh House.
• The house is located on the east side of the city and was just behind the Union lines.
• It was used for a hospital and because of the times amputated limbs would be thrown out the windows resulting in a huge pile of body parts.
• Paranormal activity at the house.
• The windows in the house often startle people with

loud vibrations.

• The calls for help from soldiers can still be heard in and around the house.

Conclusion: In closing, according to History.com the Battle of Gettysburg was one of the biggest in the Civil War, resulting in over 150,000 causali- ties. With these statistics it is no surprise that lost souls still lurk the eerie grounds of this historical place. Whether it is vibrating windows or actual encounters with soldiers from 1863, Gettysburg has more than enough encounters with the paranormal to convince the biggest of doubters. Going to Gettysburg would guarantee a chance to literally step back in time and encounter something that is only remembered in history books. So believ- er in the paranormal or not, Gettysburg is a place to go to experience a part of history whether it be historical sites or a random run in with a ghostly soldier.

Brann, J. R. (1999). The full story. America’s Civil War, 12(5), 34. Re- trieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d- b=fth&AN=2281134&site=eds-live&scope=site

Hauck, D. (1994). The national directory of haunted places. Athanor Press. Battle of Gettysburg. (2019, May 20). History.com. Retrieved from https:// www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-gettysburg

Academic Oral Communication for International Students Copyright © by Joy Xiao is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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99 Mindful Conversation Topics For Deeper Connections

Mindful conversation topics are perfect for deepening relationships and fostering meaningful discussions—whether with strangers, family members, romantic partners, or friends old and new. Whether you use a conversation deck , pull from the questions below, or create your own list, here’s to never wondering what to talk about again!

Have you had a good conversation lately? Jump to the comments below and share your favorite topics!

And for more everyday inspiration, subscribe to The Daily Good —a 30-second newsletter delivered to your inbox each morning with tips for self-care and sustainable living. 🌿

Conversation Topics For Anyone

1. Which scent do you find the most soothing?

2. What is a language you love to listen to even if you don’t speak or understand it?

3. Oceans or mountains? Why?

4. Describe the most captivating painting or artwork you’ve ever seen.

5. Do you remember the first novel you ever read? If so, what was it?

6. What is your favorite thing about your personality?

“What is your favorite thing about your personality?”

7. If you could have a fictional superhero for a best friend, who would it be?

8. What color would you choose to describe yourself?

9. What is something you have accomplished as an adult that your younger self would be proud of?

10. Is there a place in the world that you feel most represents who you are?

11. Where is one place you’d love to travel to again?

12. If your pet could talk, what would their voice sound like? What would they say about you?

13. What does your name mean?

14. What tasks make you feel like your best self?

15. What’s your Enneagram number and how does it influence your self-care practices?

16. Where do you feel most centered and happy?

17. What’s your favorite comfort food?

18. What do you wear when you’re feeling your very best, and why?

19. What is the best meal you’ve ever had, and what’s the best meal you’ve ever cooked for yourself?

20. What do you love most about your home ?

“What do you love most about your home?”

21. What’s a yearbook-style superlative you’d give to your high school self? What’s one for your current self?

22. What gives you goosebumps?

23. Do you know your astrology sign ? How about your birth chart?

24. How are you consciously practicing sustainability ?

25. Do you have any tattoos ?

26. Scuba diving or skydiving?

27. What are you most grateful for in this season of life?

28. Do you give back or volunteer with any organizations?

29. What’s your love language ?

Conversation Topics For Friends

30. What do you look for and need in your friendships ?

31. How do you feel that you best offer love and support to your friends?

32. Tell me about your childhood best friend.

33. When do you feel most authentically yourself?

34. What’s one form of self-expression you’ve been too hesitant to explore?

“What’s one habit you want to get rid of and one habit you want to keep?”

35. What’s one habit you want to get rid of and one habit you want to keep?

36. What was your first experience with sex like?

37. If you were to perform a duet with a famous musician, who would it be and why?

38. Do you have any recurring dreams ? If so, what do you think they are trying to tell you?

39. Who do you most admire, and how has that impacted the way you live your life?

Mindful Conversation Topics for Your Parents

40. What’s one thing you’d tell yourself at my age? What’s one thing your younger self would tell you?

41. What do you wish you’d known before having kids?

42. What was the first big purchase you made as an adult?

43. How did you know when you fell in love?

“What was the first big purchase you made as an adult?”

44. Have you kept any memorabilia from your childhood?

45. What do you miss most about being a child? A teenager? My age?

46. What about the current world would be most surprising to your younger self?

47. If you could travel back in time, which part of your life would you go back to?

48. Who did you vote for in past elections ? Why?

49. What are some of your favorite memories about your parents?

Conversation Topics For Kids

50. If you could have one cartoon character be your real-life best friend, who would you choose and why?

51. What’s your earliest memory?

52. What do you love most about school?

53. Who are your best friends?

“What does a perfect day with the family look like?”

54. What is your favorite season?

55. What superpower do you wish you had?

56. What do you want to be when you grow up?

57. If you could have any animal as a pet, which would you choose and why?

58. What does a perfect day with the family look like?

59. What do you love most about our house?

Conversation Topics For Date Night

60. How do you feel best supported in hard times?

61. What does “alone time” look like for you?

62. Dogs or cats (or rabbits)?

63. What do you wish people better understood about you?

“What does ‘alone time’ look like for you?”

64. What lessons from your childhood have most impacted your worldview?

65. If we could live in another country for a year (no strings attached), where would we go?

66. What do you love most about our relationship? What do you wish to work on ?

67. What small joys bring light to your day?

68. How can we better practice sustainability as a couple?

69. What’s a favorite memory you have of us together?

Conversation Topics For Siblings

70. What’s one of your favorite memories from our childhood?

71. What do you think everyone in the family will be doing 10 years from now?

“Which characteristics do you think you inherited from our parents?”

72. Do you have a morning routine ?

73. What was your favorite subject in school? Favorite teacher?

74. Which characteristics do you think you inherited from our parents?

75. If you could return to school, what would you study?

76. What Netflix show or movie are you watching?

77. What are you currently reading ?

78. What food reminds you most of home?

79. What do you love most about yourself?

Conversation Topics For Work

80. What accomplishments are you most proud of?

81. What projects are you working on right now that bring you joy?

82. How do you unwind after work?

83. Do you listen to any podcasts during your commute? If so, which ones?

“How do you track your work goals and accomplishments?”

84. What do you enjoy most about our company?

85. Where do you need support that you’re not getting it?

86. How do you track your work goals and accomplishments ?

87. Do you enjoy networking ? Why or why not?

88. What was your very first job?

89. What skills are you focused on cultivating right now?

Conversation Topics For Strangers

90. How are you truly doing ?

91. What’s one act of kindness you experienced today?

92. What do you do for enjoyment?

93. Do you recharge by being around other people or by spending time alone?

“What is the compliment you receive most often?”

94. If you had a day to yourself, what would it look like, where would you go, and what would you do?

95. What is the compliment you receive most often?

96. Do you collect anything?

97. What was the last movie you watched?

98. What’s one thing your loved ones would be surprised to learn about you?

99. If you woke up one morning and all your problems were solved, how would go about your day?

Kayti Christian (she/her) is a Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She has a Master’s in Nonfiction Writing from the University of London and is the creator of Feelings Not Aside , a newsletter for sensitive people.

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IELTS Vocabulary – Communication

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• IELTS Vocab

Communication is a part of everyday life, and you may be asked about different aspects of communication such as the methods and characteristics. Below are IELTS vocabulary words you can use to discuss how people communicate with one another and how to describe people communicating. There are some exercises for you to practice with real IELTS questions.

Table of Contents

• Communication Vocabulary
• Communication Vocabulary Activity
• Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations
• Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

1. Communication Vocabulary

• Accurate – Correct or truthful
• Bias – To show unfair favouritism to one side in an argument or contest
• Body language – The way bodily movements communicate what a person is thinking/feeling
• Communicate – The act of sharing news, ideas, and information
• To converse – To talk
• Computerised – Something that has been produced, adapted, stored, or processed by a computer
• Confuse – To make a mistake and misunderstand something/To cause someone to be confused
• Diligent – A hard-working person
• Dialogue – A discussion between two or more people that is often aimed at resolving problems
• Distract – To stop someone from giving their entire attention to something
• Dry – A sarcastic, matter-of-fact person who is often unintentionally funny
• Imply – To suggest what you want in an indirect manner
• Clarify – To make something understood by repeating it or giving more detail
• Dishonest – Not accurate or truthful
• Egoist – A person who only thinks about themselves and their ego
• Expression – A word or phrase used to convey an idea
• Extrovert/Outgoing – A person who is very expressive and enjoys socialising with others
• Eye-contact – The act of looking directly at someone’s eyes. Often seen as a sign of honesty/trust
• Facial expression – The look on a person’s face that conveys their emotions
• Frank – Open, honest, and direct
• Genuine – An honest and truthful person who does not pretend to be something they are not
• Gossip – News shared between people that is often trivial or is about other people
• Ineffective – Does not provide the desired effect/result
• Interaction – Communication or involvement with something or someone
• Interview – A conversation that usually involves the asking and answering of questions. For example, jobs, news, radio shows etc…
• Introvert – A shy person who is focused on their feelings more than interaction with others
• Message – A written or verbal communication that is left for a recipient who cannot be contacted directly/ Social media/Text messages are electronic communications sent over the internet or phone
• Non-verbal – Communication without words. Usually made with body language and facial expressions
• Passionate – A person who feels very strongly about something
• Perspective – A specific view or attitude
• Posture – The position of the body while sitting or standing / A particular way of behaving
• Receiver – A person/entity to whom communication has been sent
• Sender – The person/entity who sends a communication
• Sincere – Something/Someone truthful and honest
• Verbal – Communication that is spoken
• Witty – Funny because of a quick and inventive sense of humour

2. Communication Vocabulary Activity

3. idioms, phrasal verbs & collocations .

These are some common idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations you can use to answer IELTS questions on the topic of communication. Using these words/phrases correctly will make your answers sound more natural and concise. There is an exercise for you to practice using the words with some real IELTS questions.

• Beat around the bush – To not get directly to the point
• Can’t get a word in edgeways – When you cannot speak because the other person is speaking too much
• Come out of your shell – To become less shy and become more talkative
• Effective communicator – A person who is good at talking to others or conveying a message
• Face to face – In-person, rather than over a telephone or the internet
• Get in touch – To make or establish contact with someone
• Get something off your chest – To tell someone about something that has been making you upset or unhappy
• Instant messaging – Messages that are sent straight away via internet apps like WhatsApp
• Having said that – Means the same as ‘Despite what I just said’
• Hearsay – Information that is usually passed from one person to another and that cannot be proven/disproven. Similar to ‘gossip’
• Make sense – To find meaning in something or to understand something
• Needless to say – Means the same as ‘of course’ or ‘it’s obvious that’
• On the same page – Parties that agree about something or hold the same position/opinion
• One on one – Two parties that come into direct contact or correspondence
• Spill the beans – To reveal information
• Spread like wildfire – Something that moves very quickly from person to person. For example, news or gossip
• Stay/Keep in touch  – To maintain contact
• Talking to a brick wall – Talking to an unresponsive audience who does not react
• When all is said and done – At the end
• Word of mouth – Spoken language / Information that is passed from person to person
• You can say that again – I agree with you

4.  Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

For more practice, Visit IELTS vocabulary for social media here.

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Ian Wendt of Jaguar Health: Being Coachable Speaking to Influence

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Ian Wendt, the Chief Commercial Officer at Jaguar Health. They discuss various topics related to leadership, communication, and personal development. Ian shares insights about his experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and the unique aspects of Jaguar Health. He also talks about the importance of understanding the needs of executive leaders and adapting communication styles accordingly. Additionally, Ian highlights the value of executive coaching and the impact it can have on leadership development. In this conversation, Ian shares his experience with executive coaching and the value it brings. He emphasizes the importance of being coachable and open to receiving constructive feedback. Ian also challenges listeners to expand their network by reaching out to individuals outside their usual circles. Finally, he discusses the challenge of explaining complex topics, such as drug pricing, to the general public. In this episode you will learn: Understanding the needs of executive leaders and adapting communication styles accordingly is crucial for effective communication. Investing in executive coaching can greatly enhance leadership development. Self-awareness of communication style is important for building productive relationships and interactions. Building strong relationships and active listening are essential for effective communication. Being open to constructive feedback and actively seeking ways to improve is crucial for personal and professional growth. Expanding your network by reaching out to individuals outside your usual circles can lead to new opportunities and perspectives. Initiating conversations with others, even if it feels uncomfortable, can help build relationships and expand your network. Explaining complex topics requires finding ways to simplify and communicate effectively, especially when discussing sensitive subjects like drug pricing. About Ian: Ian Wendt has over three decades of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Ian is currently serving as the Chief Commercial Officer at an emerging biotechnology company. Prior to his current role, Ian has held leadership positions at a variety of large pharmaceutical companies leading national teams and driving market development outcomes in HIV treatment and prevention, and hepatitis C. His expertise spans business strategy, revenue and profit growth, and cross-functional leadership, making him a sought-after voice in the industry. You can connect with Ian Wendt in the following ways: LinkedIn: Ian Wendt: https://linkedin.com/in/ianwendt - Connect with Ian on LinkedIn to explore his extensive executive leadership experience across sales, marketing, and commercial operations functions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Gain insights into his proven ability to drive outcomes, manage P&L responsibilities across multiple revenue streams, and build new teams for successful drug launches. Website: RealPharma: https://www.realpharma.co - Visit RealPharma's website to engage with Ian Wendt and Dr. Na-Ri Oh in insightful discussions about the pharma world. Listen to their podcast, where they talk with industry leaders to delve into biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. With over three decades of experience, Ian Wendt, as the Chief Commercial Officer at an emerging biotechnology company, offers valuable perspectives on business strategy, revenue growth, and market development outcomes in HIV treatment, prevention, and hepatitis C. X: https://twitter.com/Ian_Wendt - Follow Ian on Twitter to stay updated on his latest insights, industry trends, and engagements in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions Facebook: Dr. Laur

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• Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

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On Monday, April 8, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse — a rare astronomical event where the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, blocking out the sun’s light almost completely. The last total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. was in 2017, and the next one won’t be until 2044.

If the weather cooperates, people across the United States — from northeastern Maine to southwestern Texas — will be able to observe the eclipse using protective eyewear. Those in the path of totality , where the moon entirely covers the sun, will have the best view, but 99% of people in the continental U.S. will be able to see a partial eclipse. Weather permitting, those on the MIT campus and the surrounding area will see 93 percent of the sun covered, with the partial eclipse starting at 2:15 p.m. and reaching its peak around 3:29 p.m. Gatherings are planned at the Kresge Oval and the MIT Museum , and a live NASA stream will be shown in the Building 55 atrium .

Brian Mernoff , manager of the CommLab in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is an accomplished astrophotographer and science educator. Mernoff is headed to Vermont with his family to experience the totality from the best possible angle — but has offered a few thoughts on how to enjoy the eclipse safely, wherever you are.

Q: What should viewers expect to see and experience with this solar eclipse?

A: When you’re watching TV (the sun) and your toddler, dog, or other large mammal (the moon) blocks your view, you no doubt move over a bit to try to get a partial or full view of the TV. This is exactly how the path of totality works for an eclipse. If you are exactly in line with the moon and sun, it will be completely blocked, but if you start moving away from this path, your view of the sun will start to increase until the moon is not in the way at all.

The closer you are to the path of totality, the more of the sun will be blocked. At MIT, about 93 percent of the sun will be blocked. Those in the area will notice that things around you will get slightly darker, just like when it starts to become overcast. Even so, the sun will remain very bright in the sky and solar glasses will be required to view the entirety of the eclipse. It really goes to show how incredibly bright the sun is!

Within the narrow path of totality, the moon will continue to move across the sun, reaching 100 percent coverage. For this short period of time, you can remove your glasses and see a black disk where the sun should be. Around the disk will be wispy white lines. This is the corona, the outermost part of the sun, which is normally outshone by the sun’s photosphere (surface). Around the edges of the black disk of the moon, right as totality begins and ends, you can also see bright spots around the edges, known as Bailey’s Beads, caused by sunlight shining between mountains and craters on the moon.

But that’s not all! Although you will be tempted to stare up at the sun throughout totality, do not forget to observe the world around you. During totality, it feels like twilight. There is a 360-degree sunset, the temperature changes rapidly, winds change, animals start making different sounds, and shadows start getting weird (look into “shadow bands” if you have a chance).

As soon as totality ends, and you start to see Baily’s Beads again, put your solar glasses back on as it will get very bright again very fast as the moon moves out of the way.

Q: What are the best options for viewing the eclipse safely and to greatest effect?

A: No matter where you are during the eclipse, make sure you have solar glasses. These glasses should be ISO-approved for solar viewing. Do not use glasses with scratches, holes, or other damage.

If you are unable to obtain solar glasses in time, you can safely view the eclipse using a home-made projection method , such as a pinhole camera or even projecting the image of the sun through a colander.

The best view of the eclipse will be from within the path of totality, but even if you are not within it, you should still go outside to experience the partial eclipse. Use the NASA Eclipse Explorer to find the start, maximum, and end times, and then find a nice spot outside — preferably with some shade — put on your glasses, and enjoy the show.

For a closer view of the sun, find a friend that has a telescope with the correct ISO-certified solar filter. This will let you see the photosphere (or chromosphere if it is an H-alpha scope) in a lot more detail. If you do not have access to a telescope, NASA plans to livestream a telescope view throughout the eclipse. [The livestream will be displayed publicly on a large screen in Building 55 at MIT, rain or shine.]

The only time you can look at or image the sun without a filter is during 100 percent totality. As soon as this period is done, glasses and filters must be put back on.

After the eclipse, keep your glasses and filters. You can use them to look at the sun on any day (it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that I could use the glasses at any time instead of lugging out a telescope). On a really clear day, you can sometimes see sunspots!

Q: How does eclipse photography work?

A: This year I plan to photograph the eclipse in two ways. The first is using a hydrogen-alpha telescope. This telescope filters out all light except for one wavelength that is given off by hydrogen. Because it blocks out most of the light from the sun’s surface, it allows you to see the turbulent upper atmosphere of the sun, including solar prominences that follow magnetic field lines.

Because this telescope does not allow for imaging during totality as too much light is blocked, I also plan to set up a regular camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the total eclipse with the surrounding environment as context. During the 2017 eclipse, I only captured close-ups of the sun using a regular solar filter and missed the opportunity to capture what was going on around me.

Will it work? That depends on if we get clear skies, and how many pictures of my 1.5-year-old need to be taken (as well as how much chasing needs to be done).

If you would like to take pictures of the eclipse, make sure you protect your camera sensor. The sun can easily damage lenses, sensors, and other components. Here are some examples of solar damaged cameras . The solution is simple, though. If using a camera phone, you can take pictures through an extra pair of solar glasses, or even tape them to the phone. For cameras with larger lenses, you can buy cardboard filters that slide over the front of your camera or even buy ISO-approved solar film and make your own.

Q: Any fun, unique, cool, or interesting science facts about this eclipse to share?

A: If you want to get even more involved with the eclipse, there are many citizen science projects that plan to collect as much data as possible throughout the eclipse.

NASA is planning to run several experiments during the eclipse , and researchers with MIT Haystack Observatory will also be using four different technologies to monitor changes in the upper atmosphere , both locally and across the continent.

If you are interested in learning more about the eclipse, here are two of my favorite videos, one on “ unexpected science from a 0.000001 megapixel home-made telescope ” and one on solar eclipse preparation .

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Family of Kaylee Gain, teen injured in fight, says she now has trouble speaking, walking

Gain's family say she is struggling with "significant cognitive impairment" in the latest update on the teen's condition following brutal fight..

Kaylee Gain , the 16-year-old student who suffered a severe head injury in a fight with another teenage girl near Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri, is still in the hospital struggling with " significant cognitive impairment ," according to her family.

In a statement released Monday by the family's lawyer, Byran Kaemmerer, the Gain family provided an update on the teen's medical condition along with a call for her alleged assailant to be tried as an adult.

This echoed the sentiment shared by the family in a Friday statement, in which they argued the "particularly violent nature of the assault" meant the unnamed 15-year-old should be considered an adult in the eyes of the law.

On Monday, a St. Louis County, Missouri judge ruled that a certification hearing would be held next month to determine if the unidentified teenager will indeed be tried as a juvenile or adult. County attorneys asked for 30 additional days to obtain information for a report on the defendant's background, including her familial and social life. The defense agreed to the extension.

The May 10 hearing will take this information, as well as other factors including the seriousness of the offense and violence of the crime, into account to determine if the juvenile may be tried as an adult.

“Our position is that she should not be certified," Defense Attorney Greg Smith said in a statement. "We understand that the law says that there has to be a certification hearing based on what she has been charged with. That’s non-negotiable but our position is she should not be certified. Everything is out there, about her being an honor student, she has taken AP courses, she has no history with the juvenile court. She has been the victim of bullying. There are other facts that we are going to save for court."

Teen arrested in alleged assault: Missouri teen arrested after fight near high school left another teen injured, police say

Kaylee Gain's family wants teen accused of attacking her tried as an adult

In the March 29 statement, the Gain family took issue with similar points allegedly made by the defendant's family. In the letter, they argued that comments about the accused's status as being "in the choir" and " on the honor roll" were made to "downplay" her actions against Gain.

"If anything, the accused's reported level of intelligence suggests that she was fully capable of understanding that violence of this nature would lead to the devastating injuries Kaylee has sustained, and therefore provides a further reason why it is appropriate for her to be tried as an adult" the statement read.

The April 1 update similarly said that while the family was "encouraged" by a statement provided at the accused's recent hearing saying that the teen would like to apologize to Kaylee, they still want her tried as an adult.

The family also acknowledged the existence of fake social media posts made under the defendant's name following the event, saying they are aware the"distasteful” messages were proven not to be from the accused.

Finland teen shooting: 12 year old detained after school shooting in Finland kills 1 student, injures 2 others

Kaylee Gain struggling with 'significant cognitive impairment'

On March 29, the Gain family confirmed that Kaylee had been moved out of intensive care, begun speech therapy and "gone on a few short walks with the assistance of hospital staff." She was still unable to walk on her own or remember why she was at the hospital, however.

In the April 1 statement, the family shared that Kaylee's walking had "slightly improved" but she was still unable to do so on her own. They likewise shared that she is showing signs of "significant cognitive impairment" and is only capable of limited conversation in which she "tends to reiterate the same short sentence over and over."

She appears to know she is in the hospital but cannot understand why, the statement said.

Fight Kaylee Gain was involved in happened near Hazelwood East High School

The fight that caused Gain's injuries occurred on Friday, March 8 near Hazelwood East High School. The St. Louis County Police Department said at the time officers responded to a call for a fight in progress around 2:30 p.m. and arrived to find "a juvenile female suffering a severe head injury." She was transported to the hospital and listed as being in critical condition.

The following day, a 15-year-old female suspect was arrested and taken to St. Louis County Family Court on assault charges.

In a  statement  on Facebook, the Hazelwood School District said it's "a tragedy anytime children are hurt."

"Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children. The Hazelwood School District offers our sincerest condolences to everyone involved, and will offer additional emotional support from our support and crisis team to those in need," the statement said.

Graphic video of fight with several teens went viral online

Videos of the fight went viral and were shared by thousands of people online.

The video, both violent and graphic, shows several teens engaging in a fight on the street.

Initially, two teen girls can be seen in the street. One pushes the other to the ground before another attempts to join in. The third teen is quickly engaged by another girl, however, and the two scuffle in the background as the original two girls remain in the middle of the street.

The girl on the ground is repeatedly punched by the teen on top of her. She is then pushed onto her back as the teen on top grabs her hair and shoulders and slams her head backward into the concrete multiple times.

The sound of the back of the girl's head hitting the hard surface can be heard over yelling voices. Other groups continue to fight around the scene as the injured girl lay on the ground.