Your Subject (= your major)

• What subject(s) are you studying?

• Why did you choose to study that?

• Do you like your subject? (Why?)

• Is there anything about your subject you don't like?

• Do many people in China choose to study this subject? (Why?)

• Is this a popular subject at your university? (= Do many students study this at your university?)

• For university students: What's the most interesting thing about your subject? (Why?)

• For high school students: Which of your subjects is the most interesting? (Why?)

• For university students: How do you think your subject is important? (If the words of the question are these, you can answer how the subject is important to you, not just important to society. Or, mention how it is important in both aspects, to you personally and to society.)

• For high school students: Which of your subjects do you think are the most important? (Why?)

Your Studies in General What's the best part of your studies?

Your Course

• Can you describe your course? (Not sure if the word here is 'subject', 'studies' or 'course'. The posting HERE [message # 26] seems to indicate that the word is 'course'. This is similar in meaning to your 'studies' - it includes all the classes you study, not just your main subject. An example of a 'course' is: 'A Bachelor of Civil Engineering course.')

• How long is your course? (How long do you have to spend studying before you graduate?)

• What part of your course do you like best?

• Which class do (did) you enjoy the most? (Why?)

• What is the most difficult part of your course?

Your University/School

• Where do you study? (What university/school and in what city?)

• Why did you choose to attend your university/school (instead of choosing another one)?

• Do you like your university/school? (Why?/ Why not?)

• What do you most like about your university/school? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) What part of your school/university do you like best? (Why?)

• Would you say your school/university is a good one? (Why?)

• Does your university/school specialize in any particular subject?

Help With Studies Is there anyone who helps (helped) you (with your studies) at university/school? (Who? In what way?) (Who gives you the most help?)

Friends at University/School

• Are you good friends with your classmates (schoolmates)?

• (Similar to above) Do you get along well with your classmates (schoolmates)?

• (Similar to above) How do you get along with your classmates (schoolmates)?

• Do you ever talk to students who are studying different subjects to you? (= students from different courses)

• Do you think you will continue to be friends with him/her/them after you graduate?

• How do you think you will maintain your friendship(s) after you graduate?

• (For graduates) Have you kept up (maintained) your friendships from university (school)?

• Are there any classmates/schoolmates who you dislike (disliked)? (Who? Why?)

• Do you often get together with ( = go out with = do things in your free time with ) your classmates after classes? (What do you do?)

Future Work

• What are your future work plans?

• Do you think it will be easy for you to get a job after you graduate?

• After you graduate, what effect do you think you will have on society?

• After you start working, do you think you will prefer that kind of life to being a student?

Further Studies If you were to pursue further studies, would you choose to continue studying this subject?

Holidays What holidays from university/school do you have during the year?

Liking Your Job

• Do you like/enjoy your job? (Why?/Why not?) = 'How do you like your job?' (= How do you feel about your job?)

• What part of your work do you like best?

• Is there anything you don't like about your job?

• Do you prefer working to being a student? (Why?/Why not?)

Interest

• Would you say it's an interesting job? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) Are you very interested in your job? (How? or Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) Is your work interesting? (How?/Why not?)

• Do you work more for interest (job satisfaction) or for the money?

• What is the most interesting part of your work?

• Do you meet many interesting people in your work? Or: Are there many interesting people at your workplace?

Holidays

• What holidays from work do you have during the year?

2. Your Home (Your Accommodation)

• What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in? [A house? A flat? (= an apartment) A dormitory?]

• (Similar to above) What sort of accommodation do you live in at the moment - a house or a flat? (If you live in a dormitory but the examiner only gives you the choice of flat or house, you can begin your answer by saying something such as, "Well, neither, actually. I live in a dormitory at my university.")

• Who do you live with?

• How long have you lived there?

• Do you like it? (Why?)

• Can you describe the place where you live? = Please describe your home a little. (Talk mostly about the place, not the people you live with.)

• What's the best thing about (or, the best part of) your home (= the place where you live)?

• What part of your home do you like the most?

• (Similar to above) What would you say is the best thing about your home?

• (Similar to above) What do you like most about your home?

• What do you least like (= like least) about your home?

• Which is your favourite room? (Why?)

• Which room does your family spend most of the time in?

• What do you usually do in your house/flat/room?

• Do you think your home (or, the place where you live) needs any improvements?

• What kind of decorations does it (do the rooms/does your room) have?

• (Similar to above) How do you decorate (or, how have you decorated) your home? (or, your bedroom or your part of your dorm room)

• What kind of housing is most popular in China?

• In the future, what kind of place would you like to live in?

Moving Would you like to move to another place to live? (Why? Where?)

• Are you prepared to move? Have you (ever) thought of moving to a different place? (Why?/Why not?)

(If the words of the question are these, the meaning is 你(在任何时候)想过搬家吗?)

• Are you preparing to move to a different place soon? ( = Are you planning to move soon?) (Why?/Why not?)

• Are you planning to (= thinking about) moving to live in a different place? (Why? Where? /Why not?)

• (Similar to above) If you had the opportunity, would you move to a different place? (Why? Where? /Why not?)

Around Your Home (Your Neighbourhood)

• Are there many people living near you?

• Do you know all your neighbours?

• What kind of people are your neighbours?

• Do you spend much time socializing with your neighbours in your neighbours' homes? Would you say the place where you live is good for families with children? (Hint: Children need a place to play outside.)

• What public facilities are there near your home?

3. Your Hometown

• Whereabouts (=where) did you grow up? (Or, Where were you born?)

• (Similar to above) Where are you from?

• Is that a city or is it in the countryside?

• (Similar to above) Are you from a city or village (countryside)?

• Do you still live there?

• Does (do) your family still live there?

• Do you still visit your hometown?

• How do you visit your hometown? (=What kind of transport do you use to go there?)

• Who do you visit in your hometown?

• Where do you live now?

• Why do you live there/here?

• Do you like the city where you are living now?

• (Similar to above) Which place do you prefer, your hometown or the city where you are studying or working?

Description of Your Hometown

• What kind of place is your hometown? (= Describe your hometown)

• (Similar to above) Could you describe your hometown a little?

• Are the people in your hometown very friendly?

• (Similar to above) Is your hometown a friendly place?

• What's the most famous (= well-known) place in your hometown?

• What's the oldest part (the oldest area/section) of your hometown?

• (Similar to above) What's the oldest structure in your hometown? (= the oldest existing structure)

• How has your hometown changed in recent years? (E.g., the past 20 years or since you were a child)

Your Feelings about Your Hometown

• Would you say it's a good place to live/grow up?

• Would you say it's a good place for young people to live/grow up?

• (Similar to above) Would you say it's a good place for children to grow up?

• What do you like about your hometown?

• (Similar to above) What part of your hometown do you like best? (Why?) (= What's the best thing about your hometown? = What do you find most attractive about your hometown?)

• Would you retire there when you are old?

Visitors to Your Hometown

• Do many people visit your hometown (as tourists)?

• (Similar to above) Is your hometown a good place for visitors (tourists)?

• What do these visitors see or do when they go to your hometown?

• (Similar to above) Does your hometown have any special tourist attractions?

• What forms of transport do visitors use to come to your hometown?

• How could your hometown (be improved in order to) attract more visitors?

• Are you planning to travel anywhere? (Where? Why?)

• Why do you want to do the IELTS test?

4. Bicycles

• Are bicycles popular in your city? (Why?/Why not?) [Note: 'common' & 'popular' are not always the same. However, the word, 'common' might be used here because bicycles are both common & popular.]

• What kinds of people ride bicycles?

• Do you often ride a bicycle? (Why?/Why not? Where? When?)

• How long have you ridden a bicycle? (= How many years have you known how to ride a bicycle?)

• What do you think are the advantages (and disadvantages) of bicycles compared to cars?

• Would you say bicycles are suitable for people of all ages?

• Can you think of any people who are not suited to riding a bicycle? (Hint: very young, very old and disabled people)

• (As above) Who is most suitable for riding a bicycle and who is least suitable?

• Do you think bicycles are suitable for present society?

5. Birds

• How do you feel about birds? (Why do you feel that way?)

• How do Chinese people feel about birds?

• Are there many birds near your home?

• Have you seen many different kinds of birds? (near your home)?

• Do any birds have any particular significance in China? For

example, does China have a national bird?

• Do you think birds should be protected? (Why? / Why not? How can

they be protected?)

• Do Chinese people like raising (keeping) pet birds?

• Have you ever raised (kept) a pet bird?

• What did you feed it?

6. Clothes

• What kinds/styles of clothes do you like to wear? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) What kind of clothes do you like best? (Why?)

• Do you prefer informal (= casual) or formal clothes? (Why?)

• Do you feel comfortable when wearing formal clothes? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do your friends have the same tastes in clothes as you? (= Do your friends wear the same kinds of clothes as you? Or: Do the people around you wear the same kinds of clothes as you?)

• Do you think you will still be wearing the same kinds of clothes when you are old? (You could include what you think you will be or won't be wearing when you are old.)

• Is the brand of clothes important to you? (Why?/Why not?)

• What clothes materials do you like best? (Why?)

• What can you learn about a person from the clothes they wear?

• How (much) is traditional Chinese culture being affected by foreign clothes styles?

• Do you think employees in a company should wear a uniform?

• Are you (would you be) willing to wear a uniform at work?

• (Similar to above) How do you feel about wearing a uniform?

• Do students and working people wear the same kinds of clothes?

• What do you think of modern fashions?

• Do you like the latest fashions? (Why?/Why not?)

• What's your favourite clothes colour? (Why?)

• How important to you is the color of (your) clothes?

• When you buy clothes, how do you choose the colour?

• Do any colours have special meaning in your culture?

• How often do you go shopping for clothes?

• Do you like shopping (for clothes)? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you like window-shopping for clothes? (Why?/Why not?)

• Why do some people frequently go shopping (for clothes)?

• Do you think some people pay too much attention to clothes?

• Do you think some people spend too much time/money on shopping (for clothes)?

• Do men and women have the same ideas (feelings) about clothes?

• Do you think the clothes a person wears are important?

• How does the clothes a person wears represent that person?

• Do you like buying clothes on the internet?

7. Collecting Do you collect anything?

• Why do you collect ....(that/those things)?

• Is collecting a popular pastime in China?

• What items are considered collectibles in your country?

• Does anyone in your home collect anything?

• Do a lot of people in China collect things and what do they collect?

• What are the benefits of collecting? (= Why do people like collecting?)

8. Computers

• Do you use computers very much?

• When was the first time you used a computer?

• What do you use computers for?

• Have computers changed (= influenced) your life in any way? (If yes, how?)

• Do you think computers are useful (or important) in everyday life? (How?)

• (Similar to above) What role do computers play in modern life?

• (Similar to above) Do you think computers are important in everyday life?

• Computers are now used a lot in education. What do you think of this?

• (Similar to above) In China, when do children at school use a computer?

• (Similar to above) Computers are now used a lot in the education of children. What do you think are the advantages of

this? (Similar to above) Do you think computers are good or bad for children?

• 9. Daily Routine

• Tell me something about your daily routine.

• (Similar to above) Please describe your typical daily routine. (Summarize your typical day - morning, afternoon & evening. Avoid using 'will' - use the present tense. Of course, the question refers to your typical Monday to Friday day.)

• (If you do not work) For you, what's the best time of day for studying?

• (If you work) For you, what's the best time of day (or, day of the week) for working?

• What part of the (= your) day do you like best? (Why?) (= What part of your daily routine makes you the happiest? Or = What part of the day are you most efficient?)

• (Similar to above) What's your favourite time of the day? (Why? What do you do at that time?)

• If you could make one change to your daily routine, what would it be?

• (Similar to above) Would you like to change anything about your daily routine right now (or, about your life)? (If yes, what?/Why?)

• If you had more free time, what would you do?

• Do you get together with your fellow students/work colleagues (=classmates/workmates) after classes/work? (What do you do?) [This question is possibly in the Work/Studies topic.]

• Do you like to plan what you will do each day? (Why?/Why not?)

• What do you usually do at this time of day? (= What are you usually doing at this time of day?)

• Do you usually do the same things at the same time each day?

• How do you plan (organize) your study time?

• Do you ever (or, do you often) change these plans?

• Can you think of any improvements to your daily routine?

• What do you usually do on Saturdays and Sundays?

• (Similar to above) What do you usually do for leisure or entertainment in your free time?

10. Dance

• Do you like to dance? (Why?/Why not?)

• What kind of dancing do Chinese people like? (Unsure if the question meaning is, 'like to watch' or 'like to perform' or both.)

• When do Chinese people like to dance?

• Does China have any traditional dances?

• Is traditional dance still popular today in China? (Why?/Why not?)

• Is there much difference between traditional dancing and modern dancing? (What?)

• What kinds of dancing are popular with young people in China?

• Do old people in China like the same kind of dancing as young people? (Why?/Why not?)

• What do you think is the influence of dance on society?

11. Drawing or Painting

• Have you ever learned to draw (or paint)?

• Do you like drawing (or painting)?

• Did you like drawing (or painting) when you were a child? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you draw (or paint) now? (Why?)

• How often do you draw (or paint) something?

• Do you think drawing (or painting) is difficult?

• Do you think a person can teach him or herself how to draw (or paint)?

• Do adults draw (or paint) very often?

• What do you think about adults drawing (or painting)?

• What do you think are some of the benefits of drawing (or painting), for both children and adults?

• (Similar to above) What are the benefits of drawing (or painting)?

• To draw (or paint) well, what factors do you think are important?

12. Family Life

• Is family very important to you? (Why?)

• How much time do you spend with your family?

• If you were married, how many children would you choose to have?

(Why?)

13. Films

• How often do you go to the cinema?

• Are most of the people in the cinema usually children or adults?

• How much time does it take to watch one film?

• How much time do you spend watching films?

• Who do you usually watch films with?

• Do you prefer to watch films in a cinema or at home? (Why?)

• What kind of films do you like to watch? (Why?)

Is there any kind of film that you don't like to watch? (Why?)

14. Flowers

• Do you like flowers? (Why?)

• Which/What is your favorite flower?

• What are the occasions when people send or receive flowers?

• (Similar to above) When do Chinese people give flowers to other people?

• When was the last time you gave (sent) flowers to someone?

• What meaning do flowers (= does giving flowers) have for Chinese people?

• What flowers have special meaning in China?

• Do people in China like growing flowers?

• Does anyone in your family like growing flowers?

15. Food/Cooking

• Is food important to you? (Why?)

• What kinds of food do you particularly like?

• Is there any food you don't like? (Why?)

• What kinds of food are most popular in China? or, What kinds of

food do Chinese people (like to) eat?

• Do you like cooking? (Why?/Why not?)

• Who usually does the cooking in your home?

• Do you prefer to eat at home or in restaurants? (Why?) (What

are the advantages of home cooking?)

• Who do most Chinese people usually eat with? (Why?)

• Do you often eat with your family? or, Do Chinese people (or you) prefer to eat with family or with friends? (Why?)

• Do you think it's important for people to eat with their family? (Why?)

16. Friends

• Is friendship (= are friends) important to you? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you prefer to spend time with friends or spend time alone? (Why?)

• What kind of people do you like to have as friends?

• Do you like to spend time with friends? (Why?)

• What do you and your friends do together?

• What do your friends think of you? (Do your friends think that you are a good friend? Why?)

• Are friends more important than family? (Why?)

• How do Chinese people make friends? (= where, in what situations, e.g. at school & at work.)

• Do adults and children make friends in the same way?

• Do you like meeting new people?

• (Similar to above) Do you like talking to strangers?

• How do people get to know (get to meet) new people?

• Do you think it's easy to form new friendships?

• How long does it take to get to know a person?

• When was the last occasion you met someone new?

• Can you remember your first (or, your earliest) friends? (Who were they?)

17. Games

• Do you often play games? (Include examples such as: hopscotch; hide-and-seek; chess; majiang, weiqi, card games, word games, drinking games, computer games etc. Don't choose sports games such as basketball, ping-pong etc.)

• (Similar to above) Do you like to play games? (Why? What games?)

• (Similar to above) What games do you like to play?

• Can you play this game with friends?

• How do people learn to play this game?

• Can you get information about this game on the internet?

• Are there other ways to get information about this game?

• What benefits do you get from playing this game?

• (Similar to above) What benefits do people get from playing games?

• Do different age groups of people like to play different games? (Give examples - What games?)

• What's the most popular game in China?

• (Similar to above) What games are popular in China?

• How have computers influenced the games people play?

• Do you know of any games that are studied in university? (Hint: Games Theory)

18. Housework

Note: "Housework" and "homework" are two different things!

• Do you like to do housework? (Why?/Why not?)

• What housework do you usually do in your home?

• What housework do you least like doing? (Why?)

• Who usually does the housework in your home?

• When you were a child, did you ever do any housework?

• Do you think it's important for children to do some housework?

19. Gifts

• What was the last gift you received?