ESL Debate Topics

Press Next question for a motion in plain English with a model sentence for each side.

ESL Debate Topics

Are mornings nicer than evenings?

Read both sentences aloud, then count hands for each side.

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How it works

These ESL debate topics are 90 two-sided questions in plain English, in three bands from A2 to C1. Each card gives one model sentence for each side, which a learner can read aloud before giving a reason.

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Three bands, six everyday topics

Easy is A2, Medium is B1 to B2 and Hard is C1. The bands are an editor's mapping, not a test result. The topics are Daily life, Food, School and work, Travel and cities, Technology, and Nature and animals.

Phrases for agreeing and disagreeing

Write the band's phrases on the board. A2: I think so because. I do not think so because. B1 to B2: I see your point, but. That may be true, however. C1: I would argue that. On the contrary. Each speaker uses one phrase and gives one reason.

  • At Easy, both model sentences have twelve words or fewer, so the class can repeat them before anyone argues.
  • Count hands after the model sentences and again after the reasons. Ask one learner why they moved.

Questions and answers

What are easy ESL debate topics for beginners?

Pick Easy: Is tea better than coffee? Is the train better than the bus? Are online friends real friends? Each has a short model sentence for both sides, such as Texting is better because I can answer later.

What are fun ESL debate topics?

Ones about daily life where nobody is wrong: Is a picnic better than a restaurant? Is a busy weekend better than a lazy weekend? Are paper maps better than phone maps?

How do you run a debate in an ESL class?

Read the card and have the class repeat both model sentences. Split the room in two. Each speaker gives one reason, using a phrase from the board. Vote by hands, swap sides and deal a new card.

Which topics are left out?

Anything about a learner's body, pay, politics or religion, and all real people. Every card is about an everyday choice, so nobody has to share more than an opinion about trains or tea.

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All 90 topics

Daily life 15

  • Are handwritten letters better than messages? A) I believe letters are better because people keep them for years. B) I am not sure I agree, because a message arrives in a second.
  • Are mornings nicer than evenings? A) I think mornings are nicer because the street is quiet. B) I think evenings are nicer because I have free time.
  • Does a fixed routine limit creativity? A) It can hardly do otherwise, for new ideas come from interruptions. B) Quite the opposite: routine removes small decisions and frees us for large ones.
  • Has convenience made daily life less satisfying? A) I would argue that it has: what costs no effort is seldom remembered. B) On the contrary, convenience has freed time for whatever we find satisfying.
  • Is a busy weekend better than a lazy weekend? A) I like a busy weekend because I see my friends. B) I like a lazy weekend because I can rest.
  • Is a small home better than a big home? A) A small home is better because it is easy to clean. B) A big home is better because friends can visit.
  • Is it better to have many hobbies than one? A) Many hobbies are better, as you are never bored. B) I see it differently: one hobby lets you become really good.
  • Is it better to live alone than with roommates? A) I would rather live alone, since nobody touches my things. B) That may be true, but roommates make a home less lonely.
  • Is it better to rent a home than to buy one? A) In my opinion renting is better, because you can move whenever you want. B) I see your point, but a home of your own is yours to change.
  • Is it good to wake up early on weekends? A) Yes, because the day is longer. B) No, because I am tired after a long week.
  • Is minimalism a sensible response to modern life? A) To my mind it is, since every possession demands some attention. B) It strikes me as a luxury: only those with plenty can choose less.
  • Is punctuality a sign of respect? A) I would say so, as lateness tells people that their time counts for less. B) Not necessarily: in many settings, arriving exactly on time is not expected.
  • Is shopping online better than shopping in a store? A) I prefer online shopping because it is fast. B) I prefer a store because I can see things.
  • Should adults be expected to keep learning new skills throughout life? A) Undoubtedly, given how quickly the tools we rely on are replaced. B) That is a heavy expectation to place on people who are already stretched.
  • Should shops close one day every week? A) I think they should, so that workers can rest on the same day. B) I disagree, because many people can only shop on that day.

Food 15

  • Do cooking programs make people cook more? A) I suspect they inspire people, who would otherwise never attempt a new dish. B) What they chiefly produce, I fear, is an audience that orders in.
  • Has ready-made food changed what we expect of a home-cooked meal? A) Unquestionably: we now expect dinner to take minutes, not an afternoon. B) Not at all; if anything, it has made home cooking seem more special.
  • Is a hot lunch better than a sandwich? A) A hot lunch is better because it fills me up. B) A sandwich is better because it is quick.
  • Is a picnic better than a restaurant? A) A picnic is better because we are outside. B) A restaurant is better because there is a table.
  • Is eating together a tradition worth defending? A) Certainly: it is one of the few occasions when people talk without a purpose. B) It is a pleasant custom, yet hardly one that needs defending by anyone.
  • Is it better to cook than to order food? A) Cooking is better because I know what is in it. B) Ordering is better because I do not wash dishes.
  • Is it better to eat the main meal at midday than in the evening? A) I think midday is better, as you still have the afternoon to use the energy. B) I disagree, because the evening is when everyone is finally at home.
  • Is it fine to order food when you have guests? A) In my view it is fine, because guests come for the company. B) I see your point, but cooking shows that you made an effort.
  • Is it rude to use a phone at the table? A) In my view it is, since it tells the others you are bored. B) That may be true at dinner, but a quick message is not rude.
  • Is rice better than bread? A) I prefer rice because it goes with everything. B) I prefer bread because I can carry it.
  • Is tea better than coffee? A) I like tea more because it is light. B) I like coffee more because it wakes me up.
  • Should a country's cooking be treated as heritage, as its monuments are? A) Indeed it should, for a cuisine carries as much history as any building. B) Cooking lives by changing, which is precisely what heritage status prevents.
  • Should restaurants show a photo of every dish on the menu? A) I think so, because a photo helps when you do not know the words. B) I see your point, but photos often look better than the real dish.
  • Should traditional recipes be protected from being changed? A) I would maintain that they should, or the name ends up meaning nothing. B) Had cooks never changed recipes, the traditional ones would not exist.
  • Should travelers always try the local food? A) Definitely, because food is the fastest way to know a place. B) I partly agree, but nobody should have to eat what they dislike.

School and work 15

  • Does translating in your head slow your progress? A) Inevitably, since a learner who translates is always one step behind. B) Translation is a bridge that adult learners would be foolish to burn.
  • Is experience worth more than a qualification? A) By and large it is, for experience shows what a person has actually done. B) Without the qualification, though, few are ever given the chance to gain it.
  • Is homework useful? A) Yes, because I practice at home. B) No, because I am tired after class.
  • Is it better to learn new words from songs than from a word list? A) Songs are better because I remember the music. B) A list is better because I can see the spelling.
  • Is it better to study at home than in a library? A) Home is better because I can drink tea. B) The library is better because nobody talks.
  • Is it easier to learn in a class of ten than in a class of thirty? A) Ten is easier because the teacher hears everybody. B) Thirty is fine because I meet more people.
  • Is learning grammar more important than learning vocabulary? A) In my opinion grammar comes first, because without it words are just a list. B) I see your point, but you can say a lot with words and no grammar.
  • Is one long break better than many short ones? A) I would say a long break is better, as you can really switch off. B) That may be true, however short breaks keep you fresh all day.
  • Is speaking practice more useful than writing practice? A) I believe speaking is more useful, because conversations do not wait for you. B) I partly disagree, since writing gives you time to notice your mistakes.
  • Is working in a team better than working alone? A) A team is better because we share ideas. B) Working alone is better because I work fast.
  • Should a job interview be held in the language the job will use? A) It seems only reasonable, as that is the language of the work itself. B) Nerves in a second language may conceal exactly the skills being sought.
  • Should language exams test conversation in place of grammar? A) They certainly should, since conversation is what the language is for. B) Grammar can be graded fairly, whereas conversation depends on who is listening.
  • Should mistakes be corrected immediately in a language class? A) Yes, I think so, or the mistake becomes a habit. B) I disagree, because being interrupted makes learners afraid to speak.
  • Should people change careers at least once in life? A) I am inclined to think so; rarely does a first choice remain the best one. B) Mastery takes decades, and each fresh start throws some of them away.
  • Should students call teachers by their first names? A) I think they should, because it makes the class feel relaxed. B) I am not convinced, since a title shows respect.

Travel and cities 15

  • Does tourism do a city more good than harm? A) On balance it does: its income maintains the very sights visitors come for. B) Residents priced out of their own neighborhoods would beg to differ.
  • Has cheap travel made every city feel the same? A) Regrettably so: the same shops now seem to line every main street. B) Only for travelers who never leave the main street.
  • Is a beach vacation better than a city vacation? A) I like the beach more because I can swim. B) I like the city more because there are museums.
  • Is a guided tour better than exploring alone? A) I believe a tour is better, since the guide knows the stories. B) I disagree, because alone you can stop wherever you like.
  • Is it better to arrive at the airport very early than just in time? A) I think early is better, because then nothing can go wrong. B) I see your point, but waiting for hours wastes a whole morning.
  • Is it better to live near the center than far from it? A) Near the center is better because everything is close. B) Far from the center is better because it is quiet.
  • Is it better to travel with friends than alone? A) With friends it is better because we laugh a lot. B) Alone it is better because I choose everything.
  • Is it better to visit one country slowly than three quickly? A) In my opinion one country is better, as you have time to meet people. B) I would rather see three, because I may never come back.
  • Is living abroad the only real way to master a language? A) I am tempted to agree, since only abroad is the language unavoidable. B) Plenty of learners abroad speak nothing but their own language all day.
  • Is the train better than the bus? A) The train is better because I can walk around. B) The bus is better because it stops near my home.
  • Is walking better than driving for short trips? A) Walking is better because it is free. B) Driving is better because it is fast in the rain.
  • Should city centers have more parks and fewer parking lots? A) I agree, because a park is used by everyone. B) That may be true, however shops need customers who arrive by car.
  • Should historic buildings be kept even where modern ones would house more people? A) I would argue so: once demolished, no amount of money brings them back. B) A city is a place to live in, not a collection to be preserved.
  • Should popular cities charge visitors an entry fee? A) It seems fair that those who crowd the streets contribute to their upkeep. B) A fee turns a living city into a ticketed attraction.
  • Should tourists learn some of the language before they visit? A) I think they should, because even ten words show respect. B) I see your point, but a short visit is not worth weeks of study.

Technology 15

  • Are online friends real friends? A) Yes, because we talk every day. B) No, because we never meet.
  • Are paper maps better than phone maps? A) Paper maps are better because they need no battery. B) Phone maps are better because they show where I am.
  • Are video calls as good as meeting in person? A) I would say yes, as you can see a face from anywhere in the world. B) I partly agree, but on a screen you cannot share a meal.
  • Do people depend too much on their phones? A) I believe so, because many of us cannot remember a single number. B) That may be true, however a tool you use every day is simply a good tool.
  • Do smart devices at home give more than they take away? A) On the whole they do, sparing us countless small chores. B) What they take, almost unnoticed, is the habit of doing things ourselves.
  • Has technology made communication faster but shallower? A) I fear it has; seldom do we write anything that takes an hour to compose. B) It is the volume that has grown, and depth is still there for whoever wants it.
  • Is a phone more useful than a computer? A) A phone is more useful because it is always with me. B) A computer is more useful because the screen is big.
  • Is an online dictionary better than a paper dictionary? A) Online is better because it is fast. B) Paper is better because I remember the word longer.
  • Is it better to read the news on a phone than in a newspaper? A) In my view the phone is better, as the news is always new. B) I see your point, but a newspaper has an end and then you stop.
  • Is it reasonable to expect an immediate reply to a message? A) Given that everyone carries a phone, a prompt reply is hardly much to ask. B) Being reachable at all times was never something we agreed to.
  • Is texting better than calling? A) Texting is better because I can answer later. B) Calling is better because I hear a voice.
  • Should children learn to type before they learn to write by hand? A) I think typing should come first, since they will type all their lives. B) I am not convinced, because handwriting is how most people learn their letters.
  • Should there be places, such as theaters and museums, where phones are not allowed? A) Absolutely: some experiences are diminished by a single lit screen. B) Enforced silence is one thing; confiscating a person's phone is quite another.
  • Should translation apps be allowed in language class? A) I think they should, because they help you keep talking. B) I disagree, since the app does the thinking for you.
  • Will translation software make language learning unnecessary? A) For practical purposes it may well, once it works instantly and invisibly. B) What it can never supply is the experience of thinking in another language.

Nature and animals 15

  • Are houseplants worth the work? A) I would say yes, as a green room feels alive. B) I partly disagree, because I forget to water them and then feel bad.
  • Do nature documentaries give a false picture of the wild? A) To some extent they must, compressing months of waiting into minutes of drama. B) Were it not for them, most of us would have no picture of it at all.
  • Is a garden better than a balcony? A) A garden is better because I can grow vegetables. B) A balcony is better because it is little work.
  • Is a lake better than the sea for swimming? A) A lake is better because the water is calm. B) The sea is better because I like the waves.
  • Is a weekend in the countryside better than a weekend in the city? A) The countryside is better because the air is fresh. B) The city is better because the shops are open.
  • Is it better to see animals in nature than in a zoo? A) Nature is better because the animals are free. B) A zoo is better because I can see them well.
  • Is it better to spend a day off outdoors than indoors? A) I believe outdoors is better, since we sit inside all week. B) That may be true, however a day on the sofa is real rest.
  • Is it realistic to expect people to give up comforts to protect nature? A) I believe it is, provided the reasons are explained and the burden is shared. B) Seldom have people given up a comfort they could still afford.
  • Is keeping a pet in a small apartment fair to the animal? A) It depends on the animal, yet for many I would say it plainly is not. B) An attentive owner matters far more to a pet than floor space.
  • Is spring the best season? A) Yes, because the flowers come back. B) No, I like fall because the trees are red.
  • Should apartment buildings have a shared garden on the roof? A) I think so, because neighbors meet there. B) I see your point, but somebody has to look after it.
  • Should cities set land aside for wildlife in preference to new housing? A) I would contend that they should, for land once built on is rarely given back. B) It is hard to put foxes before families who have nowhere to live.
  • Should dogs be allowed in cafes and shops? A) In my opinion they should, as a quiet dog bothers nobody. B) I disagree, because some customers are afraid of dogs.
  • Should every new street be planted with trees, whatever the cost? A) Without question: the cost is paid once, and the shade lasts generations. B) "Whatever the cost" is a phrase no sensible budget can accept.
  • Should national parks be free to enter? A) Yes, I think so, because nature belongs to everybody. B) I am not sure, since the fee pays for paths and rangers.