IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Activity

(TESOL Worksheets--IELTS Writing Task 2)
[This is an activity I designed around IELTS Writing Task 2.  It was designed for a class that I was in serious danger of boring to death near the end of the term, so this was an activity designed to wake them up a little bit by at least getting them walking around the room.
The PowerPoint Presentation discussion is designed as a lead-in.  In the PowerPoint presentation, I have tried to anticipate the problems that the students most often have with IELTS Task 2 questions (based on my experience with teenage students in Vietnam and Cambodia.)  Then 19 IELTS Task 2 questions are posted around the room, and the students have to wander around the room with their partner and discuss the questions, while filling out the questionnaire sheet.
I have deliberately tried to choose at least some IELTS Writing Task 2 questions that I thought would be problematic for the students.  (Questions which rely on cultural knowledge of Western countries, which are, unfortunately, all too common on the IELTS test.)
The purpose of the activity is to familiarize students with a wide-range of possible questions that they may encounter on the IELTS test, including the more problematic questions.
None of the IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are mine.  Some are self-plagiarized from a previous post (here--which in turn was plagiarized from a colleague).   Many of the other questions are borrowed from here.  Other questions are taken from searching other websites, some of which I neglected to keep track of where I was borrowing from.)]
PowerPoint: Google Drive, Slides, Pub
Sample Questions (for posting around the room): Google Drive, Docs, Pub
Questionnaire:  Google Drive, Docs, Pub

1. In many countries women no longer feel the need to get married.   Some people believe that this is because women are able to earn their own income and therefore do not require the financial security that marriage can bring. To what extent do you agree?

2. Most societies have a homeless problem.   Some people think that the best way to help them is to give them money. To what extent do you agree?

3. In many countries people are moving away from rural areas and to urban areas.  Why do you think that is?  What problems can this cause?

4. With the development of society is the loss of traditional ways of life. Is it important to keep our traditional way of life? How can this be achieved?

5. Every culture throughout history has recorded its history in one way or another. In what ways can history be passed on to the next generation? Why is history important to society?

6. All societies have their own music and art.  In what ways are music and art important for society and for the individual?

7. The population of most cities is growing as people move to the cities to find work and new opportunities. What problems does overpopulation in these cities cause? How can these problems be solved?

8. Being able to speak a foreign language is an advantage these days.  Some people think that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school, while others think that children should begin in secondary school. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

9. Some schools are very strict about their school uniform and the appearance of their pupils while others have a more relaxed dress code.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a school uniform?

10. These days, we are seeing an increasing amount of violence on television, and this is having a negative impact on children's behaviour. Do you agree or disagree?

11. Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this. Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects it may have on society.

12. There is an increasing trend around the world to have a small family rather than a large family. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a small family rather than a large family?

13. Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. What are the negative and positive impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

14. Some people think that children who spend a lot of time reading children’s story books are wasting their time, which could be better used doing other more useful activities. To what extent do you agree?

15. Finding job satisfaction is considered to be a luxury in many developing countries.  Why do you think that is? Do you think job satisfaction is important?

16. Some people think that the government is wasting money on the arts, and that this money could be better spent elsewhere. To what extent do you agree with this view?

17. Do young people today make good use of their leisure time? Or do they spend too much time watching television and playing video games, instead of taking part in more productive activities?

18. In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

19. ‘Going on strike’ is commonly used as a catalyst to resolve industrial disputes. Many conservative governments are strongly opposed to this mechanism for bringing about change. Discuss the pros and cons of this action in resolving disputes.

1. In many countries women no longer feel the need to get married.   Some people believe that this is because women are able to earn their own income and therefore do not require the financial security that marriage can bring.

To what extent do you agree?

2. Most societies have a homeless problem.   Some people think that the best way to help them is to give them money.

To what extent do you agree?

3. In many countries people are moving away from rural areas and to urban areas.

 Why do you think that is?

 What problems can this cause?

4. With the development of traditional society is the loss of traditional ways of life.

Is it important to keep our traditional way of life?

How can this be achieved?

5. Every culture throughout history has recorded its history in one way or another.

In what ways can history be passed on to the next generation?

Why is history important to society?

6. All societies have their own music and art. 

In what ways are music and art important for society and for the individual? 

7. The population of most cities is growing as people move to the cities to find work and new opportunities.

What problems does overpopulation in these cities cause?

How can these problems be solved?

 

8. Being able to speak a foreign language is an advantage these days.  Some people think that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school, while others think that children should begin in secondary school.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

9. Some schools are very strict about their school uniform and the appearance of their pupils while others have a more relaxed dress code. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a school uniform?

10. These days, we are seeing an increasing amount of violence on television, and this is having a negative impact on children's behaviour.

Do you agree or disagree?

11. Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this.

Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects it may have on society.

12. There is an increasing trend around the world to have a small family rather than a large family.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a small family rather than a large family?

13. Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games.

What are the negative and positive impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

14. Some people think that children who spend a lot of time reading children’s story books are wasting their time, which could be better used doing other more useful activities.

To what extent do you agree?

15. Finding job satisfaction is considered to be a luxury in many developing countries.

Why do you think that is?

Do you think job satisfaction is important?

16. Some people think that the government is wasting money on the arts, and that this money could be better spent elsewhere.

To what extent do you agree with this view?

17. Do young people today make good use of their leisure time? Or do they spend too much time watching television and playing video games, instead of taking part in more productive activities? 

18. In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

19. ‘Going on strike’ is commonly used as a catalyst to resolve industrial disputes. Many conservative governments are strongly opposed to this mechanism for bringing about change.

Discuss the pros and cons of this action in resolving disputes.

	What is my partner’s opinion?	What problem would you have with this question if it appeared on your IELTS test?
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