These 20 conversation questions about freedom are suitable for adult English learners at B2 (upper-intermediate) level. They can also be used with C1+ (advanced) students. The questions can be used in one-to-one lessons, pair or group discussions, or set as writing homework.
For more activities on this topic, see our complete Freedom ESL lesson plan.
- What does freedom mean to you? Which freedoms do you value most?
- What are you not free to do? What would you like to have the freedom to do?
- Do you feel freer now than when you were younger? Why or why not?
- Are there any truly free people in the world today? If so, who? If not, why not?
- Which groups of people in society enjoy the most freedom? Which enjoy the least?
- What determines whether a country can be considered free or not?
- How free would you say your country is? Do some people enjoy more freedoms than others?
- In which countries do people enjoy the most freedom? In which do they enjoy the least? Why?
- Do freedom and democracy mean the same thing? Can a country be democratic without being truly free?
- Is individual freedom more important than what the group wants, such as the family or community? Why or why not?
- Is it sometimes necessary to restrict freedom to increase security? Which is more important to you?
- If people have their freedom unjustly taken away, what should they do? Is breaking the law ever justified to regain freedom?
- Lord Acton argued that a good way to judge whether a country is truly free is to look at how its minorities are treated. Do you agree?
- Philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that people's freedom should only be restricted to prevent them from harming others. Do you agree? Are there any exceptions?
- Economist Milton Friedman argued that economic freedom is essential for personal freedom. Do you agree? Can economic freedom sometimes reduce other people's freedom?
- How might increasing one person's freedom reduce another person's freedom? Can you think of any examples?
- Do humans really have free will, or are our decisions ultimately determined by things beyond our control?
- How much of our lives are controlled by outside influences, such as our family, education, social background and government? How does this affect how free we really are?
- Does having more money make someone freer? Can a poor person ever be as free as a wealthy person?
- Has freedom around the world increased or decreased during your lifetime? Do you think people will be freer in the future?
