Idioms & Expressions
What does “break the ice” mean?
“Break the ice” means to make people feel more comfortable in a social situation, especially at the beginning. For example, telling a joke can help break the ice.
Is social media more helpful or more harmful for teenagers?
Example answer: I think it is more harmful because it can make teenagers feel insecure, although it can also be useful for communication.
What job would you like to have in the future? Why?
Example answer: I would like to
Make a sentence with “used to” about your childhood.
Example answer: I used to play outside every day when I was a child
Should students be allowed to use AI for schoolwork?
Example answer: Yes, but only as a tool to get ideas or check grammar, not to do all the work.
What does “once in a blue moon” mean? Give an example.
It means something happens very rarely. For example, I only eat fast food once in a blue moon.
Should students have more freedom at school? Why or why not?
I think students should have more freedom because it helps them become more responsible, but there still need to be some rules.
Would you prefer to work abroad or stay in your country? Explain.
Example answer: I would prefer to work abroad because I would like to improve my English and experience another culture.
Compare these and explain the difference: “I have lived here for two years” / “I lived there in 2022.”
Present perfect = started in the past and continues now
Past simple = finished action at a finished past time.
Example answer: “I have lived here for two years” means I still live here now. “I lived there in 2022” is a finished past action.
Is school preparing students for real life, or just for exams?
Example answer: I think school is still more focused on exams, although it also teaches some useful skills.
Finish and explain: “Better late than …
“Better late than never.”
Sample answer:
This expression means it is better to do something late than not do it at all. For example, if you arrive five minutes late but still come, it is better than never arriving.
Is it better to study something practical or something you love?
Example answer: I think it is better to find a balance because practical studies can give you job opportunities, but studying something you love can make you happier.
What are three qualities people need to succeed in adult life?
Example answer: I think people need responsibility, patience, and good communication skills to succeed in adult life.
Make three sentences with past simple and one with past continuous about the same situation.
Example answer: I was studying when my friend called me. I called my mom while she was working. I dropped my coffee while I was walking home.
Do teenagers today have more freedom, or more pressure, than past generations?
Example answer: I think teenagers today have more pressure because of social media, exams, and uncertainty about the future.
What does “everyone and their mother” mean? Use it in a situation.
It means a lot of people or almost everyone.
Sample answer:
“Everyone and their mother” means that a huge number of people are doing something or talking about something. For example, “Everyone and their mother" were at the grocery store today.
Should celebrities and influencers be considered role models?
Example answer: I think some celebrities can be role models, but many influencers promote unrealistic lifestyles and values.
What do you think your generation does better than older generations?
Example answer: I think my generation is more open-minded and more comfortable with technology than older generations.
Finish this correctly and explain why: “If I had more free time,...'
Example answer: If I had more free time, I would learn another language...
Is social media making young people more informed, or more insecure?
Example answer: I think it does both, but it probably makes many young people more insecure because they compare themselves to others.
Use two idioms correctly in a short explanation or conversation.
Example answer: I told a joke to break the ice, and then my friend started to spill the tea about what happened last weekend.
Which is more important for success: talent, hard work, or connections? Defend your answer.
Example answer: I think hard work is the most important because talent is useless without effort, and connections can help but they are not everything.
Imagine your life at age 30. Describe it in detail: job, home, lifestyle, goals, etc.
Example answer: At 30, I hope I will have a stable job, live in a nice apartment, travel often, and enjoy a balanced life between work and family.
Tell a short story using at least three different tenses correctly.
Example answer: Last summer I went to the beach with my friends. While we were walking, we found a wallet. I have never forgotten that day.
Is success today more about who you know than what you know?
Example answer: To some extent, yes, succes today is more about who you know because knowing the right people can open doors, but knowledge and hard work still matter.