AI Discussion Questions Generator: 9 Easy Prompts for Better ESL Speaking

An AI discussion questions generator can save you lots of time in turning any topic into an ESL speaking activity. You do not need to spend hours on writing conversation questions one-by-one. With AI, you can create level-appropriate questions, follow-up prompts, vocabulary help, pair-activities, and even discussion tasks.

When it comes to conversation classes for English teachers, things often seem very simple from the outside. Give a topic to students, ask some questions and let them talk. In reality, however, a good conversation lesson takes a lot of work.

The questions should be at the right level. They should encourage longer answers. Students may need vocabulary prompts or sentence starters before speaking. The questions should be personal and accessible. Other questions should elicit opinions, explanations, comparisons, examples.

And here AI can help.

Instead of asking:

“Give me some discussion questions.”

give AI some information about your learners, topic, level, aim, and discussion type.

If you have no experience with AI-supported instruction, begin with AI for Language Teachers: An Essential Practical Starting Guide. If you want to get a complete picture of how AI can support your teaching process, you may also try AI Teaching Assistant for English Teachers.

What Is an AI Discussion Questions Generator?

An AI discussion questions generator is an AI tool or prompt workflow for creating conversation questions based on the information you provide.

You may give it:

• a topic;
• a reading text;
• a vocabulary list;
• a video summary;
• a lesson aim;
• a CEFR level;
• a grammar point;
• a target group.

The AI can then help you generate questions for different stages of your speaking lesson.

For example, while preparing a B1 lesson about social media, you may want to generate:

• easy warm-up questions;
• personal-experience questions;
• opinion questions;
• agree/disagree statements;
• follow-up questions;
• vocabulary help;
• pair-activity tasks;
• small-group discussion;
• a final speaking challenge.

The point is not to generate more questions. The point is to create a better-organised speaking practice.

Why Use AI for ESL Discussion Questions?

Discussion questions are widely used across almost all areas of language teaching.

Teachers use them:

• in the beginning of a lesson;
• after a reading text;
• after watching a video;
• in vocabulary lessons;
• in conversation classes;
• for speaking clubs;
• as an exam preparation;
• as lesson fillers;
• in private lessons;
• in online lessons.

An AI discussion question generator can not only reduce preparation time but also offer more options.

It can help you quickly adapt the same topic for different groups.

Take the topic of travel.

With A2 learners, you may ask:

Where did you go on your last holiday?

With B1 students:

What makes a holiday memorable?

With B2 students:

Do you think international tourism does more good than harm?

The topic is the same. But the cognitive and linguistic challenges are different.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages can be a helpful source when adapting speaking tasks for A2, B1, and B2 levels.

What Makes a Good ESL Discussion Question?

Before asking AI to generate discussion questions, it will be useful to understand the features of a good ESL conversation question.

A good ESL discussion question should usually be:

• understandable for your learners;
• broad enough to encourage speaking;
• relevant to the topic;
• easy to answer at the start;
• suitable for follow-up;
• culturally appropriate;
• linked to some language;
• interesting enough to provoke opinions.

Consider two questions below:

Do you like travelling?

and

What kind of trip do you enjoy most, and why?

The second question provides more chances for language production.

AI can be especially helpful when you ask it to generate questions with progression from easy → personal → opinion → deeper discussion.

More broadly, TeachingEnglish by the British Council can be a helpful resource in the issue of responsible AI use in language classrooms.

Prompt 1: Generate ESL Discussion Questions on Any Topic

Here is the simple prompt which you can use for almost any speaking lesson.

Act as an experienced ESL speaking teacher.

Create discussion questions for [LEVEL] English learners.

Topic:
[TOPIC]

Create:
1. 5 easy warm-up questions;
2. 5 personal-experience questions;
3. 5 opinion questions;
4. 5 deeper discussion questions.

Make the questions suitable for [LEVEL] learners.

Avoid questions that can be answered only with yes or no.

Use clear, natural English.

Example

Act as an experienced ESL speaking teacher.

Create discussion questions for B1 English learners.

Topic:
Technology in everyday life

Create:
1. 5 easy warm-up questions;
2. 5 personal-experience questions;
3. 5 opinion questions;
4. 5 deeper discussion questions.

Make the questions suitable for B1 learners.

This simple outline provides you with the material for a complete speaking lesson without twenty similar questions.

Prompt 2: Create Level-Based Discussion Questions

The same topic can be used with several levels if you make the questions more difficult.

Here is a prompt:

Create ESL discussion questions about [TOPIC] at three levels.

A2:
Create 6 simple questions using common vocabulary and short sentence structures.

B1:
Create 6 questions that require explanations, reasons, and examples.

B2:
Create 6 deeper questions involving opinions, comparisons, advantages, disadvantages, or hypothetical situations.

Keep the topic the same across all three levels.

Why this prompt is useful

Imagine you are teaching several groups during the week.

Instead of preparing entirely different speaking lessons, you can take one topic and adapt the discussion.

For food, AI might suggest:

A2:
What food do you eat every week?

B1:
Why do people sometimes prefer fast food to home-cooked food?

B2:
Should governments do more to influence people’s eating habits?

That gives you an opportunity to prepare a reusable lesson without simply giving each group the same questions.

Prompt 3: Generate Follow-Up Questions

One of the major problems in speaking lessons is that students answer the initial question and stop.

For example:

What’s your favourite way to learn English?

Student:

Watching videos.

Conversation finished.

Follow-up questions help students to continue the exchange.

Use this prompt:

Create follow-up questions for an ESL speaking activity.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Main discussion questions:
[PASTE QUESTIONS]

For each main question, create 3 natural follow-up questions.

The follow-up questions should encourage students to:
- explain why;
- give examples;
- compare experiences;
- describe details;
- ask their partner another question.

Keep the language suitable for [LEVEL].

You can also teach students some universal follow-up questions:

• Why?
• Why do you think that?
• Can you give an example?
• What about you?
• Has that ever happened to you?
• Would you do the same?
• How is that different from…?

Those simple prompts can significantly improve pair-work discussions.

Prompt 4: Turn Vocabulary into Discussion Questions

Vocabulary practice becomes more useful if students use new words in conversation.

Let your students learn the following vocabulary:

• flexible;
• distracting;
• convenient;
• independent;
• motivated;
• interaction.

Instead of ending with a matching exercise, you can turn the vocabulary into speaking practice.

Create an ESL speaking activity using this vocabulary.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Topic:
[TOPIC]

Target vocabulary:
[PASTE WORDS]

Create:
1. 5 easy discussion questions;
2. 5 questions that encourage students to use the target vocabulary;
3. 3 sentence starters;
4. one pair-work challenge.

Make sure the target words can be used naturally in the answers.

For example:

What makes online learning convenient for some students?

What things can be distracting when you study at home?

Do you think independent learners learn languages faster? Why?

If you want to create a written practice with the same vocabulary before speaking, combine this activity with AI Worksheet Generator for English Teachers.

Prompt 5: Turn a Reading Text into Discussion Questions

Reading texts become good speaking materials for several reasons:

• a topic;
• information;
• vocabulary;
• some ideas to react to.

Instead of ending a reading lesson with comprehension questions, you can use AI to create a speaking follow-up.

Act as an ESL teacher.

Turn this reading text into a post-reading discussion activity.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Reading text:
[PASTE TEXT]

Create:
1. 3 reaction questions;
2. 4 personal-experience questions;
3. 4 opinion questions;
4. 3 questions connecting the topic to students' lives;
5. one pair-work speaking challenge.

Do not create comprehension questions.
Focus on discussion.

Comprehension questions test students’ understanding of the text.

Discussion questions encourage them to react to the ideas.

You can use Reading Worksheet Generator to prepare the reading part, then use this prompt for the speaking follow-up.

Prompt 6: Turn a Video into a Discussion Activity

Videos also provide strong materials for discussion.

Instead of asking:

Did you like the video?

create a structured post-watching discussion.

Create a post-video ESL discussion activity.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Video topic:
[TOPIC]

Video summary:
[PASTE SUMMARY]

Create:
1. 3 immediate reaction questions;
2. 4 questions about the ideas in the video;
3. 4 personal connection questions;
4. 3 opinion questions;
5. 2 agree/disagree statements;
6. one final group discussion question.

Avoid asking students to remember small factual details.
Focus on discussion.

If you first need some comprehension questions for the video, use AI Video Question Maker. Then use this prompt to switch from listening comprehension to speaking.

Prompt 7: Create Opinion and Agree/Disagree Questions

Opinion activities work especially well with intermediate and upper-intermediate students.

Here is a prompt:

Create an ESL opinion discussion activity.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Topic:
[TOPIC]

Create:
1. 5 opinion questions;
2. 5 agree/disagree statements;
3. 3 "Which is better?" questions;
4. 3 hypothetical questions;
5. useful phrases for agreeing and disagreeing politely.

Avoid extreme or unnecessarily sensitive statements.

Make the questions suitable for [LEVEL].

Useful language prompts might be:

Giving an opinion

• I think…
• In my opinion…
• From my point of view…

Agreeing

• I agree because…
• That’s a good point.
• I feel the same way.

Disagreeing politely

• I’m not sure I agree.
• I see your point, but…
• I think it depends.

Providing students with language prompts before discussion makes the activity more useful than just a list of questions.

Prompt 8: Create Pair-Work and Group Discussion Tasks

A list of questions does not guarantee a good speaking lesson.

Sometimes students need a task.

Here is a prompt:

Turn these ESL discussion questions into a structured speaking activity.

Student level:
[LEVEL]

Questions:
[PASTE QUESTIONS]

Create:
1. a 3-minute pair warm-up;
2. a pair interview task;
3. a small-group discussion;
4. one question students must agree on as a group;
5. a whole-class feedback stage.

Include short student instructions for each stage.

Instead of saying:

“Discuss these questions.”

you may use the following outline:

Stage 1 — Think
Students choose the two questions they find most interesting.

Stage 2 — Pair
Students interview one partner and ask at least one follow-up question.

Stage 3 — Group
Groups of four compare their answers.

Stage 4 — Decide
The group must agree on one final question.

Stage 5 — Share
One person reports the group’s conclusion.

This creates much more meaningful speaking.

Prompt 9: Turn Any Lesson Topic into a Complete ESL Speaking Activity

Here is the most useful all-in-one prompt when you need a complete discussion lesson.

Act as an experienced ESL conversation teacher.

Create a complete speaking activity for [LEVEL] learners.

Topic:
[TOPIC]

Lesson length:
[TIME]

Create:

1. Lesson speaking aim
2. 5 key vocabulary words or phrases
3. 3 sentence starters
4. 4 easy warm-up questions
5. 5 personal discussion questions
6. 5 opinion questions
7. follow-up questions
8. one pair-work activity
9. one small-group task
10. one final whole-class question
11. a short self-reflection question

Make the activity communicative, level-appropriate, and realistic for the available lesson time.

It can turn any topic into a complete classroom discussion lesson.

For example:

• social media;
• travel;
• healthy habits;
• university life;
• technology;
• jobs;
• friendship;
• learning languages;
• environmental problems;
• online learning.

If you want to include the speaking activity in a complete lesson, use Lesson Plan Generator.

Practical Example: B1 Discussion Lesson About Social Media

Imagine you are teaching B1 university students.

Your topic is:

Social Media

Your lesson aim is:

Students will be able to express and support opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

You can ask AI:

Create a B1 ESL discussion lesson about social media.

Students:
University EFL students

Lesson length:
45 minutes

Create:
- 5 useful vocabulary items;
- 4 warm-up questions;
- 6 personal questions;
- 6 opinion questions;
- follow-up questions;
- useful phrases for agreeing and disagreeing;
- a pair activity;
- a group discussion;
- a final reflection question.

AI might generate questions such as:

Warm-up

• Which social media apps do you use most?
• How often do you check social media?
• What do you usually use social media for?
• Which app do you think is most useful?

Personal discussion

• Have you ever learned something useful from social media?
• Do you follow any educational accounts?
• Have you ever taken a break from social media?
• What type of content do you enjoy most?

Opinion

• Does social media help people communicate better?
• Should students use social media while studying?
• Does social media make people more or less social?
• Should children have restrictions on social media use?
• Is social media a good place to learn English?
• Would life be better without social media?

You now have enough material for a complete speaking lesson.

How to Improve AI-Generated Discussion Questions

The first AI output is not necessarily the final activity.

Use additional prompts to improve it.

Make the questions easier

Rewrite these discussion questions for A2 English learners.

Use shorter sentences and common vocabulary.

Do not change the main topic.

Make them more difficult

Rewrite these questions for B2 learners.

Require students to explain opinions, compare ideas, justify answers, and give examples.

Make them more specific

Improve these questions.

Predictable questions get predictable answers.

Create questions that are unlikely to elicit consensus.

Make the questions open-ended

Ask students to explain things and give examples.

Don't ask students to choose between two options.

Include questions that could generate disagreement

Include some opinion questions to encourage debate.

Allow students to give their own examples.

Make students explain themselves

Make sure students have to explain why they feel or think certain ways.

Ask for personal examples

Ask for students' personal experiences and opinions related to the topic.

This process usually yields better materials than trying to generate everything in one go.

AI Discussion Questions for Different ESL Levels

A1–A2

Focus on:

• routine experiences;
• likes and dislikes;
• common habits;
• simple choices;
• popular topics.

Examples:

What do you eat for breakfast?

Where do you usually go on weekends?

Do you like studying alone or with friends? Why?

Sentence starters include:

I like…

I prefer…

Usually, I…

B1

Students can deal with:

• explanations;
• comparison;
• pros and cons;
• personal experience;
• basic opinions.

Examples:

What are the advantages of online learning?

What makes a good friend?

Is travelling important for teenagers? Why?

B2

Questions can become more abstract.

Examples:

How has technology changed communication?

Should governments limit children’s access to social media?

To what extent should universities use artificial intelligence?

The CEFR level descriptions are helpful when considering different levels.

Common Mistakes When Using an AI Discussion Questions Generator

Mistake 1: Generating too many questions

Thirty questions are rarely better than ten quality questions.

Select the questions most likely to spark conversation.

Mistake 2: Asking only opinion questions

Students need a simpler starting point.

A better sequence is:

warm-up → personal → opinion → deeper discussion

Mistake 3: Not considering the learner level

A question can be intellectually interesting but linguistically difficult.

Always specify the level.

Mistake 4: Omitting language support

Students may have ideas but lack the English to express them.

Provide:

• vocabulary;
• sentence starters;
• phrases to agree;
• phrases to disagree;
• follow-up questions.

Mistake 5: Asking yes/no questions

Not:

Do you like online learning?

But:

What do you like and dislike about online learning?

Mistake 6: Careless use of sensitive questions

AI may generate questions regarding:

• religion;
• money;
• family;
• politics;
• health;
• relationships;
• personal experiences.

Think about your learners and classroom context before asking such questions.

Mistake 7: Assuming AI output is ready-to-use

Review every question.

Ask yourself:

• Is it clear?
• Is it appropriate?
• Is it interesting?
• Is it suitable for the level?
• Can students really answer it?
• Does it align with the lesson objective?

A Simple ESL Discussion Lesson Plan

You can repeat this structure with any topic.

1. Warm-up — 5 minutes

Ask 2–3 simple questions.

2. Language preparation — 5–10 minutes

Teach vocabulary and useful phrases.

3. Pair discussion — 10 minutes

Students answer personal questions.

Require at least one follow-up question.

4. Group discussion — 10–15 minutes

Go to opinion and deeper questions.

5. Group decision — 5 minutes

Students must agree on one answer or recommendation.

6. Class feedback — 5 minutes

Groups report their conclusion.

7. Reflection

Ask:

Which idea from today’s discussion was most interesting?

This structure turns AI-generated questions into a discussion lesson.

How to Combine Discussion Questions with Other AI Activities

Discussion questions are even more valuable when linked to other lesson stages.

Reading → Discussion

Generate a reading worksheet, then discussion questions about the text.

Use Reading Worksheet Generator for the reading stage.

Video → Discussion

Use a short video for listening comprehension and conclude with discussion.

Use AI Video Question Maker for the video stage.

Vocabulary → Discussion

Prepare a vocabulary worksheet and require students to use the words in their discussion.

Use AI Worksheet Generator for English Teachers for vocabulary practice.

Quiz → Discussion

Use a short quiz to introduce the topic, then discuss the answers.

Use ESL Quiz Templates to build the quiz.

This turns a series of AI-generated activities into a lesson.

Quick Checklist Before Using AI-Generated Discussion Questions

Before class, check:

• Does the topic suit my learners?
• Are the questions appropriate for their level?
• Are there too many questions?
• Do I have easy questions first?
• Are there personal and opinion questions?
• Can students ask follow-up questions?
• Have I provided useful language?
• Are any questions unnecessarily sensitive?
• Is there a clear speaking objective?
• Is there a final task or reflection?

If the answer is yes to most of these, your activity is probably ready.

FAQ: AI Discussion Questions Generator

What is an AI discussion questions generator?

An AI discussion questions generator uses artificial intelligence to make conversation and discussion questions based on a topic, text, video, list of vocabulary, lesson objective, or learner level.

Can AI make ESL discussion questions?

Yes. AI can generate discussion questions for different levels, topics, ages, and lesson objectives. Teachers should review and adapt the questions before using them.

How do I generate discussion questions with AI?

Give AI your topic, student level, age group, lesson objective, and question types. Ask for a mixture of warm-up, personal, opinion, and deeper discussion questions.

Can AI create conversation questions for different CEFR levels?

Yes. You can ask AI to generate different versions for A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 learners. Teachers should still consider if the language is appropriate for their particular learners.

What are good ESL discussion questions?

Good ESL discussion questions are clear, open-ended, relevant, level-appropriate, and likely to elicit explanations, examples, opinions, or personal experience.

Can AI generate follow-up questions?

Yes. You can copy and paste your main questions into AI and ask for two or three natural follow-up questions for each one.

Can AI generate discussion questions from a reading text?

Yes. Copy and paste the text and ask AI to generate reaction, personal, opinion, and post-reading discussion questions rather than simple comprehension questions.

Can AI generate discussion questions from videos?

Yes. Give AI a transcript or summary of the video and ask for post-watching discussion questions, opinion questions, personal connections, and follow-up activities.

Should teachers use AI-generated questions without editing them?

No. Teachers should review the questions for level, clarity, cultural appropriateness, sensitivity, relevance, and usefulness before using them in class.

Final Recommendation

An AI discussion questions generator can save English teachers lots of preparation time, but the best results will come from combining AI with good speaking methodology.

Do not just generate twenty random questions.

Instead:

1. Specify the learner level;
2. Start with easy questions;
3. Go to personal responses;
4. Introduce opinions;
5. Generate follow-up questions;
6. Provide useful language;
7. Give students a clear pair or group task;
8. Finish with a meaningful conclusion or reflection.

AI can generate the questions fast.

The teacher will turn those questions into a good conversation.