25 Appendix C: Gambits and Conversation Starters

SELP Adv Gambits and Conversation Starters

Are you part of a community?

1. What does a community mean to you?
2. Should everyone volunteer time to help their community?
3. Has a neighbour ever helped you solve a serious problem?
4. Do communities share the same values?
5. Have you ever attended a community event or festival? What was it like?
6. Should communities police themselves?
7. Should good neighbours receive awards?

Do you know more than one language?

1. Should there be a universal language (other than English)?
2. Are languages neutral or do they contain biases?
3. Should language learning be compulsory in school?
4. Is it important to live in a country that speaks the language you are learning?
5. Will language translators and interpreters be replaced with AI?
6. Why do children learn languages easily?
7. Do you need a teacher to learn a language?

Have you ever immigrated to another country?

1. What is the best part of being an immigrant? What’s the worst part?
2. Should only people with particular skills immigrate to another country?
3. Should immigrants receive the same government benefits as nationals?
4. Why are many immigrant stories full of suffering and sacrifice?
5. Do immigrants take jobs from nationals?
6. What are some ways to celebrate cultural diversity?
7. Do children of immigrants share the same values as their parents?

Have you ever participated in a protest?

1. Why do people protest?
2. Why are some protests dangerous for the participants?
3. What things are worth protesting?
4. Should governments control or limit protests?
5. If you could be an activist, what kind of activist would you be?
6. Can climate activists really make a difference?
7. Do activists and protestors represent others or only themselves?