Society and Big Questions: ESL Worksheets and Lessons
102 worksheets, 37 lessons, 23 vocabulary decks and 16 shadowing scripts · The world today
Start here — 23 free samples
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Society & big questions worksheets
102 printable worksheets with answer keys; the 24 most used, easiest level first.
Society & big questions lessons
37 ready lessons for the four skills: teach on the board, set online or print.
Society & big questions vocabulary
23 word decks with meanings, examples and pronunciation: flip, quiz, print as flashcards or play as a game.
Society & big questions shadowing
Listen, repeat, record and compare: short scripts for pronunciation and fluency.
About Society & big questions
Social issues give learners something real to think and argue about. Discussing inequality, rights, ethics and the future helps learners move from simple opinions to structured, persuasive speaking and writing, which is exactly what higher-level exams test.
At A1 and A2 learners express simple opinions (I think..., I agree/disagree) about rules, communities and everyday issues. B1 learners give reasons and examples, compare points of view and use first and second conditionals. B2 to C2 learners tackle complex debates on inequality, immigration, crime and punishment, gender, aging populations and ethics, using discourse markers, concession (while it is true that...), hedging and formal argumentative style.
This page offers printable worksheets, ready-to-teach lessons and vocabulary flashcard decks on society and big questions.
Teaching tips: Society & big questions
- Provide a bank of opinion, agreement and disagreement phrases before any debate so learners can focus on ideas.
- Use a line-up activity where learners stand on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree and justify their position.
- Choose topics carefully for your context and give learners the option to argue a side they don't personally hold.
- Turn debates into for-and-against essays, a common task type in B2 First and C1 Advanced.
Questions teachers ask
How do I handle sensitive topics in class?
Set clear ground rules, focus on arguments rather than people, and consider cultural and personal sensitivities before choosing a topic.
What level do learners need for debates?
Simple opinion exchanges work from A2, but structured debates with concessions and counter-arguments suit B2 and above.
Which language should I teach for discussing big questions?
Opinion and agreement phrases, linkers of contrast and addition, conditionals, and hedging such as "it could be argued that..."