ESL Conversation Questions – Dictators

Lesson recommendation: Why Psychopaths Rise to Power

Explore insightful ESL discussion questions on dictators, tailored for levels A2 to C2, fostering critical thinking and language skills in diverse contexts.

A2 Level (Elementary)

1. What is a dictator?
2. Can you name any famous dictators from history?
3. How does a dictator come to power?
4. What kind of rules do dictators make?
5. How do people live under a dictator?
6. Can a dictator be a good leader?
7. How do dictators affect a country?
8. What happens when a dictator is no longer in power?
9. How do people feel about dictators?
10. Should we learn about dictators in school?
11. What is the difference between a king and a dictator?
12. How do dictators stay in power?
13. Can a dictator be popular?
14. Why do people follow dictators?
15. What can we learn from the history of dictators?
16. Do you think a dictator can change?
17. How do other countries react to dictators?
18. Can a dictator be fair?
19. What would you do if you lived under a dictator?
20. Are there any dictators in the world today?

B1 Level (Intermediate)

1. Discuss the impact of dictatorship on a country’s culture.
2. How do dictators control information and media?
3. What are the common characteristics of dictatorships?
4. How does international politics deal with dictators?
5. Discuss the role of propaganda in dictatorships.
6. What leads to the rise of dictators?
7. How do dictators affect international relations?
8. What are the consequences of opposing a dictator?
9. Can a country recover from a dictatorship?
10. Discuss famous resistance movements against dictators.
11. How do dictators impact the economy?
12. What role do citizens play in a dictatorship?
13. How do dictators use fear and loyalty?
14. What are the psychological effects of living under a dictatorship?
15. Discuss the role of education in a dictatorship.
16. How do dictators impact global peace?
17. What is a military dictatorship?
18. How does the international community respond to human rights violations by dictators?
19. Discuss the role of art and literature under dictatorship.
20. How do dictatorships end?

B2 Level (Upper Intermediate)

1. Analyze the role of ideology in dictatorships.
2. Discuss the ethical implications of foreign intervention in dictatorships.
3. How do historical dictatorships differ from modern ones?
4. What are the psychological profiles of dictators?
5. How do dictatorships manipulate history and facts?
6. Discuss the impact of dictatorship on minority groups.
7. How does censorship work in a dictatorship?
8. What are the global repercussions of a dictatorship?
9. How do dictatorships affect the development of a nation?
10. Discuss the phenomenon of cult of personality in dictatorships.
11. How do economic sanctions affect dictatorships?
12. What is the role of international law in dealing with dictators?
13. How do dictatorships influence regional stability?
14. Discuss the legacy of colonialism in creating dictatorships.
15. How do social media platforms react to dictators?
16. What is the role of the military in supporting or opposing dictators?
17. Discuss the challenges of transitional justice after a dictatorship.
18. How do dictatorships impact human rights?
19. What are the challenges in documenting the history of a dictatorship?
20. How do revolutions and uprisings challenge dictatorships?

C1 Level (Advanced)

1. Analyze the psychological impact of living under a long-term dictatorship.
2. Discuss the role of international alliances in supporting or opposing dictatorships.
3. How do global economic systems interact with dictatorships?
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of international sanctions against dictatorships.
5. Explore the concept of totalitarianism versus authoritarianism.
6. Analyze the impact of exile communities on dictatorships.
7. Discuss the role of media and technology in modern dictatorships.
8. Evaluate the role of international organizations in dealing with dictatorships.
9. Explore the ethical dilemmas faced by countries dealing with dictatorships.
10. Analyze the long-term effects of dictatorships on political culture.

C2 Level (Proficiency)

1. Critique the role of external influences in the rise and fall of dictatorships.
2. Analyze the relationship between economic policies and dictatorships.
3. Discuss the long-term societal impact of living under dictatorship.
4. Evaluate the role of historical narratives in understanding dictatorships.
5. Analyze the effectiveness of international legal mechanisms against dictators.
6. Discuss the intersection of dictatorship and national identity.
7. Evaluate the impact of digital surveillance in modern dictatorships.
8. Analyze the role of international diplomacy in addressing dictatorships.
9. Explore the psychological dynamics behind the support of dictators.
10. Discuss the future of dictatorships in the context of global politics.