ESL Conversation Questions – Thomas Edison

A2 Level Questions about Thomas Edison

1. Who was Thomas Edison?
2. What did Thomas Edison invent?
3. Did Thomas Edison invent the light bulb?
4. Where was Thomas Edison born?
5. When did Thomas Edison live?
6. How did Thomas Edison’s inventions help people?
7. Did Thomas Edison work alone?
8. What was Thomas Edison’s first invention?
9. How many inventions did Thomas Edison create?
10. Where did Thomas Edison work on his inventions?
11. Did Thomas Edison go to school for a long time?
12. What is a phonograph?
13. Did Thomas Edison invent anything for movies?
14. What was special about Thomas Edison’s light bulb?
15. How did Thomas Edison think of new inventions?
16. Was Thomas Edison famous when he was alive?
17. Did Thomas Edison have a family?
18. What awards did Thomas Edison win?
19. How do people remember Thomas Edison today?
20. What can we learn from Thomas Edison?

B1 Level Questions about Thomas Edison

1. How did Thomas Edison’s inventions change the world?
2. What challenges did Thomas Edison face while inventing?
3. How did Thomas Edison contribute to the movie industry?
4. What was the impact of Edison’s inventions on the 20th century?
5. Discuss the significance of Edison’s work in Menlo Park.
6. How did Edison’s invention of the phonograph affect music?
7. What role did Thomas Edison play in the development of electric power?
8. How did Edison’s inventions influence modern technology?
9. What was Thomas Edison’s approach to problem-solving?
10. Discuss the rivalry between Edison and Tesla.
11. How did Edison’s work ethic contribute to his success?
12. What was the importance of the first industrial research lab that Edison created?
13. How did Edison’s inventions impact daily life in his time?
14. Discuss Edison’s contribution to communication technology.
15. What was Edison’s patent strategy and its impact on innovation?
16. How did Edison’s light bulb invention lead to the creation of electric grids?
17. Discuss the concept of “invention factory” established by Edison.
18. How did Edison’s work influence future inventors and entrepreneurs?
19. What legacy did Thomas Edison leave behind?
20. How are Edison’s inventions still relevant today?

B2 Level Questions about Thomas Edison

1. Analyze the effect of Edison’s inventions on the industrial revolution.
2. Discuss Thomas Edison’s philosophy on failure and its relevance to innovation.
3. How did Edison’s invention of the phonograph revolutionize entertainment?
4. Compare Edison’s contributions to electricity with other inventors of his time.
5. Explore the impact of Edison’s motion picture camera on the film industry.
6. How did Edison’s inventions contribute to urbanization and modern city life?
7. Discuss the ethical implications of Edison’s business practices.
8. How did Edison’s work in electric light and power distribution shape modern society?
9. Examine the relationship between Edison’s inventions and the advancement of communication.
10. Analyze the role of collaboration and competition in Edison’s career.
11. How did Edison’s approach to patenting influence technological development?
12. Discuss the long-term environmental impact of Edison’s inventions.
13. Explore Edison’s role in the development of the research and development laboratory model.
14. How did public perception of Edison influence his legacy?
15. Analyze the historical accuracy of Edison’s portrayal as the “lone inventor.”
16. Discuss the implications of Edison’s work on the development of consumer culture.
17. How did Edison’s inventions affect employment and the economy?
18. Explore the cultural significance of Edison’s inventions in shaping the 20th century.
19. Analyze the interplay between Edison’s technological innovations and societal changes.
20. Discuss the evolution of Edison’s reputation from his time to the present.

C1 Level Questions about Thomas Edison

1. Critically evaluate the impact of Edison’s inventions on environmental sustainability.
2. Discuss the role of intellectual property rights in Edison’s career and their relevance today.
3. Analyze the socio-economic consequences of the electrification of cities, spurred by Edison’s inventions.
4. Examine the transformation of entertainment and communication due to Edison’s phonograph and motion picture camera.
5. Explore the dynamics between Edison’s entrepreneurial spirit and his scientific contributions.
6. Discuss the influence of Edison’s inventions on global industrialization and technological progress.
7. Analyze the contribution of Edison’s work to the concept of modern entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems.
8. Explore the ethical dimensions of Edison’s competitive strategies against his rivals.
9. Discuss the role of public and private funding in Edison’s research and its implications for modern science.
10. Analyze the cultural and historical context of Edison’s inventions and their impact on American identity.

C2 Level Questions about Thomas Edison

1. Explore the philosophical implications of Edison’s approach to invention and failure.
2. Analyze the interdependency between Edison’s technological innovations and socio-economic transformations.
3. Discuss the historiographical perspectives on Edison’s contributions to science and technology.
4. Examine the role of Edison’s inventions in shaping the narrative of American exceptionalism.
5. Critically assess the legacy of Edison’s inventions in the context of contemporary technological challenges.
6. Explore the impact of Edison’s work on the development of modern scientific research methodologies.
7. Analyze the influence of Edison’s industrial and business models on the evolution of global capitalism.
8. Discuss the implications of Edison’s innovations for the future of energy consumption and production.
9. Examine the role of Edison in the narrative of the self-made inventor and its impact on the culture of innovation.
10. Analyze the contrast between Edison’s public image as an inventor and the realities of collaborative innovation.