ESL Questions Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Do we celebrate discovery or do we erase history? These 75 questions explore Columbus Day, colonization, indigenous peoples, and whose story we tell.
Beginner
Do you celebrate Columbus Day?
Is it a holiday?
Have you been taught about Columbus?
Did Columbus discover America?
Were people there before?
Do you like holidays?
Have you heard about indigenous people?
Do you know Native Americans?
Is history important?
Have you studied exploration?
Do you think Columbus was a hero?
Have you questioned textbooks?
Is colonization bad?
Do you know about native cultures?
Have you felt conflicted?
Is the holiday changing?
Do people celebrate differently now?
Have you learned from others?
Would you rename the holiday?
Do you like history lessons?
Have you questioned what you learned?
Is education honest?
Do you think about accuracy?
Have you respected indigenous voices?
Would you change education?
Intermediate
Do you think Columbus Day should exist?
Have you learned the real history?
Would you celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead?
Do you think history textbooks are accurate?
Have you felt misled about Columbus?
Would you support changing the holiday?
Do you think Columbus was an explorer or invader?
Have you researched indigenous perspectives?
Would you listen to native voices?
Do you think celebrating Columbus honors or harms?
Have you noticed holiday debates?
Would you educate children differently?
Do you think America owes indigenous peoples?
Have you felt conflicted about national history?
Would you support indigenous rights?
Do you think the holiday will disappear?
Have you discussed this with others?
Would you change how history is taught?
Do you think education should include indigenous views?
Have you questioned your own beliefs?
Would you challenge traditional narratives?
Do you think indigenous peoples should decide?
Have you felt empathy for historical trauma?
Would you make amends?
Do you think this holiday matters?
Advanced
Why do we celebrate arrival over what happened after?
When the teller of history is the victor, how true is it?
Can we honor exploration while acknowledging its cost?
Why do we reframe genocide as discovery?
Is changing the holiday name enough or just theater?
Why do we teach children lies then expect them to unlearn?
When we know better, why do we teach the same?
Can history be taught without moral weight?
Why do we defend people we know did harm?
Is progress erasing history or acknowledging it?
Why did it take this long to question it?
Can indigenous peoples forgive what we've still not admitted?
Why do we need a hero, even a false one?
When a holiday becomes a debate, what are we defending?
Is reclaiming the day enough or just symbolic?
Why do we celebrate arrival when we're descendants of colonization?
Can you teach history without being condescending?
Why do some people feel threatened by historical truth?
When indigenous peoples speak, why do we still doubt?
Is the holiday the problem or just the beginning?
Why do we compartmentalize this one day of reckoning?
Can education heal historical trauma?
Why does acknowledging harm feel like blame?
When we know better, can we claim innocence?
Does changing names change what colonization meant?