ESL Conversation Questions – Tiananmen Square protests ✊🇨🇳

A2 Level (Elementary)

1. Have you heard about the Tiananmen Square protests?
2. Where is Tiananmen Square located?
3. Why did the students protest in Tiananmen Square?
4. What year did the Tiananmen Square protests happen?
5. How do you think people can peacefully protest for change?
6. Can you name any famous leaders from the Tiananmen Square protests?
7. Do you think it’s important for people to have the right to protest?
8. How do you think the Chinese government responded to the protests?
9. What do you think the protesters wanted to achieve?
10. Do you know any songs or symbols associated with the Tiananmen Square protests?

B1 Level (Intermediate)

12. How did the Tiananmen Square protests start?
13. What were some of the main demands of the protesters?
14. Were there any international reactions to the Tiananmen Square protests?
15. What was the significance of the Goddess of Democracy statue?
16. How did the government’s crackdown on the protests affect China?

B2 Level (Upper-Intermediate)

17. How did the media cover the Tiananmen Square protests at the time?
18. What role did social media play in spreading information about the protests?
19. How did the Tiananmen Square protests impact China’s relations with the rest of the world?
20. What were the long-term consequences of the Tiananmen Square protests for China?
21. Do you think similar protests could happen in China today? Why or why not?

C1 Level (Advanced)

22. How did the Tiananmen Square protests influence political activism in China in the following years?
23. In what ways did the Tiananmen Square protests shape Chinese society?
24. How did the Chinese government justify its actions during the Tiananmen Square protests?
25. What lessons can other countries learn from the Tiananmen Square protests?
26. How has the memory of the Tiananmen Square protests been preserved or suppressed in China?

C2 Level (Proficiency)

27. Reflecting on historical events like the Tiananmen Square protests, what role does collective memory play in shaping a nation’s identity?
28. How might the Tiananmen Square protests be remembered differently inside and outside of China?
29. To what extent do you think the Tiananmen Square protests influenced global perceptions of China?
30. How do you think the Chinese government’s handling of the Tiananmen Square protests impacted its legitimacy domestically and internationally?
31. In your opinion, what are the most effective ways for citizens to advocate for political change in authoritarian regimes, considering the lessons of Tiananmen Square?