ESL Discussion Questions – Humor

A2 Level (Elementary)

1. What makes you laugh?
2. Do you like funny movies or TV shows? Which one?
3. Who is your favorite comedian?
4. Can you tell a simple joke in English?
5. What is a funny story from your life?
6. Do you enjoy cartoons? Which ones?
7. What is different about humor in your country?
8. Do you like to make people laugh?
9. How do you feel when you laugh a lot?
10. Do you like clowns? Why or why not?
11. What is a funny game you play with friends?
12. Do you laugh at the same things as your family?
13. What is the funniest book you’ve read?
14. Do you find humor in everyday situations?
15. How do you react when you don’t understand a joke?
16. Are there funny words in English you like?
17. What do you think about jokes in different languages?
18. Have you ever been to a comedy show?
19. Can animals be funny? How?
20. What is something silly that you enjoy doing?

B1 Level (Intermediate)

1. Why is humor important in life?
2. How does humor differ across cultures?
3. Discuss the role of humor in friendships.
4. Can humor be a way to cope with stress?
5. How do comedians influence society?
6. What are the limits of humor?
7. Discuss the difference between sarcasm and humor.
8. How does humor change with age?
9. Can humor be used to teach? How?
10. What is a comedy show or movie that made you think?
11. How does humor play a role in your family life?
12. What is your opinion on practical jokes?
13. How do people use humor on social media?
14. Discuss the use of humor in advertising.
15. Can humor be offensive? Why or why not?
16. How do you react when someone doesn’t understand your joke?
17. What are some popular comedy TV shows in your country?
18. How can humor bring people together?
19. Discuss the importance of timing in humor.
20. What are some challenges of translating humor?

B2 Level (Upper-Intermediate)

1. Analyze the psychological benefits of humor.
2. Discuss how humor can bridge cultural gaps.
3. Evaluate the role of humor in political satire.
4. How does humor reflect societal norms?
5. Discuss the ethics of humor in sensitive topics.
6. Can humor be a form of resistance? How?
7. How has humor evolved with technology?
8. Examine the impact of humor in the workplace.
9. Discuss the role of humor in literature.
10. How does humor vary in different languages?
11. Evaluate the impact of humor on mental health.
12. Discuss the use of humor in public speaking.
13. How does humor contribute to creativity?
14. Can humor be harmful? Discuss.
15. How do humor styles differ globally?
16. Discuss the importance of humor in relationships.
17. Analyze the role of humor in cultural identity.
18. How does humor influence media and entertainment?
19. Discuss the challenges comedians face in different societies.
20. Can humor be a coping mechanism in difficult times?

C1 Level (Advanced)

1. Critique the use of humor in contemporary media.
2. Explore the relationship between humor and power dynamics.
3. Analyze the socio-cultural influences on humor.
4. Discuss the globalization of comedy and humor.
5. Evaluate the impact of digital humor platforms.
6. Discuss humor as a tool for social commentary.
7. Analyze the role of humor in shaping public discourse.
8. How does humor contribute to cultural diplomacy?
9. Discuss the balance between humor and sensitivity.
10. Examine the role of humor in conflict resolution.

C2 Level (Proficiency)

1. Debate the statement: “Humor is a universal language.”
2. Analyze the philosophical aspects of humor.
3. Discuss the role of humor in an increasingly polarized world.
4. Evaluate the statement: “All humor is cultural.”
5. How does humor interact with the concepts of identity and belonging?
6. Analyze the impact of humor on societal norms and values.
7. Explore the role of humor in the human psyche.
8. Discuss the potential of humor in fostering global understanding.
9. Critically assess the evolution of humor over time.
10. Examine the future trends in humor and comedy.