Love

Love is universal but shows up differently across cultures and life stages. These questions work well for Valentine’s Day lessons or anytime you want students discussing relationships, family bonds, and what matters most to them.

Questions are organized by level from beginner to advanced. A printable PDF of all the questions is available at the bottom of the page.

Beginner (A1-A2)

1. What is the most romantic movie you know? What makes it so romantic?
2. In all cultures there are famous love stories (i.e. Romeo and Juliet). What is a famous love story in your country?
3. What is the best romantic gift you have ever received? Tell me about it.
4. Who was your first crush? What do you remember about them?
5. What do you do to show your family you love them?
6. What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you? What happened?
7. What kind of gifts do people give when they are in love? What is a good gift to give?
8. Have you ever had your heart broken? What happened?
9. Have you ever been on a blind date? How did it go?
10. Have you ever written a love letter or a romantic message? What did you write about?
11. What do people in your country usually do on a first date? Where do they go?
12. Have you ever been to a wedding? What was it like?

Elementary (A2)

1. Do you prefer going on a date to a restaurant or doing an activity together? What’s good about each?
2. Where is the most romantic place you have been? What makes it so romantic?
3. Do you like romantic surprises or do you like to plan things together? What’s good about each?
4. Who is the most loving person you know? What makes them that way?
5. What was the last romantic thing you did for someone? Why did you choose to do that?
6. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you didn’t expect to? What made you change your mind?
7. What is the worst date you have ever been on? What went wrong?
8. Do you prefer people who are similar to you or different from you romantically? Why?
9. Who is a famous couple that you like? What do you like about them?
10. What is the most romantic meal you have had or would like to have? What made it special?
11. Have you ever given someone a romantic gift that they didn’t like? What happened?
12. Do you think long-distance relationships can work? Why?

Intermediate (B1)

1. Why do you think some people fall out of love?
2. In public, how much affection is too much?
3. When you see a couple, how do you know they are in love?
4. Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?
5. What do you think of valentine’s day?
6. Why are most songs about love?
7. What is the best age to fall in love for the first time? Why?
8. Do you think you need to be friends first before falling in love? Why?
9. Do you prefer big romantic gestures or small everyday ones? Why?
10. Should couples live together before getting married? Why or why not?
11. What do you think makes a relationship last for many years? Give me some examples.
12. Do you think it’s possible to love more than one person at the same time? How so?
13. Should parents try to control who their teenage children date? Why or why not?
14. What do you think of couples who share everything on social media?
15. Do you think people should stay in a relationship for their children even if they’re unhappy? Why or why not?
16. If you could go back in time, would you change anything about your romantic past? What and why?
17. How important is it to have the same interests as your partner? Is it common in your culture or country?
18. What is the biggest mistake people make in relationships? What can they do to avoid it?
19. How often have you seen a relationship where one person loves significantly more than the other? How did that imbalance affect the relationship?
20. Many people say that love becomes less passionate and more comfortable over time. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Why do you think so?

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

1. Do you believe that love can be understood by looking at the brain and chemicals? Why or why not?
2. How is attraction different than love?
3. How is showing love different now from in the past?
4. Think of two different cultures, how do those cultures express love differently?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of dating apps compared to meeting people in person?
6. In many countries, people are getting married later in life than previous generations did. What are the implications of this trend?
7. What role does physical attraction play in long-term relationships? How does it change from the beginning to later stages?
8. How has the idea of a ‘perfect relationship’ been shaped by movies, TV shows, and social media? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
9. Some people say love is a choice, while others say it is a feeling you can’t control. What are the strongest arguments for each side?
10. How do money and financial stress affect romantic relationships? What can couples do to handle it?
11. What role does family approval play in relationships in your culture? How is it different from other cultures you know about?
12. How has the meaning of love changed as people live longer? What new challenges do couples face that previous generations didn’t?

Advanced (C1)

1. Romantic relationships are increasingly expected to fulfill multiple roles: lover, best friend, co-parent, financial partner, and emotional support system. What are the consequences of placing so many demands on a single relationship?
2. When people say they love their pet ‘like a child,’ some people take it seriously while others think it’s silly or inappropriate. What drives such strong reactions to how people express love for animals?
3. Divorce rates are significantly higher now than they were 50 years ago. Some see this as evidence that modern relationships are weaker, while others see it as evidence that people have more freedom to leave unhappy situations. What does this disagreement reveal about competing values in contemporary society?
4. The concept of ‘the one’ (a single perfect soulmate) is central to many romantic narratives, but it also creates anxiety and unrealistic expectations. How does this cultural narrative both inspire and constrain how people approach romantic relationships?
5. When someone uses dating apps, social media, and texting to find love, at what point does ‘putting your best self forward’ become ‘pretending to be someone you’re not’?
6. Romantic love is a fairly recent idea in human history; for most of it, marriage was about economics, alliances, and survival. How does knowing this change the way you think about love today?
7. Why do people often give relationship advice they would never follow themselves? What does this gap between knowing and doing reveal about how we understand love?
8. Jealousy is often described as both a sign of love and a warning sign in a relationship. Where is the line between caring and controlling, and why is it so hard to see?
9. Many people stay in relationships long after the love is gone, because of children, money, social pressure, or fear of being alone. At what point does staying become more harmful than leaving?
10. Different generations often disagree about what love should look like, older generations may value loyalty and sacrifice, while younger ones may prioritize personal growth and independence. Who has it right, or is it more complicated than that?

PDF: Download a PDF of all the questions