Dating is a topic that sparks lively conversations across all levels, from first-date stories to cultural differences in relationships. Be mindful that some students may have different comfort levels discussing romance, so read the room.
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)
- What are three things you like to talk about on a first date?
- Do you like romantic movies? What’s a good one you have seen?
- How do you feel before a first date? Are you nervous or excited?
- What is your favorite kind of food to eat on a date? Do you like to try new foods or stick with what you know?
- What are three things you look for in a partner?
- Have you ever asked someone on a date? How did you do it?
- Do you like to text or call someone before going on a date with them? What do you talk about?
- What is a good season or time of year for a date? What do you like to do?
- Do you prefer going on a date with one person or going out with a group of friends? Why?
- How long do your dates usually last? What do you think is the right amount of time?
- Have any of your friends told you a funny dating story? What happened?
Elementary (A2)
- Where is the best place in your city to take a date? What makes it a good spot?
- How common are blind dates in your country? How do people usually feel about them?
- What is the best way to meet boyfriends or girlfriends? Why do you think so?
- What was the worst or best date you have ever been on? Tell me about it.
- Do you prefer going on a date to a restaurant or doing an activity together? What’s good about each?
- Who do you ask for advice when you like someone? What kind of advice do they give you?
- What do people in your country usually wear on a first date? Do you dress the same way?
- Do you think roses are a good gift for a date? What other gifts are good?
- What kind of music is good for a romantic date? Do you like that kind of music?
- Who usually plans the date in your country, or do both people plan together?
- Do you like to go on dates during the day or at night? What do you usually do?
- Have you ever cooked dinner for someone you were dating? Tell me about it.
- What’s the most creative date someone has planned?
- Have you ever met someone through a dating app? How did it go?
- Have you ever gone on a date where you didn’t speak the same language well? What did you do?
- What is the most embarrassing thing that can happen on a first date? Has it ever happened to you?
- What is the worst place to go on a date? Why?
Intermediate (B1)
- What can you do if you want to save money and go on a date?
- Do most blind dates go well? If not, why not? What usually goes wrong?
- Describe your ideal date.
- When two people go on a date, who should pay?
- How many people should you date before getting married? Why do you think that number is right?
- What do you think of double dates? What is good or bad about them?
- What kinds of topics should people avoid talking about on a first date? Why?
- What do you think is the hardest part about dating? Why?
- Do you prefer meeting someone through friends or through an app? Why?
- Is it better to plan a date carefully or to be spontaneous? Why?
- Should people date multiple people at the same time? Why or why not?
- Do you think people should date someone with very different interests from their own? How so?
- What do you think makes a relationship serious rather than casual? Give me some examples.
- Is it a good idea to date a coworker? What are the downsides of it?
- Should people introduce a new partner to their family early in the relationship or wait? Why or why not?
- Do you think people today have too many choices when it comes to dating? How so?
- At what age do you think people should start dating? Is it different in your culture or country?
- What do you think is the biggest mistake people make when they start dating someone new?
- If your best friend was in a bad relationship, would you say something to them? What would you say?
- What can you learn about a person by going on a date with them that you can’t learn from texting or video calls?
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
- How has online dating changed the way people meet partners? Have you noticed this in your own experience or your friends’ experiences?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of dating someone from a different culture?
- How is dating different now compared to 20 or 30 years ago? What do you think about those changes?
- How do economic factors like cost of living and job stability affect dating and relationships today?
- What are the differences between dating with the intention of marriage versus dating casually? How do people’s behaviors change?
- How has the concept of ‘long-distance relationships’ changed with technology like video calls and messaging apps? What are the advantages and remaining challenges?
- Compare how dating advice is shared now through social media influencers versus how it was shared traditionally through family and friends. What has been gained or lost?
- In many cultures, there is pressure to be in a relationship by a certain age. How does this pressure affect people’s choices and happiness?
- How do movies, TV shows, and social media create unrealistic expectations about dating and relationships? What are some common examples?
- How do people balance being true to themselves while also trying to make a good impression on a date? What are the risks of each approach?
- Dating apps use algorithms to suggest matches based on your data. How does this both expand and limit people’s choices in partners?
Advanced (C1)
- When people present curated versions of themselves on dating apps, what tensions exist between authenticity and strategic self-presentation?
- How has the increasing acceptance of casual dating and hookup culture both liberated and complicated people’s search for long-term relationships?
- How do changing gender roles and expectations both create new freedoms and generate new pressures in dating relationships?
- The dating industry, including apps and coaching services, profits from people being single while claiming to help them find partners. What tensions does this business model create?
- How does the globalization of dating through international apps and travel both expand relationship possibilities and create new cultural conflicts and misunderstandings?
- Dating apps let you filter people by age, height, income, and more. At what point does having preferences become unfair discrimination?
- Social media lets people publicly display their relationships through photos, status updates, and shared posts. How does performing a relationship online change the relationship itself?
- Dating advice from older generations often contradicts what younger people experience in today’s world. Why does this disconnect exist, and whose advice, if anyone’s, should people actually follow?
- In many societies, single people are still treated differently from those in relationships: in tax codes, social events, housing, and workplace culture. Why is being in a couple still seen as the default, and how does this affect people who are single by choice?
- More people than ever are using dating apps, yet loneliness rates keep going up. Why do you think having so many options for meeting people hasn’t made dating feel easier or more satisfying?
- In some cultures, families help choose a partner, while in others, the decision is completely personal. What are the real consequences of each approach, and does one actually lead to stronger relationships?