Celebrity culture and fandom gives students a chance to talk about their interests while exploring the psychology of why we admire famous people. These questions work well for discussing influences, social media, and the line between healthy appreciation and obsession.
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)
- Who are the most popular singers or groups in your country? What kind of music do they play?
- Are there any groups or singers that you are a huge fan of? What do you like about them?
- What were some of the groups or singers that you really loved when you were younger? Why did you like them so much?
- Have you ever been to a concert? Tell me about it.
- Do you follow any celebrities on social media? What kind of things do they post?
- What three things do fans do at concerts? What looks the most fun?
- Have you ever bought something because a famous person was wearing it or using it? What was it?
- Have you ever changed your hairstyle or clothing because of a celebrity? What did you change?
- Have you ever tried to copy a dance or performance from a music video? How did it go?
- Who is your favorite movie star or actor? What movie do you like them in?
- Do fans in your country have a special name for their fan group? What is it?
Elementary (A2)
- What are some crazy examples of fan worship you have heard of?
- Do you have any posters or photos of famous people in your room? Why?
- What’s the best song from your favorite artist? What’s good about it?
- Do you prefer singers or bands? What’s good about each?
- Do you like watching award shows like the Grammys? Why?
- Do you like any famous singers or actors from other countries? What do you like about them?
- What do celebrities do to stay popular with fans? Give me some examples.
- What celebrity has done something that disappointed their fans? What did they do?
- How did you first discover your favorite singer or group? Did a friend tell you, or did you find them yourself?
- If your favorite celebrity came to your city for a concert or event, what would you do to get ready?
- Some fans collect things from their favorite celebrities, like albums, cards, or signed photos. Do you collect anything like that?
Intermediate (B1)
- How far is too far when talking about fan worship?
- If you could meet one famous person, who would it be? What would you say to them?
- What kind of fans are the most annoying? Why?
- What’s the most expensive thing someone has bought because of a celebrity? Why do you think they bought it?
- What is the most money you would spend on a concert ticket? Why?
- Do you prefer famous people who are talented or famous people who are funny? Why?
- What kind of fan are you: do you just listen to the music, or do you follow everything about the artist? Why?
- Should celebrities be role models for young people? Why or why not?
- Do you think fan clubs bring people together or encourage unhealthy obsession? How so?
- Should there be limits on how fans can interact with celebrities online? Why or why not?
- Do you think talent or appearance matters more for becoming a celebrity today? Why do you think so?
- Should celebrities be expected to speak out about political or social issues? Why or why not?
- Should fans be allowed to approach celebrities in public? Why or why not?
- If you could be famous for one thing, what would it be and why?
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
- What makes some celebrities stay famous for decades while others disappear quickly? Give some examples.
- Some people say that fans know more about celebrities than they know about their own neighbors. Why do you think that is?
- How does social media change the relationship between celebrities and their fans? What do you think about those changes?
- How has celebrity culture affected young people’s expectations about success and happiness?
- How is being a celebrity different now compared to before the internet? Consider both positive and negative effects.
- What role does celebrity culture play in shaping beauty standards and body image? How much does it affect people?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of children becoming famous at a young age?
- How is being a fan of a sports team different from being a fan of a music group? What do the two types of fandom have in common?
- Some celebrities carefully control their public image while others share everything openly. What are the benefits and risks of each approach?
- How do fan communities bring people together, and how can they also push people apart? Can you think of any examples?
- What effect does constant media coverage have on celebrities’ mental health, and what can be done to improve that?
- How has the way people become famous changed over the last 20 years, and what does that tell us about what society values?
Advanced (C1)
- When someone copies everything a celebrity does, their clothes, their hair, their opinions, at what point does admiration become a loss of personal identity?
- Celebrities often say they want privacy, but their careers depend on public attention. How do fame and privacy work against each other, and is there any way to balance the two?
- Fan communities can be incredibly supportive, but they can also become aggressive and toxic. What causes a fan community to cross that line, and why is it so hard to stop once it starts?
- Some people worship athletes and entertainers while ignoring scientists, teachers, and doctors who arguably contribute more to society. What does our choice of idols reveal about what a culture truly values?
- When a beloved celebrity turns out to have done something terrible, fans often struggle to separate the art from the artist. Why is this so difficult, and how should fans handle that conflict?
- Companies spend billions getting celebrities to promote their products because it works: people buy things just because a famous person uses them. What does this say about how humans make decisions, and how much of our consumer behavior is driven by emotion rather than logic?
- Throughout history, societies have always had idols, from religious figures to royalty to modern pop stars. Why do humans seem to need someone to look up to, and how has the type of person we idolize changed over time?
- Young people often build their identity around the celebrities they follow: the music they listen to, the clothes they wear, the values they adopt. Is this a normal part of growing up, or does celebrity culture make it harder for young people to figure out who they really are?
- Cancel culture means a celebrity can lose everything because of one mistake or one controversial opinion. Does this make public figures more accountable, or does it create a culture of fear where no one dares to be honest?
- To what extent do celebrities have genuine influence over social or political change versus simply amplifying existing movements?