Money generates genuine opinions at every level. A2 students can tell you what they spend money on. C1 students can debate whether billionaires should exist. Between those poles, money questions touch on values, choices, inequality, ambition, and culture in ways that produce genuinely diverse responses and extended conversations.
YapYapGo is a classroom speaking practice tool for ESL and EFL teachers with money as one of its built-in topic categories. For teachers who want a curated set of questions for pair discussion, debate, or IELTS preparation, here are 50 across four levels.A2: Personal and concrete (questions 1-10)
- How do you usually pay for things - cash, card, or phone?
- Do you save money? What are you saving for?
- What do you spend most of your money on?
- Did your parents give you pocket money when you were young?
- Is there something you want to buy but can't afford right now?
- Do you think you are good with money?
- Have you ever bought something and regretted it?
- Do you prefer to buy cheap things or more expensive things that last longer?
- Is it important to you to buy new clothes regularly?
- Have you ever lent or borrowed money from a friend?
B1: Opinion and everyday economics (questions 11-25)
- Do you think it is better to save money or enjoy spending it now?
- At what age should young people start earning their own money?
- Is it rude to ask someone how much they earn?
- Do you think people in your country are good at managing money?
- Should couples share all their money, or keep separate accounts?
- Is tipping a good or bad system?
- Do you think people spend too much on entertainment?
- Would you rather have a job you love that pays less, or one you dislike that pays well?
- Do you think gambling should be legal?
- How has the internet changed the way people shop and spend?
- Do you think it is fair that some people inherit large amounts of money?
- Should there be a minimum wage? What should it be?
- Is it better to rent or buy a home?
- Have you ever worked hard for something and saved up to buy it? How did it feel?
- Do you think prices in your country are fair for what you get?
Tool tip: YapYapGo includes money and finance as a topic category with questions calibrated by CEFR level. A debate timer is particularly useful for questions like 18 and 21, which have genuinely defensible positions on both sides.
B2: Society and systemic economics (questions 26-40)
- Is economic inequality inevitable in a free market system?
- Should the very wealthy pay significantly higher taxes than they currently do?
- Do you think the gender pay gap is a serious problem? What causes it?
- Is it ethical to buy luxury goods when others live in poverty?
- How has the gig economy changed the nature of employment?
- Should governments guarantee a basic income for all citizens?
- Is consumerism making people unhappier?
- Do you think companies have a responsibility to consider social impact, or only profit?
- How does advertising influence the way people spend?
- Is student debt a reasonable investment or a systemic injustice?
- Should a CEO ever earn more than 100 times the average employee wage?
- How has mobile banking changed financial access in developing countries?
- Is cryptocurrency a legitimate investment or primarily speculation?
- Do you think people's relationship with money is shaped more by their upbringing or their character?
- What responsibility do wealthy countries have toward economically poorer ones?
C1: Abstract and philosophical (questions 41-50)
- "Money is the root of all evil." To what extent do you agree?
- Is financial success a reasonable measure of human worth or contribution?
- How does the accumulation of wealth beyond what anyone could spend affect a society?
- To what extent do financial incentives change human behaviour for better or worse?
- Is capitalism the best economic system available, or merely the least bad?
- How does the financialisation of everyday life - housing, education, healthcare - affect social cohesion?
- Is economic growth compatible with environmental sustainability?
- "Debt is a tool of social control." How do you evaluate this claim?
- To what extent do you think financial literacy should be taught in schools as a matter of justice?
- What would a genuinely fair economic system look like, and is it achievable?
A conversation topic generator provides quick additional prompts if discussions finish early. A random student picker keeps the sharing phase fair. For the environment question set, see 50 ESL discussion questions about the environment. For work and money IELTS preparation, see IELTS speaking questions about work and careers.
Sources:
- Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press. - Personal relevance as a driver of sustained speaking engagement.
- Nation, I.S.P. (1989). Improving Speaking Fluency. System. - Opinion tasks as drivers of extended production.