The China Teaching Web

Level: Intermediate to Advanced (appropriate for adults)

The ESL Conversation Topic of Dating should make the time pass by quickly in your English class. Just make sure it does get out of control!

Warmup: Talk about a funny or sad dating experience that you had back in your own country. Ask students if they have any stories they would like to share with you.

Discussion:

1. How is dating in China different than dating in the West?
2. Is it ok in Chinese culture for a girl or boy to date multiple people before they get married? How serious is a dating relationship in China?
3. How does the older generation feel about dating? If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend do they expect you to marry that person?
4. What does it mean to have a girlfriend/boyfriend in China? Are you allowed to hang out with other friends of the opposite sex?
5. What are dates like in China? Do boyfriends take their girlfriends to movies and dinners? How are dates different in China from what you see in movies from the US?
6. Have you ever been hurt in a relationship before? How did it feel? How did you deal with the pain?
7. If you have kids someday, what advice will you give them about dating? Will you allow them to date freely?
8. Do you think that the changes in boy/girl relationships in China over the last 20 years are positive? Why or why not?