The China Teaching Web

Level: Beginner to Advanced

The ESL conversation topic of phobias should produce an interesting discussion. Remind your students that everyone, whether they know it or not, has some sort of fear of something.

Warmup: Tell your students about something that you are afraid of doing or seeing. This will help them to discuss their fears later on.

Give your students a list of phobias from this website. Depending on time constraints, you do not need to give them every phobia; you can choose the ones you think are most interesting or relevant to your class. Ask them to discuss some of the phobias amongst themselves.

Discussion Questions:
1． What do you think is the worst phobia on this list?
2． Do you have any phobias? If so, which one?
3． Do you think that everyone has phobias of something?
4． Why do think people have phobias?
5． What are the most common phobias in China?
6． What do you think is the best way to deal with a phobia? Get rid of it? Live with it?
7． Can you think of other phobias that are not on this list?
8． Name one positive aspect of having a phobia and one negative aspect.