classroom questions 6

Conversation Questions
Disaster
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Related: Earthquakes, Tsunami, Disaster Preparation
• Assistance
o Do you know someone who has done any volunteer work?
 What was it?
 Did he or she enjoy it?
o How can you help after a natural disaster?
o If you could volunteer to help after a natural disaster, what could you do?
o Have you ever volunteered to help in a disaster?
 What did you do?
 Did you enjoy it?
o Do you think the Internet can be helpful in a disaster?
o Could the Internet be used for bad purposes in a disaster?
• Financial
o Have you ever given money to a charity?
o How do you decide what charity to give to?
o Are you willing to donate money to help victims of a natural disaster in your
country? How much?
o Are you willing to donate money to help victims of a natural disaster in other
countries? How much?
o How much money should your government give to help victims of natural disasters
in your country and how much to help people living in other countries?
• Disaster
o What is a disaster?
o Have you ever been in a disaster?
o What are some different kinds of disasters?
o What kind of disasters are common in your country?
o What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?
o What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?

o What is disaster insurance?
 Do most people have it?
o Are there ways we can prepare ourselves in advance to cope with disasters?
o What is PTSD?
o How are businesses affected by disasters?
o How are families affected by disasters?
o How are the problems solved after a disaster?
o If you had the power to stop a natural disaster that has happened in the past, which
would you choose? Why?
o What is the difference between natural disasters and man-made disasters?
 Can you name a few of each type?
 Where do these usually often occur?
o Do some natural disasters occur repeatedly in the same area?
Do many people live in these areas?
o What are examples of man-made disasters?
o What examples are there of natural disasters?
 What kind of damage can occur in each case?
 Have you ever been in a natural disaster?
 Do you know anyone who has been in a natural disaster?
 Can you find someone in the class who has been in a natural disaster?
 What natural disasters occur in your country?
• Personal
o Are you prepared for a disaster?
o What can you do to prepare for a disaster?
o Do you know someone who has been in a disaster?
o How do you think you would react in a disaster?
o How can we help children who are victims of disasters?
o Does your family have a plan for what to do in the event of an earthquake?
o Have you ever been injured?
o Have you ever had a broken leg?

o Can you find the story of anyone who lived through a disaster?
o What would you do if you knew there would soon be a serious natural disaster and
this could be your last day on earth?