topics for english b

i am not always great at choosing the right topic for a class.

my students are kind enough to display blatant signs of near-comatose boredom if i pick something they dislike.

recent topics / reception they received:

1. is fast food addictive?

reaction:

strenuous defence of burger king and kfc. less solidarity for mc donalds. enthusiastic updates on local mobile phone operator that offers promotion at a number of fast food outlets (you can get 2nd menu for free).

2. facebook.

reaction:

religious reverence for facebook in all of its forms (games, gossip, spying on ex boyfriends, pictures, videos...)

3. globalisation - are you in favour or against it?

reaction:

looooooooong (slightly aghast) silence. polite (but firm) request to talk about something else. please. now.

4. are you in favour of turkey entering the e.u.?

comments included -

"we are very much in favour of this".

"very good idea".

but "france and germany hate us".

5. short story by william boyd.

(never again).

6. daily telegraph article by gossip columnist celia walden

(they were more amused by how funny I kept on saying it was - but could not tune in to her dry sense of humour).

7. interview with rihanna on glamour uk

(major success).

8. would you be happy if this country hosted the next olympic games?

(initial puzzlement, subsequent enthusiasm).

9. stress and today's lifestyle.

(nobody saw the point).

10. trash-rubbish-litter-junk-garbage-etc what's the difference?

(most approved part - the example "britney spears is often labelled as white trash")

11. tipsy-drunk-wasted-out of it-merry-etc

(they loved this).

12. financial times articles comparing the crisis of japan airlines and the success story of turkish airlines.

(never again)

13. group activity on "time" magazine

(favourite bit: article on the first gay marriage in latin america (celebrated about one month ago). especially because of pic of newly weds french kissing).

14. speech and drama class inclusive of limericks

(mixed reactions...)

15. public speaking exercise - imagining to give a presidential campaign speech

(everyone loved starting with the sentence VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE).

16. are women and men equal?

(girls could not wait to say something about this. guys were 50% amused, 50% uninterested - as well as oddly diplomatic).

17. lyrics from beatles' song

(this one was well received. but nobody knew who the beatles were).