PERSPECTIVE
Free ESL Conversation Resource · Experiences vs Possessions

Experiences vs Possessions ESL Discussion Questions

15 conversation questions about extreme heat, heatwaves, air conditioning, climate adaptation and how people should respond to a hotter world.
A1–A2 BeginnerB1–B2 IntermediateC1–C2 Advanced

Use these experiences vs possessions ESL discussion questions for pair work, small-group speaking or whole-class conversation. Choose the level that fits your learners, or move through all three sections as the questions become more challenging.

A

Beginner · A1–A2

Start the conversation

  1. 01

    Do you spend more money on things or on experiences?

  2. 02

    Have you ever gone to a place because it would look good in a photo?

  3. 03

    Why do people post photos of concerts, trips and dinners?

  4. 04

    Is showing off a concert ticket the same as showing off an expensive watch?

  5. 05

    Do experiences really make people happier, or do we just buy different things now?

Ready for the full lesson?Explore the A1–A2 Experiences vs Possessions lesson →
B

Intermediate · B1–B2

Explore the issue

  1. 01

    Do you spend more on things or on experiences?

  2. 02

    Have you ever chosen a place mainly because it would look good in a photo?

  3. 03

    Can an experience still be authentic if it was designed to be sold?

  4. 04

    Is showing off a concert ticket any different from showing off an expensive watch?

  5. 05

    Has spending on experiences made people happier, or just changed what they buy?

Take the topic further.Explore the B1–B2 Experiences vs Possessions lesson →

Are experiences really worth more than things?

One topic. Three levels. Countless perspectives.
C

Advanced · C1–C2

Challenge the idea

  1. 01

    Which purchase has paid dividends for you, and which quickly lost its luster?

  2. 02

    Have you chosen somewhere mainly for the photograph? What were you really buying?

  3. 03

    Can an experience stay authentic once it has been designed to be sold?

  4. 04

    Is posting a festival wristband for bragging rights any different from flaunting a watch?

  5. 05

    Has the shift to experiences made us happier, or merely changed what we consume?

Push the discussion further.Explore the C1–C2 Experiences vs Possessions lesson →
Perspective English · Complete lessons

Turn the discussion into a full lesson.

Continue with the complete Experiences vs Possessions lesson at the level your class needs. Perspective lessons combine reading, vocabulary, discussion and deeper speaking tasks around one conversation-worthy topic.

A1–A2

Discuss spending on things and experiences, social media, showing off and whether experiences really make people happier.

View beginner lesson →B1–B2

Explore experiences, possessions, authenticity, status and whether buying memories has changed what we consume.

View intermediate lesson →C1–C2

Challenge the experience economy, bragging rights, authenticity and whether materialism has simply taken a new form.

View advanced lesson →