PERSPECTIVE
Free ESL Conversation Resource · Falling Birth Rates

Falling Birth Rates ESL Discussion Questions

15 conversation questions about falling birth rates, family size, the cost of raising children, population decline and whether governments should intervene.
A1–A2 BeginnerB1–B2 IntermediateC1–C2 Advanced

Use these falling birth rates 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

    Is it expensive to raise a child in your country?

  2. 02

    Do young people in your country marry later than their parents did?

  3. 03

    Why does government money change so little?

  4. 04

    Should a government ask people to have more children?

  5. 05

    Is a smaller country always a problem? What could be better?

Ready for the full lesson?Explore the A1–A2 Baby Bust lesson →
B

Intermediate · B1–B2

Explore the issue

  1. 01

    Do you want to have children someday? Why or why not?

  2. 02

    Have you noticed fewer children in your neighborhood or community recently?

  3. 03

    Why do you think financial incentives haven’t reversed falling birth rates?

  4. 04

    Should governments spend money encouraging people to have children, or on other priorities?

  5. 05

    If birth rates keep falling, what do you think society will look like in fifty years?

Take the topic further.Explore the B1–B2 Baby Bust lesson →

Where have all the babies gone?

One topic. Three levels. Countless perspectives.
C

Advanced · C1–C2

Challenge the idea

  1. 01

    Would you like to have children one day? Why?

  2. 02

    How have family sizes changed in your family?

  3. 03

    Why might richer countries have fewer babies?

  4. 04

    Should governments pay people to have children?

  5. 05

    Is a shrinking population really a problem?

Push the discussion further.Explore the C1–C2 Baby Bust lesson →
Perspective English · Complete lessons

Turn the discussion into a full lesson.

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

A1–A2

Accessible language and clear questions for beginner and elementary learners.

View beginner lesson →B1–B2

Develop the issue with richer vocabulary, reading and discussion.

View intermediate lesson →C1–C2

Explore fertility decline, family choices, economic pressure, immigration and whether population decline is really a crisis.

View advanced lesson →