Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

1:1 Online English classes. Find out more

“Pirates” ESL Discussion Questions

I. History of Pirates
1. Who were some famous pirates in history?
2. In which time period were pirates most active?
3. What were the main pirate routes in history?
4. Why did piracy decline over time?
5. Which countries were most affected by piracy?

II. Pirate Lifestyle
6. What was the daily life of a pirate like?
7. How were pirate crews organized?
8. What were common pirate punishments?
9. How did pirates communicate with each other?
10. What kind of food did pirates eat?

III. Pirate Ships
11. What types of ships did pirates use?
12. How did pirates acquire new ships?
13. What were some famous pirate ships?
14. How did pirates navigate the seas?
15. How did pirates maintain their ships?

IV. Pirate Treasure
16. How did pirates acquire treasure?
17. What types of treasure did pirates find?
18. How did pirates divide their loot?
19. Are there any famous pirate treasure stories?
20. Have any pirate treasures been found?

V. Pirates in Popular Culture
21. What are some famous pirate movies?
22. How do pirate stories influence our perception of pirates?
23. Can you name a few famous fictional pirates?
24. How are pirates portrayed in literature?
25. Why do you think pirates are popular in culture?

VI. Pirates and the Law
26. What laws did pirates break?
27. How were pirates punished by the law?
28. Did pirates have a code of conduct?
29. What methods were used to capture pirates?
30. Can you name some famous pirate trials?

VII. Women Pirates
31. Were there any famous women pirates?
32. What challenges did women pirates face?
33. How were women pirates treated by other pirates?
34. What motivated women to become pirates?
35. Did women pirates have any advantages?

VIII. Modern Piracy
36. Is piracy still a problem today?
37. Where does modern piracy occur?
38. How do modern pirates operate?
39. What are the consequences of modern piracy?
40. How are governments fighting modern piracy?

IX. Famous Pirate Battles
41. What were some notable pirate battles?
42. How did pirates fight in battles?
43. What weapons did pirates use?
44. How did pirates prepare for battle?
45. What factors determined the outcome of pirate battles?

X. Pirates and Trade
46. How did pirates affect trade in history?
47. What goods did pirates commonly steal?
48. How did piracy impact global economies?
49. Did pirates have any positive effects on trade?
50. How did merchants protect themselves from pirates?

XI. Pirate Legends and Myths
51. What are some popular pirate legends?
52. How have pirate myths evolved over time?
53. Are there any pirate myths with a basis in reality?
54. What is the origin of the “pirate accent”?
55. How did the image of pirates with parrots come about?

XII. Miscellaneous Pirate Questions
56. What is your favorite pirate story?
57. If you were a pirate, what would your name be?
58. What would be your pirate ship’s name?
59. What lessons can we learn from pirate history?
60. If you could meet a famous pirate, who would it be?

🎉 Coming Soon ⏳

🧑‍💻 1 to 1 Online English Classes 👩🏻‍💻

Practice English through Zoom with me, Paul, or one of the teachers I have chosen for you. Suitable for all ages and levels.

Choose the teacher and time you want. 🧑🏻‍🏫👩‍🏫⌚️

You can learn:
– English writing skills (essays, emails, etc.) 
– English conversation practice 
– English pronunciation practice
– Textbook classes
Anything you want

Introductory prices:
60 minute class with native speaker (e.g. Paul): US$34.99 US$24.99
60 minute class with non-native speaker (e.g. Philippines, Indonesia): US$9.99 US$7.99

Interested? Please fill in the form and I will contact you soon!

Feedback