Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Secrets” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Secrets

1. What is a secret?
2. Why do people keep secrets?
3. Can secrets be good or bad?
4. Have you ever kept a secret from someone?
5. How does it feel to keep a secret?

II. Types of Secrets

6. What types of secrets do people usually have?
7. Do you think family secrets are common?
8. What is a personal secret?
9. Can secrets about friends be harmful?
10. What is a secret that you think everyone should know?

III. The Importance of Secrets

11. Why do you think some secrets are important to keep?
12. How can keeping secrets affect relationships?
13. Can secrets create trust between people?
14. What happens when a secret is revealed?
15. Is it ever okay to tell someone else’s secret?

IV. Secrets in Media and Literature

16. What is your favorite book or movie that involves a secret?
17. How do secrets make stories more interesting?
18. Can you think of a famous secret in history?
19. Why do you think secrets are popular in fairy tales?
20. How do secrets change the way we see characters in stories?

V. Personal Experiences with Secrets

21. Have you ever discovered a secret about a friend?
22. How did you feel when you found out a secret?
23. Have you ever shared a secret with someone?
24. What was the hardest secret you ever had to keep?
25. How do you feel about sharing secrets now?

VI. Secrets and Trust

26. How important is trust when sharing secrets?
27. Can secrets break trust between friends?
28. What can you do to rebuild trust after a secret is revealed?
29. Do you think it’s easy to keep secrets in a close friendship?
30. How can you tell if someone is keeping a secret from you?

VII. Secrets in Different Cultures

31. Are there any cultural secrets in your country?
32. How do different cultures view secrets?
33. Do you think some secrets are universal across cultures?
34. How do cultural beliefs affect the way people keep secrets?
35. Can you think of a cultural tradition that involves secrets?

VIII. Secrets and Personal Growth

36. Can keeping secrets help you grow as a person?
37. How can revealing a secret lead to personal change?
38. Do you think secrets can motivate people to improve themselves?
39. How can sharing secrets with others help you feel better?
40. What is a secret you learned from that helped you grow?

IX. Secrets and Technology

41. How has technology changed the way we keep secrets?
42. Do you think social media makes it harder to keep secrets?
43. Can technology help us keep secrets safer?
44. What are some examples of secrets shared online?
45. How do you feel about sharing secrets through text messages?

X. The Future of Secrets

46. Will people continue to keep secrets in the future?
47. How might secrets change as society changes?
48. Do you think secrets will always be a part of human life?
49. How can we teach children about keeping secrets?
50. What do you hope for the future of secrets?

XI. Secrets and Emotions

51. How do secrets make you feel?
52. Can keeping a secret cause stress?
53. How can sharing a secret help reduce anxiety?
54. Do you think people feel guilty about keeping secrets?
55. How can secrets affect your mental health?

XII. Secrets and Community

56. How can secrets impact a community?
57. Are there secrets that bring communities together?
58. How can secrets create divisions in a community?
59. Can community secrets help protect people?
60. What role do secrets play in building community trust?
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