Elementary level
Some people have special talents: for example, excellence at sport, music, or school.
What about you? Are there any things that you are particularly good at?
(What are they? When did you first know you were good at them? Did you practise a lot? Is it
hard?)
What sport are you good at?
Can you cook? sew? knit? sing? play an instrument? speak a foreign language? do DIY? juggle?
Do hypnotism? Fly a plane? Sail a boat? Ride a motorbike?
Do you have a good/bad memory? Are you good at grammar/spelling/drawing/painting?
Are you a good son/daughter? Are you a good grandson/granddaughter?
Do you have children? If so, are you a good mother/father?
(What are the characteristics of a good mother/father/son/daughter? Why?)
Intermediate level
Some people are able in lots of different fields (in English, we call a person like this “Jack of all trades”)
Are you like this? What different things can you do?
Were you the best in the class at any subject at school? (or the worst in the class? Or in the top three? Or the top ten?)
Perhaps you were the best at a sport? Or music? Or in a club?
Or maybe you were the most popular child in your class?
When you play games (cards, sport, chess, etc.), do you usually win? Are you very competitive, or is winning not important to you?
Are you a “bad loser”? (someone who complains, doesn’t accept their defeat).
Advanced level
Would you prefer to be excellent in one specific area (sport, music, academic subject) or able in many areas at the same time? (Why?)
Have you ever got a job that many other people wanted? (How? How did you feel?)
Have you ever been promoted? (To what position? What did you have to do to get it?)
Have you ever received a bonus for doing good work?
Are you: intelligent, good with people, self-motivated, a “winner”?
Have you ever won a prize for being the best at something? (How did you feel?)
What are people like you generally good at? What are people like you NOT so good at?
Do you believe that your personality is “fixed”? Or can you change the sort of person you are, if you try?
In some cultures, individual success is very important (i.e. America). In other societies, the achievements of the group are more important (i.e. Japan)
What is most important in the place where you live?