ESL Politics Conversation

This page has example ESL politics conversations to help you learn how to speak about politics and to learn politics words. Being ready to have a conversation is an important part of becoming a fluent English user, and this page will help you prepare. 

To begin this page there are two example conversations that you can read and understand. Each of these have also been turned into short cartoons that you can watch at the same time as reading the text. If you do not understand any of the politics words used in the conversations you can go to the ESL politics vocabulary page to find the meanings.

After the example ESL politics conversations there are three activities that you can do to help you practice having a conversation. The activities are as follows:

• Fill in the blanks in a conversation.
• Write a conversation.
• Conversation topics.

Conversation 1

Situation: Andrew and Bob discuss going to vote in an election.

Andrew: I am going out now, I’ll see you at the lecture later.
Bob: Why are you going so early today? The lecture doesn’t start for ages.
Andrew: I want to go and vote at the polling station now as I’ll be too busy later.
Bob: Why are you going to vote? What is the vote for?
Andrew: What do you mean? It is a by-election.
Bob: Oh. I’d no idea there was an election.
Andrew: What do you mean? Haven’t you seen all the leaflets from the candidates?
Bob: I just threw them away. I wasn’t interested.
Andrew: Aren’t you going to vote today?
Bob: No. Voting isn’t important.
Andrew: Yes it is. It’s very important that you vote when you have the chance.
Bob: Why?
Andrew: Because we are very luck to live in a democracy and not under a dictator.
Bob: So do you vote in all the elections?
Andrew: Yes, I always vote. I think it’s very important to go and vote.
Bob: Should I go and vote today?
Andrew: I think you should, but it’s your choice in the end. Do what you want.

Conversation 2

Situation: Patrick and Jane talk about politics in America.

Jane: Are you sad to miss the election in America?
Patrick: Not too much. Everyone gets very nasty with people who support the other party when there is an election.
Jane: Yes, I do not like it when people cannot debate about politics without becoming mean to each other.
Patrick: I think most people are ok, but the most vocal ones cannot cope with anyone disagreeing with them.
Jane: Will you try to vote in the election from overseas?
Patrick: No I won’t bother. I live in a state that very strongly supports one of the parties, so the other one will never win.
Jane: Which one?
Patrick: My state always votes Republican and the Democrats will never win there.
Jane: Do you want the Democrats to win?
Patrick: I’m not sure. I don’t support one party strongly, so I just look at the policies.
Jane: That is a good way. Consider both and then decide.

ESL Politics Conversation Exercises

The following part of the page has the conversation tasks that you should do to practice using the politics vocabulary while talking. In these tasks you might need to write something first to prepare yourself, but the main aim is to be able to talk. So try not to do too much write as you get better at taking and just have a conversation without any notes to help.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks

For the first ESL politics conversation exercise you need to read the following conversation and decide which of the options (A-D) in each question is the best to fill the gaps. Once you have finished you can use the get score button to see the correct answers.

Situation: Andrew and Bob go to vote together.

Andrew: I am glad that you decided to come and vote.
Bob: I haven’t voted before so you will have to __________(1)__________.
Andrew: First we’ll have to see if your name is on the electoral register.
Bob: What happens if I’m not in the register?
Andrew: You won’t be able to vote. You’ve to be registered if you want to vote.
Bob: Ok, what happens next if I can vote?
Andrew: The official will __________(2)__________ and cross your name off the list to show you have voted.
Bob: How should I vote?
Andrew: You take the ballot paper to the polling booth and __________(3)__________ next to the name of the person you want to vote for.
Bob: Who should I vote for?
Andrew: That is your decision. Each candidate’s party will be listed as well, so think about which __________(4)__________.
Bob: Ok.
Andrew: Then you fold the paper so no one can see your vote and __________(5)__________.
Bob: Is that all I have to do?
Andrew: Yes.  

ESL Politics Conversation

Choose the best option (A-D) in the following five questions to fill in the blanks in the politics conversation given above.

1) Which option is the best to fill in the first blank?

    A) tell me what to do
    B) tell me who to vote for
    C) show me which candidate to select
    D) show me the way out

2) Which option is the best to fill in the second blank?

    A) ask you who you will vote for
    B) tell you to leave
    C) give you a ballot paper
    D) ask you to write down your address

3) Which option is the best to fill in the third blank?

    A) put a mark or cross
    B) write your name
    C) draw a picture
    D) write down what you want the person to do

4) Which option is the best to fill in the fourth blank?

    A) is your favorite colour
    B) party’s policies you like
    C) name you think sounds strong
    D) restaurant to want to eat at

5) Which option is the best to fill in the fifth blank?

    A) take it home
    B) post it to the Queen
    C) put it in the ballot box
    D) leave it in the voting booth

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 2 – Writing a Conversation

In the second ESL politics conversation task you need to write a conversation of your own. You can use the example conversations from above to help you. You need to decide how many people will be having the conversation, what they will be talking about and what they will say. Try to write it using full sentences. Then when you have finished preparing your conversation you can get some friends and all perform the conversation to practice speaking the words.

Exercise 3 – Conversation Topics

For the third ESL politics conversation activity you will need to have a conversation with a friend. There is a set of conversation topics in the is task that you should use. One person takes question set A and one person has question set B. Then you take it in turns to ask questions. When answering you should try to say as much as possible. If you can think of other questions to ask you can use them as well. If you have time you can swap question sets at the end and start again so you have a chance to ask and answer all of the questions.

If you liked these questions there are other ones in my 80 ESL Conversation Cards ebook that you can download. 

Question set A

• Do you think politicians do a good job?
• Would you like to be a politician?
• It is better to have just two political parties or lots of political parties?
• How often should there be elections in a country?
• Do you think spin doctors are important?

Question set B

• Would you like to be the president of a country?
• Do you think it is difficult to be a politician?
• Is a monarchy or a republic better?
• Should everyone be made to vote in elections?
• Who is the most famous politician from your country?

ESL 4u home › Conversation › Politics