English Conversation – Books & Literature

This is the preparation material for an English conversation lesson about books, literature and reading. Literature is the art of written work and means “things made from letters”.  There are two main forms – fiction (text based on imagination) and non-fiction (text based on factual information).  A love of reading can reduce stress, encourage positive thinking and improve your creativity and imagination. Nowadays, going to a library to read or borrow a book has become a rare event because many people prefer to use the internet to find information or they download an ebook instead.

Vocabulary 

Idioms 

• To have your head in a book – to be deeply involved in what you are reading.
• To hit the books – to begin studying
• Read between the lines – to find a hidden meaning in something that is said or written
• To read up on something – to research a topic
• To read someone’s mind – to know what a person is thinking 

Conversation Questions

• Do you enjoy reading?
• How often do you read a book?
• Did you like reading as a child?
• Did you have a favourite book as a child?
• What is the best book you have read?
• Do you like Shakespeare?
• Do you prefer to read a book or watch a film of the story?
• What kind of literature do you read?
• Do you think today’s literature is at the same standard as a hundred years ago?
• Has the literature of your country influenced the world?
• Do you like classical literature? #
• What do you think of modern literature?
• Did you enjoy studying literature at school?
• In 1857, Gustave Flaubert said: “Read in order to live.” What do you think of this?
• What do you think of children’s literature?
• Are you proud of your country’s literature?
• Are you more interested in world literature or just the literature of your country?
• Do you think we’ll all be reading or listening to e-Books in the future?
• What different kinds of literature exist? Is literature only novels?