Topic 171: Taboos and Cultural Differences

A1-A2 (Beginner-Elementary)

1. What is a taboo?

2. Can you think of a taboo in your country?

3. Why do you think some things are considered taboo?

4. What happens when someone breaks a taboo?

5. Do you think taboos are always bad? Why or why not?

6. What are some taboos related to food in your country?

7. How do taboos change from country to country?

8. What kinds of behavior are considered taboo in your culture?

9. Can you think of a time when you learned about a new taboo from another culture?

10. What is a taboo in one culture, but not in another?

11. Do you think taboos are always connected to religion or beliefs?

12. What taboos do you think should change in society?

13. Why do people follow taboos?

14. How do taboos affect how people behave in public?

15. What happens if someone does not know about a taboo in a new culture?

16. How do taboos shape social rules in different communities?

B1-B2 (Intermediate-Upper Intermediate)

17. Why do some taboos exist in many cultures, while others are specific to certain societies?

18. How do taboos relate to cultural values and norms?

19. How can cultural taboos create misunderstandings between people from different countries?

20. What are some common taboos in your culture that foreigners might not understand?

21. How do taboos around death and mourning vary in different cultures?

22. How do taboos influence what is acceptable to talk about in social settings?

23. How can breaking taboos impact a person’s reputation in a community?

24. What are some examples of taboos related to gender roles in different cultures?

25. How do taboos in eating and food customs influence social interactions?

26. Why do some people challenge or break taboos, and what can happen as a result?

27. How does globalization affect traditional taboos in different cultures?

28. What role do taboos play in maintaining or disrupting cultural identity?

29. How does respect for cultural taboos contribute to successful intercultural communication?

30. What is the connection between taboos and the law in different cultures?

31. How do taboos around relationships and marriage differ between societies?

32. Can taboos evolve over time in response to changing societal attitudes?

C1-C2 (Advanced-Proficient)

33. How do taboos in different cultures reflect broader societal concerns about morality, behavior, and respect?

34. What role do taboos play in shaping national or regional identity and culture?

35. How do social taboos influence laws and public policies, and vice versa?

36. In what ways do taboos related to sexuality differ between cultures, and what do these differences reveal about societal values?

37. How do taboos contribute to the regulation of social behavior, and what happens when they are challenged?

38. How does the media influence societal taboos and challenge cultural norms?

39. What impact do taboos have on personal freedom and the ability to express oneself?

40. What role does religion play in defining and enforcing cultural taboos?

41. How do taboos shape the dynamics of power and authority in societies?

42. How do taboos regarding mental health and illness affect treatment and support in different cultures?

43. What are the psychological effects of breaking a cultural taboo, both for the individual and the society?

44. How do taboo topics in politics and government reflect the balance between free speech and respect for cultural sensitivities?

45. How can understanding taboos enhance intercultural understanding and prevent miscommunication?

46. What are the ethical considerations of challenging or breaking taboos in the name of progress or reform?

47. How do taboos related to the environment and sustainability vary, and how can these differences affect global efforts to address environmental issues?

48. What is the future of taboos in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, and how might new taboos emerge?