The Most Important School Subjects

Type: Vocabulary
Originally published on June 30, 2019 and last updated on May 28, 2023

Talking about the most important subjects at school is a valuable conversation topic for English learners as it not only engages their language skills but also encourages critical thinking and cultural understanding. Discussing this topic allows learners to express their opinions, compare educational systems and explore the significance of various subjects in different contexts. Additionally, it fosters vocabulary expansion, sentence structuring and argumentative abilities.

By analyzing the importance of subjects, learners can improve their language proficiency while gaining insights into the diverse educational landscapes worldwide.

Instructions:
Go through the vocabulary below with your students and ask them to try and use this vocabaulry where possible when discussing the different conversation questions.

About The Most Important Subjects

There are many different subjects that students take at school which will differ depending on the school and country. Many consider core subjects such as language and maths as being among the most important subjects.

Other traditional subjects such as history and geography are also considered important by the majority of people whereas other subjects like computing or physical education are viewed as less important. As times change and society evolves the importance given to different subjects is likely to change as well.

Useful Vocabulary

Try and use the following vocabulary when answering the question. Click to look up the definition in the dictionary

  • subject (noun)
  • important (adjective)
  • education (noun)
  • history (noun)
  • mathematics (maths) (noun)
  • language (noun)
  • literature (noun)
  • physical education (PE) (noun)

Conversation Questions

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  • What are the most important subjects for children at school?
  • What was your favourite subject at school?
  • What subject were you best at?
  • What subject did you consider the most important when you were at school? Do you still think this subject is the most important today?
  • What subjects do you consider not very important to children's education?
  • Are there any subjects that you think should be introduced into the education system?
  • Should coding and computer science be mandatory subjects in schools? Why or why not?
  • Should physical education be given equal importance to academic subjects?
  • Do you think foreign language education should be prioritised in school curriculum?
  • How do you think extracurricular activities complement academic subjects in a student's overall development?
  • Should schools prioritise vocational training and practical skills over traditional academic subjects?
Gregory
This conversation topic was prepared by Gregory

Gregory is a qualified TEFL teacher who has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (ESL) for over a decade. He has taught in-person classes in Spain and to English learners around the world online.