A1 Level – Elementary
1. Do you like funny talk?
2. What is a serious face?
3. Do you laugh easily?
4. What is a clear word?
5. Do you sometimes say the opposite?
6. What is a hidden message?
7. Do you get jokes easily?
8. What is a friendly voice?
9. Do you think sarcasm is nice?
10. What is a bad feeling?
11. Do you use strong words?
12. What is a simple truth?
13. Do you feel confused sometimes?
14. What are three ways people try to be funny?
15. Do you think communication is hard?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What is the difference between simple joking and sarcasm?
2. Why is sarcasm sometimes difficult to understand?
3. What are the good things and bad things about using sarcasm with friends?
4. How can a person tell if someone is using sarcasm?
5. Should teachers use sarcasm in the classroom?
6. Why is the tone of voice important in sarcasm?
7. Do you think sarcasm can hurt people’s feelings?
8. What is the purpose of saying the opposite of what you mean?
9. How does sarcasm change when communicating through text (without tone)?
10. What is the difference between irony and sarcasm?
11. Do you think some cultures use more sarcasm than others?
12. What are the problems when sarcasm is used in a serious work meeting?
13. When is the best time to apologize for sarcasm that was misunderstood?
14. What are two differences between polite and rude sarcasm?
15. How does sarcasm affect the feeling of trust in a relationship?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. What are the rules for politely asking someone to stop using sarcasm?
2. How does the use of sarcasm affect a person’s image of intelligence?
3. Should the government provide training on clear, non-sarcastic communication?
4. What is the difference between using sarcasm as defense and using it as humor?
5. Do you believe that sarcasm is a sign of cleverness?
6. What are the challenges for non-native English speakers in understanding subtle sarcasm?
7. How does the focus on being clever prevent honest communication?
8. What is the idea of “dry humor”?
9. Is it fair or unfair when some people are naturally good at sarcasm and others are not?
10. How does a lack of shared context (inside jokes) affect understanding sarcasm?
11. What are the steps for properly responding to a sarcastic comment without getting angry?
12. What is the value of sarcasm in expressing mild frustration?
13. Should public media criticize leaders who use excessive sarcasm?
14. What are the reasons why some people believe sarcasm is inherently negative?
15. How does the use of sarcasm affect problem-solving in a group?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. What are the social pressures to use sarcasm to fit in with certain friend groups?
2. What are the moral problems when sarcasm is used to subtly mock or demean others?
3. How does constant exposure to sarcastic online commentary affect genuine debate?
4. Should workplace guidelines strictly limit the use of sarcasm in professional communication?
5. Analyze the psychological effect of receiving a message where the intent is the opposite of the words.
6. Who is responsible for ensuring that sarcasm is not misinterpreted in diverse groups?
7. What is your view on the practice of using sarcasm to deal with serious, painful situations?
8. Evaluate the role of cultural norms in defining acceptable levels of sarcasm.
9. How does the concept of “plausible deniability” apply to the use of sarcasm?
10. Discuss the concept of “wit” and its relation to sarcasm.
11. What are the problems with having very different tolerance levels for sarcasm in a relationship?
12. What are the legal differences between a sarcastic comment and a legally defamatory statement?
13. Do you agree that the purpose of sarcasm is mainly to show intellectual superiority?
14. What steps should be taken to ensure that online sarcasm is accompanied by clear symbols (emojis)?
15. How does the use of sarcasm affect the creation of a serious, trusting bond?
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Is it fair that the most intelligent people often use sarcasm as a social weapon?
2. What is the right way to think about a speaker’s moral duty to use clear, unambiguous language?
3. How do the platform’s algorithms influence the type of highly sarcastic content that becomes viral?
4. When should the government consider mandatory clarity guidelines for public health communications?
5. What are the moral questions when we talk about using sarcasm to hide personal insecurity?
6. How does the focus on quick wit affect the long-term, necessary investment in empathetic communication skills?
7. Discuss the impact of mass sarcastic commentary on the public’s confidence in institutions.
8. How should leaders use humor without relying on sarcasm to connect with the public?
9. What is the idea of “rhetorical irony” and its use in political satire?
10. What are the long-term effects on society when most communication is highly defensive and sarcastic?
11. What are the difficulties when courts try to decide the true intent of a sarcastic statement?
12. How does the search for quick humor conflict with the need for authentic emotional expression?
13. Do you agree that the most important thing is the listener’s interpretation, regardless of the speaker’s intent?
14. What are the simple moral rules a person should follow when they benefit from a joke that hurts someone else?
15. Should the government set a legal minimum for the amount of clear, non-sarcastic communication in public service announcements?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. What is the real difference between a person’s genuine sense of humor and their use of sarcasm as a defensive mechanism?
2. Debate the idea: Should we completely ban the use of sarcasm in all professional settings?
3. How does the concept of “meaning” change when words are often intended to convey their opposite?
4. What laws or rules are needed to control how technology platforms deal with the use of sarcasm to promote hate speech?
5. How do historical views of satire and political lampoonery affect modern online criticism?
6. How can communities maintain social trust when communication is constantly filtered through irony and double meaning?
7. Argue the point that humans should stop all attempts to regulate sarcasm and accept it as a complex form of human expression.
8. What protection should laws give to people who are penalized for misinterpreting a superior’s sarcastic comment?
9. How can we stop the problem of using sarcasm to imply guilt without providing any direct evidence?
10. What did old thinkers say about communication, virtue, and the moral use of language that is still relevant today?
11. What will happen to the need for human translators if AI can perfectly interpret and convey all shades of sarcasm?
12. How do people use the idea of “I was just joking” to avoid discussing their deliberate rudeness?
13. How does the experience of teaching sarcasm to others improve a person’s understanding of cultural nuance?
14. What is the power of a collective movement to demand a culture of clearer, kinder communication?
15. If scientists could create a perfect, impartial sarcasm detector, how would that fundamentally change human relationships?
