Top 30 Questions for Students to Get to Know About Them

Are you preparing for the first day of a new class or want to get to know more about your students? If yes, our top 30 questions to get to know your students will help you a lot! We’ve created a list of questions to ask students that are great for icebreaking and learning more about them. After asking these questions to your students, you will have a deeper understanding of them, and will also have developed a better relationship. Now, let’s go over the questions that will help you become a teacher who merely knows the students’ names and faces!

Questions to Get to Know Your Students

We have divided the questions into 5 different categories. Every class is different and not all categories might be a good fit for your class. Go over the different types of questions, and figure out which ones might be good for your group of students.

Following are the types of questions for your students:

• Personal Background
• Academic Journey
• Interests and Hobbies
• Well-being
• Goals and Aspirations
• Learning Preferences

Personal Background Questions for Students

1. What is something unique or special about your cultural background or upbringing that you’d like to share?
2. Can you tell me about a significant event or experience in your life that has shaped who you are today?
3. How do your family traditions or values influence your daily life or decision-making?
4. What are some challenges or obstacles you’ve overcome in your life, and how have they influenced your perspective or goals?
5. What is your favourite childhood memory?

Academic Journey Questions for Students

1. What sparked your interest in [specific academic subject or field] and led you to pursue it further?
2. Can you share a memorable academic achievement or project that you’re proud of? What was the process like and what did you learn from it?
3. How do you typically approach studying or learning new material? Do you have any strategies or techniques that work well for you?
4. Have you encountered any significant challenges or setbacks in learning [specific academic subject or field]?
5. Can you describe a teacher, mentor, or influential figure who has had a positive impact on your academic development? What lessons or advice have you gained from them?

Questions About Interests and Hobbies

1. What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities to do outside of school?
2. Can you tell me about a hobby or interest that you’re particularly passionate about? How did you become interested in it?
3. Do you have any favorite books, movies, or TV shows that you enjoy? What do you like about them?
4. Are there any sports or physical activities that you like to participate in? What do you enjoy most about them?
5. Have you ever tried any creative pursuits such as drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument? If so, what do you enjoy about these activities?

Questions About Your Student’s Well-Being

1. How do you typically deal with stress or difficult emotions?
2. Who are the most important people in your life, and how do they support you?
3. What are some ways you like to relax and unwind after a busy day?
4. Can you share a time when you felt proud of taking care of yourself or prioritizing your own well-being? What did you do and how did it make you feel?
5. Are there any activities or practices that you find helpful for maintaining your mental and emotional well-being?

Goals and Aspirations Questions for Students

1. What are some of your short-term and long-term goals, both academically and personally?
2. Can you tell me about a career or field of study that interests you? What draws you to it and what do you hope to achieve in that area?
3. Are there any specific achievements or milestones that you’re working towards in the near future? How do you plan to accomplish them?
4. Have you thought about any extracurricular activities or experiences that could help you pursue your goals or explore your interests further?
5. Can you share a dream or aspiration that you have for your future self? What steps are you taking to work towards making that dream a reality?

Students’ Learning Preferences Questions

1. How do you feel you learn best – through hands-on activities, visual aids, discussions, or other methods?
2. Are there any specific subjects or topics that you find particularly engaging or challenging? What makes them so?
3. Do you prefer working independently, in small groups, or with the whole class when learning new material?
4. Are there any technologies or tools that you find helpful for your learning? How do you incorporate them into your study routine?
5. Can you share any past learning experiences that you’ve found especially effective or enjoyable? What made them stand out to you?

FAQs About Get-to-Know Questions for Students

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about get-to-know questions for students.

What are some good questions to ask students?

Here are some good questions to ask students:

1. What are you passionate about outside of school, and how does it influence your life?
2. Can you share a recent challenge you faced and how you overcame it?
3. What is something you’ve learned recently that surprised you?
4. How do you like to spend your free time, and why?
5. If you could change one thing about your school experience, what would it be and why?

How do you get to know your students in a fun way?

Asking icebreaker questions is a good way to learn about your students, but it can be less interactive and entertaining. To get to know your students in a fun way, incorporate interactive activities like Two Truths and a Lie, where students share interesting facts about themselves and classmates guess which one is untrue. Also organize student interviews, where they pair up and ask each other engaging questions, fostering communication and understanding. Lastly, Guess Who, where students share surprising facts anonymously, promotes curiosity and creates a welcoming classroom atmosphere. These activities not only help you learn about your students’ interests and backgrounds but also build a sense of community within the classroom.

What are good check-in questions for students?

Two good types of check-in questions for students are emoji check-in (for younger students) and highs and lows (for all ages).

• Emoji Check-In: Ask students to describe how they’re feeling using emojis. For example, “Which emoji best represents your mood today?”
• Highs and Lows: Invite students to share the high point and low point of their day or week so far. This encourages reflection and empathy.

What are good warm-up questions?

Here are some good warm-up questions to ask your students:

1. What’s something new you learned recently that surprised you?
2. If you could switch lives with any fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?
3. What’s a skill or hobby you’ve always wanted to learn, and why haven’t you started yet?
4. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
5. What’s a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?

What are 5 funny ice breaker questions?

Here are 5 funny icebreaker questions to aks your class:

• If you were a superhero, what would your catchphrase be every time you save the day?
• If you could magically make one thing disappear from the world forever, what would it be?
• If animals could talk, which one do you think would be the funniest to have a conversation with, and why?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, mythical creatures included, what would you choose and what would you name it?
• If you could only communicate using emojis for a day, how would you express yourself?

More Resources for Teachers

If you are looking for more helpful resources, check out the following articles.

• ESL Classroom Management Tips and Tricks | Teaching ESL
• ESL Classroom Decoration Ideas | ESL Bulletin Board Ideas
• Whiteboard Games and Activities for ESL Classes
• Find Someone Who Game | Get to Know you Bingo ESL Icebreaker
• Small Talk Ideas for ESL Lessons and Conversation Classes

Questions for Students: Join the Conversation

Do you have your own way of getting to know your students? If you do, please share your trips and tricks in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.