ESL Discussions.com
Conversation Questions on Phobias

1)

What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘phobia’?

2)

Do you have any phobias?

3)

How can someone confront and overcome a phobia?

4)

Are all phobias irrational?

5)

How do phobias develop?

6)

Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to your mouth. Do you know of any other crazy phobias?

7)

Do you know anyone who suffers from vertigo – a fear of heights?

8)

What do you think eremophobia - the fear of oneself – is like?

9)

Are people in your country xenophobic (they fear or hate foreigners)?

10)

Can you guess what these phobias are – hydrophobia, zoophobia, sociophobia and numerophobia? What would life be like with these?
(Answers: fear of water, animals, society and numbers.)

1)

What is a phobia?

2)

What’s the difference between a phobia and a fear?

3)

Gary Larson, a famous cartoonist, invented Anatidaephobia - the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you. Can you understand this phobia? Can you invent your own crazy phobia?

4)

Do you know anyone with haemophobia – a fear of blood?

5)

Do you think people are developing new phobias?

6)

What do you think would be the worst phobia to suffer from?

7)

Charlie Brown said: "I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time." Do you also do this?

8)

Do you, or anyone you know, suffer from Anglophobia – a fear of English and English people? How would this affect your studying?

9)

Do you think hypnotherapy can cure phobias?

10)

Someone once said: “Get the facts first. Then panic.” Is this good advice?