Happiness: ESL Questions, Phrases, Collocations, Idioms, and Fun Story
When teaching the topic of happiness in ESL classes, it’s helpful to use a variety of questions,
phrases, collocations, and idioms to engage students. Here’s a comprehensive list that can make
the lesson both educational and fun.
ESL Questions About Happiness:
These questions encourage students to discuss their views, experiences, and understanding of
happiness.
1. What makes you happy?
2. Do you think money can buy happiness? Why or why not?
3. How do you feel when you achieve a goal or complete a task?
4. What do you think is the key to living a happy life?
5. Do you believe that happiness is something you can control? Why or why not?
6. What makes people in your country happy?
7. Can a person be happy all the time? Why or why not?
8. What do you do when you’re feeling sad or upset? How do you find happiness again?
9. Who is the happiest person you know, and why?
10. Is happiness different in different cultures? How?
Phrases and Collocations Related to Happiness:
These are useful for helping students talk about happiness in different contexts.
1. Find happiness
• E.g., “She found happiness in helping others.”
2. Pursuit of happiness
• E.g., “The pursuit of happiness is an important idea in many cultures.”
3. True happiness
• E.g., “True happiness doesn’t come from material things.”
4. A source of happiness
• E.g., “Traveling is a great source of happiness for many people.”
5. Happiness comes from within
• E.g., “I believe that happiness comes from within, not from external things.”
6. Achieve happiness
• E.g., “She achieved happiness by living in the moment and appreciating life.”
7. Bring happiness to someone
• E.g., “A small act of kindness can bring happiness to someone’s day.”
8. Make someone happy
• E.g., “A compliment can make someone happy.”
9. Spread happiness
• E.g., “She tries to spread happiness wherever she goes.”
10. Genuine happiness
• E.g., “His smile reflected genuine happiness.”
Useful Vocabulary for Happiness:
These words will help students describe various aspects of happiness.
• Joy
• Contentment
• Bliss
• Euphoria
• Satisfaction
• Delight
• Fulfillment
• Optimism
• Gratitude
• Well-being
Idioms About Happiness:
Idioms can be fun and a bit more informal, helping students speak like native speakers.
1. On cloud nine
• Meaning: Extremely happy.
• E.g., “After receiving the good news, she was on cloud nine all day.”
2. Over the moon
• Meaning: Very happy.
• E.g., “He was over the moon when he found out he got the job.”
3. In high spirits
• Meaning: Cheerful or happy.
• E.g., “She’s in high spirits because of her recent success.”
4. Walk on air
• Meaning: To feel extremely happy.
• E.g., “After their wedding, they were walking on air for weeks.”
5. A happy camper
• Meaning: A person who is content and satisfied.
• E.g., “John is a happy camper today after his team won the game.”
6. Grin from ear to ear
• Meaning: Smile widely because you are happy.
• E.g., “She was grinning from ear to ear after hearing the surprise announcement.”
7. In seventh heaven
• Meaning: A state of complete happiness.
• E.g., “He was in seventh heaven when he finally got to meet his favorite author.”
8. On top of the world
• Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or successful.
• E.g., “She was on top of the world after finishing her marathon.”
Fun Story About Happiness:
Here’s a short story that can prompt discussion, questions, and vocabulary practice in your ESL
class.
The Happy Little Bird
Once upon a time, in a beautiful forest, there was a little bird named Chirpy. Chirpy was always
cheerful and loved singing. Every morning, the first thing Chirpy would do was fly around and sing
songs to the trees, the flowers, and the animals.
One day, a friend of Chirpy, a wise old owl, asked, “Why are you always so happy, Chirpy? What’s
your secret?”
Chirpy smiled and replied, “I’ve learned that happiness comes from inside me. I don’t need to wait
for good weather or a big event to be happy. I choose to see the bright side of every situation. I love
singing, flying, and spending time with my friends, and that brings me happiness every day!”
The owl thought about this for a moment. He realized that sometimes, he waited for something big
to happen before feeling happy. But Chirpy was right—happiness didn’t have to depend on outside
things.
From that day on, the owl decided to be like Chirpy. He started noticing the beauty in simple things,
like the sound of the wind through the leaves or the warmth of the sun on his feathers. Soon, he too
felt happier, every day.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is Chirpy always happy?
2. What do you think the owl learned from Chirpy?
3. Do you agree that happiness comes from within, like Chirpy said? Why or why not?
4. What small things in your life make you feel happy?
5. Can we choose to be happy every day, or does it depend on external things?
Conclusion:
By incorporating questions, collocations, idioms, and a fun story about happiness, you can engage
ESL students in meaningful conversations and language practice. The topic of happiness is
universally relatable and can help students improve their vocabulary while exploring deeper themes
about life and emotions.
