Spark engaging discussions with this ESL discussion on sologamy! As marriage rates decline, new relationship identities are emerging—including sologamy, the act of marrying oneself. This printable and online-friendly worksheet features a thought-provoking video interview with Sophie, one of the first public figures to embrace sologamy. Students will explore cultural shifts in relationships, debate key questions, and engage in structured speaking activities.

Less and less couples are getting married these days, and I hear the word “partner” more often than “husband” or “wife”. Times change and values and cultural norms change with it. Some individuals, however, are pushing the envelope even further by marrying themselves in a new type of relationship identity called sologamy, pronounced so-lah-guh-mi. Sophie was one of the first and most public displays of this new-found relationship status, and the video which accompanies this ESL discussion on sologamy asks her 10 questions. Students will learn about and share their thoughts on Sophie and her sologamy before discussing some bigger issues surrounding relationships and culture today.

💬 What’s Inside?
✔️ Warm-up Discussion – Why do people get married?
✔️ Video-Based Comprehension – Thought-provoking questions on Sophie’s story
✔️ Key Vocabulary Support – Essential terms for deeper understanding
✔️ Pair & Group Speaking Activities – Encouraging debate on modern relationships

Perfect for B1-B2 ESL learners, this ESL discussion worksheet is great for online or in-person classes. Encourage critical thinking and fluency while exploring a unique cultural trend!

Instructions

Do your ESL discussion on sologamy however you’d like, but here’s what we recommend for a 90-minute conversation course:

1. Warm-up: Ask your students to each answer the question: What is the point of getting married?
2. Watch the video once: At the end of the video ask everyone the same question: Is this idea any different than simply being single?
3. Vocabulary: Check out the vocabulary on the PDF and answer any questions.
4. Watch the video a second time: Answer the questions on the PDF in pairs.
5. Speaking Activity: Put students in pairs to complete the speaking activity – directions on the PDF.
6. If you’ve still got time left over, put your students in new pairs or small groups and do the group activity.

The video: https://youtu.be/DVKK1DWYMfQ

Sologamy is pretty far out there. Looking for something a bit more… average for Valentine’s Day?

The Average German Couple around Valentine’s Day