Speaking calendar/Air Guitar Championships
August 21st · Oulu, Finland

Air Guitar Championships

Since 1996, the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland have promoted world peace with the motto: if everyone played air guitar, nobody could hold a gun. Competitors perform 60-second invisible solos to prove their rock spirit. Today we're debating the value of silliness—can a bizarre competition really change the world, or is it just adults acting like children? We explore the power of play.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Is silliness a sign of a healthy society, or are we becoming too childish?
  2. Can music without sound (air guitar) actually be considered an art form?
  3. Why is finland the home of so many strange world championships?
  4. If you had to compete in a bizarre sport, which one would you choose?
  5. Does world peace start with big political meetings or small moments of joy?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Peace Pitch

You are the Founder of the Air Guitar Championships. Explain why your sport can stop wars using the word "Camaraderie".

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify your answer in 30 seconds:

  • "Adults need to play more than children."
  • "Invisible art is still art."
  • "Finland is the coolest country in Europe."