NativeUK Logo NATIVEUK.COM LESSONS
September 28th • Education & Curiosity

National Ask a Stupid Question Day

Originally created by teachers in the 1980s, National Ask a Stupid Question Day was designed to encourage students to speak up without fear. The philosophy is simple: there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. Today, we debate why adults become so terrified of asking basic questions, how a fear of looking foolish stunts our growth, and whether modern education systems actually discourage curiosity in favour of standardised answers.

A person looking confused with a question mark

Speaking Discussion

  • Have you ever sat in a meeting or a classroom totally confused, but didn't ask a question because you were afraid of looking stupid? Why?
  • Do you agree with the phrase, 'The only stupid question is the one you don't ask'? Can you think of any exceptions?
  • Why do children ask so many questions, while adults often stay silent? What happens to our curiosity as we grow up?
  • In your opinion, how can a manager or a teacher make it safe for people to ask basic or silly questions?
  • If you could ask a world-leading expert one completely random or basic question about their field, what would it be?
  • Do you think that Google and AI are making us smarter because we can find answers instantly, or dumber because we stop asking why?

Activity 1: The basic Explanation

The Task: You are an Expert Scientist. You have to explain a complex topic (like the internet or gravity) to a 5-year-old child.

How do you explain it without using complex words?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most important part of learning is..."
  • "I think asking questions is..."
  • "In my opinion, curiosity is..."