Questions · Teenagers
Questions for teens that don’t feel like an interrogation
Conversation starters for teenagers, for parents at dinner, teachers on a Monday morning and youth leaders with a quiet circle. Silly ones first, then friends and school, then a few that are a bit more real.
- 25 questions
- EN + TL on every card
- Free in the app
Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.
How could you help a friend who was new to a school or neighborhood?
Paano mo matutulungan ang friend na bago sa isang school o lugar?
Being shown where things are or having someone stay nearby — either might help.
Puwedeng makatulong ang ituro kung nasaan ang mga bagay o ang samahan lang sila.
The questions
25 questions for teens
Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.
Silly ones they won’t roll their eyes at
9 questions
Superpowers, inventions and group-chat mishaps.
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Pick a tiny superpower that would make things easier.
Pick one tiny superpower na magpapadali ng ginagawa mo.
Back of the card
Tiny superpowers are best when they solve tiny annoyances. Not every power needs a cape; some just need shorter lines.
Best ang tiny superpowers kapag tiny annoyances ang sinosolve. Hindi lahat kailangan ng cape; minsan shorter lines lang.
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Pick one comic-book power: fly anywhere or appear instantly in another place.
Pumili ng comic-book power: lumipad kahit saan o makarating agad sa ibang lugar.
Back of the card
You have an afternoon to try your power. Choose your first stop.
May isang hapon ka para subukan ang power mo. Piliin ang unang pupuntahan mo.
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What comic-book hero name would fit something you are good at?
Anong comic-book hero name ang bagay sa talento mo?
Back of the card
What problem would your hero solve?
Anong problema ang kayang ayusin ng hero mo?
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Make one harmless rule that the whole world follows for a day.
Kung may isang rule na susundin ng buong mundo nang isang araw, ano iyon? Dapat walang masasaktan.
Back of the card
Imagine everyone following it at once. What small scene would be funny or helpful to watch?
Isipin na sabay-sabay itong ginagawa ng lahat. Ano ang nakakatawa o helpful na makikita mo?
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Invent a new way to travel that does not use wheels.
Mag-imbento ng bagong paraan ng pagbiyahe na walang gulong.
Back of the card
What would passengers call your ride?
Ano ang itatawag ng mga pasahero sa sasakyan mo?
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Pick one joke style that makes you laugh right away.
Pumili ng joke style na mabilis kang mapatawa.
Back of the card
Humor has shortcuts. The joke that gets you fastest usually knows your exact kind of silly.
May shortcut ang humor. Yung joke na mabilis kang tamaan, alam niya yung exact kind of silly mo.
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Finish this: I almost panicked when I accidentally sent...
Tapusin ito: Halos nag-panic ako nung accidentally kong na-send...
Back of the card
Wrong sends create instant suspense. The few seconds after realizing it can feel longer than the whole day.
Iba yung kaba ng wrong send. Yung ilang seconds after ma-realize, parang humahaba bigla yung buong araw.
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What do you usually send in the group chat: updates, memes, reactions, or something else?
Ano ang madalas mong ipadala sa group chat: updates, memes, reactions, o iba pa?
Back of the card
If your messages had a signature, what would it be: an emoji, a phrase, or something else?
Kung may tatak ang messages mo, ano iyon: emoji, linya, o iba pa?
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Describe a funny photo of yourself that you would happily show your friends.
Ikuwento ang isang funny photo mo na okay lang sa'yong ipakita sa friends.
Back of the card
No need to show it. What caption would fit the photo?
Hindi kailangang ipakita. Anong caption ang babagay sa photo?
Friends and school
9 questions
Where they sit, who they are in a group, what makes a game fun.
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When joining friends for an activity, what helps you feel included?
Kapag may activity ang friends, ano ang nagpaparamdam na kasama ka rin?
Back of the card
Being invited and being able to join are not always the same thing.
Hindi laging pareho ang niyayaya ka at ang kaya mong sumali.
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What makes a game with friends fun even when no one wins?
Ano ang nagpapasaya sa laro kasama ang friends kahit walang nananalo?
Back of the card
What would be a funny prize just for joining?
Anong nakakatawang premyo ang puwedeng ibigay sa lahat ng sumali?
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How could you help a friend who was new to a school or neighborhood?
Paano mo matutulungan ang friend na bago sa isang school o lugar?
Back of the card
Being shown where things are or having someone stay nearby — either might help.
Puwedeng makatulong ang ituro kung nasaan ang mga bagay o ang samahan lang sila.
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How can a friend tell when a joke has stopped being fun for you?
Paano malalaman ng friend na hindi na masaya para sa'yo ang biro?
Back of the card
You can say the signal without explaining the whole joke.
Puwedeng senyales lang ang sabihin, hindi ang buong biro.
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If someone worked or studied with you for one week, what would they notice about your style?
Kung may makakasama ka sa work o school for one week, ano kaya ang mapapansin nila sa style mo?
Back of the card
Your style may show in pace, focus, questions, breaks, or how you handle pressure. People notice more than we think.
Pwedeng lumabas ang style mo sa pace, focus, tanong, breaks, o paano ka humarap sa pressure. Marami palang napapansin ang tao.
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Which kind of task makes you lose track of time?
Anong klaseng task yung nakakalimutan mong oras kapag ginagawa mo?
Back of the card
The tasks that make time move fast can reveal what absorbs you, energizes you, or quietly fits how your mind works.
Yung tasks na nagpapabilis ng oras pwedeng clue kung ano ang kumukuha ng focus mo, nagpapagana sa'yo, o bagay sa utak mo.
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When you enter a classroom, meeting room, or café, where do you usually choose to sit?
Pagpasok mo sa classroom, meeting room, o café, saan ka usually pumipili umupo?
Back of the card
Seat choices can reveal comfort, strategy, or pure habit. Somehow we all have a spot our body chooses first.
May sinasabi rin yung seat choice: comfort, strategy, o habit lang talaga. Minsan katawan na ang pumipili.
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In a group hangout, which role do you usually fall into: planner, joker, listener, snack person, or something else?
Sa group hangout, anong role ang usually napupunta sa'yo: planner, joker, listener, snack person, o iba pa?
Back of the card
Group roles can be funny because they appear before anyone assigns them. Somehow every hangout finds its planner, joker, listener, or snack person.
Minsan lumalabas yung role bago pa may mag-assign. Sa bawat hangout, may planner, joker, listener, o snack person talaga.
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How would you like friends to react when you share good news?
Paano mo gustong mag-react ang friends kapag may good news ka?
Back of the card
A loud cheer or a quiet “I'm happy for you” — which fits this news?
Malakas na cheer o tahimik na “Masaya ako para sa'yo” — alin ang bagay sa balitang ito?
A little more real
7 questions
Curiosity, courage and being kind to yourself. Pass is always allowed.
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Recall the last time you tried something new just because you were curious.
Ikuwento ang huling beses na sumubok ka ng bago dahil curious ka lang.
Back of the card
Would you try it again, or was once enough?
Susubukan mo ba ulit, o sapat na ang minsan?
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What have you done recently that you are pleased about?
Anong nagawa mo kamakailan ang ikinatuwa mo?
Back of the card
If your win had a tiny trophy, what would be written on it?
Kung may maliit na trophy ang nagawa mo, ano ang nakasulat dito?
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Pick one distraction you understand, but want to handle better.
Pumili ng isang distraction na gets mo, pero gusto mong i-handle better.
Back of the card
A distraction can make sense and still need care. Understanding it helps you change it without turning cruel toward yourself.
Puwedeng gets mo ang distraction at kailangan pa rin siyang alagaan. Mas madali siyang baguhin kapag hindi ka harsh sa sarili mo.
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Where do you need a little more courage this week?
Saan mo kailangan ng konting dagdag courage this week?
Back of the card
Courage does not always look big. Sometimes it is one honest message, one boundary, or one careful next step.
Hindi laging malaki ang courage. Minsan isang honest message, isang boundary, o isang maingat na next step lang.
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How do you talk to yourself when you fall short?
Paano ka makipag-usap sa sarili mo kapag nagkukulang ka?
Back of the card
The voice you use with yourself matters. It can either add weight or make room for a wiser next step.
Mahalaga yung boses na gamit mo sa sarili mo. Puwede siyang magdagdag ng bigat o magbigay ng space para sa mas wise na next step.
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Pick one small kindness you can give yourself today.
Pumili ng isang maliit na kindness na kaya mong ibigay sa sarili mo today.
Back of the card
Kindness does not need to be grand to be real. A small mercy can still change how the day feels.
Hindi kailangang bongga ang kindness para maging totoo. Kahit maliit na mercy, puwedeng baguhin ang feel ng araw.
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When joining a conversation, what helps you feel comfortable enough to take part?
Ano ang tumutulong para maging komportable kang sumali sa kuwentuhan?
Back of the card
You can invent a first line you would enjoy hearing when you join.
Puwede kang gumawa ng unang linyang gusto mong marinig kapag nakisali ka.
How to use them
Before you ask
Teenagers can smell a lecture from across the room. Ask “how was school” and you get “fine”; ask whether they’d rather fly or teleport and you might get ten minutes. Good questions for teens start sideways: silly, specific and with no right answer, so they can talk without feeling assessed. The real conversation often shows up a few cards later, on its own.
At home, try one at dinner or in the car, where nobody has to make eye contact. In a classroom or youth group, go around the circle with the silly set first, then the questions about friends and school. Answer them yourself, honestly; teens open up to adults who share a little too.
Every card here is light or medium, picked to be safe for a mixed group, with nothing about dating or anything that puts someone on the spot. Keep the “a little more real” set for smaller groups or one-on-one, and never push. Anyone can pass a card, and saying so out loud is half of what makes the rest work.
Good for
Tips
- Let a teenager hold the phone and choose the cards.
- Answer first sometimes, and keep your own answer short.
- Never repeat a teen’s answer to other adults without asking.
- Car rides and dishes beat face-to-face talks.
- Stop while they’re still laughing; you want them to ask for it next time.
Decks for this
Teenagers
Frequently asked questions
What are good conversation starters for teenagers?
Silly, specific questions with no right answer, like which superpower they’d pick or what useless invention they’d still buy, then questions about friends and school, like what helps them feel included in a group.
How do I get my teenager to talk to me?
Ask sideways questions at times when you’re side by side, like in the car or doing dishes, answer them yourself, and don’t turn their answers into a lesson. Let them pass without comment.
What questions can a youth leader ask teens?
Start the circle with light, funny questions everyone can answer, then ask about friendship and belonging. Save the more personal questions for small groups, and always say that anyone can pass.
Are these questions appropriate for a classroom?
Yes. Every question here is light or medium in tone, with nothing about dating, drinking or private family matters, so they suit homeroom, advisory and youth programs.
Bring a better question to the table.
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