Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Description

Join us for an engaging discussion on the willing suspension of disbelief and how it shapes our enjoyment of science fiction and fantasy. From starships that travel faster than light to worlds filled with dragons and magic, these genres constantly ask audiences to accept the impossible—or at least the highly improbable. But how much are we actually willing to believe, and where do we draw the line? Together, we’ll explore what makes certain fantastical ideas feel convincing, why some tropes stretch our patience, and how creators balance imagination with internal logic. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just curious about how storytelling plays with reality, this session will be a chance to share perspectives on what makes speculative worlds feel alive. Bring your favourite examples, your frustrations, and your wonder—let’s talk about the boundaries of belief in the worlds we love.

Questions list

1. What does “worldbuilding” mean to you?

2. Can a story with impossible elements still feel “realistic”? Why or why not?

3. Is "less realism" more forgivable in fantastical stories than in realistic ones?

1. At what point does a story ask too much from your suspension of disbelief?

2. Is there a difference between “believability” in science fiction vs. fantasy?

3. How much scientific accuracy do you expect from science fiction?

4. Do you prefer when fantasy explains its magic systems, or when it stays mysterious?

5. How do visual effects (in film/TV) impact your suspension of disbelief?

6. Do cultural or personal experiences shape what you find believable in stories?

1. What’s something that instantly breaks immersion for you?

2. How important is internal consistency in making fantastical or futuristic worlds believable?

3. Can humor or self-awareness make unbelievable elements easier to accept?

4. Does worldbuilding detail (maps, languages, histories) strengthen or strain believability?

5. Is there a story you loved even though it “made no sense”? Why did it work anyway?

6. How do you personally decide when to “go along with” a story’s reality and when to reject it?

Get ready for an engaging 10 minutes where you'll receive valuable feedback from your tutor regarding vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar mistakes

Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Conversation - B2-C1 | Advance Level

Description

Questions list

1. What does “worldbuilding” mean to you?

2. Can a story with impossible elements still feel “realistic”? Why or why not?

3. Is "less realism" more forgivable in fantastical stories than in realistic ones?

1. At what point does a story ask too much from your suspension of disbelief?

2. Is there a difference between “believability” in science fiction vs. fantasy?

3. How much scientific accuracy do you expect from science fiction?

4. Do you prefer when fantasy explains its magic systems, or when it stays mysterious?

5. How do visual effects (in film/TV) impact your suspension of disbelief?

6. Do cultural or personal experiences shape what you find believable in stories?

1. What’s something that instantly breaks immersion for you?

2. How important is internal consistency in making fantastical or futuristic worlds believable?

3. Can humor or self-awareness make unbelievable elements easier to accept?

4. Does worldbuilding detail (maps, languages, histories) strengthen or strain believability?

5. Is there a story you loved even though it “made no sense”? Why did it work anyway?

6. How do you personally decide when to “go along with” a story’s reality and when to reject it?

Get ready for an engaging 10 minutes where you'll receive valuable feedback from your tutor regarding vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar mistakes

Rules

Session Details

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Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Conversation - B2-C1 | Advance Level

Description

Questions list

1. What does “worldbuilding” mean to you?

2. Can a story with impossible elements still feel “realistic”? Why or why not?

3. Is "less realism" more forgivable in fantastical stories than in realistic ones?

1. At what point does a story ask too much from your suspension of disbelief?

2. Is there a difference between “believability” in science fiction vs. fantasy?

3. How much scientific accuracy do you expect from science fiction?

4. Do you prefer when fantasy explains its magic systems, or when it stays mysterious?

5. How do visual effects (in film/TV) impact your suspension of disbelief?

6. Do cultural or personal experiences shape what you find believable in stories?

1. What’s something that instantly breaks immersion for you?

2. How important is internal consistency in making fantastical or futuristic worlds believable?

3. Can humor or self-awareness make unbelievable elements easier to accept?

4. Does worldbuilding detail (maps, languages, histories) strengthen or strain believability?

5. Is there a story you loved even though it “made no sense”? Why did it work anyway?

6. How do you personally decide when to “go along with” a story’s reality and when to reject it?

Get ready for an engaging 10 minutes where you'll receive valuable feedback from your tutor regarding vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar mistakes

Rules

Session Details

Report course

Share

Buy with points

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