For ESL Teachers

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What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?
What’s your all-time favorite meal, and how often do you enjoy it?
What’s your all-time favorite movie, and how many times have you seen it?
What’s your dream job?
When you need to confront someone, would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by e-mail, or by letter? Why?
Which do you prefer: the hustle and bustle of city life or the quiet and serenity of country life? Why?
Do you read or study best in silence or in a place with background noise? Why?
Do you prefer exercising your mind or your body? How frequently do you do either?
Do you prefer that people shoot straight with you or carefully temper their words? Why?
Are you more of a dog person or a cat person? Why?
What’s your preference: plane, train, boat, automobile, horse, or camel?
How far in advance do you prefer to plan? Why?
What’s your favorite board game? Do you usually win?
Who’s your favorite talk show host?
Are you a traveler or a homebody? Explain.
Do you enjoy a good debate or prefer keeping the peace?
What’s your favorite room in your home? Why?
Where’s your perfect dream vacation spot?
Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?
Do you prefer to thoroughly deliberate options or decisively draw conclusions? Why?
What is your favorite style of music, and how often do you listen to it?
What’s your pick: hang glide, sky dive, bungee jump, hot air balloon, or kite?
Which of the five senses do you treasure most? Why?
When you find yourself in an argument, do you prefer to leave and resolve it later or stay and settle it right away? Why?
What’s one thing you would rather pay someone to do than do yourself? Why?
What’s one book you recommend and why?
What annoys you most about women?
What annoys you most about men?
What do you like most about women?
What do you like most about men?
What’s your favorite genre of literature?
What’s your preferred method of getting the news?
What’s your favorite color? Why?
What’s your favorite question to ask? What’s your favorite question to answer?
What’s your favorite expression?
What’s your all-time favorite video game?
What real person, dead or alive, do you wish you could be more like? Why?
What’s your all-time favorite band, and what would you give to meet them?
What’s your least favorite thing to do? Why?
What’s your favorite subject to discuss? Why?
When you fly, do you prefer to arrive at the airport extra early or get there just in the nick of time? Why?
Whom do you most admire? Why?
What bothers you most about perfectionists?
How do you prefer to give constructive criticism? Do you typically wait for someone to ask for it or not? Why?
What are your three favorite television shows? How frequently do you watch them?
Of all the tools and gadgets you own, which one do you most enjoy using?
What is one of your favorite souvenirs brought back from your travels? Where do you keep it?
What’s your choice: baseball, football, Frisbee, wrestling, or boomerang?
What are the best and worst sounds in the world?
When you go to a movie, do you like to sit in the back, middle, or front? Why?
Where’s your favorite spot from which to view the sunrise or sunset?
What’s your most and least preferred form of exercise? Explain.
Growing up, what was your favorite fairy tale or children’s story? Why?
What’s your choice: jigsaw, crossword, or numeric puzzles?
What is your favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan?
What’s your favorite aroma or fragrance?
What’s your favorite spectator sport, and how often do you watch it?
What’s one of your favorite summer activities to do with family or friends?
Do you prefer to plan your vacation or be spontaneous? Why?
What’s your pleasure: horseshoes, shuffleboard, croquet, archery, or darts?
What are your favorite summer and winter sports?
What’s your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why?
What’s your reaction toward people who are outspoken about their beliefs? What conditions cause you to dislike or, conversely, enjoy talking with them?
What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly? Why is that so?
Who is your favorite musician, and how often have you seen him or her perform?
Who’s your favorite comedian?
What’s your fancy: bird watching, butterfly collecting, flower hunting, shell gathering, or star gazing?
What’s your favorite fast-food restaurant and how often do you go there?
What’s the name of your favorite magazine? What do you like most about it?
What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen, and who did you see it with?
When driving, are you more likely to listen to the radio, or nothing at all? Why?
What’s your fancy: skateboard, roller blades, roller skates, ice skates, or snowboard?
What’s your preferred way to meet new people? Explain.
Where’s your favorite place to be? Why?
How do you prefer to learn or memorize new information?
What’s your pleasure: tennis, badminton, volleyball, racquetball, or Ping-Pong?
What is your favorite day of the week? Why?
What’s your favorite season of the year? Why?
When you are home alone, do you need the stereo, radio, or TV turned on? Or do you prefer the quiet? Explain.
What’s your preference: wrestling, martial arts, boxing, or fencing?
Do you have a set place for everything at home or do you simply let things stay wherever they land? Give some examples.
Who’s the best cook you know, and what’s his or her specialty?
Who’s the most creative or artistic person you know?
What’s your preference: motorcycle, dirt bike, moped, mountain bike, racing bike, scooter, or unicycle?
What is your favorite poem or saying? Why is it your favorite?
What’s your favorite quote? Why is it special to you?
Do you prefer window or aisle?
As you fall asleep, do you prefer to be flat on your back, curled on your side, or on your stomach? What position are you in when you wake up?
What type of museum do you most like to visit?
What strikes your fancy: zoo, circus, carnival, county fair, or parade?
What’s your preference: cruise ship, powerboat, sailboat, rowboat, kayak, or inner tube?
What’s your favorite holiday tradition? What meaning does it have for you?
Where’s your favorite place to go when you want to be alone? Why?
Do you remember jokes very well? What’s the best joke you’ve heard recently?
Who’s your favorite person in the whole wide world? Why?
What’s your all-time favorite town or city? Why?
Do you have a favorite painting or drawing? What makes it special to you?
What social issue fires you up?
What are the top three qualities that first draw you to someone new?
What’s your favorite holiday?

Beliefs & Opinions

LESSON PLAN

Conversation class

Topic: Beliefs & Opinions

Language level: Intermediate

Duration: 1 hour

Language skills:

· Speaking: express beliefs and personal opinions; express agreement and disagreement

· Listening: identify and understand specific details/information

Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to share personal opinions, express agreement and disagreement, ask for clarification.

Language:

· Vocabulary: opinions (asking for, supporting, stating, agreeing or disagreeing)

· Grammar: prepositions, present tense

· Pronunciation: topic-related vocabulary

Materials / Resources:

· Handouts provided by the teacher

Procedure:

Warm-up

Ask students : Are you passionate about your beliefs?
Explain the difference between believe and belief
Ask students: Do you have strong opinions on things? What things do you feel strongly about?
Elicit as many answers as possible
Introduce the topic: Beliefs and Opinions
Write examples on the board: stating an opinion, supporting an opinion, asking for an opinion, agreeing with an opinion, partially agreeing or disagreeing with an opinion.

Class or group discussion

Discuss the following questions as a class / Put students in groups, give them a handout and ask them to discuss:

Do you ever try to impose your beliefs on others?
Does anyone ever try to impose their beliefs onto you?
Have you ever been afraid to share your beliefs with anyone?
How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you believe to be true?
Do you ever get into arguments with people who have different beliefs or opinions as you?
Are there any politicians or famous people whose opinions you strongly disagree with?
What is the best way to deal with different opinions in the workplace?
Do you consider other people’s opinions before making a decision?
At work do you ever share your opinions on controversial issues? What type of response do you get?
Do you always give your honest opinion or do you sometimes tell a white lie to avoid upsetting someone?
Whose opinion do you value most?

Pair/Group Activity

Divide students in pairs or groups of 3, or 4 depending on the class size
Write the following list of controversial topics on the board:

Extraterrestrials
Traditional medicine
Telepathy
TV causes violence
Life after death
Men are smarter than women
Alcohol should be illegal
Ghosts
Reincarnation
Vampires
Dogs are the best pets
Dreams have messages
Drugs should be legal

Ask students to answer the following question in their groups: Which of the following do you believe in/agree with? Why?
Encourage students to practice stating an opinion, supporting an opinion, asking for an opinion, agreeing with an opinion, partially agreeing or disagreeing with an opinion.
Monitor the groups and provide help when necessary.
Go over the list of controversial topics as a class.

Your Bucket List

LESSON PLAN

Watch movie online The Transporter Refueled (2015)

Conversation class

Topic: Your Bucket List

Language level: Intermediate

Duration: 1 hour

Language skills:

· Speaking: ask relevant questions in order to obtain specific information; provide required information/description; express needs, wants, wishes, hopes and preferences

· Listening: identify and understand specific details/information

Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to ask for and give information on future plans, talk about wishes, preferences, hopes and regrets, express their opinions, agree or disagree.

Language:

· Vocabulary: wishes, regrets, hopes

· Grammar: use of descriptive adjectives; question formation; future; superlatives

· Pronunciation: topic-related vocabulary

Materials / Resources:

· Handouts provided by the teacher

Procedure:

Warm-up

Ask students about their dreams, hopes, wishes for the future. Encourage them to talk about impossible things.
Write on the board: things to do before you kick the bucket
Ask students to guess / explain the meaning
Introduce the topic: Your Bucket List

Give examples of classic bucket list wishes

Write the examples on the board: I want to be the boss of my own company, win the lottery, swim with the dolphins, help a complete stranger, plant a tree, skydiving
Discuss the following questions as a class: Do you think that bucket lists are a bad or good idea? Why? / Which is the best or worst age to make a bucket list? / When people are close to dying, which things do you think that they regret not having done?

Pair / Group Activity

Write these verbs on the board: donate, gatecrash, dye, invent, participate, start, do, meet, climb, visit, learn, travel, kiss
Explain any unknown words (gatecrash)
Divide students in pairs or groups of 3, or 4 depending on the class size
Each pair/group has to come up with a bucket list using the verbs on the board and add 3 wishes of their own
Encourage students to be creative and allow themselves to dream
Monitor the pairs/groups and provide help / feedback as needed
Each pair/group presents the bucket list to the class
Encourage the rest of the students to ask questions at the end of each presentation
Share your own bucket list with the students
Give feedback

Watch movie online The Transporter Refueled (2015)

Emotions

1. Read the following adjectives for emotions and identify which words describe a positive, neutral or negative feeling. Some words may fit into more than one category.

discouraged
overwhelmed
loved
annoyed
embarrassed
regretful
anxious
enthusiastic
relieved
jealous
frustrated
shocked
hysterical
concerned
furious
thrilled
grateful
uneasy
helpless
defensive
vulnerable
guilty
determined
miserable
wary
proud
disappointed
optimistic
upset
puzzled

The list above contains adjectives to describe emotions. Where possible, change them into nouns.

Choose five of the emotions from the list above. For each emotion, describe a situation you have experienced that made you feel this way.

………………………………………………..
………………………………………………..
………………………………………………..
………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………

Describe…..

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Describe your dream date.
Describe your family.
Describe your favourite type of movie.
Describe your dream house.
Describe your bedroom.
Describe your best friend.
Describe what you had for breakfast today.
Describe the difference between a dog and a cat.
Describe your hometown.
Describe your favourite hobby.
Describe a typical date in your country.
Describe the best gift you’ve ever received.
Describe the most famous tourist attraction in your country.
Describe your ideal vacation.
Describe the strangest person that you have known.
Describe your ideal boyfriend / girlfriend.
Describe the worst boyfriend / girlfriend you have ever had.
Describe your favourite car.
Describe your worst meal.
Describe your favorite actor / actress.

What is your recipe for happiness?

A Recipe for Happiness

Don’t think about your age
Smile
Surround yourself with beauty
Hug someone for at least 6 seconds
Have a positive attitude
Be grateful for what you have
Don’t go to bed sad

ACTIVITY

Discuss with a partner and create your own happiness list. What is your recipe for happiness?

……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………..

Can you talk about …?

Use this questions for a fun filled conversation class!

Can you talk about something you love?
Can you talk about something spicy?
Can you talk about something you hate?
Can you talk about your education?
Can you talk about something you really care about?
Can you talk about your work?
Can you talk about someone you dislike?
Can you talk about a teacher you had?
Can you talk about a dream you’ve had?
Can you talk about a boss you had?
Can you talk about a goal you have?
Can you talk about the hardest thing you ever had to do?
Can you talk about yourself?
Can you talk about a time you lied?
Can you talk about your childhood?
Can you talk about something you regret?
Can you talk about your family?
Can you talk about a mistake you made?
Can you talk about something you believe in?
Can you talk about someone in your family?
Can you talk about a place you’ve visited?
Can you talk about your favorite book?
Can you talk about a time when you where happy?
Can you talk about someone you envy?
Can you talk about a time when you were sad?
Can you talk about something you’ve achieved?
Can you talk about a time when you were excited?
Can you talk about the worst punishment you had when you were a child?
Can you talk about a time when you were frightened?
Can you talk about your first kiss?
Can you talk about your favorite pastime?
Can you talk about someone you admire?
Can you talk about rainy days?
Can you talk about a country or place you would like to visit and why?
Can you talk about something beautiful?
Can you talk about your favorite music / song / band?
Can you talk about something ugly?
Can you talk about something you would happily do again?
Can you talk about something delicious?
Can you talk about your worst vacation?
Can you talk about something pleasant?
Can you talk about a problem you have now?
Can you talk about something boring?
Can you talk about your first boyfriend / girlfriend?
Can you talk about something with a tail?
Can you talk about something with four legs?
Can you talk about a prize you won?
Can you talk about your favorite restaurant?
Can you talk about your dream car?
Can you talk about your country?
Can you talk about your fears?
Can you talk about your hopes?
Can you talk about love?
Can you talk about the most important lesson you’ve learnt in life so far?
Can you talk about your hometown?
Can you talk about something you would never do, if you have the chance to come back to life again?
Can you talk about a time in your life when you were very, very busy?
Can you talk about your past relationships?
Can you talk about something that scares you?
Can you talk about the hardest decision you have ever made?
Can you talk about an embarrassing moment you’ve had?
Can you talk about a time you felt really proud?
Can you talk about a famous historical person who you would like to meet?
Can you talk about what you enjoy doing the most in your free time?