conversation

25 emotional memories :)

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Have you ever felt really frustrated?
Have you ever felt really exhausted?
Have you ever felt really terrified?
Have you ever felt really embarrassed?
Have you ever felt really ashamed of yourself for doing something bad to somebody else?
Have you ever felt really proud of yourself for doing something good?
Have you ever felt really excited and happy?
Have you ever felt suicidal?
Have you ever felt really disgusted by someone or something?
Have you ever felt really horrified by news you saw on TV?
Have you ever been really sick or hurt?
Have you ever felt really surprised or astonished?
Have you ever felt really lucky?
Have you ever felt really smart?
Have you ever felt really annoyed by someone or something?
Have you ever felt really lost or confused?
Have you ever felt really angry at someone or about something?
Have you ever felt really thrilled or delighted?
Have you ever felt depressed?
Have you ever been really preoccupied by something?
Have you ever been desperate?
Have you ever been heartbroken?
Have you ever felt blessed?
Have you ever felt uneasy?
Have you ever felt free?

Future plans

Ask your classmates about their future plans and write down their answers.

Are you going to …

… go out for dinner this evening? Where ________________________?
… watch a movie this weekend? What _________________________?
… call someone after class? Who __________________________?
… write an email tonight? Why __________________________?
… have a big breakfast tomorrow? What _________________________?
… play sports this week? Where ________________________?
… go on holiday soon? Where ________________________?
… get a job? How __________________________?
… sleep early tonight? What _________________________?
… buy something today? What _________________________?
… improve your English skills? How __________________________?
… get married in the future? Why __________________________?
… learn something new? What _________________________?
… travel abroad next year? Where ________________________?
… save some money? Why __________________________?
… clean your house? When _________________________?

Past Simple: A speaking activity

In the Past

Use the time expressions given below to talk about your memories.

Time Expressions:

An hour ago
This morning
Yesterday
Last night
Last week
Two weeks ago
Last year
Two days ago
Last Saturday
Last Sunday
In 2013
A week ago
When I was six
Yesterday afternoon
When I was ten
Yesterday evening
Five years ago
Last summer
A month ago
In 2012
Last winter
A long time ago
Ten years ago
Last month

My memories:

your first job
your last holiday
the place where you grew up
your first love
your earliest memory
a wedding you attended
a teacher you liked or didn’t like at school
a party you really enjoyed
a holiday you didn’t enjoy
what you did for fun when you were a teenager
your first car
one of your best friends at school
the first time you travelled abroad or far away
a hobby you used to have
our first day at school
your grandparents
a frightening experience you had
an important event in your life
your happiest moment
a subject you disliked at school

Find out if…..

Animated Question Mark

Find out if someone in your class:

has had a problem with the police
has almost died
has met a famous person
has had a frightening experience on an airplane
has had a premonition
has had a dream that later came true
has fallen in love with a person they could not have
has been on a terrible date
has gotten a tattoo
has performed a daredevil act
has backpacked in a foreign country
has been to a gay bar
has eaten something disgusting
has won something (for example, the lottery. a contest)
has been to a casino

Find someone who…

Animated Question Mark

Find someone who:

drank coffee this morning.
watched TV yesterday.
grew up in the country.
played basketball or soccer in the last week.
who skipped breakfast.
took the bus to school.
cut their hair in the last month.
had a date in the last week.
took a trip last summer.
went shopping on the weekend.
read the newspaper this morning.
watched the news yesterday.
grew up in the city.
who ate breakfast.
had a drink with friends in the last week.
went to the beach last summer.
lived with their grandmother when they grew up.
caught a cold in the last month.
who ate fish yesterday.
found money on the street.
went fishing last summer.

Talk for a minute

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Instructions:

Write the conversation topics on conversation cards
Make 3 or 4 sets of conversation cards depending on class size
Depending on the number of students, put the students in groups of 3 or 4
Give each group a set of conversation cards
Ask your students to take turns in taking a card and talk for 1 minute
Ask the other students to time the person who is speaking

Talk for 1 minute about….

Someone you’d like to meet
Your favourite type of weather
Your favourite holiday destination
Music you like listening to
Your favourite food
A place you’d love to visit
Your hometown and why you like it
Another language you’d like to learn
A movie you think is great
Jobs you don’t mind doing at home
A newspaper you enjoy reading
A sport you dislike
A topic you hate talking about
Jobs you hate doing at home
Your home and why you like it
A job you’d like to have
A sport you enjoy playing
What you like about learning English
Activities at home you enjoy doing
The day of the week you like the most
A foreign food you enjoy
A car you’d like to buy
What you like doing at the weekend
Something you like doing at the beach
Something you’d like to do this week
Something you’d like to do more often
The website you like the most
Somewhere you’d like to live

First Impressions

LESSON PLAN

Conversation class

Topic: First Impressions

Language level: Intermediate

Duration: 1 hour

Language skills:

· Speaking: ask relevant questions in order to obtain specific information; provide required information/description; express opinions; describe people (appearance and character)

· Listening: identify and understand specific details/information

Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to discuss first impressions and how accurate they are; practice describing a person’s face, body and character.

Language:

· Vocabulary: adjectives describing appearance and character

· Grammar: use of descriptive adjectives; question formation; comparatives and superlatives

· Pronunciation: topic-related vocabulary

Materials / Resources:

· Handouts provided by the teacher

Procedure:

Warm-up

Write the proverb on the board: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Ask students what it means.
Ask if they think it’s true
Introduce the topic: First impressions
Ask students how much they can tell about a person by their appearance (age, job, hobbies, education, personality, hobbies, marital status)
Optional: ask students to judge you by your appearance

Pair / Group Activity

Write a list of adjectives describing character/personality on the board (dangerous, greedy, intelligent, kind, married, not smart, crazy, generous) and ask students: When you look at someone, what makes you think they are…
Elicit as many answers as possible
Ask the following questions: Have you met someone who you hated right away even though you didn’t know them? / When are the most important times to make a good first impression? / What are the best ways to make a good first impression? / Do you make first impressions based on what people wear?

Pair/Group Activity

Divide students in pairs or groups of 3, or 4 depending on the class size
Give each pair/group a set of pictures of different people
Ask each pair/group to come up with two or three comments about the people in the pictures
Each pair/group shares the comments with the class
Encourage the rest of the students to agree or disagree
Give feedback

100 preferences…

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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

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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

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