Tag: Speaking

Better Ways to Answer “How are you?”

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“I’m fine. Thank you. And you?” is the standard, most used response to the question “How are you?”. It’s not incorrect, though native speakers do not or will never always answer with this. It’s high time this colloquial expression got a makeover.

Watch this entertaining video and learn to speak as if English were your mother tongue.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some ways to answer “How are you?” the native speaker way?
  2. In your language, how have your responses to this simple greeting question evolved or changed? Is it still essential to give a formal response?
  3. How important is it to speak like a native English speaker?

Toxic People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Has anyone stripped you of your happiness before? As the saying goes ‘Don’t let the silly little things steal your happiness’. Similarly, we should not let toxic people drag us down. Take note of these negative people and avoid interacting with them.

Read this article on different kinds of toxic people you could encounter on a rather regular basis.

https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/8-types-of-toxic-people-you-should-always-avoid.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Share your experience about an interaction with a toxic person.

2. What could be best ways to deal with these eight types of toxic people?

3. Among these eight types of toxic people, which do you consider the most crippling?

Minimalism

B1 –  Intermediate

In an era when we can shop whenever and wherever,  why do some people choose not to?

Minimalism is a lifestyle where you just own what is necessary in order to focus on more important things, interesting isn’t?

Lets take a look on how Japanese people practice this lifestyle.

http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-japans-extremely-minimalist-homes-2016-6

Discussion Questions:

1. What is minimalism?

2. What do you think about minimalism?

3. Would you like to try living as a minimalist?

4. What are the pros and cons of being a minimalist?

Millennials on Dating Apps

B1 –  Intermediate

Does it feel like the dating game is taking over your life?

Well it probably is, sort of. It’s likely to be taking around 16.8% of your life, which is quite a bit when you think about it.

A recent study  found that millennials are spending 10 hours a week trawling through dating apps like Tinder.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dating-apps-millenials-10-hours-week-tinder-bumble-romance-love-a8174006.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever gone/Would you ever go on a date with someone you met on a dating app? Why/why not?
  2. What are the good and bad things about online dating?
  3. Why do you think people, especially millennials, are so obsessed with dating apps?
  4. If you could design your own dating app, how would it work?
  5. Is love really that difficult to find these days? Explain.
  6. What are other things define millennials?

11 Ways to Tell If You’re an Annoying Neighbor

B1 – Intermediate

From apartments to tiny houses, noisy neighbors can be a terrible nuisance to deal with.  Noisy neighbors can really be irritating at times, disturbing your sleep and regular activities.  However, we too, are neighbors to other people and sometimes, we may not know we’re bothering others.

Read the article below to see if you fall into the category of nice or annoying and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-corbett/are-you-an-annoying-neigh_b_6016682.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the most common neighbor complaints?
  2. Do you get on well with your neighbors?
  3. What kind of neighbor are you?
  4. Have you ever had problems with your neighbors? Explain.
  5. What is it that neighbors do that peeves you the most?
  6. Have you ever considered suing your neighbor? Why?
  7. Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated?
  8. How do you keep your neighbors from complaining?

English Conversation – Singlehood

B2 – Upper intermediate

Singlehood is usually defined as the state of being unmarried. However, the term also applies to having no romantic partner. Some people may assume that to be single means to be unhappy. However, some people prefer to live a single life and find many advantages to it.

Singlehood is usually defined as the state of being unmarried. However, the term also applies to having no romantic partner. Some people may assume that to be single means to be unhappy. However, some people prefer to live a single life and find many advantages to it. Others choose to stay single after being divorced or widowed. On the other hand, some people are not single by choice and would like to find a partner with which to share their life.

Watch the video carefully and discuss the questions:

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about Iyanla’s advice? Do you agree with all the advice she give?
2. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being single?
3. What are the main reasons some people live a single life?
4. Do you think most people that are single are happy or unhappy?
5. Describe the differences in lifestyle of a single person from a married person.

Advice to Young Women

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Advice is usually a recommendation about what might be thought, said, or otherwise done to address a problem, make a decision, or manage a situation. Everyone needs to ask advice at some stage in their lives, whether it is from family, friends, colleagues, or another trusted individual. Likewise, we all offer advice, assistance, and support to someone in need of guidance at some point in time.

Watch the video on what advice women can give to younger girls. Be able to answer the discussion question that follows.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the advice that was given to  young women?
  2. What is the best piece of advice you have received from a family member?
  3. What three pieces of advice will you give your children?
  4. Do you often ask family and friends for advice?
  5. Whose advice do you follow more, your parents’ or your friends’ advice?
  6. Do you ask your colleagues for advice?

The Culture Shock of an International Student

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Culture shock is defined as feeling confused and anxious when you visit another country or city. It happens to everyone, even to young students who are more flexible and adaptable to a new environment.

Read the article below to know about the experience of one international student.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/mar/30/i-wasnt-prepared-for-the-culture-shock-of-being-an-international-student

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on and experiences studying abroad?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an international student?
  3. Have you experienced culture shock before? How did you cope with that?
  4. Share an experience you had in staying in another country. What are the things that matched with your expectations before coming to a country and which things didn’t?

Speaking Activity: Talk about…

B1 – Intermediate

Express your thoughts on the following questions. You will be given time to prepare.

  1. Talk about an enjoyable or memorable experience that you had when you were alone. Explain what made this event so memorable.
  2. Talk about a person in your life who has inspired you. Describe the person and explain why you found him/her inspirational.
  3. Talk about an important national holiday in your home country. Describe it and explain why it is important.
  4. Talk about an experience in your life that made you feel embarrassed. Describe it and say why it was embarrassing.
  5. Talk about an interesting tourist attraction you have been to. Describe it and say why it was interesting.
  6. Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you.
  7. Talk about a difficulty you have overcome in your life. Describe the experience and say why it was difficult to overcome.
  8. Talk about a positive experience with learning or using English. Describe the experience and say why it was a positive one.
  9. Talk about something you and your family enjoy doing together. Describe it and explain why you all enjoy it.
  10. Talk about an event from the past that you would like to relive. Describe the original event and say why you would like to relive it.

 

Dying to be Thin: Eating Disorders

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you feel fat? Interestingly enough, fat is not a feeling. For some people, the thought of feeling full, bloated or bigger than they should be conjures up a wide range of emotions.

For people suffering from eating disorders, feeling fat goes beyond the sensation of feeling full after a meal. They also suffer from depression, from feeling unloved and ignored or unappreciated.

Click the link below to learn more about eating disorders.

http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-dying-to-be-thin-what-you-should-know-about-eating-disorders-793076-Feb2013/

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the signs and symptoms of eating disorders?
2. What are your thoughts on the eating disorders mentioned in the article? Is this something that people in your country struggle with?
3. The influence of the media is greater than ever. They promote bodies that are thin and idealistically well proportioned. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?
4. What should the government do to help reduce the number of people suffering from this
condition?