Category: Conversation Classes

Posted in B2 First, Conversation Classes

B2: Annoying Habits

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a B2 version of my C1 annoying habits lesson adapted for the lower level and including a B2 First key word transformation exercise.

Students discuss annoying things that the people around them do. They start off my revising some common structures used to express annoyance, read some short texts about annoying situations, learn some idioms and expressions related to the topic and top it all off my doing some exam practice.

Download the content below:

B2_ Annoying HabitsDownload
B2_ Annoying HabitsDownload

B2: Annoying Habits

Lead-in

Discuss the following questions with a partner:

  • Has anything in particular been getting on your nerves recently? At home? In the street? On public transport?

Expressing Annoyance

Look at the different structures we use to express irritation or annoyance.

  • Present Continuous + always(used to describe annoying, repeated habits)
    • He ’s always leaving his clothes on the floor.
  • Keep + -ing(used to highlight continuous, frustrating actions)
    • She keeps forgetting to lock the door.
  • I wish + subject + wouldn’t(used when you want someone to change their behavior)
    • I wish you wouldn’t play music so loudly at night.
  • It drives me crazy when…(used to express strong, daily irritation)
    • It drives me crazy when people leave dirty dishes in the sink.
  • I can’t stand it when…(used for things you intensely dislike or tolerate poorly)
    • I can’t stand it when my flatmate talks on the phone for hours.
  • Get on my nerves(a very common phrase to describe things that irritate you)
    • It really gets on my nerves when people don’t reply to messages.
  • Would you mind + -ing?(a direct, slightly sharp request for someone to stop doing something)
    • Would you mind cleaning up after yourself for once?

🗣️ Task: Can you apply any of these expressions to the things you mentioned in the lead-in?

Reading & Discussion

1. The “I’ll Do It Later” Person

“Honestly, the thing that drives me crazy is when my flatmate says he’ll do something later, and then just… never does it. If you leave your dishes in the sink for three days, that’s not ‘later’ anymore. And the annoying part is he acts surprised when I bring it up. Apparently, I’m the unreasonable one because I don’t enjoy living in a mess. He keeps forgetting that other people live here too. If procrastination were an Olympic sport, he’d definitely win gold.”

Questions

  • What household habits get on your nerves the most?
  • Do you think some people naturally have different standards of cleanliness?
  • How long is it acceptable to leave dishes in the sink?
  • Is it better to confront someone immediately about annoying habits or ignore them?

2. Thermostat Wars

“My partner and I have completely different ideas about what counts as a normal indoor temperature. She’s always turning the heating up, even when it’s warm outside. I’ll walk into the living room sweating, and she’ll be sitting there wrapped in a blanket saying, ‘It’s freezing in here.’ Freezing? We could grow tropical plants in this flat. At this rate, our energy bill is going to ruin us. I wish she wouldn’t treat our apartment like a sauna.”

Questions

  • Are you usually too hot or too cold at home?
  • Have you ever argued with someone about air conditioning or heating?
  • What’s more important to you: personal comfort or saving energy?
  • Do housemates need strict rules to avoid arguments about shared spaces?

3. The Loud Cleaner

“I appreciate that my boyfriend likes cleaning, I really do. But it really gets on my nerves when he decides to vacuum at the worst possible moment. Sunday morning at 8 a.m., when everyone else in the building is asleep? Perfect time for massive noise, apparently. He doesn’t just clean normally—he cleans aggressively. I can’t stand it when he hits the vacuum against my bedroom door. Meanwhile, I’m lying in bed wondering why I can’t just have a peaceful morning.”

Questions

  • What time is too early to do noisy housework?
  • Would you mind living with an overly tidy person, or do you prefer someone a bit messy?
  • Do you think people should change their routines to avoid disturbing others?
  • Is being considerate more important than being productive in shared living situations?

4. Passive-Aggressive Notes

“My housemate has this incredibly irritating habit of leaving little notes around the flat instead of just speaking to people face-to-face. You’ll open the fridge and see something like, ‘Some people should remember milk doesn’t magically replace itself :)’ with a smiley face that somehow makes it worse. I wish he wouldn’t turn our kitchen into a sarcastic office environment. If you have a problem with me, just say it directly! I haven’t done it yet, but I want to just ask him: “Would you mind talking to me like a normal person?”

Questions

  • Which is worse: direct confrontation or passive-aggressive behavior?
  • Why do you think some people avoid saying things directly?
  • Have you ever received a passive-aggressive message or note?
  • What’s the best way to deal with conflict or arguments at home?

5. Kitchen Experiments

“My partner keeps trying these complicated recipes she finds online, which sounds great in theory. The problem is the kitchen looks like a total disaster afterwards. There’ll be flour everywhere, seventeen dirty pans, and weird ingredients just lying around. She’s always leaving a massive mess for me to clean up. After spending four hours cooking, she made me try some strange ‘mushroom foam’ when all I wanted was pasta. I can’t stand it when I can’t even see the kitchen countertops.”

Questions

  • Do you enjoy cooking, or do you see it as a chore?
  • How much mess is acceptable when someone else cooks a meal for you?
  • Would you rather eat simple food every day or try unusual dishes?
  • Have you ever pretended to enjoy someone’s cooking?

Expressions & Conversation

Guess the meaning of the bold expressions from the context, then discuss the questions with a partner.

  1. I wanted to tell him how messy he was, but I decided to keep quiet to avoid an argument.
    • In what situations do you find it best to just keep quiet?
    • Do you find it difficult to stay silent when you’re annoyed?
  2. My partner gave me the silent treatment for two days when I forgot our anniversary.
    • Do you think the silent treatment is an effective way to deal with conflict?
    • What’s a healthier way to show someone that you’re upset?
  3. He completely hogs the bathroom every morning, so I’m always late for work.
    • What annoying habits do people usually have in shared spaces?
    • How would you deal with a housemate who takes too long in the shower?
  4. During lockdown, we had absolutely no personal space, and every little habit became annoying.
    • Do you think people need a lot of personal space to have a good relationship?
    • How much time spent together is too much time?
  5. My housemate and I constantly clash over how clean the kitchen should be.
    • Do you think people should adapt to each other’s habits when living together?
    • What household rules are most important in a shared house?
  6. Everyone else was cleaning up after dinner while he just sat on the sofa and didn’t lift a finger.
    • How important is it to share household chores equally?
    • Have you ever lived or worked with someone incredibly lazy?
  7. Whenever my brother bakes, he leaves a trail of destruction in the kitchen.
    • Are you a tidy cook, or do you make a mess when you cook?
    • Would you rather do the cooking or the cleaning up afterwards?
  8. I usually apologize first just to keep the peace, even if I know I’m right.
    • Is it better to avoid conflict or always be completely honest?
    • Have you ever apologized to someone just to end a stupid argument?

B2 First: Reading and Use of English (Part 4)

For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

It really irritates me when people don’t reply to my messages. 

NERVES 

It really gets on my nerves when people don’t reply to my messages.

  1. My brother has a frustrating habit of leaving his clothes on the floor. 

ALWAYS 

My brother ____________________________ his clothes on the floor.

  1. She regularly forgets to lock the door when she leaves. 

KEEPS 

She ____________________________ to lock the door when she leaves.

  1. I really want you to stop playing your music so loudly at night. 

WISH 

I ____________________________ play music so loudly at night.

  1. It makes me very angry when people leave dirty dishes in the sink. 

CRAZY 

It ____________________________ when people leave dirty dishes in the sink.

  1. I absolutely hate it when my flatmate talks on the phone for hours. 

STAND 

I ____________________________ when my flatmate talks on the phone for hours.

  1. Could you please clean up after yourself for once? 

MIND 

____________________________ up after yourself for once?

🔑 Teacher’s Answer Key

(The bolded words indicate the exact 2-to-5-word answer required)

  1. is always leaving (Present Continuous + always)
  2. keeps forgetting (Keep + -ing)
  3. wish you wouldn’t (I wish + subject + wouldn’t)
  4. drives me crazy (It drives me crazy when…)
  5. can’t stand it (I can’t stand it when… — note: the “it” is grammatically required here!)

Would you mind cleaning(Would you mind + -ing)

Posted in Advanced C1, Conversation Classes

C1: Annoying Habits

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a lesson plan designed for C1 students in which students discuss annoying things that the people around them do. They start off my revising some common structures used to express annoyance, read some short texts about annoying situations, and learn some idioms and expressions related to the topic.

Download the content below:

C1_ Annoying HabitsDownload
C1_ Annoying HabitsDownload

C1: Annoying Habits

Lead-in: 

Has anything in particular been getting on your nerves recently? At home? In the street? On public transport?

Expressing Annoyance

Look at the sentences with different structures and expressions to express annoyance. 

  1. He’s always leaving his clothes on the floor.
  2. She keeps forgetting to lock the door.
  3. I wish you wouldn’t play music so loudly at night.
  4. I’d rather he didn’t use my things without asking.
  5. It drives me up the wall when people leave dirty dishes in the sink.
  6. I can’t stand it when my flatmate talks on the phone for hours.
  7. Would you mind cleaning up after yourself for once?
  8. She acts as if she’s the only person living here.

Can you apply any of these expressions to the things you mentioned in the lead-in?

Reading & Conversation

Read the texts and discuss the situations.

1. The “I’ll Do It Later” Person

“Honestly, the thing that drives me mad is when my flatmate says they’ll do something later, and then just… never does it. Like, if you leave your dishes in the sink for three days, that’s not ‘later’ anymore, that’s basically interior decoration. And the annoying part is they act surprised when I bring it up. Apparently, I’m the unreasonable one because I don’t enjoy living in what looks like the aftermath of a student party. I swear, if procrastination were an Olympic sport, they’d win gold without even training.”

Questions

  1. What household habits annoy you the most?
  2. Do you think some people naturally have different standards of cleanliness?
  3. How long is it acceptable to leave dishes in the sink?
  4. Is it better to confront someone immediately about annoying habits or ignore them?
  5. Have you ever lived with someone whose lifestyle was very different from yours?

2. Thermostat Wars

“My partner and I have completely different ideas about what counts as a normal temperature indoors. I’m convinced she’s secretly part reptile because she keeps the heating on even when it’s warm outside. I’ll walk into the living room sweating like I’ve just run a marathon, and she’ll be sitting there wrapped in a blanket saying, ‘It’s freezing in here.’ Freezing? We could grow tropical plants in this flat. At this point, our energy bill needs its own bank account.”

Questions

  1. Are you usually too hot or too cold at home?
  2. Have you ever argued with someone about air conditioning or heating?
  3. Should the person paying more bills have more control over the temperature?
  4. What’s more important: comfort or saving energy?
  5. Do couples and housemates need rules to avoid arguments about shared spaces?

3. The Loud Cleaner

“I appreciate that my boyfriend likes cleaning. I really do. But why does he always decide to vacuum at the worst possible moment? Sunday morning, 8 a.m., when everyone else in the building is unconscious? Perfect time for industrial-level noise, apparently. And he doesn’t just clean normally either. He cleans aggressively. It sounds like he’s trying to remove the floor itself. Meanwhile, I’m lying in bed wondering if this is how I die.”

Questions

  1. What time is too early to do noisy housework?
  2. Would you rather live with a messy person or an overly tidy person?
  3. Do you think people should change their routines to avoid disturbing others?
  4. Have you ever had noisy neighbours or housemates?
  5. Is being considerate more important than being productive in shared living situations?

4. Passive-Aggressive Notes

“My housemate has this incredibly irritating habit of leaving little notes around the flat instead of just speaking to people like a normal human being. You’ll open the fridge and see something like, ‘Some people should remember milk doesn’t magically replace itself :)’ with a smiley face that somehow makes it worse. If you’ve got a problem with me, just say it directly. Don’t turn the kitchen into some kind of sarcastic office environment.”

Questions

  1. Which is worse: direct confrontation or passive-aggressive behaviour?
  2. Why do some people avoid saying things directly?
  3. Have you ever received a passive-aggressive message or note?
  4. What’s the best way to deal with conflict at home?
  5. Do you think honesty sometimes creates more problems than it solves?

5. The Endless Phone Calls

“My girlfriend calls her friends every single evening, and somehow every conversation becomes a three-hour podcast. The problem isn’t even the talking. It’s that she speaks at exactly the same volume whether the person’s in the room or on another continent. I’ll be trying to watch TV, read, work, think — impossible. And every call ends the same way. She says, ‘Okay, I’ll let you go,’ then continues talking for another forty minutes. It’s honestly impressive.”

Questions

  1. Do you enjoy long phone calls, or do you prefer texting?
  2. How much quiet time do people need at home?
  3. Should people change their behaviour when they live with others?
  4. What’s the most annoying public or household phone habit?
  5. Is it rude to ask someone to be quieter in their own home?

6. Kitchen Experiments

“My partner keeps trying these complicated recipes they find online, which sounds great in theory. The problem is the kitchen looks like a crime scene afterwards. There’ll be flour on the ceiling somehow, seventeen dirty pans, and ingredients I’ve never even heard of just lying around. And after spending four hours cooking, they’ll make me try something called ‘deconstructed mushroom foam’ when all I wanted was pasta. I miss normal food. I miss visible countertops.”

Questions

  1. Do you enjoy cooking, or do you see it as a chore?
  2. How much mess is acceptable when someone cooks for other people?
  3. Would you rather eat simple food every day or try unusual dishes?
  4. Have you ever pretended to enjoy someone’s cooking?
  5. Do social media and food trends make people overcomplicate cooking?

Expressions & Conversation

Guess the meaning from the context.

  1. I had to bite my tongue when my flatmate blamed me for the mess he’d made himself.
    1. In what situations do you have to bite your tongue?
    2. Are you good at keeping quiet? Or do you find it difficult?
  2. My partner gave me the silent treatment for two days when I broke her favorite mug.
    1. Do you think the silent treatment is an effective way to deal with conflict?
    2. What’s a healthier way to show you’re upset with someone?
  3. He hogs the bathroom every morning, so I’m always late for work.
    1. What annoying habits do people have in shared spaces?
    2. How would you deal with someone who takes too long in the bathroom?
  4. During lockdown, we started living in each other’s pockets, and every little habit became annoying.
    1. Do you think people need personal space to have a good relationship?
    2. How much time is too much time to spend together?
  5. My housemate and I constantly clash over how clean the flat should be.
    1. Do you think people should adapt to each other’s habits when living together?
    2. What household rules are important in shared accommodation?
  6. The constant tapping noise he makes with his pen really does my head in when I’m trying to concentrate.
    1. What small noises or habits annoy you the most?
    2. Are you easily distracted when you work or study?
  7. Everyone else was cleaning up after dinner while he sat on the sofa and didn’t lift a finger.
    1. How important is it to share household chores equally?
    2. Have you ever lived with someone lazy?
  8. Whenever my brother cooks, he leaves a trail of destruction in the kitchen.
    1. Are you a tidy or messy cook?
    2. Would you rather cook or clean up afterwards?
  9. I usually apologise first just to keep the peace, even if I’m not wrong.
    1. Is it better to avoid conflict or be completely honest?
    2. Have you ever apologised just to end an argument?
  10. Ever since they started arguing, everyone in the house has been walking on eggshells around them.
    1. Have you ever been in an uncomfortable atmosphere because of other people’s arguments?
    2. What’s the best way to deal with tension in a group or household?
Posted in Advanced C1, B2 First, C1 Reading, Conversation Classes, Reading Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Guest Post: C1/C2 Collins Word of the Year 2024 by Suzy Ratcliff

Posted on by Tim Warre

It’s that time of the year again! No…. not the festive season, the time for Suzy Ratcliff’s ever-excellent lesson plan based on this year’s Word of the Year contest by Collins Dictionaries.

The lesson plan is recommended for C1/C2 students and involves students examining the shortlist for word of the year and putting them into practice in a series of engaging tasks.

Download the student handout and teacher’s notes below:

Collins Word of the Year 2024Download
Collins Word of the Year 2024Download
Collins Word of the Year 2024 – Teacher’s notesDownload
Collins Word of the Year 2024 – Teacher’s notes.docxDownload
Posted in Advanced C1, B2 First, Conversation Classes, Guest Posts, Vocabulary Classes

Guest post: “A Long Time Coming” – Vocabulary/collocations related to national identity and obtaining dual citizenship – B2+

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a guest post by Steve Krajewski from English Coach Online on the topic of national identity and gaining dual citizenship.

Steve writes texts based on his own life experiences and shares them with students. His texts are packed with phrases and collocations that are common in spoken English.

For this post, Steve decided to focus on a text called ‘A long time coming’. This text will enable students to discuss whether they’ve ever done a family tree, what they know about their ancestors and to what extent gaining dual citizenship would have an impact on their lives.

Skills practiced include listening for gist, guessing the meanings of words from context and scanning the text for details.

__________

Download the teacher’s notes and the student handout below:

Students-handout-A-long-time-comingDownload
Students-handout-A-long-time-comingDownload
Teachers-notes-Answer-keyDownload
Teachers-notes-Answer-keyDownload

Download the audio file for the text here:

Long time coming audio.

Student Handout

A long time coming

As I have the right to obtain Polish citizenship by descent, I’ve been spending a great deal of time getting to grips with the Law on Polish citizenship and asking specialists for advice about which documents I need to submit for my application.

Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent is relatively straightforward. Considering the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and the future rights of British citizens who wish to travel, live and work in the EU, holding dual citizenship might be very useful down the line. My father will apply for a Polish passport as well.

A few weeks ago, I hired a genealogist to carry out research on my Polish ancestors. I’ve learned some revealing things about my grandfather, such as the fact that the Soviets deported him and his family to Arkhangelsk, Russia, in 1940. My researcher has also discovered the names, birthplaces and educational backgrounds of my grandfather’s siblings and parents.

Applying for Polish citizenship has made me wonder why so many people don’t take an interest in their roots and ancestors. I certainly feel a little guilty for not visiting the villages connected with my ancestors when I lived in Poland on and off between 2006 and 2013.

So – what do you think? Should families research their family history and start a family tree together?

WORDS AND PHRASES

– a long time coming – arriving or happening after a lot of time has passed

(here I refer to my regrets that it took such a long time to learn about my

relatives)

– citizenship – the position or status of being a citizen of a particular

country

– (by) descent – the origin or background of a person in terms of family or

nationality

– get to grips (with something) – to start to deal with a problem, situation, or job that you have to do

– submit – to give or offer something for a decision to be made by others

– straightforward – uncomplicated and easy to do or understand

– uncertainty – a situation in which something is not known for sure

– surrounding – related to; around; involved with

– rights – a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

– dual citizenship – the status of a person who is a legal citizen of two or more countries

– down the line – in the future

– genealogist – a person who traces or studies lines of family descent

– carry out research (on something) – a careful study of a subject (e.g. medical/historical/scientific), especially in order to discover new facts or information about it

– revealing – showing something that was not previously known or seen

– educational background – your educational background refers to all of the education you have received

– take an interest (in something) – be concerned or curious

– roots – family origins, or the particular place you come from and the experiences you have had living there

– ancestor – a person related to you who lived a long time ago (usually

before grandparents)

– (feel) guilty – to feel intense regret for something

– on and off – only for part of a period of time; not in a regular or

continuous way

– family tree – a diagram showing the relationship between people in several generations of a family

Read Steve’s posts related to ELT and language learning here: https://englishcoachonline.com/blog/

Posted in Advanced C1, Conversation Classes, Guest Posts, Proficiency, Reading Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Guest Post: C1/C2 – Collin’s Word of the Year by Suzy Ratcliff

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a guest post by teacher, teacher trainer, director of studies and materials writer Suzy Ratcliff. The lesson plan is based around the Collin’s Dictionary’s annual blog post revealing the shortlist for the words of the year. It’s a great example of how to exploit a piece of authentic materials to the max!

Download the student’s handout and teacher’s notes below:

Collins-Word-of-the-Year-2022-Student-materialsDownload
Collins-Word-of-the-Year-2022-Student-materialsDownload
Collins-Word-of-the-Year-2022-Teachers-notesDownload
Collins-Word-of-the-Year-2022-Teachers-notesDownload

Blog post

A year of ‘permacrisis’

1st Nov 2022

The 2020s have certainly seen their fair share of upheaval – and we’re only two years in! Already this decade we’ve had to contend with a pandemic and its aftermath, a brutal new war in Europe, and in the UK an economic crisis that saw the Bank of England warning of a “material risk to financial stability”. We’ve also had three prime ministers – so far.

How fitting, then, that 2022’s Word of the Year is permacrisis, a term that perfectly embodies the dizzyingsense of lurching from one unprecedented event to another, as we wonder bleakly what new horrors might be around the corner. Collins defines it as “an extended period of instability and insecurity” and that certainly rings true. Much more of this and we might have forgotten what stability and security ever felt like.

The current permacrisis also happens to be responsible for some of the other words on this year’s shortlist – not surprising given its all-consuming nature. Partygate, of course, is one of the events that set off the period of political turbulence whoseramifications are still playing out. It proves that the “-gate” suffix – made famous by the discovery of secret recordings in Washington DC’s Watergate Hotel – still has some life in it.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine produced an energy shock to which warm banks – places where those too poor to heat their own homes can gather in the event of a cold snap –are one proposed solution. The lexical analogy here is with another grim indicator of economic crisis, the food bank. The invasion also meant that we all quickly learned the Ukrainian spelling and pronunciation of the city of Kyiv. And while warfare may be Russia’s preferred tactic, increased scrutiny of Russia’s super-rich has led to a crackdown on lawfare, the use (or abuse) of legal powers to silence opponents.

In the labour market, changes have been afoot too. There’s been a vibe shift away from the culture that defined the world of work pre-pandemic: now people are less concerned with climbing the greasy pole, and more with quality of life. This has led to an epidemic of so-called quiet quitting, which, as Collins puts it, involves “doing no more work than one is contractually obliged to do”. For burnt-out millennials, it’s a third way between making your job your life and quitting altogether. Work-life balance is important, so why not relax as the year draws to a close by watching some football? The FIFA World Cup is due to start this month in Qatar – but beware the spectre of sportswashing, which some have accused the Qatari authorities of doing, given concerns around human rights and the welfare of migrant workers. This follows the pattern that has given us “greenwashing“, and of course goes back ultimately to “whitewashing“– blotting out imperfections with a thin coat of paint.

All in all, it’s a difficult note on which to begin the Carolean era, which the new king, Charles III, will preside over (the medieval Latin for Charles is, of course, Carolus). Let’s hope this is just a shaky start, and things will improve soon, Your Majesty. In the meantime, we all could be forgiven for just wanting to join our furry friends in splooting – which, Collins explains, is the act of lying flat on the stomach with the legs stretched out – until all of these problems have gone away.

Written by David Shariatmadari, author of Don’t Believe A Word: From Myths to Misunderstandings – How Language Really Works

Ex 1. Complete the sentences with your own ideas, then compare and discuss with your partner.

  1. In 2023, I’d like to see a crackdown on…
  2. The way I see it, … is just around the corner.
  3. In my life, I’ve had my fair share of …
  4. The idea that …. really rings true to me
  5. The word …. perfectly embodies 2022 for me, because…

Ex 2. Discuss these questions:

  1. To what extent do you agree that 2022 has been a year of upheaval? Is it fair to say that the future looks grim or bleak? Why (not)?
  2. Have you witnessed someone close to you or a public figure lurching from one crisis to another? Have you ever experienced this sensation yourself?
  3. How do you predict the aftermath of the World Cup controversy will play out? Could changes be afoot in the world of big sporting events?
  4. In which industries do you think it’s necessary to ‘climb the ‘so-called’ greasy pole’? Have you ever felt that way in your career? Why (not)?
Posted in Advanced C1, Conversation Classes, Current Affairs Classes, Exam Preparation Class, pragmatics, Proficiency

C1/C2: Expressing Opinion – Hot Button Topics

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a quick activity I threw together to help higher level students with expressing opinions on a range of controversial or “hot button” topics. I got the list of opinion expressions from the excellent englishclub.com, they have some great lists of functional language exponents organised by level, check them out:

https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/fl-giving-opinions.htm

Download the handout and PowerPoint below:

C1_C2-Expressing-Opinion-STSDownload
C1_C2-Expressing-Opinion-KEYDownload
Hot-Button-Topics – PowerPointDownload

Procedure

Give out the handout and have students work together to try to complete the opinion expressions.

Go over their answers in open class.

Drill natural pronunciation of the expressions. Point out to students that we often emphasise or stress the part that identifies the stated opinion as our own:

In MY opinion,…

As far as I’M concerned,…

You know what *I* think?

For the hot-button topics you could either brainstorm some with your students by asking:

What issues are people debating fiercely these days?

What was the last heated argument/debate you had about?

Or, you could use the ones in the PowerPoint. Show a slide and have students express their opinions in small groups.

If you have an exam preparation group, the activity would work well as a warm-up to tackling some of the collaborative tasks such as Advanced speaking parts 3&4.

Posted in Advanced C1, Conversation Classes, Proficiency

1st Class Back After Easter – Speaking Tasks

Posted on by Tim Warre

Some quick speaking activities combining chatting about Easter holidays with some practice for exam speaking tasks. Download the PowerPoints and handout below:

Easter-Holidays-Collaborative-SpeakingDownload
Long-Turn-Easter-HolidaysDownload
Proficiency-Speaking-Long-Turn-UPDATE.docxDownload

The long turn task is modelled on the C2 Proficiency speaking part 3 in which students have to speak for 2 minutes about a given topic with 3 bullet points to guide them. Give out the speaking phrases and go over the “cheat sheet” of useful expressions on the first slide. Then put students in pairs and have them take it in turns to complete the task seeing who can use the most expressions, they need to speak on their own for 2 minutes. Once they have finished they should find 5 similarities between their Easter holiday experiences and share them with the class.

Alternatively, if you want something more collaborative, I’ve added a C1 Advanced part 3 style task in a separate PowerPoint. Students should first look at the cheat sheet, clear up any doubts, then have them answer the central question in pairs. You could then give them a further question: “which of these 5 types of activities do you appreciate doing most in your holidays.”

Posted in Conversation Classes, pragmatics

Classroom Pragmatics: Arriving Late & Leaving Early

Posted on by Tim Warre
Five things you could be doing that are driving your professor crazy — Vision Media

This is the first in a new series of classroom pragmatics lesson plans designed to help develop students’ pragmatic competence in specific social interactions that take place in the classroom. In this case, how to apologise for arriving late and how to request to leave early. Download the handout with key below:

classroom-pragmatics-arriving-late-leaving-early-2Download
classroom-pragmatics-arriving-late-leaving-early-1Download

First students rate a good and a bad apology/request. Then they must break the apology/request down into separate functions or speech acts, then practice making their own apologies and requests in a role-play. This should prepare them for the real-life interaction if/when it arises.

Late Arrival

  • What should you do if you arrive late to class?

Rate this late arrival:

Teacher: What time do you call this?

Student: Sorry I’m late, …. traffic ….., I was eating, lost the bus.”

Now this one:

Teacher:  What time do you call this?

Student: Hi Tim, I’m really sorry for being late. It’s my fault, you see, I was having lunch with my friends and I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.

Identify the different stages:

  1. Greeting
  2. Initial apology
  3. Accept responsibility/place blame
  4. Give explanation
  5. Promise action

Useful language

Initial apologyAccept responsibility
I’m really sorry for ….ingApologies for ….ingI apologise profusely for ….ingIt’s (all) my fault…I’m to blame…It’s on me…
Introduce explanation or excusePromise action
You see,…It’s just that…What happened was…It won’t happen again.I’ll try harder to …. next time.I promise I’ll/I won’t…

Role-play

https://rolladie.net/roll-a-d20-die – roll a 20-sided die to choose your excuse then role-play the situation with your partner.

Excuse Table

I overslept. My last class/meeting overran. I lost track of time. I missed the bus and had to wait for the next one. I got stuck in traffic. The metro line was down. I got distracted. I had a (dentist’s) appointment. My (pet/family member) was sick. I lost my (bag/phone/etc.)My bag got stolen. I fell over/tripped and hurt my (ankle/knee) I had a car/bike/motorbike accident. My car/bike/motorbike broke down. My house/flat got burgled/broken into. A water pipe burst in my house/flat. I got held up at the (doctor’s/dentist’s/bank) I got caught in the rain/snow. I got splashed by a puddle. There’s been a death in the family.

Leaving Early

  • How would you ask the teacher if you can leave early?

Rate this request:

Student: I have to leave early today. I have to go to the dentist. Here you have a note from my dad.

Now this one:

Student: Hi Tim, would it be ok if I left early today? I’ll only miss the last 20 minutes of class. The thing is, I have a dentist’s appointment at 3 o’clock, it’s the only slot they had. I’ll get the notes off María before next class and if you could let me know the homework, that’d be great.

Identify the different stages:

  • Greeting
  • Initial request
  • Softening
  • Introduce reason
  • Promise action/mitigation
Polite RequestsIntroducing explanations
Would it be of if + past simpleWould it be possible to + inf.Do you think I could + verb…?The thing is,…It’s just that,….You see,….

Role-play

https://rolladie.net/roll-a-d10-die – roll a 10-sided die to choose your excuse then role-play the situation with your partner. Think of ways to soften the request (I’ll only miss 20 minutes of class)

Excuse Table

It’s your (family member’s) birthday. You have a big sporting event. You have an important exam tomorrow morning. You have a flight/train to catch. You have a dentist’s appointment. You have a doctor’s appointment. You have an appointment at the hairdresser’s. You have an important business meeting. You have to go home to look after your kids/younger siblings. You have an important family dinner.

KEY – ARRIVING LATE

Teacher:  What time do you call this?

Student: Hi Tim, I’m really sorry for being late. It’s my fault, you see, I was having lunch with my friends and I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.

Identify the different stages:

  1. Greeting
  2. Initial apology
  3. Accept responsibility/place blame
  4. Give explanation
  5. Promise action

LEAVING EARLY

Student: Hi Tim, would it be ok if I left early today? I’ll only miss the last 20 minutes of class. The thing is, I have a dentist’s appointment at 3 o’clock, it’s the only slot they had. I’ll get the notes off María before next class and if you could let me know the homework, that’d be great.

Identify the different stages:

  • Greeting
  • Initial request
  • Softening
  • Introduce reason
  • Promise action/mitigation
Posted in Advanced C1, B2 First, Conversation Classes, pragmatics

Pragmatics: Everyday Interactions – Contrastive Analysis

Posted on by Tim Warre
See you in a bit. - Post by camillissima on Boldomatic

This is a lesson plan designed to help Spanish speaking students sound more natural in lots of common, everyday interactions. Download the handout and PowerPoint below:

everyday-english_-contrastive-analysisDownload
pragmatics-everyday-interactions-ppDownload

Students do some contrastive analysis of some high frequency expressions in English and Spanish in order to identify some common errors and put the more natural English expressions into practice.

Everyday English: Contrastive Analysis

Contrastive Analysis

Work with a partner.

Complete the second column with direct translations or common mistakes that Spanish speakers make with these expressions.

SpanishDirect Translation/Common MistakeEnglish Equivalent
¡Hasta ahora! ¡Igualmente! ¿Cuánto tiempo? ¿Qué tal? ¡Que vaya bien! ¡Que te lo pases bien! ¡Aquí lo tienes! No te escucho. ¿Qué pasa? No pasa nada ¿Puedes repetir? ¿Cuánto falta para…? Estoy de acuerdo Una cosa/una preguntaUntil now! …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… ………………………………………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… ……………………………

Now complete the third column with  the more natural English equivalent.

Buzzer Game

Cut out the situation cards below. Put the cards face down in a pile. Turn over one card, the first person to say the appropriate expression for that card takes the card and scores one point. Keep playing until all the cards have been used.

Your housemate is going to the shop, they will be back in 5 minutes. What do you say to them?Your co-worker says “have a good weekend!” as they leave the office. What do you say to them?
Your partner is leaving to go to an important job interview. What do you say to them?You work in a coffee shop. You hand a customer their cup of coffee. What do you say to them?
You put your hand up in English class, you want to ask the teacher a question. What do you say to them?You see an old friend from school you haven’t seen for a long time. What do you say to them?
You’re speaking on the phone but there is loud music playing. You don’t understand what they’re saying because of the noise. What do you say to them?You get home and see that one of your children is crying. What do you say to them?
Your friend tells you that they’re going to Disneyland this weekend. What do you say to them?Your friend says sorry for arriving late to meet you for lunch. You don’t mind that they’re late. What do you say to them?
Your teacher says something very quickly and you don’t understand. What do you say to them?You’re having a debate at work and you have the same opinion as your co-worker. What do you say to them?
You see your friend in the morning and you want to know how they are. What do you say to them?You’re bored at school and you want to know when you will be allowed to go to the playground. What do you say to the teacher?

Key

SpanishDirect Translation/Common MistakeEnglish Equivalent
¡Hasta ahora! ¡Igualmente!
¿Cuánto tiempo? ¿Qué tal?
¡Que vaya bien! ¡Que te lo pases bien!
¡Aquí lo tienes! No te escucho. ¿Qué pasa?
No pasa nada ¿Puedes repetir? ¿Cuánto falta para…?
Estoy de acuerdo
Una cosa/una pregunta		Until now!/See you now!
Equally!
How much time?
What such?
That it go well.
That you pass it well.
Here you have.
I don’t listen you.
What happens?
Happens nothing
Can you repeat?
How much is left for…?
I am agree
One thing/one question		See you in a bit/sec
Same to you!
Long time, no see!
How’s it going?
Hope it goes well.
Have fun!
Here you go/Here’s….
I can’t hear you.
What’s up? What’s wrong?
No worries/problem.
Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
How much longer until…?
I agree.
I have a question/doubt

Buzzer Game

Your housemate is going to the shop, they will be back in 5 minutes. What do you say to them? See you in a bit/secYour co-worker says “have a good weekend!” as they leave the office. What do you say to them? You too!
Your partner is leaving to go to an important job interview. What do you say to them? Hope it goes wellYou work in a coffee shop. You hand a customer their cup of coffee. What do you say to them? Here you go/Here’s your coffee
You put your hand up in English class, you want to ask the teacher a question. What do you say to them? I have a question/doubtYou see an old friend from school you haven’t seen for a long time. What do you say to them? Long time, no see!
You’re speaking on the phone but there is loud music playing. You don’t understand what they’re saying because of the noise. What do you say to them? I can’t hear youYou get home and see that one of your children is crying. What do you say to them? What’s wrong?
Your friend tells you that they’re going to Disneyland this weekend. What do you say to them? Have fun!Your friend says sorry for arriving late to meet you for lunch. You don’t mind that they’re late. What do you say to them? No worries/problem
Your teacher says something very quickly and you don’t understand. What do you say to them? Sorry, I didn’t catch thatYou’re having a debate at work and you have the same opinion as your co-worker. What do you say to them? I agree
You see your friend in the morning and you want to know how they are. What do you say to them? How’s it going?You’re bored at school and you want to know when you will be allowed to go to the playground. What do you say to the teacher? How long / How much longer until play time?
Posted in Advanced C1, Conversation Classes, Exam Preparation Class, Proficiency, Vocabulary Classes

C2 Expressions: Brain, Face, Head, Wits, Mind

Posted on by Tim Warre
Free Businessman banging his head against the wall Image - Stock by Pixlr

This is a vocab lesson plan based on an exercise from the Expert Proficiency Course book. It expands a short exercise from the book out into a full activity with exam practice and a speaking task. Students learn expressions with the words brain, face, head and wits and put them into practice in a key word transformation exercise and a discussion activity. Download the handout with key below:

expressions_-brain-face-head-wits-1-1Download

Expert Proficiency Coursebook page 74

Sentence Completion

Complete the expressions in the sentences with brain, face, head, or mind.

  1. I couldn’t tell you the exact figure off the top of my …… but I think we sold about 10,000 units last year.
  2. The neighbour just called to say they’ve found our cat, that’s a load off my ……
  3. She was at her …… end trying to figure out how to control her 14 year-old son.
  4. He presented the new model to the shareholders but she’s the real …… behind it.
  5. We were lucky enough to come …… to …… with a Bengal tiger.
  6. I have to admit, it never crossed my …… to ask Brian for help with the artwork, but it turns out he’s brilliant!
  7. If they don’t turn that music down, I’m going to go over there and give them a piece of my ……
  8. He’s insufferable these days, all the money and praise has clearly gone to his ……
  9. My laptop has a …… of its own, it shuts down whenever it wants.
  10. The students struggled to keep a straight …… while the teacher was having difficulty playing the video.
  11. That part of town is a bit dodgy, you need to keep your …… about you if you go there.
  12. Trying to get the boys to tidy their bedrooms I always feel like I’m banging my …… against a brick wall.
  13. The boss had to think of a way to break his promise without losing ……
  14. In order to save …… the company recalled all the faulty products and gave their customers full refunds.
  15. I’ve been racking my …… all night trying to remember my PIN number but I just can’t.
Become arrogant after success
From memory
A relief
Thinking really hard
Very stressed, not know what to do
Be within touching distance
Suffer damage to one’s reputation/social standing
Tell sb off/reprimand		Wasting my time, actions have no effect
Maintain one’s reputation
Occurred to me
The person who thought of an idea
Seem capable of thought and independent action
Not laugh/show signs of amusement
Be alert/keep an eye out

Practice

Complete the sentences with one of the expressions.

  1. I’ve been trying really hard to remember where I left my keys.

BRAIN

I’ve …………………..………….. to remember where I left my keys.

  1. Being embarrassed in front of other teenagers of the same age can be devastating for teenagers.

FACE

It can be devastating for teenagers ……………………..……………..….. Group.

  1. It’s vital that you be careful, don’t reveal any unnecessary information in the meeting.

WITS

It’s vital that you ……………………..……………..….. any information slip in the meeting.

  1. I can’t think of any examples right now from memory but I’m sure there are loads.

TOP

I can’t recall any examples off ……………………..……………..….. in no doubt that there are loads.

  1. Steve Jobs was the one who came up with the idea of the Ipod. 

BRAINS

Steve Jobs ……………………..……………..….. the Ipod.

  1. “Don’t let money change you!” said the old rapper to the newbies.

HEADS

The old rapper advised the newbies …………………………………………………..

  1. My car stereo does whatever it likes, there’s no controlling it.

MIND

My car stereo ……………………………………………….., there’s no controlling it.

Conversation

Complete the questions with one of the expressions, then answer the questions with a partner.

  1. What sort of things do politicians and celebrities tend to do to …… face after a scandal? Does it usually work?
  2. If your neighbours are keeping you up, do you tend to ……. them a piece of your mind? Or grin and bear it?
  3. Think of a time when you struggled to ……. a straight face in a serious situation. Did you manage it?
  4. Can you think of a time when you lost ……. in front of your peers when you were a teenager? Can you laugh about it now?
  5. Are you good at remembering names, figures and dates ……. the top of your head? Or do you often need to look them up? 
  6. Do you need to ……. your brain to put names to faces? Are there any things you struggle to remember?
  7. Do the brains ……. the biggest inventions always get the credit? Can you think of any examples of people who didn’t get the credit they deserved?
  8. What are you most stressed about at the moment? If you could wave a magic wand and make one of your problems disappear, what would be the biggest ……. off your mind?
  9. Are you someone who tends to have your wits ……. you when you’re walking down the street? Or do you have your head in the clouds?
  10. Do any of your electronic devices/appliances have minds of their …….? What sort of things do they do?
  11. Do people tend to do what you ask them to? Or is it sometimes like ……. your head against a brick wall? Give some examples?
  12. Have your parents ever been ….. their wits end with your, or one of your sibling’s behaviour? Why? What did they do?
  13. What’s the best way to stop praise or money ……. to a person’s head? Do you think it’s inevitable?
  14. Have you ever received help or advice from an unexpected source? Had it ever ……. your mind to turn to that particular person?

KEY – SENTENCE COMPLETION +  DEFINITION MATCH

  1. HEAD – B
  2. MIND – C
  3. WITS – E
  4. BRAINS – L
  5. FACE TO FACE – F
  6. MIND – K
  7. MIND – H
  8. HEAD – A
  9. MIND – M
  10. FACE – N
  11. WITS – O
  12. HEAD – I
  13. FACE – G
  14. FACE – J
  15. BRAIN – D

KEY – KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

  1. BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN // TRYING
  2. TO LOSE FACE IN FRONT OF THEIR // PEER
  3. HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU, // DO NOT LET
  4. THE TOP OF MY HEAD // BUT I AM
  5. WAS THE BRAINS // BEHIND
  6. NOT TO LET MONEY // GO TO THEIR HEADS
  7. HAS A MIND // OF ITS OWN

KEY – CONVERSATION QUESTIONS

  1. SAVE
  2. GIVE
  3. KEEP
  4. FACE
  5. OFF
  6. RACK
  7. BEHIND
  8. LOAD
  9. ABOUT
  10. OWN
  11. BANGING
  12. AT
  13. GOING
  14. CROSSED