SMALL TALK, Not Deep But Important

Many people of us have some difficult knowing what to say when we meet new people, I am part of this group, maybe because we do not know them well. Fortunatedly, there are specific strategies that we can use when we want to star, continue, or end a conversation. In this part, you will know some tips:

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  use expressions to introduce your opinion or your own experience as you participate in small groups discussions.
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  watch videos and practice listening in real contexts outside of class
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  learn about ways to start, continue, and end a conversation
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  learn vocabulary related to making conversation
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  learn and listen carefully to stress and intonation

Here you have an example of two teenagers doing their best in speaking.

It is natural to feel nervous about making conversations in situation where you are with people who do not know well. Try to practice with a partner.

ENGLISH USE RECORD

Have you noticed how much English you want to learn?, on the street, at home wherever you go, you can keep learning English without realizing. When, where and how much you use English by using and ENGLISH USE RECORD. This will help you find ways to maximize your opportunities to use the language skills that you need to improve.
Here you have a schedule, copy and use it as a model, you can change the days, but try to set the best time for your learning.

EXAMPLE OF ENGLISH USE RECORD

 MONDAY         

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  talked with an American classmate about the movie watched
• watched TV news- 1hr, focussed on American intonation
• had coffee with classmates from EFL
• saw a free film at the Library- 1hr 40min
• went to computer science class, 50 min

 TUESDAY

• worked on a project - 5min
• worked on EFL class project with classmates- 1hr 20min
• watched evening news, took notes for listening log- 20min
• talked on phone to Brazilian, American or Canadian friends- 45 min. 

WEDNESDAY 

• listened to tapes, could be songs in the language lab- 30 min
• went to computer science class- 45min
• called airline company to make reservations- 15min

THURSDAY 

• listened to the radio news- 30 min
• went to ESL class- 2hr
• watched TV program about unsolved mysteries- 1 hr
• talked with friends about movie- 1 hr

FRIDAY

• went to computer science class and listened and took notes - 50 min
• asked the professor some questions after class- 10min
• watched the movie "Titanic"- 3hrs
• talked with my landlady- 30 min

SATURDAY 

• spent all morning listening to music
• watched movie "Star Wars"

SUNDAY    

• listened to the radio news- 30 min
• talked to American friend tried to use new vocabulary- 40 min

* What will try to do next week: try to increase by 15 min the amount of time I speak English each day and try to begin conversations with some  American Students.

Do your best, the more you listen, the more fluently you speak!!!!

Exchange Students - cultural differences

As we know, each country has something new for each foreign person who visits a new country for first time.

Some Students from different nationalities tell us about differences they found in people from US:

• Student 1 (from Spain)
•  Student 2 ( from Germany)
• Student 3 (from New Zealand)
• Student 4 ( from Norway)
• Student 2 again ( from Germany)

 Let´s watch this video and pay attention to the intonation...

After talking to these friends I realised many things that I will tell you:

Germans always say hello before they say anything else to you, and that this was the main reason for the two societies believing the other was rude. However, Americans don't say hello before asking questions about you, so the Spanish people believe americans are being rude, so they act rude to the americans.

Keep in mind to say hello before anything, do not forget about it!!!!

Clockmatch

Type of activity

Small groups, matching

Function practised

Asking and telling the time

Structures

What´s the time?

It´s two o´clock

Topic area

Time

Essential vocabulary

Numbers to 25, half past, a quarter to, a quarter past

Objective

The aim of the game is to get rid of all the cards.

Materials and preparation

Mentally divide your class into groups of three or four.Copy and cut up two ( or three for the more competitive version) sets of CLOCK CARDS for each group ( as below). Make copies for each group after making the changes that are noted there.

How to use this game

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  Divide your class into groups of three or four and seat each group round a table.
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   Give each group one set of clock cards.
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  They should deal out the cards equally among them (3-4 cards), they look at their cards.
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  Give each group the second set of cards, the ones which should be placed face down in the middle.
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  The first player begins by picking up a card from a pile on the table and looking at it.
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  The player who gets rid of his cards first is the winner.