Description

No repetitive drills and rote exercises here, just targeted questions on high-interest topics such as love, prejudice, stress, superstitions, and family that are used as conversational tools. The process is simply, yet effective, and the classroom content is always original and relevant because students use their own life experiences to answer the questions.

Features

• Student surveys and small group participation enable all students to feel comfortable conversing with each other - encouraging them to express their views verbally and in writing.
• Lessons progress in complexity of topic, vocabulary (pertinent to each theme), and grammatical focus.

Table of Contents

Introductions

Introduce yourself

Ask questions to become acquainted with people

Fill out an ID card

 

Favorite Things

            Ask and answer questions about

            favorite things, likes and dislikes

 

Diet and Exercise

            Discuss foods and food groups

            Create an exercise routine

            Ask and answer questions about eating habits and exercise

            Plan a menu

 

Transportation Systems

            Talk about types of transportation

            Discuss different countries' transportation

            Invent a mod of transportation

 

Pets

            Discuss kinds of animals people have as pets

            Ask and answer questions on pet ownership

Compare different cultures' ideas about pets

 

Job Interviews

Ask and answer questions about jobs and interviews

Practice interviewing skills

Fill out a job application

 

The Best of Everything

Describe people

Express preferences

Write and share important life experiences

 

Family

Identify family members

Describe and discuss you relationships with them

 

Gender Roles

Read an essay

Discuss gender roles

Write an opinion essay

 

Holidays

Ask and answer questions about holidays

Discuss cultural differences and celebrations

Discuss holidays celebrated in the United States

 

Superstitions

Discuss beliefs about superstitions

Talk about cultural influence

Write a story

 

Sleep

Ask and answer questions about sleeping habits

Write about a dream or nightmare

 

Stealing

Ask and answer questions about thieves and stealing

Write and discuss personal victimization

 

Gossip

Listen to gossip about students

Discuss and write about gossip you have heard

 

Ghosts and the supernatural

Discuss beliefs about supernatural phenomena

Write an opinion essay

 

Love

Discuss feelings and situations about love

Talk about courting differences

Write a love letter

 

Stress

Express ideas on stress and ways of coping with it

Do a crossword puzzle

Listen to student's stressful situations

 

Moving Children Out

Discuss situations about adult children living at home

Talk about cultural differences on adult children moving out

Write a personal essay

 

Growing Old

Listen to a description

Discuss aging using personal and cultural ideas

Write an imaginative story

 

Pollution and Recycling

Talk about environmental issues

Propose some solutions to problems

Create an environmental group

 

The Homeless and Welfare

Discuss homelessness

Give opinions on welfare

Write an opinion letter

 

Disasters

Talk about disasters and their preventions

 

Smoking

Express ideas on smoking

Talk about the right's of smokers and non-smokers

Write about hazards of smoking

 

Gambling

Discuss views on gambling

Talk about effects on society

Talk about personal gambles

Write a personal essay

 

War and the Military

Discuss military issues, conflicts, and war

Write about a historical war or conflict

 

Money Management

Read a phone bill

Discuss it

Talk about managing and investing money

Create a personal budget

 

Cheating

Read a poem

Give opinions on cheating

Write an explanatory letter

 

Government Spending

Create a mock city budget

Discuss government spending on programs

Write an opinion essay

Prejudice and discrimination

Talk about prejudice and discrimination

Discuss personal experiences

 

Divorce

Discuss views on divorce

Write a personal essay

 

Calling In Sick

Discuss reasons people are absent from work

Give an opinion on paid sick days

Write a view on sick pay

 

Justice Systems

Talk about court cases and justice

Give opinions on punishments

Write a personal essay

 

Drugs and Medicine

Discuss drugs and medicine

Write about a personal experience

 

What Would You Do If…

Discuss views on hypothetical situations

 

Employment Issues

Talk about what you might have done in various employment situations

Write about an employment situation

 

Excuses and Lies

Discuss differences between excuses and lies

Write a personal essay

 

Forms of Government

Express ideas on different types of government and country leaders

Invent a new form of government

 

Professionalism

Discuss ethics in professionalism

Talk about stereotypes in professions

Write a personal story

 

Success

Talk about different kinds of success

Network with students

Write a success story

 

Let's Talk… and Say Goodbye!

Discuss experiences in the class

Plan a party

Say goodbye

 

Appendix

Verb chart

Index

Answer key

 

Back Cover

No repetitive drills and rote exercises here, just targeted questions on high-interest topics such as love, prejudice, stress, superstitions, and family that are used as conversational tools. The process is simple, yet effective, and the classroom content is always original and relevant because students use their own life experiences to answer the questions.

• Student surveys and small group participation enable all students to feel comfortable conversing with each other ¿ encouraging them to to express their views verbally and in writing.
• Lessons progress in complexity of topic, vocabulary (pertinent to each theme), and grammatical focus.