Check this post to find out the course dates, course plan and homework. Look at the possible topics listed at the bottom of this page and choose the ones you are interested in. Try to read an article or watch a video before each class.
Lesson 10 - Tuesday 7 February at 8:45am
We discussed your holiday and talked about the TED Talk - how to practice effectively. We mentioned the difference between affect and effect, gradient and steepness and whether to use continuous or simple forms to talk about how long something has been happening.
people were queuing for four hours
people queued for four hours
I prefer option 1 but both are possible!
Lesson 9 - Friday 7 October at 3pm
We talked about surveys and email writing.
Lesson 8 - Friday 16th September at 3pm
We talked about the Bradford video, take and bring, formative years and "I wish he would....". Next time we'll discuss the contemplation article and any other topics you find before then.
You can choose something from the list at the bottom of this page (I've added a link to the article I mentioned about 7-Up) or an article from my Wednesday conversation class.
Lesson 7 - Friday 2nd September at 2:45pm
We talked about your summer holidays and the upcoming term. We also discussed phrases such as coaching sessions rather than coachings. You also correctly used 'whom', well done!
He is the person whom I like. (whom - object)
He is the person who likes me. (who - subject)
Lesson 6 - Thursday 21st July 9:05am
We discussed books and conditionals today. I recommended the programme Imagine featuring Kazuo Ishiguro. It's available on BBC iplayer but you have to be in the UK to access it. Possibly something for you to do when you are in England? In terms of homework, I suggest you continue working on the conditionals, this time writing down authentic examples as far as possible. Also try to do some of the exercises in one of the course books you have at home.
Have a great summer and see you on Friday afternoons after the break.
Lesson 5 - Friday 15 July 3pm
Today we talked about conditionals and how to practise them. We also looked at the frequency of six months compared to half a year using Google Ngrams. Further work for us is to investigate finding good ways of expressing the concept of 'überfordert' in English.
Lesson 4 - 5 July 3.15pm
We talked about growth mindset, third conditionals and verb forms. Try to read the Usain Bolt article before next week as it has some useful third conditional examples. We may also talk about presentation skills next week.
Lesson 3 - 17 June 3pm
Conversation based lesson. Recommendation - look at the marking assessment guide and markers' comments for the Cambridge exams.
Lesson 2 - 14 June 2pm
More work on feedback including the worksheet. Recommendations - check the following words in a dictionary/ Skell - finally, eventually, redundant, these vs them, choirmaster. Be careful using 'daily business' consider 'day to day activities' instead.
Lesson 1 - 10 June 2pm
Lesson 1 - we talked about providing written feedback. Recommendations - Skell and the academic phrasebank. Consider buying Destination.
Possible topics
The following articles and videos might interest you, they are a selection of my favourite ones from conversation class.
Read this article about the fascinating television series 7-Up.
Usain Bolt - pay attention to the way he uses the third conditional
Developing a growth mindset with Carol Dweck. Click here to watch it.
An article about idiomatic language in the New York Times and how challenging it can be for non-native speakers.
Making six huge frames for Titian's mythological paintings from the National Gallery. Click here to watch it. You can also follow art galleries on Instagram if you are interested in art.
NHS language use on an episode of Michael Rosen's Word of Mouth.
Footballer Marcus Rashford launches bookclub. Click here.
Handel: where to start with his music. Click here.
The hidden metaphors that shape our world. Click here.
Being male and on your phone are biggest dangers on Scottish mountains, says expert. Click here.
A steeplejack takes a break in midair – Daniel Meadows’ best photograph. Click here.
Any of the TED talks listed on the resources page.
It's also a good idea to start reading some of the blog posts such as the ones on grammar, useful resources and learning tips.