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Get these easy-to-follow lessons, focusing on structures and expressions used in English conversation.
Learning English Conversation has Never been so Easy!

Conversational English Lessons

Get some INSIDER** HELP with your lessons - save 100s of hours of preparation time

**[Written by an EFL Teacher working Overseas since 1992 - with a Master's Degree in Education]

121 pages of super helpfulness

What makes a good English conversation book?

Good question.

There are many English books on the market.

Many of these books are not specifically geared JUST for conversation, but all the skills: talking, writing, reading, and listening.

So.... they come with tapes or CD's that students

can listen to to work on their listening skills.

So ... they have short and not so short written passages

that students can read to work on their reading skills.

So ... they have lots of writing activities and

exercises that students can use to work

on their writing skills.

Granted all of those skills are important and needed- but are they

really ideal for conversation study?

No!

A good conversation book should be about TALKING!!!

So.. a good conversation book should have:

◊ lots of topics that can be use as a basis for conversation

◊ lots of verbal activities for pairs and small groups

◊ lots of role play situations in which students can practice the language in the classroom before encountering similar situations in the real world

◊ games and fun activities in which students have to talk to participate in

◊ commonly used expressions that students can begin

to use immediately to enhance their speaking ability

◊ lots of questions that students can ask each other- so a conversation can be started and maintained

◊ expressions and structures (that are easily learned and remembered) that students can easily transfer to differing topics or situation. (This is particularly important for beginning and intermediate level students)

What are structures and expressions?

Structures are basic sentence patterns that are used when forming sentences. Many sentences, about any number of topics, can be formed by using basic structures. Look at these two structure.

Question: What kind of ________ do you like?

Answer: I like ___________________.

Once a student learns this structure they can talk about any number of topics simply by filling in the blanks with the topic of their choice. They can ask and talk about music, movies, politics, weather, food, etc.

Expressions are just commonly used sentences or phrases that are used when communicating with others. People, even native speakers, don't form brand new sentences when they speak, they just use the multitude of expressions already available. Expressions, like structures, can be modified very simply by changing a couple of words in the sentences to ask or talk about a large number of topics. In addition, there are any number of expressions that can be used in ask or talk about the same thing.

Question: What do you think of ____________?

What is your opinion of ___________?

How do you like_________________?

Answer: I think___________________?

My opinion is _____________?

I like (don't like) ___________?

Why are structures and expressions important?

Because they allow students to learn usable English that can be applied immediately when interacting with others. Initially they can memorize the basic structures and use them to communicate. By adding these basic expressions and structures their of repertoire of usable language can be increased quickly and easily. As their vocabulary and knowledge of how to change and modify the structures and expressions improve they will find that they can communicated with just about anyone on any topic.

What structures and expressions are included?

for greetings

for introductions

for well being

for farewells

for preferences

for invitations

for opinions

for agreeing/disagreeing

for schedules

for indicating surprise

for indicating forgetfulness

for indicating obligations

for help and advice

for lending and borrowing

for comparisons

for describing people

for describing personalities

for compliments

for indicating anger

for descriptions of things

for forgiveness

for instructions

for repeats

for interrupting

for directions

for on the telephone

for restaurants

for shopping

for grocery shopping

for a doctor

for a pharmacy

for a bank

for a hotel

for a travel agency

for needs and requirements

for suggestions

for Wh__ Questions

for can and do questions,

for to "be" Questions

Most verbal interactions begin with questions. Think about it, most people don't just start rattling on without a reason. They are responding to questions.
Talk, Talk, Talk has hundreds of questions that the students can ask each other to practice using the language. The discussion topic section of each lesson contain questions relevant to the item under review.

In the three lessons on asking questions, the questions are designed to allow the student to change the words in each question to form another question that interests them. This allows for an unlimited opportunity for students to experiment, to try new and different things, and to learn by making mistakes.

Why is this a good buy?

Sure, there are a lot of sites on the Internet that have activities for English classes and countless books in bookstores. But Talk, Talk, Talk specifically focuses on paired group work that maximizes YOUR interaction.

Each lesson consists of: