ESL conversation | ESL Conversation Lessons

What helps you feel brighter during the darkest, coldest months of the year?

Picture a fireplace roaring, the smell of baked goods in the kitchen, music in the background, a hot beverage, or a little cocktail–you can’t help feeling the warm fuzzies, can you? These are classic soul-lifting ingredients.

Did you know that this is also the basic theme of the Winter Solstice and even the root of many Christmas traditions? After years as an ESL teacher, I find this time of year is sometimes a little tricky to talk about in class. Christmas is exploding everywhere, but not for everyone. That’s why I prefer to introduce the holiday season through its precursor: the Winter Solstice.

Warmth and Light for Everyone

The Winter Solstice is one of the most universal celebrations in the world — and one of the easiest for ESL students to connect to, no matter their cultural or religious background. What makes it so rich for class discussion is that it’s a non-denominational event based on nature, not religion. The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and it can get a little depressing when the sun goes down at 4:00 p.m. We need a collective “pick-me-up” do you think?

How to we do this? We respond to this darkness in similar ways across the world: we decorate with lights, share food, exchange gifts, listen to music, and gather with people we love. These traditions help us feel hope and joy during a cold and difficult time of year.

The Comfort of Traditions

Many modern celebrations, including Christmas, use symbols that come from ancient solstice traditions. For example, decorating trees with lights, sharing meals, and giving gifts are always to bring light into the darkness — both literally and emotionally.

If you want to discuss traditions with your students, I found this interesting article in Reader’s Digest on festive traditions around the world. Then I suggest you open the discussion with some traditions your students might like to share under the umbrella of “Making Spirits Bright.”

Warm up

Mind map some of these words (which are also in the article): darkness, light, hope, feast, tradition, comfort, gather, celebrate, return, gift-giving
Why does giving and receiving gifts make people feel good?
Do you celebrate something in winter?
What helps you feel connected to others?

The article: 15 Fascinating Winter Solstice Traditions Around the World

Discussion Questions

What is the Winter Solstice — why is it significant for many cultures?
Name two different solstice traditions from around the world described in the article. What do people do in those traditions?
Why do many solstice celebrations involve food, family gatherings, or rituals at night or with lights? What might these actions “represent”?
According to the article, how is the solstice connected to some modern holidays (or winter celebrations)?
Which of the solstice traditions you read about would you like to try?
Why is community especially important during the darker, colder months? Is there a downside to getting together?
In your own culture (or family), are there traditions or habits that feel similar to solstice celebrations.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Turn off the lights and get the flashlights out.–it’s time for some ghost stories! When I was a teenager, we used to break out the Ouija board and pretend that spirits were floating around us, trapped in a silent world desperate to make contact. The room would be hushed, someone would stiffle a nervous laugh and furtive glances would dart to see who truly believed and who was just pretending. We’d ask the “Ouija Master” all kinds of crazy questions, haf-convinced that as the glass slid along the board, we were brushing against the world beyond.

To be honest, I’m not sure what I believe when it comes to ghosts, but I do love a good ghost story. So many evenings spent swapping tales of flickering candles, Grandma’s favourite serving dish mysteriously appearing on the table, ghost dogs coming to deliver warnings, and shadows creeping along the walls before vanishing into the corners. Just writing about it is giving me goose bumps.

Here is my suggestion: invite your students to share ghost stories of their own– it can be inspired a real experience or totally invented. Alternatively, have them read this article and summarize one of the 10 real-life ghost stories. Then gather everyone in a circle, turn off the lights, and set the mood by playing a virtual fire on your smartboard or even on a tablet or Chromebook placed in the center. Now let the storytelling begin!

Warm up

Do you believe in ghosts? Why and why not.
Why do you think horror movies and ghost stories are popular?

Article: 10 Scary Ghost Stories to Make You Sleep With the Lights On-(source: USA Today)

Discussion Questions

The article mentions places being “haunted” because of their history or atmosphere. What factors make a place feel haunted? Can you think of a place you know that would fit those factors?
Which type of explanation seemed most convincing to you, and why?
If you were to write your own ghost story (based on the article’s style), what setting would you choose (house, hotel, old forest, etc.) and what would the ghost be trying to say or do?
What lesson(s) do you think a ghost story can teach us (even if we don’t believe in ghosts)?

Happy Halloween everyone!

How exactly does gender work?

Books have been written about it, alcohol-based dinners never go without it, and more recently, we are digging into what defines it. Put simply, what are the differences between men and women? This TED talk by biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu really got my attention. First of all because she presents some of the new discoveries from epigenetics and research in DNA that explain the differences between men and women from a biological perspective. Gotta love science. This lesson is filled with tons of scientific vocabulary to describe how DNA works to create gender differences.

However, here is the twist, Sanbonmatsu, a transgender scientist, also talks about the challenges she faced through her struggle with her own identity. This content is layered and complex. On one hand the objective is to help science-based students become more verbal with DNA related vocabulary–an important corner stone topic for biologists. But beyond that, the speaker pulls in the social challenges of the “old boys club” that exists in the scientific community as well as the very misunderstood transgenderism.

Pre discussion

What are some of the theories you have heard about the differences between men and women?
Do you think there are differences?
What does it mean to be transgender?

The Video: The Biology of Gender

There are really two aspects in this video mashed up together. 1) Sanbonmatsu shares the science of gender. 2) Sanbonmatsu talks about the reactions of her scientific community towards transgenderism.

I would first untangle each aspect.

What does the latest research tell us about gender?
What is the behaviour of our DNA?
How is Sanbonmatsu contributing to a society of tolerance inclusion?
Why does Sanbonmatsu expose the scientific community as being especially hard on her choices?
Do you think there are other social circles where transgenderism is more difficult?
What about less difficult?

I leave you with that for the weekend…have a good one.

Mel

Why do we believe weird things?

Level: B1, B2, C1
Handout on TPT

Media: Video
Language focus: beliefs, superstitions, conspiracy theories, fake news, disinformation.

Why do we believe weird things?

Fake news, misinformation, disinformation, these concepts are all over the media. We all know it’s out there, but how can we tell what is true and what is fake? First, let’s play a game…

True or False

Salt makes water boil quicker.
You should never swim right after you eat
Some people are more right-brain thinkers and others more left-brain thinkers.
Toilets flush differently in the southern hemisphere than the northern hemisphere.
Einstein failed math.
Humans and dinosaurs co-existed
Vaccines cause autism.
You need to wait 24 hours to file a missing person’s report.
We use only 10% of our brain.
Most of our body heat leaves through our heads.
You should never wake a sleepwalker.
Bats are blind.
Alcohol keeps you warm.
Sugar creates hyper children.
Your hair and nails keep growing after you die.
Slaves built the pyramids in Egypt.

In case you use this to generate discussion with your class, I won’t give you the answers. You could invite your students to check for themselves at Readers Digest.

It’s your brain’s fault

Famous debunker and Skeptic.com’s editor-in-chief Michael Shermer gives us a bit of insight into how our brain is wired to makes us believe weird things. He explains and demonstrates how things like priming and cognitive bias are natural neurological predispositions that lead us to faulty conclusions. This discussion utilizes vocabulary in both pure science and psychology to demonstrate, in very cool ways, how media can create what I will term “information blind spots.”

Lesson Notes

***Caution! I did this lesson with a high intermediate student and they were overwhelmed with Shermer’s speed. I would recommend slowing the video down and using this True/False handout to explain and explore some of the vocabulary and concepts in the video. Have your students read through the statements and make predictions about the possible answers. Then have your students watch the video to confirm or correct their original impressions.

warm up

Go through the handout and predict which statements are true or false.

The Video: Why People Believe Weird Things

Discussion

What makes us believe weird things…make a Mind Map of all the elements you hear?
Are you a skeptic?
Why don’t we listen to science?

Enjoy!

Mel

Do you believe in luck?

Level: A1, A2, B1, B2
Handout: Free on TPT

Media: Video
Language focus: emotions, actions, comparisons

Do you believe in luck?

I once introduced one of my girlfriend’s to a boy that seemed to be a good match for her. When I asked if things had worked out, she said no. She said he was nice, but he did not seem to have luck. She said it as if ‘luck’ was something you could be born with.

Is luck something you are born with?

That was such a strange way of looking at luck. It made me realize that this idea can be seen in so many different ways depending on your culture, your beliefs and perhaps your superstitions.

On the one hand, it can open up discussions on gratefulness, positivity and recognizing all the things in our lives that make us feel lucky…our children, our health, various aspects of our lives that make us happy.

Luck and Culture

But luck can also be explored culturally. For instance, in Japanese mythology, the Seven Gods of Luck are believed to have the power to grant luck. Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism, also have gods or figures that are believed to bestow luck. I suppose this means that you can believe in luck like you would believe in god. Or that if you are unlucky, it may be because you don’t deserve luck.

In this wordless animated short by Mike Bidinger & Michelle Kwon called Jinxy Jenkins & Lucky Lou, yet another facet of luck is explored. Jinxy is a walking disaster. Every step he takes is laced with misfortune. He is nervous and unhappy all the time. Conversely, Lou is so lucky she seems bored and unchallenged. I will let you watch to see what happens when the two meet.

Lesson Notes

Warm up

When I taught this lesson, I used this template to collect the answers. Feel free to use it too. It is a free handout on Teacher Pay Teachers. I included the results of our discussion in case you need some ideas to prime your discussion.

Do you think you are lucky?
What makes you feel lucky?
Does your culture have any beliefs or superstitions about luck?

The Video: Jinxy Jenkins & Lucky Lou by Mike Bidinger & Michelle Kwon

Discussion Questions

What actions or events in the movie make the girl (Lou) lucky?
What actions or events make the boy (Jinxy) unlucky?
Why do you think Jinxy is so unlucky? Is there anything in his attitude?
Why do you think Lou is so lucky?
What happens when they meet?
Why does Lou seem unhappy about being lucky?
Do you have any examples in your life where luck was important?
Would you be happy if you were as lucky as Lou?

What is the worst or best rage bait you’ve encountered?

“A woman’s place is in the home”

“Immigrants should go back to their country”

“No doesn’t always mean no”

Did I trigger you? Do you want to tell me? Well then my rage bait trap worked. Rage bait is internet slang for when someone says something (usually online) in hopes of getting a reaction out of people. If you were to be scrolling through your phone and see a random video of someone saying something you absolutely disagree with, you might be tempted to leave a comment expressing your anger, however if you do, you are contributing to something much bigger than you think.

The judgmental monster in all of us

Rage bait use a very powerful human trigger: judgement. But by leaving a comment, the algorithm behind the post makes it more popular, thus suggesting it to even more people. This causes it to be more and more seen and therefore make money. Sometimes people use rage bait as a form of publicity for their own product. For instance, if you see something on Tiktok that makes you angry, and click on the creator you might see a link to a website trying to sell you something, this is one of the ways that indicate it is probably a scam.

A dark truth lurks

Unfortunately, among those who use rage bait for attention and money, there are some people who actually believe these ideas no matter how extreme. Can you tell what is real and what is not? I can’t.

Alpha, Red Pill, Conservatism

Among the more debated points of view are those belonging to the rising conservatism voices. One of the more disturbing trends is the Red Pill content that is gaining popularity among young boys. Seemingly an easy rage bait tactic–a thread dedicated to creating “safe space” where contributors vent their misogynistic grievances–it is also creating wide group of people who are inspired by it.

This scheme, used to make a small impact on your wallet, is making a much bigger impact on society and the next generation–a ripple effect that could impact the future more than you think. What will happen if the young kids, responsible for building the future, head out into the world with a mindset that was spawned from anger and hatred?

Discussion Questions

Have you seen or experienced rage bait?
What was your reaction? (see vocabulary below)
Now that you know about the algorithm, what will you do now?
How do you think rage bait effects younger audiences?
How can we protect them from it?
If rage baiters are really just trying to make money, is it really so bad?
Would you ever consider doing rage bait to earn some extra cash?

Vocabulary

Here is a list of words and expressions to help you express your opinions:

Critical:

Manipulative – This seems manipulative

Deceptive – The person is very deceptive

Exaggerated – They exaggerated the situation.

Out of context – That quote is taken out of context.

One-sided – It’s a very one-sided argument.

Unverified – They shared unverified information.

Neutral

Not worth my time – I’m not going to argue about that.

Ignore it – I just ignore that stuff.

Scroll past – I usually scroll past posts like that.

Let it go – Just let it go.

Angry

infuriating – That post is infuriating!

Outrageous – What an outrageous claim.

Disgusting – That’s just disgusting.

I can’t believe this – I can’t believe people fall for this.

So unfair – This is so unfair.

They crossed the line – That really crossed the line.

Surprised

Shocking – That video is shocking.

Unbelievable – Unbelievable!

Ridiculous – This is ridiculous.

Over the top – It’s way over the top.

Mind-blowing – That’s mind-blowing, in a bad way.

What’s the weather today?

I love talking about the weather. It is the easiest way to initiate a conversation with a stranger or acquaintance if you need to break the silence. Great for elevator rides, spontaneous waiting time and warm repartee.

It is also a ubiquitous element that can have multiple impacts on our lives. Indeed a rainy day, bright sun, or a snowstorm will change how we dress, the meals we eat, the activities we plan and perhaps how we get to work. Personally, I check the weather every morning because I take my bike to work–even in winter.

Moreover, I find weather phenomena fascinating. Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, nature has a way of reminding us who is really in control. Beautiful, powerful, terrifying the planet is a person. She breathes, she aches and she speaks. Are we listening?

This particular discussion lesson goes from general to scientific to silly. The objective is to elicit the vocabulary around a familiar topic and add a level of complexity with either the science behind weather or weather-related expressions. I just couldn’t choose, so I put everything.

Pre discussion

What are the different types of weather or climates you can name?
What affects the weather?
How does the weather make you feel? When it rains, when it is sunny when the snow falls…
How do you use the weather forecast?
What activities do you do in spring, summer, fall and winter?
What are the seasons like in your country?

Option 1: The Video: The Science of Weather

Divide the video into 2 or 3 segments and do a Tell Back of the main themes and words
How do meteorologists sort through information, identify trends, and make predictions?
Why do they often get it wrong?
Why is it important to predict the weather?

Option 2: Weather idioms

For this, I made a handout and some flashcards. They are on Teachers Pay Teachers TPT. Click to see the handout.

What makes you feel grateful?

Let’s talk about gratefulness: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Level: A2, B1, B2, C1
Text comprehension
Handout 0.99$ on TPT

Language focus: prepositions, vocabulary building
Media: Article and video

Is it me, or does gratefulness seem to be the miracle serum of the millennium? Everywhere I look, someone is singing its praises. Instagram posts, articles, scientific and not-so-scientific, books, shorts, reels, TED talks, you name it, and there’s a gratitude champion behind it. Want to rewire your brain for happiness? Gratefulness. Hoping to live longer, control inflammation, push away degenerative brain afflictions? Gratefulness. It seems to be the miracle balm of our century.

Authenticity vs. Gratefulness

Don’t get me wrong.–I am authentically grateful for many, many things in my life. I have genuine awe for little things, like the poetry of the billowy plumes that float over buildings on cold winter days, the comforting hum of my family bustling around while I’m cooking dinner, my dog’s deep soul-soothing snores, and gossiping with my mother. And of course, the sun–how can you not be grateful for the sun?

But there are days when stress takes the wheel. Days where you watch loved ones slip away into Alzheimer’s, when people say goodbye to their pets, their friends, or–unthinkably–their children. On those days, life can be downright cruel.

And you know what, I think it’s ok to let it suck. To sit with the pain and be human–without the looming guilt of neglecting your gratefulness practice. Life can be heavy and you don’t always have to look for the silver lining.

When the Clouds Move Over

That said–and I think it needed to be said first–when the clouds part and life finds its way to a steady plateau, practicing gratefulness (or as I tend to think of it–hunting silver linings) can truly brighten a day that much more. I also believe in the “practice” of gratefulness much like one practices meditation or yoga. I think we have to make a conscious effort to see the little things that make us feel safe, happy and comforted. Otherwise is it all too easy to see the glass-half-empty version of our lives.

But mostly it is a fairly easy topic to generate thoughts–and discussion.

The lesson that follows features a simple yet insightful article by Positive Psychology. com. I chose it not because I want to turn this blog into a therapeutic resource (except for me), but because I hope you will find the language relatively accessible.

Warm Up

The article features the Iceberg of Gratitude. I would use this as a pre-reading exercise and perhaps do a quick word association.

Read the article: What is Gratitude and Why Is It So Important? by Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D.

You can download the Teachers Pay Teachers handout for comprehension questions, or simply use these discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think some people feel disappointed instead of grateful?
How can gratitude make life better for you?
What is one thing you have that you consider a blessing?
Why is practicing gratitude difficult for some people?
Why do you think some people feel disappointed instead of grateful?
What are different ways you can express gratitude?

Can I learn English by watching TV?

In my experience as a second language teacher, I can’t tell you how many times I have come across people who tell me “I learnt Spanish with Pedro Almodovar movies”, or “I learnt English watching Friends“. Some people have this uncanny superpower of learning a complex interactive communication system such as language, by passively observing people on screen speaking what I can only imagine is gibberish (at first).

Bastarda!

I have personally tried this approach with Italian. I was told to put the subtitles to the spoken language, no translations as a crutch. I was told to start with small repetitive words and observe the body language. After a while, I was supposed to notice repetitive expressions and word chunks (in the second language vernacular). But, and I think you can see where I’m going with this, I got frustrated after the first hour. Clearly, this was not a good approach for me. But as the Whole Language Approach would advocate, you have to dive in and use authenticity as a motivational leverage. Right?

I must admit I was indeed motivated to resemble the main character’s searing ability to placate her cheating lover in Italian (adultery being a common theme in Italian movies), but aside from cursing “bastarda” I couldn’t string together a convincing burn in Italian from watching movies. So how as adult learners, can we re-acquaint ourselves acquiring language in this immersive almost invasive method? The short answer is we can’t (except for the admirable outliers), but the mid answer is ‘scaffolding’.

Scaffolding is Key

In education, scaffolding is known as the support we put in place to make a difficult task manageable. In other words, you don’t modify the task per se, but you modify the introduction to the task, how to interact with the task and what you want to get out of the task. For example, with my Italian movie, I could view a list of key vocabulary beforehand and see that vocabulary in context. While watching the movie, I could ask simple comprehension questions that also leverage body language, and after the task, I could review the questions and vocabulary and set up simple conversation tasks that put that vocabulary into action.

Mauril: an application that has it all

Too much work you say. I hear you. So the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) has done it for you in its Mauril application. This amazing application (and website) uses original clips from TV programs, news broadcasts, and series and adds the scaffolds. You can search your material by vocabulary point, or functional use (e.g. introductions, job interviews, etc.). Each lesson comes with a vocabulary list, clip, and comprehension questions. Or you can simply suggest it to your students as a self-directed learning tool. It is truly the whole package. FYI it is also available in French.

Which “Friends” character are you?

I know, I know, pretty cheesy. But if there is one thing I learnt from teaching overseas, the television series Friends is everywhere. So if you need a relaxing frivolous lesson, here it is.

Pre discussion

Which Friends character do you relate to most?
Which is your least favourite and why?
What personal characteristics can you associate with each character?
Which ones describe you best?
Why do you think this series was so popular?

The Quiz: Which Friends character are you?

If you have multiple students I suggest you do this quiz in pairs. Of course, you will need a computer, tablet or smartphone…

https://heywise.com/quiz/which-friends-character-are-you