Building connection through conversation
Level: A1, A2 Handout on TPT Media: Video Language focus: Routines, Verbs What is your daily routine? My daily routine is the backbone of my success. I am nauseatingly disciplined and predictable. Even when I’m on vacation, I still need to do some of the same tasks to start the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
Let’s talk about gratefulness: the good, the bad and the ugly. 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…
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…
I am an avid visualizer. I love hypothetical dreaming. I test out lessons, see possible problems, and think of fun ways to connect the classroom to reality. It’s like a constant mini-movie up there. I don’t just visualize lessons, I play out conversations, memories, happy places etc… Our ability to…
