Topics for conversations!!!!

[Gość: kitty]

Please help. I teach conversations and I don't want my students to be bored.
What kinds of topics would you like to talk about on your conversation
lessons? If you have anything good please post it. Thanks!

[kociamama]

I suggest something controversial as most peole usually have an opinion on
radical issues. It can be something that raises one's hackles e.g. gay
priests, molesting children, feminism, communism, socialism, should drugs be
widely accessible, vegetarianism should be enfoced and meateaters prosecuted,
etc. and current issues.
It's advisable to have a different point of view from your student's as it
can provoke them to speak.
However, you can't be too radical not to daunt your students.
And there's no one answer. It depends what kind of students you're talking
about. Children wouldn't like to discuss these.
Teenagers may be fond of more stereotypical topics, as probably they haven't
had a chance to discuss these in English.

Good luck,
Kociamama.

[Gość: B.]

Don't you know any web sites where I could find some sets of questions for
different subjects ?

[Gość: awalk]

Gość portalu: B. napisał(a):

> Don't you know any web sites where I could find some sets of questions for
> different subjects ?

www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/archive.html

[Gość: B.]

Thanks.
:)

[ballerinapl]

Try iteslj.org/ ... I don't remember what is after the slash, but you'll find it - it's called "conversation questions".

[Gość: B.]

Thank you very, very much - the address is iteslj.org/questions/
Pzdr.

[yoric]

Wystarczy pooglądać Ewę Drzyzgę w rozmowach w toku :)

No, but seriously - depends on what level the converstaion classes are. If the
level is academic, I think cultural ingredients should be smuggled or maybe not
so much smuggled as served openly. The nations of the UK; most popular soap-
operas; songs; celebrities (actors, sportsmen, politicians, etc); lifestyle;
popular literature, etc etc. Maybe it won't be easy to have a full-blown
discussion on these, but cultural competence is important!
rgdz

[Gość: Pan Żółw]

When did you last organise a group of Polish friends in a room so you could
talk about gay priests? Was it a converation or an argument? Did everyone take
part? To be honest, from my experience I can't see the point in 'conversation
classes' like this. Most conversations we have in real life are spontaneous and
short.

[kociamama]

Gość portalu: Pan Żółw napisał(a):

> When did you last organise a group of Polish friends in a room so you could
> talk about gay priests? Was it a converation or an argument? Did everyone
take
> part? To be honest, from my experience I can't see the point
in 'conversation
> classes' like this. Most conversations we have in real life are spontaneous
and
>
> short.


Dear Pan Zółw,

I assume that the aim of conversation classes is to motivate students to
participate in discussions and to be able to present their opinions on all
subjects.
What you're suggesting is just communication if I understand your point of
view, but this can be taught within the first year of learning.
You asked a question concerning discussions among Poles about controversial
issues and if they occur. Of course, it depends on what kind of people you
contact with. Actually, I do discuss similar problems with my friends. Or look
how many people write posts on various forums, which mean they crave for
discussions, if their needs are not satisfied.

You mean everyday converstions: these are discussions, wild arguments, jokes,
telling stories. And for these purposes you need a coprehensive vocabulary
range.

Later,
Kociamama.

[Gość: Helper]

Teachers' errors.

[Gość: Helper]

"...to talk on your conversation lessons..." sounds more Polish than English,
it is a rather awkward way o saying it. I would rather say, "what kind of
topics would interest you in your English conversation class".

[Gość: Ania]

Ask your students to write on a piece of paper something about them that nobody
knows or would guess about them. Put all of the notes in a bowl or a hat, and
have a student to pick one. Ask all of the students to guess who wrote it. If
the topic is interesting have a longer conversation. If not, ask next student
to pick one,…….
If you have enough time in a class, all can happen in one session. If not, you
can give them homework for the next class, asking them to write on a piece of
paper something about them that nobody knows or would guess about them, but do
not tell them more.