Speaking - Hey how's it going?

Do you find that your students always greet you and each other in the same way? Something along the lines of, 'How are you?' 'Fine, and you?'

Well it's time to build up their repertoire and introduce them to the greetings people actually use in everyday English.

Below is a vocabulary list with some of the most common ones. See how many greetings and questions your students know first and then get them to match the answers to the right questions. Pronunciation is key here so keep an ear out. eg 'How have you been?' soon becomes 'Howya been?' in a normal conversation. [NB In subsequent lessons make sure you greet your students in a different way every time and encourage them to do the same.]

They can then practice having short conversations, using as many different openings as possible.

You could give them these short scenarios to help them along. Once they have perfected them they can say them in front of the class. The most creative and imaginative wins.

Conversation scenarios

1. Imagine you're two friends meeting each other in a bar. Say hi and have a quick chat about one or more of the following - last night's football match/ a programme on TV/ a film you saw/ a book you're reading/ a new band or song you love

2. Student A you have some big news to tell your friend - you're getting married!
Student B you need to offer your congratulations but you also want to make sure that your friend is making the right decision

3. Student A you have some gossip to tell your friend - you've seen two people in your office (who are both married) leaving work together a few times and last night you saw them in a pub together, laughing and joking and generally looking very intimate
Student B you work with Student A and you've noticed some flirting in the office but didn't want to say anything. But yesterday you 'accidentally' read an email between the couple that you can now tell your friend about

4. Student A - you've just returned from holiday. The weather was great but the holiday was a bit of a nightmare. It started when the flight was delayed and then it got steadily worse. Tell your friend what happened
Student B - ask the right questions and be sympathetic


Greetings

Hi
Hi there
Hiya
Hey
Hey there
Hello
Hello there
Alright (mate/ pal)
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Top of the morning to you
Put it there
Good/ great to meet you
Good/ great to see you again
Long time no see
It's been too long

Questions

(You) alright?
What's up?
What are you up to?
What you doing?
How are you?
How have you been?
How's it going?
How goes it?
How you going?
How you doing?
How's things?
How's everything?
What's new?
What news?
What's happening?
How do you do?
How's your day?
All good?
What's cookin? (good lookin)
What's going down?

Answers

Good, thanks
Fine, thanks
Not (too) bad (not bad)
Alright, thanks
I'm ok
Doing ok cheers
This and that
Not a lot
No good
Same old (same old)
Pretty good
Not great
Can't complain
Couldn't be better
Could be better
This and that
How do you do?
Same (old) shit (different day)
I feel on top of the world
Fighting fit


Goodbyes

(Good) bye
Catch you later
See you
See you later
See you soon
See you tomorrow
Cheers for now
Til the next time
Take it easy

Listening - Friday I'm in Love

A song is a sure-fire winner in the classroom and what could be better than introducing your students to the all time classic, Friday I'm in Love by The Cure.

Even better news is that the lyrics are clear enough for a gap fill exercise.

Surely you've got it on your iPod. If not get it here Youtube

Gap fill + full lyrics below.

And at the bottom of the posting is a fun exercise testing your students' knowledge of love collocations, followed by a discussion about chat-up lines.

All yours. Maybe do it on a Friday. Just a thought.


The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Gap Fill

I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday _________
Sunday always comes too __________
But Friday never __________...

I don't care if Monday's __________
Tuesday, Wednesday _________________
Thursday never ______________
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can hold your ________
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in ____________
Or Thursday watch the _________instead
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday ________
Sunday always comes too _________
But Friday never ___________...

Dressed up to the _________
It's a wonderful ____________
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the __________
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning _____________ and ___________
Always take a big __________
It's such a gorgeous ____________
To see you eat in the middle of the ___________
You can never get ________________
Enough of this ____________
It's Friday I'm in love

I don't care if Monday's ________
Tuesday's _________ and Wednesday ___________
Thursday I don't ________ about you
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can ____________
Tuesday, Wednesday break my ___________
Thursday doesn't even _________
It's Friday I'm in love


The Cure - Friday I'm in Love. Complete lyrics

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...

I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
Sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday I'm in love

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

Love Collocations

Fill in the gaps with the words and phrases below:

has a crush
holiday romance
lovebirds
fall in love
unrequited love
love at first sight
love triangle
made for each other
love hurts
true love
Mr Right

1. Their eyes met across the dance floor. It was ______________

2. It hurts when the person you’re in love with doesn’t love you. _____________ can be so cruel!

3. He dated many girls, but he never found his ________________

4. Sarah and Paul are the perfect couple. They are just __________________.

5. Breaking up with someone can be painful. ____________

6. Veronica has finally met the man of her dreams. She is sure he’s ______________________!

7. They were like two _________________________ constantly holding hands and whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.

8. It's a complicated situation. Mel is seeing Steve who is also dating her best girlfriend. It's a _____________

9. They met in Ibiza. They were only together for 2 weeks and then she had to go home. I guess you could say it was a __________________

10. They met one summer, ______________ and were married 2 months later.


Chat up lines

Discuss

Have you ever been chatted up in a bar or nightclub? What happened?
Do chat-up lines work?
Have you ever used chat-up lines? If so which ones?
What are the funniest/ best chat-up lines in your language? Translate them into English

Chat-up Lines

Read the following chat-up lines and discuss with a partner which ones you like and which ones you don't like. Practice saying them to each other (and how you would respond!)

If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?

Get your coat. You've pulled!

Is it hot in here or is it you?

Is your father a thief? Because someone stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.

Do you have some change? I told my mum I would call her when I fell in love.

Did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?

Are you Jamaican? [No, why?] Because jer-makin-me-crazy

I seemed to have lost my number, any chance i could have yours?

Do you believe in love at first sight? Or do you think i should walk past again?

Excuse me do you know how much a polar bear weighs? [NO!] Me Neither but it broke the ice.

Speaking - Customs and Traditions

Customs and Traditions

This is a good one to set for homework. Get all your students to fill it in and then discuss the answers in class. Click on the link above to link to the youtube video...it's a good starting point for discussion.

Are these customs similar to or different from customs in your culture? For each example write whether it is similar or different to your culture. If different write what is considered appropriate in your culture.

1. It’s customary in Japan to take your shoes off when entering
a home.

In my country it is normal to…


2. In Greece, it’s not unusual to kiss friends and relatives on both
cheeks when meeting them.




3. In some countries, owning a pet like a dog, a cat, or a bird is
considered inappropriate.




4. In the U.S, arriving 30 minutes early to a dinner party isn’t a
good idea.



Circle the word or phrase that best describes how each situation is viewed in
your culture. Then write a sentence explaining your opinion.

1. saying hello to strangers ( normal / inappropriate / appropriate)

Saying hello to strangers in my culture is considered normal.

2. opening a door for someone (bad form / strange / polite)


3. splitting a restaurant bill with a friend (an insult / a compliment / typical)


4. offering your seat on a bus to a schoolchild (unusual / offensive / normal)


5. chewing food with your mouth open (rude / polite / typical)


6. Kissing your friends hello when you see them (friendly/ strange/ rude)


7. Getting drunk in public (acceptable/ not acceptable/ inappropriate)


8.Using swear words (acceptable/ tolerated/ offensive)


9.Talking about money, for example your salary (normal/unusual/ rude)


10. Discussing religion/politics etc (encouraged/ normal / socially unacceptable)

Speaking/ Writing - Snowed in for New Year's Eve

A great scenario here for an extended speaking or writing exercise. Easy to manipulate to suit the needs/ size of your class.

Speaking wise it could be a straight discussion or a role-play activity. Some ideas below along with the brief intro to set the scene and get the ball rolling.

Then it's up to your students' imagination with the help of the question prompts...


New Year's Eve guests snowed in for 3 days

It was the ultimate lock-in. Around 30 people attending the New Year's Eve festivities at the highest pub in England had a big surprise at the end of the night: they couldn't leave.

Heavy snow meant they were trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire for 3 days until the weather conditions improved. Was it a cause for celebration or a nightmare from start to finish?


Speaking/ writing exercise

Discuss in groups/ write a description of what happened at the pub over the three days. You can use some of the following as a guide:

Who were the guests? Did they all know each other? Were there any unusual characters?
How did the guests feel? Were they worried or happy?
What did they do for 3 nights?
Did anything unexpected happen?
Were there any arguments or problems?
Did they run out of food or drink?
Were any of the guests ill or injured?
How did they keep their spirits up?
Did anyone try to leave the pub during the 3 days? If so, what happened to them?
Did they manage to leave in the end? How?

Role-play activity

Imagine that you are the guests at The Tan Hill Inn on New Year's Eve. The pub is 50km from the nearest town. You all arrived by car but they are now snowed in so you cannot use them. There is enough food and drink at the pub for 1/2 days. There is no electricity and mobile phones don't work. The weather forecast is for more heavy snow. One of the guests said she saw a large furry animal from the window of the pub. Do you try and escape or wait until the snow clears and help arrives?

The guests at the pub divided into 2 groups:

Group A

- You want to leave the pub on New Year's Day morning and brave the weather conditions
- You need to convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create your escape plan. How will you survive in the terrible winter conditions? Will you need to spend a night outside? What will you need to take? What are the dangers? How will you overcome them? What are the dangers if you don't leave the pub immediately?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group


Group B

- You think the best idea is to stay at the pub and wait for help to arrive. The risks in braving the weather conditions are too great
- You must convince the other group that this is the best idea to ensure survival for everyone
- You must create a survival plan. How will you attract help? How will you ensure that the food and drink lasts as long as possible? What else are you going to need? What other problems are there and how will you overcome them? Could you live in the pub for a week or more if the weather conditions got worse? What are the dangers of leaving the pub?
- You must assign a team leader and any other roles you think necessary
- Describe your plan and argument to the other group

Listening - An Inconvenient Truth Trailer

Climate change, global warming, the greenhouse effect...these are topics that will engage your students and provoke debate.

Al Gore's 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth was an international success. It raised awareness about environmental issues and caused a good deal of controversy along the way.

Find out what your students think.

You'll need the trailer YouTube

And the gap fill exercise below (complete text follows)

Once you're done check out the discussion questions at the bottom of this posting.


An Inconvenient Truth Gap Fill

If you look at the ten hottest years _____________, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.

________________ is that we are causing global warming.

I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.

This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. ________________ there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.

This is really not a ____________ so much as a ________________. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.

This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.

Early this morning Hurricane Katrina _________________ into New Orleans.

Is it possible that we should prepare against other _______________________?

From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.

The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go, sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be ____________________.

Think of the impact of _________________________. And then imagine 100 million.

We have to act together to solve this global crisis.

Our ability to live is what is ______________.


An Inconvenient Truth Full Text


If you look at the ten hottest years ever measured, they've all occurred in the last 14 years and the hottest of all was 2005.

Scientific consensus is that we are causing global warming.

I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States of America.

This is Patagonia 75 years ago and the same glacier today. This is Mount Kilimanjaro 30 years ago and last year. Within the decade there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.

This is really not a political issue so much as a moral issue. Temperature increases are taking place all over the world and that's causing stronger storms.

This is the biggest crisis in the history of this country.

Early this morning Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans.

Is it possible that we should prepare against other threats besides terrorists?

From Paramount Classics comes a film that has shocked audiences everywhere they've seen it.

The Arctic is experiencing faster melting. If this were to go sea level worldwide would go up twenty feet. This is what would happen in Florida. Around Shanghai, home to 40 million people. The area around Calcutta, 60 million. Here's Manhattan. The World Trade Centre Memorial would be under water.

Think of the impact of a couple of a couple hundred thousand refugees. And then imagine 100 million.

We have to act together to solve this global crisis.

Our ability to live is what is at stake.

Follow-up Discussion Questions

Is global warming an urgent problem. Why/ why not?
What examples of freak weather can you think of in the world?
Can we do anything to improve the situation?
What are the consequences if we don't do anything?
Should this film be shown in schools?

Listening - Avatar Trailer

It's the biggest blockbuster for years, so why not use it for a fun and easy lesson?

Grab the trailer Youtube

Dish out the gap-fill exercise below

And away you go...

Text with gaps

- Are you Jake Sully?

We'd like to talk to you about a _________ on a new world.

You'd be _________.

- I became a marine for the hardship. Told myself I can pass any test a man can pass. All I ever wanted was ________________.

- Ladies and Gentlemen. You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora.

- You should see your faces.

- We have an _____________ called the Navi. They are very hard to kill.

- This is why we're here. Because this little grey rock sells for _________.

Their village happens to be resting on the richest deposit and they need to ________.

Those savages are __________ our whole operation. We're on __________and you're supposed to be finding a ______________.

- The concept is to drive these ____________ called Avatars. They are grown from human DNA, mixed with DNA of the natives.

- Marine in an Avatar body. That's a __________. You get me what I need, ___________ you get your legs back. Your real legs.

- Hell yes sir.

- Looks like you. This is your Avatar.

- Just relax and ______________. That shouldn't be hard for you.

- Jake it's real simple. I want you to learn from the inside. I want you to _____________.

- You should not be here. Go back. All this is your fault.

- I need your help.

Outstanding

- Haven't got lost in the woods have you?

Did you forget _________________?

- The strong ____________ and nobody does a thing.

- You've got one hour.

- You knew this would happen.

- Everything changed.

- Jake it's crazy here. Quaritch is rolling and there's no stopping him.

- You're going up against gunships with ____________.

- Well I guess we better stop them.

They've sent us a message that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this, this is our land.

Complete text

- Are you Jake Sully?

We'd like to talk to you about a fresh start on a new world.

You'd be making a difference.

- I became a marine for the hardship. Told myself I can pass any test a man can pass. All I ever wanted was a single thing worth fighting for.

- Ladies and Gentlemen. You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora.

- You should see your faces.

- We have an indigenous population called the Navi. They are very hard to kill.

- This is why we're here. Because this little grey rock sells for 20 million a kilo.

Their village happens to be resting on the richest deposit and they need to relocate.

Those savages are threatening our whole operation. We're on the brink of war and you're supposed to be finding a diplomatic solution.

- The concept is to drive these remotely controlled bodies called Avatars. They are grown from human DNA, mixed with DNA of the natives.

- Marine in an Avatar body. That's a potent mix. You get me what I need, I'll see to it you get your legs back. Your real legs.

- Hell yes sir.

- Looks like you. This is your Avatar.

- Just relax and let your mind go blank. That shouldn't be hard for you.

- Jake it's real simple. I want you to learn from the inside. I want you to gain their trust.

- You should not be here. Go back. All this is your fault.

- I need your help.

Outstanding

- Haven't got lost in the woods have you?

Did you forget what team you're playing for?

- The strong prey on the weak and nobody does a thing.

- You've got one hour.

- You knew this would happen. Everything changed.

- Jake it's crazy here. Quaritch is rolling and there's no stopping him.

- You're going up against gunships with bows and arrows.

- Well I guess we better stop them.

They've sent us a message that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this, this is our land.