TALKING ABOUT BREAK-UP REGRETS

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ( B1 LEVEL)

FOR STUDENTS

Make sure you understand the words in the table.  imagine you are meeting someone for the first time. Ask the question ‘How do you spend your time?'  In this activity you are going to learn how to keep a conversation going. Student B should answer the question in detail, and student A is expected to ask follow up questions. Use the phrases provided, but try to add your own ideas.

FOR TEACHERS

Give students time to prepare what they are going to say and ask you for any vocabulary they do not understand. Encourage them to fill in each category with the words given as well as the vocabulary they already know. Encourage them to use the phrases provided, but emphasise that they can add their own ideas if they want. Explain that to carry out the task, they should try to  find out as much as possible about each other. 

They should make notes to help them when they report back to the class. As they interview each other, feed in any language they need in an informal way and refer them to the phrases provided.  Do not correct at this stage unless absolutely necessary, as this will interrupt communication. Note down errors with language used for analysis at the end of the task.

TALKING ABOUT (UN) HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

This a a conversation lesson about (Un)Healthy Lifestyles. You should try to find out as much as possible about your partner. Ask and answer the questions and whenever possible, make your own to keep the conversation going. Refer to the phrases in Useful Vocabulary, but add your own ideas if you want.

As a warm up activity, brainstorm words/ expressions you already know about the topic. Later on, fill in the word map according to the questions and list of  vocabulary provided.

STUDENT A

1. Do you think you have a healthy life style? Justify
2. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you think that you sleep too much or not enough?How many hours' sleep do you need daily? What happens when you do not get enough sleep?
3. Is it possible to have a healthy life style nowadays? How has technology affected our lifestyle?
4. Do you pay attention to what you eat?
5. Do you have a snack every time you are hungry or do you wait for the lunch or dinner? What is better for health?
6. What should you do to burn calories and fight fat?
7. Do you agree with the saying: "Eat your breakfast, share your lunch with a friend and give your dinner to your enemy”?
8. Have you ever tried to go on a diet? Did it work?
9. Is there any connection between the person's style of life and life expectancy? Quote a few changes you can make in your lifestyle to help you live longer.
10. How often do you work-out?What are the benefits of physical activity such as jogging, going to a gym, or swimming?

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STUDENT B

1. How do you usually cope with stress? What is the effect of stress on health?
2. Do you have any unhealthy habits? Do you skip any meals?
3. Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?
4. Do women pay more attention to their health than men? How often do you get a medical check-up?
5. Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are causing damage to their health?
6. What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?
7. In your opinion, how can parents encourage healthy habits?
8. Do you feel guilty after eating junk food? (pieces of chocolate cake, scoops of ice cream or handfuls of chips,)? If so, what do you do to wash away this feeling?  
9. In your opinion, do pets have a positive or negative influence on people’s health? Why?
10. What do people generally believe about (un) healthy lifestyles?

USEFUL VOCABULARY

Colloquial Language/ Personality Traits

a fitness freak (=obsessed with sport and fitness)
a couch potato (=a person who spends little or no time exercising and a great deal of time watching television.)
a live-wire (an energetic person)
a calorie- counter (=someone who counts calories is one way to monitor weight loss.)
an early bird = (a person who gets up early.)
a night owl= (a person who often stays up late at night.)

Important Verbs/ Collocations

to be health conscious

to damage someone’s health

to do good x to do bad (= to do harm) to your health

to keep/ get fit

to have regular physical exercise

to stop + Verb ING ( e.g to stop smoking) = to quit

to improve/ to enhance ( e.g self-esteem, memory)

to reduce the risk of… (e.g stress, symptoms of anxiety and stress)

to prevent (e.g heart disease)

to have a healthy lifestyle

to have a sedentary lifestyle

to get involved with sports and outdoor activities

to feel guilty

to lose weight

to go on a diet

to set an example

to release (e.g energy, hormones)

to be on the go (= to be always busy)

to burn calories

to be addicted to sth

Phrasal Verbs

to work out ( =to exercise in order to improve the strength or appearance of your body:

to cut down or cut back =to start doing less of something, especially because it is bad for your health e.gThe doctor advised him to cut down (on) his working hours.

to cut out= to stop eating something or doing something, especially because it is bad for your health e.g.I’ve cut out chocolate completely.

to put on weight = to gain weight

Nouns/ Noun Phrases

• a balanced diet
• physical and psychological well-being
• health/ unhealthy habits
• junk food
• fastfood
• obesity
• overweight
• weight gain/ loss
• calorie
• longevity/ life expectancy
• will-power/ determination/ motivation
• vitamin supplement
• fattening foods
• metabolism

Nutrients

• protein
• carbohydrate
• fat
• sugar
• vitamins
• minerals

Kinds of diet

• the low-carb diet.
• the detox diet

Health problems:

• diabetes
• cholesterol
• stroke
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• eating disorders
• depression
• stress
• anxiety

SPECULATING ABOUT THE FUTURE

If only we could accurately predict the future! … Until a crystal ball is invented, our predictions can only be guided by speculation.

When we speculate about the future, we try to guess about the possible causes or effects of something, without knowing all the facts or details.

In foreign exams, the examiner will probably ask you to talk about what you think will happen in the future or how things will change in the future. Here are some phrases you can use:

Now, it’s your turn. Answer the following questions by using the sentence patterns provided above. 

EXPRESSING CERTAINTY

I'm sure/I'm convinced that …

I doubt that …

No doubt…

I daresay…

I bet / you can bet (that)

I’ll definitely/ I definitely won't…

I’m bound to…

There’s no way…

There's no chance of…

EXPRESSING LIKELIHOOD

It is (highly) likely that ...

It is (highly) probable that ...

It is unlikely/improbable that ...

It seems likely/unlikely/improbable that ...

I’ll probably / I probably won’t…

EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY

I haven’t decided yet. I reckon I’ll …

I’m not quite sure, but I may/ might/ could 

I haven’t got a clue, but perhaps…

I expect/ I suppose (that)

I hope I’ll/ won’t …

I guess/ I think/ I reckon…

My guess is that …

I imagine (that) …

I wouldn't be surprised if …

Now, it’s your turn. Answer the following questions by using the sentence patterns provided above. 

What do you think will happen next year?”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Do you want to study abroad?

When do you think you will finish your studies?

How will computers change in the future?

How will cellphones change in the future?

How will transportation develop in future time?

Will Uber change anything?

How long will humans live?

What kind of developments might happen in health care in the future?

Could there be another world war in the future? How can we prevent a world war from happening?

If you don't like your job now, What is the job you would like to have in future?

What will education be like in the future?

What will the cars of the future do?

What will future houses look like?

Do you think the future will be better or worse for your grandchildren? In what ways?

Would you like to live on another planet?

Will robots replace humans?

What type of job would you like to do in the future?

Do you think life will be more difficult or easier for our grandchildren? In what ways?

How do you think your country will change in the future?

TALKING ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

Hello, everyone! How are you today? I hope you’re OK. In this EFL lesson, we’re are going to look at some vocabulary related to friendship.

Both at intermediate and advanced EFL levels, a lesson having to do with friendship can be useful as well as interesting if we consider engaging students in conversation. However, how can we talk without knowing the appropriate words?  

Here is a list of words and expressions you will need to activate your vocabulary. Late on, have fun with the most commonly asked questions about friendship.

Talking about Friendship- Useful Vocabulary

1. to get on well= get along
2. to hang out  e.g  I like to hang out with my friends as much as possible. 
3. to drift apart: to become less close to someone. e.g As years went by, school friends drifted apart.
4. to get to know each other = to start to be familiar with someone
5. to have a lot in common
6. to hit it off=If two people hit it off, they like each other and become friendly as soon as they meet.[informal]They hit it off straight away, Daddy and Walter.How well did you hit it off with one another?
7. to meet up= to come together with someone, either unexpectedly or as planned. We usually meet up for a quick coffee in the morning.
8. to fall out (with someone)= o stop being friendly with someone because you have had a disagreement with them. e.g. Have you two fallen out?
9. to make up= to become friends again.
10. to keep in touch with someone: to maintain contact with someone. eg.I keep in touch with my friends from high school, although we graduated five years ago.
11. to lose touch with someone: to lose contact with someone.I lost touch with Mary since she moved to Canada.
12. a shoulder to cry on: someone who listens to your problems It's always good to talk to Hilary, she's so sympathetic. She's a real shoulder to cry on
13. to strike up=to start. (a conversation, a relationship): e.g. I feel awkward when I strike up a conversation with unknown people.
14. to get on like a house on fire: people get on like a house on fire when they like each other's company and become friends very quickly.
15. be like chalk and cheese= (uk)If two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other:My brother and I are like chalk and cheese.
16. to bury the hatchet: to stop fighting or quarrelling 
17. to spend time with
18. two-faced= a person who says he/she does or believes one thing when his/her behaviour or words show that they do not do it or do not believe it.
19. trustworthy= loyal
20. sympathetic= understanding
21. genuine= true friend
22. fair-weather friend: someone who is your friend only when you are cheerful and successful.A lot of John's friends turned out to be fair-weather friends. They were with him when he was rich and left him when he went bankrupt.
23. good / close / best friend
24. acquaintance= someone you know slightly
25. colleague= someone you work with
26. flatmate= someone you share a flat with
27. partner= someone you have a business with/ a relationship with
28. companion= a person employed to assist, to travel or to live with another person. ( In Port. = acompanhante)
29. pal= close friend in coloquial English.
30. buddy= friend in colloquial American English.
31. mate= friend in colloquial British English
32. chum= old fashioned word for friend in British English.
33. cyberfriend= friend we communicate with through the internet
34. frenemy= a person who pretendes to be your friend, but is in fact en enemy. In Portuguese, it means "amigo da onça”.
35. 35.childhood friends = friends you grew up with.

Conversation Questions

1. What do you usually do with your friends? 
2. Do you make friends easily?
3. Who is your best friend? How long have you known each other?
4. Do you prefer to have many friends or just a few that you are close to?
5. What qualities are most important to you in a friend? Honesty? A sense of humour? Something else?
6. How do you keep in contact with friends who don’t live near you? How difficult is it to keep in touch? Have you ever lost contact with a friend?
7. What are the benefits of having just a few close friends? How about the benefits of having many friends?
8. Describe your best friend. (What does he/she look like?)
9. Are you close friends with anyone who you knew in elementary school?
10. Do you have any friends who would risk their life to save you?Would you risk your life to save a friend? How about a stranger?What is the biggest thing you have done to help a friend?
11. What kind of qualities do you look for in a friend?
12. What is the best way to make new friends? Do you like making new friends?
13. How did you meet your best friend?
14. Do you keep in touch with your long-distance friends? 
15. Are friends sometimes more important than family?
16. Have you ever fallen out with a friend? If so, what happened? Did you make up later?
17. Are your childhood friends those you have strongest bonds with?
18. At which stages of life is it easier to make friends?
19. How similar are you to your friends?
20. Do you think a man and a woman can really be "just friends”? Justify
21. Do you think it's possible to be a good friend of an ex-husband or wife?
22. Do you have many friendships which have lasted since childhood?
23. Do you think sites like Facebook are good for friendships or do they stop people from becoming close?
24. Have you made some friends over the internet?Have you ever met this person face-to-face?
25. Many people now have hundreds, or even thousands, of cyberfriends on Facebook. 
26. How many genuine friends do you think someone can really have?

PARTIAL AGREEMENT: USEFUL EXPRESSIONS (B2 LANGUAGE LEVEL)

In the Speaking part of an international exam you will certainly be asked questions that invite you to say whether you agree or disagree with an issue. However, you do not necessarily need to agree or disagree entirely on the subject matter. In practical terms, this means that it is also possible to agree with reservation, especially when you do not accept something completely. 

Here are some expressions you can use to agree partially.

• You're right when you say (that)..., but what about...?
• That is not necessarily so. 
• It is not as simple as it seems. 
• I agree with you in principle, but… 
• I agree with you in part, but… 
• I agree to a certain extent.
• Well, you could be right, but,…
• I agree with you up to a point, but
• I see your point, but …
• To a certain extent yes, but…
• I see what you mean, but...
• I can see your point, but...
• Yes, but isn't it the case that...
• I see what you mean, but...
• I don't entirely agree with you. 
• There is some truth in what you say, but...
• OK, that's true, but what about...?
• That's an interesting point, but 
• That’s partly true, but …
• I’m not so sure about that.
• True enough, but….
• I’m not really with you on that one.
• That’s not really how I see it, I’m afraid.
• I wouldn’t go as far as to say that.

Study these common expressions and find a friend or a group that you can practise debating with.

TALKING ABOUT EXTREME SPORTS: USEFUL VOCABULARY (B2)

Conversation Questions- Extreme Sports

1. Which extreme sport have you tried?
2. If you had to do an extreme sport, which one would you choose and why?
3. Should people be encouraged more to take up radical sports?
4. Which extreme sports are popular in your country?
5. What extreme sports do you know?
6. Describe your favorite extreme sport. What is the name of the sport?When do you do it?How do you feel after dong it?And explain why you like it?
7. Why do some people like risky sports?
8. What kind of precautions should be taken while doing such sports?
9. Do you think women are interested in such sports?
10. Some people believe that extreme sports should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? What are the pros and cons of doing extreme sports? Do the advantages overweigh the drawbacks?
11. Are you a thrill-seeker?
12. How can we minimize the cons/ drawbacks of these sports?

DESCRIBING A PICTURE IN ENGLISH (PET EXAM)

Make sure you are familiar with the language used to describe where something is in a picture. Do you know how to use the phrases in the boxes below?

1. IN THE TOP LEFT (-HAND) CORNER
2. AT THE TOP
3. IN THE TOP RIGHT (-HAND) CORNER
4. ON THE LEFT (-HAND) SIDE
5. ON THE RIGHT (-HAND) SIDE
6. IN THE MIDDLE
7. AT THE BOTTOM
8. IN THE BOTTOM LEFT (-HAND) CORNER
9. IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT (-HAND) CORNER
10. IN THE BACKGROUND 
11. IN THE FOREGROUND

'In the middle of the picture there is a family ...'

'In the background there are some white cupboards'

Don ́t be afraid to interrupt and ask if you don ́t understand what you are being told to do. Ask for clarification or repetition by using the following expressions.

• 'I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch the last part…'
• I’m sorry, didn’t quite catch what you said.
• Could you repeat that?
• Do you mind repeating that? 

INTRODUCING THE DESCRIPTION

• Shall I start?
• It’s a picture of…
• This is a picture of…
• The picture shows…
• It’s a scene of...

DESCRIBING THE PICTURE

• Use 'There is/ There are…’
• In this picture, the character is (Verb)-ing ...../ the characters are (Verb)-.ing ..
• Mention something about the place.(The picture was taken in/at/near ... (place). /The photo was taken in/at/during….(time)"The scene takes place in/at…"
• Describe what is happening.(Use the Present Continuous)
• Talk about people ́s appearance, clothes, relationship, emotional state. How old are they?/What are they wearing? How are they related? 
• Give some extra information about the scene (What do you think will happen next? What is the weather like?/ Would you like to be in that situation? 
• Talk about your feelings. "This picture makes me feel…"
• Give reasons.
• Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of that situation.

SPECULATING

Sometimes you cannot be sure what is happening in a photo or picture. Use appropriate language to show that you are guessing. The examples below show different degrees of certainty.

• I think / guess/suppose it is... 
• I ́m not  quite sure,  but they could be...
• Maybe / Perhaps they are... 
• He/ She/They seem (s) to be…
• It ́s not very clear but, probably...
• I can ́t quite make it out but, perhaps....
• He/She looks + ADJ
• He/She looks like+ NOUN
• He/ She/ They look as though/as if + VERB PHRASE
• He/She seems to…
• He/ She must be…
• He/She can’t be…
• He/ she may/might/ could be…
• He/She is probably…
• It seems that…
• I have the impression that…
• It’s obvious that…

EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION

• In my opinion,…
• I reckon…
• I guess,…
• To my mind…
• In my view…
• I suppose…
• I believe…

GIVING YOUR TIME TO THINK/ USING HESITATION WORDS

• Well,... 
• Er..., 
• Let me see..., 
• Mmm..., , 
• I mean..., 
• You know,…

PARAPHRASING IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE WORD

Don ́t worry if you don ́t know the precise words for what you can see; use alternative sentences as shown below.

• It ́s used to open... / It ́s used for opening... / You use it to open... It ́s what you do when you..(if you don ́t know the verb)
• I don ́t know what you call it, but. it’s a thing/ a stuff we use to…
• I don ́t know what it is called,  but…
• It’s a kind of…

FINISHING THE DESCRIPTION

• To conclude / as a conclusion....
• I (don't) like this picture because...
• If I were in that situation, I would…