30th July 2022
We just finished an extra, four-week summer school, which meant working from 8.30 – 10.30, then coming back for two evening classes, 17.10 – 21.00. This schedule, for all of us, was exhausting.
However on my last day, three girls gave me some presents: two notebooks and some chewy sweets. The sweets soon went the way of all flesh, but I will use the notebooks for ideas, songs and lyrics.
Thank you so much. A teacher NEVER forgets any gift from a student.
7th August 2020
For my iTalk customers, there have been some changes to the lesson structures.
The lessons will focus on vocabulary and pronunciation. We want you to sound like a native-speaker and that means hard work.
From now, the lesson will be arranged as follows:
A quick warm up to practise recent phrases or vocabulary, and to pass the time until all the students arrive.
This will be a chance for you to do some extended talking to develop sentence-building skills, incorporate idioms, expressions and prepare yourself for a speaking lesson.
The main lesson will be the handout ONLY.
Firstly you will learn new vocabulary and practice:
pronunciation, stress and intonation
Next there is usually some listening so you can hear native speakers use these words. The recording will be played two or three times for you to hear and copy.
Next up is the main language of this lesson. You will repeat these expressions several times and test each other. During this time, the teacher will listen and give guidance.
The idea is for you to sound like a native-speaker. You will ONLY achieve that by practice and practice.
Finally, the remainder of the lesson is for YOU to practice using the language, in various scenarios. I recommend changing speaking partners. Practice means repeating and improving.
Practice does NOT MEAN saying the text once, as quickly as possible, then declaring, “Teacher, finished !”
The teacher is here to help YOU learn.
We are not here to entertain you.
I will not tolerate any sarcasm, rudeness, insults or disrespect.
In the event that I have been insulted or disrespected, I shall end the lesson and you can answer for your actions to the management
I do not plan these lessons – it is just my job to deliver them and help your pronunciation
YOU chose the lesson … if you are bored, that is not my problem. This is a language school not an entertainment centre.
Seahorse Productions: my films, theatre and writing
Ao Tuong (dreams) 2020 // short film // Seahorse Productions 30th April 2020
Bad Faith 2005 // short film // Seahorse Productions 6th May 2020
Inferno 2007 // short film // Seahorse Productions 25th May 2020
Shadow Sonata 2014 // short film // Seahorse Productions 8th June 2020
Steppenwolf (2008) 2014 // short film // Seahorse Productions 15th May 2020
Waiting Fo(u)r Godard // one-actor play / Royalty-free // Seahorse Productions 5th September 2020
Cinema
The Cranes Are Flying // USSR, 1957 (Dir: Kalatozov) // Cinema // 13th June 2020
Distracted // UK, 2018 (Dir James Devereaux) // 9th August 2020
Harold Lloyd // Hooray for Harold Lloyd // 28th June 2020
Noirish Project // UK, 2018 (Dir James Devereaux) // 11th July 2020
Subject // Lesson // Date
Ancient Egypt // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Ancient Greece // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Apple iPhones // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Apple workers in China // IELTS // 30th July 2019
April 30th Vietnam // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Arabian Nights // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th January 2020
Area 51 // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Architecture // Adult professionals // architecture
Architecture: Burj Khalife & Willis Tower // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Architecture: giving opinions // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 9th April 2020
Art // Adult C, L 1 // 12 & 19 December 2018
Art: giving opinion // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Art // 13th April 2020
Art: DaDa & Surrealism // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Dali, Dada & Surrealism // 23rd April 2020
Australia // IELTS 5-6.5 // 21st August 2019
Bad Day – create narrative // IELTS, Lesson 3 // 19th January 2019
Banks // Adult Speaking Class, L2 Part 2
Beginners’ English
https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/12/11/beginners-english/
The verb ‘to like’ // Beginners’ English // 24th June 42020
Grammar exercises // Beginners’ English // 23rd June 2020
Grammar past continuous // Beginners’ English // 2nd July 2020
How was your day ? // Beginners’ English // 26th May 2020
Introductions // Beginners’ English: dialogues // 5th June 2020
Introducing Yourself // Beginners’ English: dialogues // 25th June 2020
Past continuous // Beginners’ English: I was reading your blog // 2nd July 2020
Past tense pronunciation // Beginners’ English: The past is passed // 7th July 2020
Sentence building & irregular verbs // Beginners’ English // 27th May 2020
Sentence building // Beginners’ English // 5th June 2020
Sentence building // Beginners’ English // 24th June 2020
Useful sounds ‘en’ and letter ‘g’ // Beginners’ English // 20th May 2020
Vowels and it’s a / it’s an // Beginners’ English: vowels // 20th May 2020
What did you do yesterday ? // Beginners’ English // 26th May 2020
What’s it for ? // Beginners’ English // 25th June 2020
Bonfire, Guy Fawkes // Adult Class, Level 3 // 5th November 2019
Bonfire Night // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Bonfire Night // Young Learners, Level 4 // Safety First // 29th October 2020
Boys’ Night Out // Adult C, L 3 // 3rd December 2019
Bristol, UK // Young Teens // 21st February 2019
Business English
Accountancy // Business English: Accountancy // 6th May 2020
Business chat and idioms // Business English: Office chat // 29th April 2020
Business email writing // Business English // email writing // 8th March 2020
Business icons // Adult C, L 3 // 5th November 2019 (S. Jobs, M. Zuckerberg, Pham Nhat Vuong)
Business meetings // Business English: Time management // 29th April 2020
Cars // Adult pros // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Castles in Europe // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
Character building // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Character development // 18th June 2020
Christmas food in UK // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: food // 19th April 2020
Cinema choice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Cinema // 9th May 2020
Cities (UK) and areas // IELTS // 31st December 2018
Clothes // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
Coffee in Viet Nam // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Coffee in Viet Nam // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Complaining // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
Complaints // IELTS: Making complaints // 24th July 2020
Computers // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
Concorde // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Corona Virus in Vietnam // IELTS 4 – 5 // Implementing precautions // 25th March 2020
Corona Virus: news from UK // Listening Exercises, Corona Special // 6th April 2020
Countries (Brazil, Canada, Sth Korea, Egypt) // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
Countries (VN, UK, Mexico, Russia) // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
Countries // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
Cracking codes // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling // 29th March 2020
Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling part 2 // 30th March 2020
Crime and punishment // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Culture shock // Adult C, L 3 // 15th January 2019
Easter // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 1st January 2020
Emotions // Young Learners 3 // 6th July 2019
English for engineers, mechanics, science: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/category/adult-professionals/
Enigma machine // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Entropy // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Environment // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Explorers // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Family // Adult C, L 3 // 6th November 2019
Flea markets // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Gift of the gab // 10th May 2020
Food
Food (Korea, Germany, UK Christmas, Vietnam traditional) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Theme: food https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/01/22/adult-speaking-class-level-3-theme-food/
Food (healthy or snack) // Young Learners 3 // 13th July 2019
Food (Sweden) // Young Learners 2 // 18th May 2019
Food (4 countries) // Young Learners 3 // 6th July 2019
Food // Sai Gon street food // Sai Gon General Notes // Street Food Summer 2020 // 22nd Sept 2020
Food (what do you want ?) // Young Learners 2 // Review and Buster Keaton // 30th October 2020
Food // British Food // IELTS // 28th September 2020
Fortune telling // Adult Class, Level 1 // 30th January 2019
Fortune telling // Young Teens // 31st January 2019
Friction // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Germany // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Germany // 26th February 2020
Greece – land and myths // Young Learners 5 // 6th October 2019
Greek Myths – Theseus // Public Speaking for Young Learners // 17th August 2020
Hair styles // Adult C, L 1 // 19th October 2019
Hang Soon Dong cave // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Health // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Health // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Health // 27th January 2020
Hotels // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Hotels // 8th February 2020
How was your day // Adult Speaking Class, level 1: How was your day ? // 5th April 2020
Idioms
Idioms & expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Idioms: food // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: food // 19th April 2020
Idioms: a piece of cake // Teaching Notes // 1st June 2020
Idioms: are you pulling my leg ? // Teaching Notes // 2nd June 2020
Idioms: everyday idioms, everyday // Teaching Notes // 3rd June 2020
Idioms: part 3 extended idioms use // Teaching Notes // 4th June 2020
IELTS: Mindset Introduction // IELTS // 23rd June 2020
IELTS: Mindset 2 Introduction // Language I expect // IELTS // 15th July 2020
India // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
Insults and disrespect // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Causing offence // 3rd Feb 2020
Internet // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
Internet use by area and gender // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
Information from poster // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: information // 16th April 2020
Japan // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Jazz music // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Job interviews // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Job interviews // 12th Feb 2020
Kindle // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
Landmark 81 // Adult Professionals / Mechanics Part 2 // 23rd January 2020
Letter ‘t’ // KG 1 // 5th May 2019
Listening exercises:
Teaching clips and exercises: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/01/23/listening-skills-tips-and-links/
Listening to native and non-native speakers: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/12/30/listening-skills-real-english-native-and-non-native-speakers/
Listening to Photography and photos descriptions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, // 25th April 2020
Listening: real-life clips //20th April 2020
Listening TOEIC practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 3
Listening to computer safety // Listening exercises // 13th May 2020
Listening to COVID 19 news / Listening Exercises, Corona Special // 6th April 2020
Listening to Having a meal // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Recent review // 28th June 2020
Listening to London guide // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 22nd May 2020
Listening to Taiwan news stories (WHO) // Taiwan: Listening Extra 12th April 2020
Listening to Top Gear // Top Gear Special: What can go wrong ? // 28th April 2020
Listening to UK news // Adult pros// Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Listening to UK train prices // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 5
Listening to UK TV // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Listening to USA children speak // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
News with Vietnamese subtitles // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // 11th March 2020
Loch Ness Monster // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
London
London // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd March 2020
London // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London Part 2 5th March 2020
London directions and Leytonstone // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 29th June 2020
London history and architecture // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 18th April 2020
London plan an itinerary // Young Learners, Level 6 // 26th November 2020: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/11/26/young-learners-level-6-london-itinerary/
London street market // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
London tourism // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
London: what to see // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 22nd May 2020
London: unusual buildings // IELTS / Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 6th September 2020
Love and dating // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage
Love and marriage // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Love, marriage, children // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 3
Love, marriage // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // Married Life, phrasal verbs // 19th Sept 2020
May Day – history, myth and politics //Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: May Day // 5th May 2020
Making excuses IELTS // Speaking exercises // small talk & making excuses // 12th May 2020
Manufacturing in Vietnam // IELTS // 30th July 2019
McDonalds // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Mobile phones // Adult C, L 3 // 8th January 2019
Money // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Money // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 3
Murder mysteries // Adult C, L 3 // 12th November 2019
Neighbourhoods // new vocab and idioms // IELTS // There are places // 6th October 2020
Olympics (London, Beijing) // Adult Professionals // 10th February 2019
Orion constellation // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Personality adjectives // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Personality adjectives // 7th June 2020
Photography and photos // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Photography and photos descriptions (advanced) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, // 25th April 2020
The plague // Adult C, L 1 // 12 & 19 December 2018
Poland salt mine // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Politics // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Presentation skills // Teenagers // 20th January 2019
Pyramids // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
QI – Quite Interesting facts // Teaching Notes // 27th July 2020
Reading practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Robots in industry // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Rolex // Adult C, L 3 // 14th November 2019
Russia // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
Sai Gon for kids //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Schools in UK // IELTS: UK school system // IELTS // 17th September 2020
Shinkanshen (Bullet Train) // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Shopping
Shopping // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Shopping // Adult Speaking Class Level 2: Deciding what to buy // 11th May 2020
Shopping, haggling, role – play // Adult Speaking Class Level 2: Going shopping // 7th April 2020
Shop work (role-play) // Young Learners 3 // 3rd August 2019
Shopping (role-play) // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Shops and shopping // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Shopping // Adult C, L 3 // 14th November 2019
Shopping // IELTS-level exercises //IELTS, theme: shopping // 5th August 2020
Signs, symbols, icons // 21st August 2019: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/08/21/signs-symbols-and-icons-information-and-worksheet/
Small talk // Adult C, L 3 // 26th November 2019
Smoking and No Tobacco Day // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Health // 27th Jan. 2020
Solar system & space // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Street crime // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Street crime // 23rd July 2020
Stereotypes // Adult C, L 3 // 19th August 2019
Stereotypes // Adult Class, Level 3: Generally speaking // 28th April 2020
Stories in basic English // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 // 24th January 2020
Sweden // Young Learners 2 // 18th May 2019
Switzerland // Adult Speaking Class, level 3. Theme:Travel // 11th February 2020
Taiwan // Taiwan: Listening Extra 12th April 2020
Tallest, longest, biggest // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Technology (old) // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Tet Holiday // Adult C, L 1 // 30th January 2019
Tet Holiday // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Travel
Around the world in 80 minutes // Adult L 1 / Young Learners 5 // 26th July 2020
Holiday plans (Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Copenhagen, Moscow) // A. S. C. Level 2 // 20th May 2020
Holiday projects : Bangkok, Munich, Ha Noi, Egypt, London // A.S.C. Level 3 // 9th June 20202
IELTS Project // Holiday language, prepare an advert, plan a day // IELTS // 16th June 2020
Tourism (Thailand, VN & project) // Teenagers // 20th January 2019
Traffic and travel // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
Traffic in Vietnam // Adult C, L 3 // 25th December 2018
Travel: airport to city centre (HCM) // IELTS // 10th February 2019
Travel USA: planning // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: USA sun, surf, sand // 18th May 2020
Travel USA: 3 cities // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: San Fran, Boston, Chicago // 18th May 2020
Tuareg people // Adult Speaking Class, level 3. Theme:Travel // 11th February 2020
Turbulence // Adult Professionals / Mechanics Part 2 // 23rd January 2020
UNESCO // Young Teens // 31st January 2019
UNESCO // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Van Heusen shirts // Adult C, L 3 // 14th November 2019
Vietnamese cities // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
Vietnamese places // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
Vietnamese food // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Vietnamese law and police // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
War Museum, Sai Gon // Adult Class // 17- 19th December 2019
War Remnants Museums, Sai Gon // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: War Museum
Weather: snow and floods // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Workplace: issues & problems // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Work-place problems // 5th February 2020
Yoga & exercise // IELTS writing practice // 25th April 2020
Dialogues
Accountancy & business chat // Business English: Office chat // 6th May 2020
Afternoon plans // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Beginners‘ short conversations // Beginners’ English: Short dialogues // 8th April 2020
Introductions // Beginners’ English: dialogues // 5th June 2020
Black Friday shopping // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Calling a friend at work // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Catching up // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 5
Canada holiday // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 2
Cinema tickets // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Coffee shop // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 5
Coffee shop chat // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Coffee shop // 11th June
Eating out // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
English course //Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Dialogue practice // 14th June 2020
Environment // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
General review: // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: dialogue practice // 4th June 20202
Germany // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Germany // 26th Feb 2020
The gym and keep fit // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Health // 27th January 2020
Idioms & grammar // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: Long time, no see // 12th June 2020
Idiom practice // Cat got your tongue ? // Teaching Notes // 6th June 2020
Law, embezzling // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Low-frequency words and phrasal verbs // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th Jan. 2020
McDonalds ordering food // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Money // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 3
New boss // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 2
Office small talk // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 15th May 20202
Phrasal verbs & collocations // Teaching Notes // 15th June 2020
Phrasal verbs & idioms // Teaching Notes // 15th June 2020
Poland holiday // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Present perfect exercises // Adult Class, Level 2 // 4th July 2020
Reflexive verbs // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 2
Russian meets Englishman // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
Short scenarios // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Short scenarios // 10th June 2020
Small talk, idioms, dialogue practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 8th July 2020
Symbols // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 2
Tet Holiday // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Traffic // Adult C, L 3 // 25th December 2018 //Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
Famous Quotes
Inspirational quotes https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/09/02/quotes-for-the-classroom/
Bible “Whatever a man sows …” // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
David Bowie “Ground control” // Young Learners 4 // 8th June 2019
Chaucer “Time & tide …” // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Ho Chi Minh “need to work much harder” // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
Shakespeare “All that glisters …” // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: luxury day // 12th March 2020
Shakespeare “More things in Heaven … ” // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13 Mch 2020
Shakespeare “To be or not to be” // Adult C, L 2 // 27th May 2019
Shakespeare “We are such stuff …” // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
Shakespeare “Neither a borrower …” // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Shakespeare “All the world’s a stage” // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Tarantino “Shutting your butt down.” // Adult C, L 3 // 26th November 2019
Twin Peaks “Damn fine coffee,” // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Lao-Tzu ‘Give a man a fish …” // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
Andy Warhol “Famous for 15 mins” // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Wittgenstein “Limits of my language …” // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Films, TV & Theatre
Around the World in 80 Days // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
Big Bang Theory // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Blind Date // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage
Candid Camera: Buster Keaton // Food (what do you want ?) // Young Learners 2 // 30th October 2020
Car Share // IELTS // 19th February 2019
Chungking Express // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019 /// IELTS // 16th April 2019 /// IELTS // 4th March 2019
Dead Poet Society // Adult C, L 3 // 7th November 2019
Dracula // Adult C, L 1 // 2nd January 2019
Dragon’s Den (US Shark’s Tank) // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
Far Flung Floyd // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Far Flung Floyd // Vietnamese Party Food // 19th May 2020
Four Weddings and a Funeral // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Holidays from Hell // IELTS // 10th February 2019
Ing … // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019
Inglorious Besterds // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Live and Let Die // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Lost in Translation // IELTS // What do you like this film ? // 6th April 2020
Man Who Fell To Earth // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Most Haunted // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
Nosferatu // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
The Owl and the Sparrow (Vietnam) // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Psycho // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Rebel Without A Cause // Adult C, L 3 // 15 August 2019 12 November 2019
Reservoir Dogs // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Social Network // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019 /// Adult C, L 3 // 5th September 2019
Star Wars The Last Jedi // IELTS // 14th January 2019
Summer Holiday //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Take Care of my Cat (South Korea) // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Tokyo Story (Japan) // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Top Gear // Adult professionals // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Top Gear / Vietnam / Porsche challenge / Tesla car / Break for the border /
Twin Peaks // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
2001: A Space Odyssey // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Waiting For Godot // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
Grammar
Adjectives // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Adjectives // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1 // 14th October 2019
Adjectives // Adult C, L 1 // 14th October 2019
Adjectives: order // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
Adjectives: clothes and materials // Adult Speaking Class, L 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
Adjectives: describing people // Adult Speaking Class, L 3: Describing people // 27th May 2020
Adjectives: personality // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: What type of person ? // 19th June 2020
Adjectives: personality // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Extended exercises // 20th June 2020
Adjectives: personality // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: // 21st June 2020
Adjectives // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Personality adjectives // 7th June 2020
Adjectives: people and hair // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1 // 14th October 2019
Adverbs // Young Teens // 21st February 2019
Adverb + adjectives // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Adverbs of degree // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Adverbs of degree // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Adverbs of frequency // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Quick review // 7th June 2020
Adverbs of frequency // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1, How often do you … ? // 16th August 2020
Adverbs & expressions // // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Adverbs // 26th June 2020
Adverb exercise // IELTS: use adverbs frequently // 3rd July 2020
Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling part 2 // 30th March 2020
As … as // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 5 // 4th February 2020
Auxiliary (helping) verbs // Beginners’ English: Sentence Building // 16th March 2020
Can, could, be able to // Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019
Collocations // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/01/18/adult-speaking-class-level-2-collocations/
Collocations // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: More collocations // 16th May 2020
Contractions (video) // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Discourse Markers // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019 /// IELTS // 7th January 2019 //// IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
First & second conditional // Adult C, L 3 // 22nd April 2019
Future plans Signs // Young Learners 4 // 22nd June 2019
Future plans // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Future plans // Adult Speaking Class, level 1: What will you do ? // 24th April 2020
Future tense // Adult C, L 3 // 6th November 2019
Have to or must ? // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 20th December 2019
Have to or must ? // Beginners’ English // 1st July 2020
Idioms // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
Idioms // Adult Speaking Class / IELTS: Right up your street // 26th August 2020
Idioms // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: In order to improve // 30th June 2020
Idioms, expression practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // New slang // 15th July 2020
IELTS
Pre-IELTS challenge: creative writing, plan a day, pronunciation // Adult Class L 3 // 30th May 2020
IELTS: Adverb exercise // use adverbs frequently // 3rd July 2020
IELTS: Mindset first day warm up // IELTS: Mindset // 23rd June 2020
IELTS: warm up games // https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/02/25/ielts-warm-up-games/
IELTS: vocabulary building // IELTS: Vocabulary activities // 24th April 2020
IELTS // idioms and vocabulary games // Preparing for speaking test // 15th May 20202
Modal verbs // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 25th July 2020
‘ness’ or ‘ment’ ? // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Past continuous // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Past continuous // Adult Class, Level 3 // 23rd September 2019
Past continuous exercises // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Past perfect // Adult Class, Level 3 // 23rd September 2019
Past simple // Adult Class, Level 3 // 23rd September 2019
Past simple & past continuous exercise // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1 // 16th August 2020
Past Tense // Exercises, common verbs, pronunciation omnibus // 21st October 2020: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/10/21/past-tense-various-exercises-2/
Past tense // Beginners’ English // Beginners’ English Part 4
Past tense exercise // Adult Speaking Class, L2 Part 2
Past tense exercise // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Past tense past continuous exercises // Teaching Notes // 12th July 2020
Past tense pronunciation // Beginners’ English: The past is passed // 7th July 2020
Past tense & past continuous // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Grammar quiz // 27th June 2020
Past tense & past perfect/ // Adult Speaking Class, L 2: Grammar – perfect form // 25th May 2020
Phrasal verbs // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 3
Phrasal verbs & collocations // Beginners’ English Part 4
Phrasal verb exercises // Teaching Notes: Phrasal verbs // 16th June 2020
Possessives // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
Present continuous (house plan) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Present perfect exercises // 6th September 2020 // Beginners’ English // Adult Speaking Class Level 1: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/09/06/present-perfect-exercises/
Present perfect exercises // Adult Class, Level 2 // 4th July 2020
Present perfect exercises // Beginners’ English
Present perfect // Adult Class, Level 3 // 23rd September 2019
Present perfect (have you ever ?) // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Present perfect (for & since) // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
Present perfect review // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
Regular & irregular verbs // Beginners’ English Part 4
Reflexive verbs // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 Part 2
Relative clauses // Adult Class, Level 3 // 5th November 2019
Relative pronouns // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019 / // Adult C, L 3 // 5th November 2019
Relative pronouns quiz // IELTS Review // vocabulary, discourse, sentence building // 25th June 2020
Relative pronouns // IELTS // 1st July 2020
Reported Speech // Adult C, L 3 // 8th October 2019
Reported Speech // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 5 // 4th February 2020
Review (irregular verbs, adverbs) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Quick review // 7th June 2020
Sentence correction (basic) // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Similes // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 5 // 4th February 2020
Tag questions // Adult C, L 3 // 15 August 2019 12 November 2019
Third Conditional // Adult C, L 3 // 22nd October 2019
Third conditional // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 3
Third Conditional exercise // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Third Conditional 23 Jan 2020
15 most common verbs // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019 // Beginners’ English Part 4 //
Verb ‘to have’ & Viet translation // Young Learners 1 // 16th March 2019
Verb ‘to have’ // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Verb ‘need’ // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1:What do you need ? // 21st May 2020
Verb ‘want’ Food // Young Learners 2 // Review and Buster Keaton // 30th October 2020
What do they like ? // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1:What do they like ? // 22nd June 2020
Which one ? // Young learners, Level 4 // 10th November 2020
Games
Adult level activities (compilation) // Adult C, L 3 // 27th November 2019
https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/11/27/adult-class-level-3-games-without-frontiers/
Activity sheet for young learners // Young Learners 2 // 25th August 2019
Activity sheet (3) // Young Learners 3 // 14th December 2019
Activity sheet (4) // Young Learners 4 // 7th December 2019
Anecdotes // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Birthday horseshoe // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Blind Date // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
Break a code // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Call My Bluff // Teenagers // 12th January 2019
Call My Bluff // IELTS 5-6.5 // 28th August 2019
Call My Bluff // Adult C, L 3 // 26th November 2019
Can you see … (a frog ?) // Young Learners 1 // 24th April 2019
Chinese Whispers // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019
Countries // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
Describe an everyday object // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd March 2020
Describe the people (photo back to board) // Adult C, L 3 // 8th October 2019
Desert Survival // Adult C, L 3 // 27th November 2019
Exchanging information // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Eyewitness // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Family Fortunes // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Family Fortunes // Adult C, L 3 // 6th November 2019
Family Fortunes // Adult C, L 3 // 27th November 2019
Food – organise a work party // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 5 // 4th February 2020
Fortune Teller // Young Teens // 31st January 2019 (// Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019)
Four People (likes, dislikes etc) // Young Teens // 21st February 2019
Friends (hobbies and creativity) // Young Learners 4 // 1st May 2019
Friends (job and personality) // Adult C, L 3 // 27th November 2019
Friends (men) // Teenagers // 12th January 2019 https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2018/12/28/friends-men-teaching-sheet/
Gather information (countries) // Young Learners 5 // 29th August 2019
Guess the countries (pictures) Signs // Young Learners 4 // 22nd June 2019
Guess the music (countries) // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
Horseshoe Birthday // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Interview your (famous) partner // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Introduce yourself // Speaking practice, warm up games // 7th October 2020
Just a Minute // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Just a Minute // Adult C, L 3 // 21 November 2019
Magic bag // Young Learners 2 // 26th April 2019
Make a presentation (famous people) // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Match the image to the fact // Young Teens // 31st January 2019
Mime // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
Mr Paul’s Wonderful Store // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Gift of the gab // 10th May 2020
New Persona // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
Picture description // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 6 // 8th February 2020
Plan a day for visitors // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Plan a day out (children) //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Plan a luxury day // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: luxury day // 12th March 2020
Presentation: Vietnamese cities // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
Role-play: Job markets and interviews // Business English: Role-playing 6 – 8 May 2020
Role-play: shopping// IELTS 5-6.5 // 28th August 2019
Role-play: shopping // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Role-play: shopping & haggling // Adult Speaking Class Level 2: Going shopping // 7th April 2020
Run and Write (past tense) // Young Learners 5 // 29th August 2019
Run and Write (personal likes) // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Run and Write // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Runaround // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Runaround (space) // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Runaround // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Screen Test //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Sentence rewrite // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Shopping on a budget // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Sticky ball (animals) // KG Safari 1 // 2nd March 2019
Stop the Bus // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
travel:plan a luxury day //Adult Class, L 3 // 14th November 2019
True or false (3 statements) // Teenagers // 12th January 2019
True or false (4 photos) // Teenagers // 12th January 2019
TV talkshow interview // Young Learners 4 // 1st June 2019
What difference (definitions) // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
What do you see (cartoon picture) ? // Young Learners 2 // 25th August 2019
What happened next ? (video clips) // Young Teens // 31st January 2019 ( Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019)
What my friends can so in Sai Gon / / IELTS 5-6.5 // 21st August 2019
What happens next (video clips) // Adult C, L 1 // 30th January 2019
What would you do IF … // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
What’s My Line // Adult C, L 3 // 3rd December 2019
What’s the story (Tom Cruise) // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
What’s the Story (Chinese film) // IELTS 5-6.5 // 11th September 2019
Where am I going ? (info gathering) Signs // Young Learners 4 // 15th June 2019
Where am I going ? //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Whisper run ‘n’ write // Young Learners 3 // 13th July 2019
Word bomb (hobbies) // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Young Learners, warm-ups games and surveys // 2nd August 2020
Young Learners classroom games // Word Battleship, Snakes & Ladders // 24th August 2020
Young Learners, Level 2 // Classroom Activities // 26th September 2020: (Mid Autumn Festival video) https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/09/26/young-learners-level-2/
Student surveys
Are you able to ? // Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019
Future activities // Adult C, L 1 // 30th January 2019
General questions // Adult C, L 3 // 8th January 2019
Hobbies // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
Young Learners, warm-ups games and surveys // 2nd August 2020
IELTS introduction // IELTS // 31st December 2018
Internet survey // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
Mobile phone survey // Adult C, L 3 // 21st November 2019
What did you do / like // Young Learners 4 // 1st May 2019
Where do you want to go ? // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Music
Abba ‘Mamma Mia’ // Young Learners 2 // 18th May 2019
The Archies ‘Sugar, Sugar’ // KG 1 // 5th May 2019
Louis Armstrong ‘Hello Dolly’ // Young Learners 2 // 26th April 2019
Louis Armstrong ‘Wonderful World’ // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
The Bangles ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
The Beatles ‘I’ll Be Back’ // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Beatles ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
David Bowie ‘Changes’ // IELTS // 16th April 2019
David Bowie ‘Space Oddity’ // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Bucks Fizz ‘Making Your Mind Up’ // Adult C, L 2 // 27th May 2019
Chic ‘Good Times’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
The Coasters ‘Poison Ivy’ // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
The Deep Six ‘It’s Happening’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Bob Dylan ‘Times They Are A-Changin’ // Adult C, L 3 // 3rd December 2019
Eifel 65 ‘Move Your Body’ // KG Safari 1 // 2nd March 2019
Flying Lizards ‘Money’ // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Human League ‘Don’t You Want Me ?’ // IELTS: Going for a song // 21st August 2020
James ‘Sit Down’ // KG 1 // 24th January 2019
Gene Kelly ‘Singing in the Rain’ // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Gladys Knight ‘Baby, Don’t Change Your Mind’ // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Kraftwerk ‘The Model’ // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Kraftwerk ‘We Are The Robots’ // KG 1 // 24th January 2019
Ali Hassan Kuban ‘Habibi’ // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Led Zepplin ‘Whole Lotta Love’ // Adult C, L 1 // 12 & 19 December 2018
John Lennon ‘Starting Over’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 14th August 2019
John Lennon ‘Imagine’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Lykki Li ‘Little Bit’ // Young Learners 4 // 1st May 2019
Don McLean ‘Vincent’ // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Men At Work ‘Down Under’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 21st August 2019
Paul McCartney ‘Another Day’ // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Kylie Minogue ‘can’t get you’ // IELTS // 21st January 2019
Nirvana ‘Teen Spirit’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Ohio Express ‘Yummy, Yummy, Yummy’ // KG 1 // 5th May 2019
Otis Redding “Dock of the Bay’ // IELTS // 16th April 2019
REM ‘Stand’ // KG 1 // 24th January 2019
Cliff Richard ‘Summer Holiday’ // Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Russian National Anthem (2 versions) // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
The Sonics ‘Have Love, Will Travel’ // IELTS // 10th February 2019
Spice Girls ‘Tell Me What You Want’ // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Steppenwolf ‘Born To Be Wild’ // Adult C, L 3 // 22nd April 2019
Stray Cats ‘Strut’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Sweet ‘Love is like Oxygen’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Talking Heads ‘Once In A Lifetime’ // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Tchaikovsky ‘Swan Lake’ // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
Tuareg music // Adult Speaking Class, level 3. Theme: Travel // 11th February 2020
10cc ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019
Hank Williams ‘I’m so lonesome’ // IELTS // 21st January 2019
‘Run, Rabbit, Run’ // KG 1 // 24th January 2019
People
Alice in Wonderland (book and picture) // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Archimedes // Adult Professionals. Mechanics. Theme: Archimedes // 26th February 2020
Buzz Aldrin // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Louis Armstrong // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
Art: Dali, Dada, Surrealism // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Dali, Dada & Surrealism // 23rd April 2020
Asian salesgirls (mobiles) // Adult C, L 1 // 20th February 2019
David Bowie // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Isabard Kingdom Brunel // Adult Professionals / Mechanics Part 2 // 23rd January 2020
Fillipo Brunelleschi // Adult professionals // architecture
Robert Capa // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: War Museum
Captain Cook // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Tom Cruise // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Salvador Dali // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Salvador Dali // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Dali & his art // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Dali // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Dali, Dada & Surrealism // 23rd April 2020
Charles Dickens // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Fyodor Dostoevsky // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Nguyen Du (‘Tale of Kieu’) // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Le Duan // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Bob Dylan // Adult Class, Level 3 // 3rd December 2019 /// Adult Class, Level 3 // 19th August 2019
Guy Fawkes // Adult Class, Level 3 // 5th November 2019
Guy Fawkes // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Alfred Hitchcock // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Sherlock Homes // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Lê Hoàng Hùng // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
James I // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
The Joker (Heath Ledger) // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Pham Nhat Vuong //Adult C, L 3 //5th Nov 2019
Scarlett Johannsson // IELTS // What do you like this film ? // 6th April 2020
Kenny Jones // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Franz Kafka // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Franz Kafka // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Dr Henry Kissinger // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Stanley Kubrick // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Christopher Lee // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
Bela Legosi // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
John Lennon // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
John Lennon // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Wyndham Lewis // Adult C, L 1 // 12 & 19 December 2018
George Mallory // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Sir Ian McKellen // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
Man from Taured // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Ho Chi Minh // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Ho Chi Minh // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Wei Minzhi // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Kim Phuc // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Peter O’Toole on Letterman // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Marco Polo // Young Learners 5 // 10th November 2019
Elvis Presley // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
REM // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: information // 16th April 2020
Mies van der Rohe // Adult professionals // architecture
Shakespeare // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Ringo Starr // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
T-ara // Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019
Tchaikovsky // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
Theseus & the Minotaur // Young Learners 5 // 6th October 2019
Tsai Ing-wen // Taiwan: Listening Extra 12th April 2020
Alan Turing // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Vlad The impalor // Adult C, L 1 // 2 January 2019
Christop Waltz // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Ludwig Wittgenstein // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Natalie Wood // Adult C, L 3 // 15 August 2019 12 November 2019
Photos
Alcimbado // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Animals // KG 1 // 2nd March 2019
Architectural styles // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 9th January 2020
Art // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Art // 13th April 2020
Asian icons // Adult C, L 3 // 15th August 2019
Bad note-taking // Teenagers // 12th January 2019
Basquet // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
John Bercow // Young Learners 1 // 13th April 2019
Siddharta, the Buddha // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
David Carradine (Kill Bill) // Young Learners 1 // 24th April 2019
Henri Cartier-Bresson // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Marc Chagall // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Marc Chagall // KG 1 // 7th December 2019
Kalpana Chawla (Indian astronaut) // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
Child proteges // Young Learners 4 // 1st June 2019
Chimp feeding tiger // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1:What do you need ? // 21st May 2020
John Constable // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
Christmas, Germany // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Christmas, UK // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Christmas, UK – food // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: food // 19th April 2020
Corona virus in Vietnam // IELTS 4 – 5 // Implementing precautions // 25th March 2020
Countries // Young Learners 5 // 29th August 2019
Cute Japanese cafe Travel talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Travel talk // 5th May 2020
Cute McDonalds girl // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Benedict Cumberbatch photobomb // Teenagers // 20th January 2019
Daisy & Anna // Beginners’ English Part 4
Julie Delpy // Adult Class, Level 3: Generally speaking // 28th April 2020
Dynamo (magician) on bus Travel talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Travel talk // 5th May 2020
Families // Adult C, L 3 // 7th November 2019
Food: English breakfast // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Food (UK, USA, Korea, Sweden) // Young Learners 3 // 13th July 2019
Gandhi // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
Gym equipment // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Health // 27th January 2020
Hamley’s toy shop // Young Learners 2 // 26th April 2019
Kitchen items // Beginners’ English Part 4
Kraftwerk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
Interesting buildings // Young Learners 3 // 13th July 2019
Jazz stars // Young Learners 1 // 24th April 2019
Jun Ji-hyun // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
Las Vegas hotels // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: information // 16th April 2020
London history and architecture // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 18th April 2020
Lost in Translation // IELTS // What do you like this film ? // 6th April 2020
Wyndham Lewis // Teenagers: Architecture & Mythology // 13th March 2020
May Day – Nigeria, Hawaii, USSR, UK //Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: May Day // 5th May 2020
Nelson Mandela // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
‘Man Pointing’ // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Market research call centre // Adult C, L 3 // 8th January 2019
Mike the Monkey as animals // KG 1 // 7th December 2019
Ho Chi Minh’s house // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
National Museum, Seoul // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: information // 16th April 2020
Noble laureates // IELTS // Writing exercises // re-arrange poor writing // 12th May 2020
Kim Phuc // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Ngo Than Van (Veronica Ngo) // IELTS // 14th January 2019
Nicholas ‘Elvis’ (friend) // Young Learners 4 // 1st May 2019
Robert de Niro // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Pete (friend) on bass // Young Learners 4 // 22nd June 2019
Pete with Kenny Jones // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Poland (Krakow) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Ms Quynh (friend) // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Rock stars // Adult Speaking Class, L 3: Describing people // 27th May 2020
Ronaldinho // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
Russia // Adult C, L 3 // 4th December 2019
Seurat ‘Sunday Grande Jatte // Young Learners 1 // 16th March 2019
Shops // Young Learners 3 // 3rd August 2019
Shopping – compound nouns // IELTS // 7th January 2019
Shopping in Viet Nam // IELTS // 10th April 2019
Signs (Indonesia) // Young Learners 4 // 22nd June 2019
Signs (Singapore) // 21st August 2019
Sleeping student // Young Learners 4 // 22nd June 2019
Sleeping student // Young Learners 5 // 25th August 2019
Nicola Sturgeon // IELTS 4 – 5 // Implementing precautions // 25th March 2020
‘t’ words // KG 1 // 5th May 2019
Tutankhamun // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
UK (beach, breakfast, pub) // Adult C, L 2 // 27th May 2019
Vietnam // Young Learners 5 // 25th August 2019
Vietnam – famous Vietnamese // IELTS // 14th January 2019
Vietnamese folk painting // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Vietnamese karaoke // Young Learners 3 // 17th August 2019
Vietnamese police stopping cyclists // Adult C, L 1 // 5th March 2019
Vietnam traditional industries // IELTS // 30th July 2019
Vietnam war and related // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Wedding dresses // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Mark Wiens // Young Learners 2 // 25th August 2019
Harri Won // IELTS // 7th January 2019
Thay Paul photos
Bangkok (Al & Alison) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Berlin 1990s // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Drinking coffee (Singapore) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Driving (fairground) // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Elephant // Young Learners 3 // 7th September 2019
Elephant // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
Elephant // Young Learners 5 // 25th August 2019
Playing guitar // Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019
With friends // Young Learners 4 // 7th December 2019
With Martin (London) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
With students (Ha Noi) // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
With students (Ha Noi) // Adult Class, Level 3: Generally speaking // 28th April 2020
Reading exercises
Arabian Nights // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th January 2020
Reading practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Sherlock Holmes // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd March 2020
Sentence building
Adult class exercises (various) // Adult Class // 17- 19 December 2019
Bad Day – create a narrative // IELTS, Lesson 3 // 19th January 2019
Basics // Adult Speaking Class, level 1: Sentence building // 27th June 2020
Beginners: helping verbs // Beginners’ English: Sentence Building // 16th March 2020
Character // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Character development // 18th June 2020
Coffee in Viet Nam // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 /// Adult C, L 3 // 8th October 2019
Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling // 29th March 2020
// Adult Class, Level 3 // Relationships // 26th May 2020
Describing people // Adult Speaking Class, L 3: Describing people // 27th May 2020
Describing photos (Vietnam War) // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Describing photos (police etc) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: Tell what you see // 23rd April 2020
Discourse Markers activity // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Expressions // Adult Class, Level 3 // 3rd December 2019
Expressions // Adult Class, Level 2 // 28th June 2020
Film review // Adult C, L 3 // 12 November 2019
Fixed expressions // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Food (most unusual) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: food // 19th April 2020
General // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 Part 2
Giving directions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: London // 29th June 2020
How was your day ? // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: sentence building // 27th June 2020
IELTS Level
IELTS sentence building // IELTS //22nd July 2019 https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/07/22/ielts-sentence-building/
IELTS basic sentence building // IELTS // 28th January 2019 // // IELTS // 14th January 2019
IELTS making complaints // 24th July 2020
IELTS complex sentences // IELTS, Mindset: Complex sentences // 30th April 2020
IELTS complex sentences // It’s not that complicated // 24th May 2020
IELTS complex sentences // Sentence building:piece of cake // 16th August 2020
IELTS describe a film // IELTS // What do you like this film ? // 6th April 2020
IELTS describe a gadget // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
IELTS // Quick-fire talking // Part 2 questions // 12th May 2020
IELTS // Review // vocabulary, discourse markers, sentence building // 25th June 2020
IELTS // Sentence building; a piece of cake // IELTS // 16th August 2020
Narrative structure // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Past time expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 2
Photography and photos descriptions (advanced) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, // 25th April 2020
Sentence building plan // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Ideas for sentence building // 6th June 2020
Travel and holidays
Travel talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Travel talk // 5th May 2020
Travel: holiday plans // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // Holiday Plans // 20th May 2020
Travel review // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Travel language revisited // 22nd June 2020
What is happening // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 2
Word order // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 2
Speaking exercises
Buying a motorbike // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Characters // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Coffee drinking in Viet Nam // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // IELTS sentence building
Contractions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Conversation practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Describe a friend // Adult C, L 3 // 7th November 2019
Describing people and clothes // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Easter // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 1st January 2020
Electronic devises // IELTS // 4th March 2019
Everyday expressions // IELTS / Adult Speaking 3 // Everyday expressions // 28th August 2020
Everyday expressions database // IELTS / Adult Speaking 3 // 25th August 2020
Expressions // Adult Class, Level 3 // 15th January 2019
Film and acting reviews // Adult Class, Level 1 // 5th March 2019
Free speaking exercises // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
General review: // Adult Speaking Class, level 2: dialogue practice // 4th June 20202
General speaking tips // Adult C, L 3 // 16th September 2019
Grammar
Adverbs of frequency // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1: How often do you ? // 16th August 2020
Past Tense // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1 /// Adult C, L 3 // 23rd September 2019 /// Adult C, L 3 // 16th September 2019
Past-time expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 6 // 8th February 2020
Third Conditional: Mr Bowditch // Adult C, L 3 // 22nd October 2019
Holidays // Adult Speaking Class, level 3. Theme: Travel // 11th February 2020
IELTS // intonation and stress // speaking exercises // 31st August 2020
IELTS // Replace standard English with IELTS language // 19th August 2020
IELTS // Quick-fire talking // Part 2 questions // 12th May 2020
IELTS // Speaking exercises // small talk & making excuses // 12th May 2020
IELTS // Speaking exercises // idioms, relative pronouns, LRW, discourse markers // 17th July 2020
IELTS // Speaking practice // IELTS language // IELTS // 10th August 2020
IELTS // Preparing for speaking test // 14th May 20202
IELTS // Speaking Test Part 3 // IELTS: How to nail it // IELTS // 12th September 2020
IELTS // Speaking Test preparation // Last Chance Saloon // IELTS // 8th September 2020
Introduce yourself // Speaking practice, warm up games // 7th October 2020
Introductions Queen Elizabeth II (Christmas 2015) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 15th May 20202
Job interviews // Adult Class // 17- 19 December 2019
Job interviews // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Job interviews // 12th Feb 2020
Music // Small talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Small talk and music // 31st July 2020
Not the …… man in the world // Adult C, L 3 // 3rd December 2019
Olympics in Vietnam ? // Adult C, L 3 // 10th February 2019
One of those days // IELTS // 14th January 2019
Pronunciation quiz // Adult Speaking Class, L2 Part 2
Public speaking // Public speaking for young learners // 31st July 2020
Shopping // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Small talk exercises: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/12/09/vocabulary-building-exercises/
Small talk // IELTS 5-6.5 // 28th August 2019
Small talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 3
Small talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Review // 11th May 2020
Small talk // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Small talk and music // 31st July 2020
Telephone conversation // Adult Speaking Class, L 2 Part 2
Travel
Tet Holiday // IELTS // 28th January 2019
Travel (key words) // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Travel: airport to city centre // IELTS // 10th February 2019
Travel in two minutes // IELTS // 19th February 2019
Travel // Hotel vocabulary // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // 18th September 2020
Travel // IELTS 5-6.5 // 14th August 2019
Travel: my stay in Bangkok in pictures // IELTS // 10th February 2019
Travel: Nha Trang // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
Travel: one day in Sai Gon // IELTS 5-6.5 // 14th August 2019 / // Adult C, L 3 // 7th November 2019 // // Adult C, L 3 // 22nd October 2019
Travel: recommend a holiday // IELTS // 4th March 2019
What’s the story (lazy student) // IELTS // 7th January 2019
Work – new staff // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 6 // 8th February 2020
Work party – organise the food // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 5 // 4th February 2020
Work problems // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Work-place problems // 5th February 2020
Video Clips
ABC song // KG Safari 1 // 10 March 2019
ABC (Richard Scary) // KG Safari 1 // 2nd March 2019
Airport – passport control // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: // sun, surf, sand // 18th May 2020
Angry Vietnamese woman // Adult Class, Level 3: Generally speaking // 28th April 2020
Archimedes screw pump. Theory & in practice // Adult Professionals. Mechanics. Theme: Archimedes // 26th February 2020
Australian hero – Aussie slang // IELTS 5-6.5 // 21st August 2019
John Bercow ‘Order !’ // Young Learners 1 // 13th April 2019
Black Friday // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Blind Date TV dating show // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage
Blur (‘Parklife’) // Young Learners 1 // 16th March 2019
Boy wiggles ears // Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019
Adrian Brody as Dali (Woody Allen) // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
George W. Bush leaves room // Young Teens // 31st January 2019
Chicago, Willis Tower // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Chimpanzee tea-party (1955) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPD_m2laITc
Christmas UK // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Class Rules // Young Learners 1 // 16th March 2019
Complaints // IELTS: Making complaints // 24th July 2020
Concorde // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Cooking Vietnamese food // Vietnamese Party Food // 19th May 2020
Corona Virus Government video // IELTS 4 – 5 // Implementing precautions // 25th March 2020
Benedict Cumberbatch (voices and accents) // Listening: real-life clips //20th April 2020
Customer complaints // Adult Speaking Class, L2 Part 2
Damn fine coffee // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019
Dickens ‘Christmas Carol’ // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Robert Downey Jr awkward interview // Adult C, L 3 // 26th November 2019
Dragon’s Den pitch (beard grooming) // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
Dumb criminals // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Street crime // 23rd July 2020
Dynamo magic // Adult C, L 3 // 12th December 2019
Easter traditions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 1st January 2020
Ancient Egypt (for children) // Young Learners 2 // 1st June 2019
Engineering fails // Adult Professionals / Mechanics Part 2 // 23rd January 2020
Entropy // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Eyewitnesses // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Four Weddings bad vicar speech // Adult Speak Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Friction // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Funny animals // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Germany: Top Attractions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Germany // 26th Feb 2020
Germany: Top Ten Facts // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Germany // 26th Feb 2020
Germany: Krautrock // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Germany // 26th February 2020
Greek dancing // Young Learners 5 // 6th October 2019
How couples meet // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage
Inbetweeners (Jay on motorbike) // Adult Class // 17- 19 December 2019
Internal combustion engine // Adult Professionals / Mechanics Part 2 // 23rd January 2020
Introductions – what’s your name // Beginners’ English, Part 2
iPhone in a vacuum // Young Learners 4 // 16th November 2019
Job interviews // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Job interviews // 12th Feb 2020
Karaoke (noise pollution) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Buster Keaton GIF // Young Learners, Level 5 // 6th June 2020
Kicked out of Starbucks // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
Kids guide to London // Young Learners 5 // 25th August 2019
Kids guide to HCMC //Young Learners 4 // 23rd November 2019
Kids’ parade USA // Young Learners 4 // 1st May 2019
Japan: 3 days in Tokyo // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Japan: 7 cool things // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Japan: 10 facts // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 6, 25th January 2020
Japan:Shinkanshen (Bullet Train) // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Joker (H. Ledger GIF) // Young Teens // 27th February 2019
Last Jedi trailer // Beginners’ English
David Letterman // Young Learners 4 // 1st June 2019
London cost of living // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd March 2020
London street trader // IELTS 5-6.5 // 28th August 2019
London Top 10 Attractions // Teenagers // 16th December 2018 /// // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd march 2020
London getting around (Oyster Card) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: London 3rd March 2020
London Tube (busy) // KG Safari 1 // 2nd March 2019
London Tube (rush hour) // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
London Tube guide // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
McDonalds ordering fast food // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Making a video // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Milk box fail // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
New Zealand Haka // Young Learners 5 // 27th October 2019
Not One Less // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Olympics (Beijing) // Adult Professionals // 10th February 2019
Paris love-locks // // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Adverbs & expressions // 26th June 2020
Peter O’Toole // Young Teens // 17th January 2019
Phrasal verbs (family) // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 3
Poland beer review // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Poland tourist guide // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Politicians attacked // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3
Pulp Fiction coffee shop // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Queen Elizabeth II (Christmas 2011) // Listening: real-life clips //20th April 2020
Queen Elizabeth II (Christmas 2015) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 15th May 20202
Queen Elizabeth II (corona address) // Listening Exercises, Corona Special // 6th April 2020
Rain forest // Young Learners, Level 5 // 6th June 2020
Richard III // Listening: real-life clips //20th April 2020
Romeo and Juliet // // Adult Speaking Class, level 3
Jerry Seinfeld GIF //Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: What type of person ? // 19th June 2020
Social Network // IELTS 5-6.5 // 4th September 2019
Ringo Starr being knighted // Adult Class, Level 1 // 5th March 2019
Snow // Beginners’ English, Part 2
Sir Kier Starmer (Labour leader, UK) // Listening Exercises, Corona Special // 6th April 2020
Supersize Me // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Taiwan (four videos – WHO dodge, Tsai Ing-wen) // Taiwan: Listening Extra 12th April 2020
Quentin Tarantino awkward interview // Adult C, L 3 // 26th November 2019
Tarantino on Chungking Express // 16th April 2019 /// IELTS // 4th March 2019
Nikola Tesla // Adult professionals. Mechanics, Part 3 // 7th Feb 2020
Theseus & the Minotaur (Lego) // Young Learners 5 // 6th October 2019
Top Gear: Vietnamese driving school // Adult C, L 3 // 25th December 2018 // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
Top Gear Vietnam // Top Gear Special: What can go wrong ? // 28th April 2020
Train videos compilation for listening skills:https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/09/12/train-kept-a-rollin-train-videos-for-listening-and-vocabulary/
Train, high-speed in China // Adult pros // Adult mechanics: What can go wrong ?
Train song // KG Safari 1 // 2nd March 2019
President Trump news (Viet subs) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // 11th March 2020
Tuareg people // Adult Speaking Class, level 3. Theme: Travel // 11th February 2020
Universeum, Sweden // Young Learners 3 // 14th December 2019
USA – San Francisco // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: San Fran, Boston, Chicago // 18th May 2020
Vietnam – country in transition // IELTS // 30th July 2019
Vietnamese culture (weird) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th January 2020
Vietnam (first impressions) // Teenagers // 12th January 2019
Vietnam – 5 weird things // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Vietnam – 7 fun facts // Beginners’ English
Vietnamese beer review (Sai Gon Red) // IELTS // 21st January 2019
Vietnamese beer review (Sai Gon Red) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKr6Cj-Xr9g&list=LLfquznE0joCgmA3v1PIQ0CQ&index=8&t=1s
Vietnam (safety in Sai Gon) // Teenagers // 20th January 2019 /// Adult Class, Level 3 // 5th September 2019 // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Street crime // 23rd July 2020
Vietnamese cop on speeding bus // Adult C, L 3 // 25th December 2018// Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Traffic
Vietnam (unexpected things vlog) // IELTS 5-6.5 // 14th August 2019
Vietnamese urban myths // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th January 2020
Vietnam largest cave // Young Learners, Level 5 // 18th November 2020: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/11/18/young-learners-level-5-what-are-you-doing-how-do-you-feel/
Christoph Waltz ‘Inglorious’ // Adult Class, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Wedding fails // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage
Wedding language // Adult Speaking Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Wedding parties (Jewish & Mexican) // Adult Class. Theme: Love & marriage Part 2
Arsene Wenger zipper fail // Beginners’ English, Part 2
What happened next ? (video clips) // Young Teens // 31st January 2019
When the band comes marching // Young Learners 1 // 26th May 2019
Mark Wiens eats VN breakfast // Young Learners 2 // 25th August 2019
Mark Wiens Kolkata, India // IELTS: Hello, India // 24th January 2020
(// Young Learners 4 // 9th November 2019) // Adult C, L 3 // 8th October 2019
Workplace fails // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Work-place problems // 5th February 2020
Vocabulary building
Adjectives // Beginners’ English
Adult class (various) // Adult Class // 17- 19 December 2019
Asking about jobs // Young Teens // 21st February 2019
Business meetings // Business English: What’s on the agenda ? // 5th May 2020
Cinema choice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Cinema // 9th May 2020
Cities, areas, descriptions // IELTS // 31st December 2018
Clothes // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: Describing clothes // 19th March 2020
Coffee shops // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Colour association Signs // Young Learners 4 // 1st June 2019
Come or go // Beginners’ English Part 4
Computer phrasal verbs // Young Learners 5 // 17th November 2019
Crime and punishment // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Cultural differences (Ha Noi) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // 24th April 2020
Drama films // Adult C, L 3 // 12th November 2019
Driving expressions // Beginners’ English
Emotions // Young Learners 2 // 6th July 2019
Emotions //Beginners’ English: How do you feel ? // 17th March 2020
Expressions and phrases // IELTS // 19th February 2019
Expressions // Adult C, L 3 // 18th March 2019
Expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2
Film vocabulary // Beginners’ English /// Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Film for IELTS // IELTS // What do you like this film ? // 6th April 2020
Food // Adult Speaking Class, Level 1
General // IELTS: Final Review // 5th March 2019
Friends and occupations (photos) // Adult C, L 3 // 5th September 2019
General // IELTS // 19th February 2019
General // Young Teens // 29th November 2018
I live in a … // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2, Part 4
Idioms (sweets) // IELTS // 19th February 2019
IELTS // Preparing for speaking test // 14th May 20202
IELTS language // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
IELTS vocabulary & expressions review // IELTS: The story so far // 7th July 2020
Job and interviews // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Job interviews // 12th Feb 2020
Like or dislike // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Low-frequency words // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 2
Low-frequency words // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 3
Low-frequency words // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Part 4 // 27th January 2020
Money and shopping // Adult C, L 3 // 14 November 2019
Money expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2: luxury day // 12th March 2020
Music // IELTS // 16th April 2019
Music // IELTS 5-6.5 // 11th September 2019
Music // IELTS 5-6.5 // 25th September 2019
Phrases // IELTS // 21st January 2019
Shopping // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Opinion phrases // Young Learners 4 // 26th October 2019
Opinion phrases // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Art // 13th April 2020
To what extent … ? // Adult C, L 3 // 19th August 2019
Tourism language // Teenagers // 20th January 2019
Travel advert language // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: Holiday of a lifetime // 9th June 2020
Travel with new expressions // Adult C, L 1 // 26th February 2019
Vietnam War // Adult Speaking Class, level 3: April 30th // 5th April 2020
Vocabulary review // Adult Speaking Class, level 2
Young Learners, Level 1: Fast, slow, noisy, quiet // 22nd August 2020
Vocabulary exercises:
https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2019/12/09/vocabulary-building-exercises/
How was your day ? // Adult Speaking Class, level 1: How was your day ? // 5th April 2020
Match new vocabulary with definitions then practice.
Personality adjectives
Phrasal verbs & expressions // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3, Married Life // 19th September 2020
Small talk responses
Small talk, idioms, dialogue practice // Adult Speaking Class, Level 2 // 8th July 2020
Tourism presentation // Teenagers // 20th January 2019
Travel with new expressions
Travel – hotel guide
Travel – life in Sai Gon
What Difference Does It Make – definitions of similar words
Writing exercises and reading exercises and links
Business job interview // Business English: What’s on the agenda ? // 5th May 2020
Condensing text (‘1001 Nights) // Adult Speaking Class, level 2, Part 6 24th January 2020
Correcting texts & emails // Writing corrections (all levels) // 15th May 2020
Creative writing // Adult Class, Level 3 // Relationships // 26th May 2020
IELTS cultural differences // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3 // 24th April 2020
IELTS // Writing exercises // re-arrange poor writing // 12th May 2020
IELTS // IELTS 5 – 6.5. Writing example // 15th March 2020
Yoga & exercise // IELTS writing practice // 25th April 2020
Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling // 29th March 2020
Reading
Short stories (Sherlock Holmes) // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Crime & Punishment
Using a thesaurus // Creative writing // Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Storytelling part 2 // 30th March 2020
Bible (Tower of Babel) Genesis 11 // Adult Speaking Class, level 2 // 9th January 2020
2nd December for 3rd December 2019 AEF Listening p. 72 & Review p. 103
This block of lessons is something of a mixed bag; there’s a long listening piece, a review with a chunk of text, and a printed scenario for speaking practice. Listening is perhaps the hardest. Consequently, the students can be less than engaged with the lesson, faces fall and participation plummets. Although my hands are tied – I have to teach this assigned lesson – I can endeavour to bring it alive, take it off the page and into context.
To kick off – let’s go over the highlighted text and focus on ‘less than’.
In plain English, I would say, “The students will be bored.” This is rather hard and sets a negative tone so, using British politeness, I soften the language. We practised a similar technique in a previous lesson. To recap, how would you describe this gentleman:
We can all see that the gentleman could benefit from going to the gym and maybe reducing his intake of unhealthy food, but we want to be polite and not blunt (or indeed, rude). Consequently, we would say:
“He’s not the thinnest man in the world.”
Here’s how it works – we take the negative adjective (here, and excuse the impolite word, it would be ‘fat’, maybe even ‘obese‘), then apply the opposite (‘thin’) and use it in the superlative form (thin, thinner, thinnest). We simply form the sentence by saying that the subject IS NOT the opposite superlative form – he IS NOT the thinnest man … Try these two for practice – there may be more than one negative adjective you could use:
Now, today’s expression (and expressions are vital for boosting students’ English up to the next level) – ‘less than’ – what sentences could you make here ? The subject could be the man, the film or, more generally, cinema today.
Examples: The man is less than excited by the film // The man is less than engrossed with the movie // The film is less than thrilling // Films today are less than intelligent.
This item comes from China:
Products from China are less than perfect // less than top quality // less than well-made. Finally:
Movin’ on; Tonight’s listening is about a ‘boys’ night out’. What do you think that means ? If they had a friend visit Sai Gon and he asks for a ‘boys’ night out’, where would they take him ?
How do you think this man spent his boys’ night out ?
And now for something completely different; what do you think of this man ?
What’s My Line. I will pretend to be this man answering questions truthfully, and the class have to guess what this man does.
Firstly, are the following true or false ?
This man is said to be worth $180 million.
He is married to the Queen’s grand-daughter
He was arrested in 2009 because the police thought he was a homeless person.
He travels a lot for work, around the world.
In 2016, he tried to become President of the USA
He has a Noble Prize for Literature in 2017 although he has only published two books.
Class must now ask open questions and from my responses, have to guess why I am famous.
He is, of course, a singer-songwriter, an icon of the 1960s, and still releasing music to this day.
Here’s one of Dylan’s early songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WD_ats6eE
Now the students chance. In small groups, they can select a famous person and the other team(s) have to guess who they are. We can limit the guessing to a certain number of questions, or fix a time limit.
A variation on this game is to have a student sit in front of the board and write a name behind them. The student has to ask question and the rest of the class can only answer ‘Yes,’ or ‘No.’ For example, I could write HARI WON and the student could ask:
Am I a man ? // Am I alive // Am I famous ? // Am I old ? // Am I on TV ? // Do I play sports professionally ? // Do I act ? // Am I in the news a lot ? // etc
27th November 2019 AEF 7A pp. 64 – 65
Tonight I’m covering a new class so I don’t know the ability of the class, their motivation, nor their willingness to talk English. There is a lot of book work but, to cover myself, I’ve prepared a list of activities to help get the students involved and producing English.
Hence, a compilation of adult activities:
First up – Family Fortunes
This seems to be a small class, maybe just seven students. Rather than ask them for introductions, we’ll jump straight into a game. Class divided into smaller groups and given a writing board and marker. I ask a question and then want four answers. Points for each answer that matches mine. Questions can include:
Not counting Sai Gon, I have been to four places in Viet Nam … which four ?
My four favourite things to eat in VN // Four things I LOVE about VN // Four things I HATE ! // Four instruments I can play (it’s a game, not the actual truth) // Four types of film that I like // Name four cities in Europe // Which four languages can I speak //
Moving on …
Mobile phone survey:
The students will be arranged in small groups. One member will be responsible for gathering the information, then reporting back to me.
Next up – a new persona.
Students are put into two or three groups, with each member given a card with some information about their new identity. They read the information to the group, who have to try to understand and write down details such as email addresses, phone numbers or Facebook accounts. Example:
Hello, my name is Tony
I’m 23 and I love shopping for shirts and ties.
I’m not into reading or books. I find them boring.
My mobile number is 0943 552 8207
It’s highly probable the other students will need to hear some of the information again, so they can use the following:
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your phone number (email address etc)
Could you repeat that, please ?
Could you spell that, please ?
Would you mind speaking slower, please.
Putting students into small groups helps to take the pressure off the students, as they speak to a limited number of classmates, not alone and in front of the whole class. this is highly effective in motivating shy and quiet class.
No rest for the wicked … Call My Bluff
Class divided into small teams. Each team reads out a low-frequency word, followed by three definitions (hopefully, they will be able to embellish and add some of their own ideas). The opposing team has to review the three definitions, maybe ask for examples in a sentence, and then decide which definition is correct. Example:
jeopardy
contestants
Others words include: maximum // in the form of //reduce // actual // smart // except the last one // obnoxious // broadsheet // charismatic // convinced // stain
Just a Minute
Students are put in pairs. They have to speak for one minute on a subject without hesitating, repeating or deviating (speaking about a different subject). This will test the students’ ability to speak fluently, as well as giving opportunities for using discourse markers and new vocabulary learnt so far. Subject are deliberately open, for example:
food // travel // work or study // life in Sai Gon // their family // their house.
Viet Nam presentation – where should I go on holiday ?
Three teams, representing Ha Noi, Hue and Nha Trang.
This exercise encourages team work and, furthermore, allows the students to develop their intonation skills; they will have to sound excited and optimistic.
To assist, here are some words and phrases to embellish their speech:
cultural centre // historical importance // breathe-taking scenery // tranquil // relaxing // hustle and bustle // mouth-watering food // never to be forgotten //unforgettable // once in a lifetime experience.
To give some help, I can perform a quick example:
COME TO LONDON, UK’s magnificent capital city and one of the world’s GREAT cities.
SEE such iconic, historical sights such as:
Buckingham Palace, home of our Queen, Tower Bridge over the Thames river.
Visit the world-famous British Museum to see the wonders of the world, or watch a football match at Wembley Stadium, in the country that invented the sport.
There is something for everyone:
Shops; you can buy everything here, to suit all budgets, from street markets to high-end department stores. To relax, London has so many tranquil parks, right in the centre of the city. Maybe see famous movie stars at one of London’s many, beautiful theatres, or dine out at restaurants cooking traditional British food or anything from anywhere.
London – one of the world’s GREAT cities
A holiday of a lifetime ! Book early !
Mr Paul tours – visit our website mrpaultours@ukonline.co.vn for more information
Special discount 10% for my students
Desert Survival
A plane crashes in the desert. No one is hurt, but they cannot stay by the plane. They need to be rescued and to stay alive. The plane has a lot of items but they can only select FIVE:
first aid kit // matches // rope // knife // compass // cigarettes // blankets // barrel of water // flare gun // torch (flashlight) // magnifying glass // Beatles CD // dried food // make-up set // Angry Birds game // air rifle // sun cream (sun block) // English grammar book
Factors to consider: food, drink, heat, cold, attracting attention, wildlife
Class put into teams and each team must choose their five items. After, they must compare their selection with the other team(s) and argue their reasons. Here we can practice negotiation language:
I see your point, however I disagree because …
That’s interesting, however …
I respectfully disagree
I’m not sure about that
I don’t feel that is entirely right …
Class interact and practice agreeing, disagreeing and making convincing arguments.
Friends
Here I show five pictures of men or women. Students, just by appearance, have to guess the personality and occupation of my friends.
This is a good way to teach new adjectives and jobs … and, in case you’re wondering, their jobs are: unemployed (looking for a job so is sending out CVs) // DJ // Actor // self-employed plumber and … doctor (photo taken on holiday).
26th November 2019. AEF 3 Listening Part 2 & Units 5 & 6 review (p.63)
Tonight, the lesson is heavy on listening and review. I try to get as much student-talking time as possible, so I’m got some ideas up my sleeve to, hopefully, lighten and brighten the class.
The topic is celebrity interviews, especially interviewing famous people who may be:
arrogant // self-obsessed // pretentious // obnoxious // full of themselves
Which of those words would, in your opinion, apply to these people:
Use opinion phrases (In my opinion, For me, He seems to be, I get the impression she is …)
A celebrity is anyone famous, but most often it’s an actor, musician, TV personality or just a regular person who has made the news (had a story about them in the newspaper, online media etc). Sometimes they can be arrogant or full of themselves in interviews. However, occasionally the interviewer may upset the star. What do you think is happening here [start at 04:23] in this Robert Downey Jr interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUX-CCmQeOk
Now we have the same interviewer with film director Quentin Tarantino:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTE8FPgHeE4
So now the class are prepared for the book work.
I have an assortment of activities for the speaking.
First up – small talk
I’ll hand out some papers with a short dialogue of small talk. This is basically learning how to keep a conversation going by using appropriate responses.
Students can use the following:
Really ? // I see // Are you ? // Right // That’s interesting // That’s a good point // Where is that exactly ? // Oh, me too // Do you enjoy it ? // Do you like it there ?
Then the students can pair up and ask each other questions such as:
Why are you studying English ?
Where do you live ?
Where would you like to visit ?
What do you do in your free time ?
What do you want to do in the future.
Students can change partners for each question.
Next up – Call My Bluff
Class put into two or three teams. Each team has a sheet with four words or phrases, followed by three definitions. A different member of the teams reads out a definition, embellishing the wording to make it more convincing. The opposing team have to guess the correct definition.
Finally, for a fun ending, the students can interview each other, but one pretends to be a difficult celebrity. They can use language from tonight’s lesson, or preferably, invent their own.
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
14th November 2019 AEF 2A pp. 14 – 15.
Tonight, attitudes to money: What does the first singer think about money ? What is important in his life ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfALmKL0VU
Now, compare with this attitude:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-P2qL3qkzk
The first song is romantic; the man doesn’t care about money, he wants love. However, the lady sings, “I want your money !” This is called being materialistic, wanting expensive things and money.
Vocabulary – p. 154. Verbs pertaining to money.
Activity. You inherit a small fortune and want to splurge out (spend a lot of money). Working in small groups, tell what how you would spend your luxury day.
Plan a luxury day
To develop narrative writing and speaking skills, use words or phrases such as:
Firstly // Initially // I would start // It would kick off with …
secondly, thirdly etc
after that // afterwards // following that // and then …
for a change // as a contrast// for a break // to take a break from all the …
lastly // I’d end up // I’d round the day off with
You could:
luxury breakfast // luxury spa treatment // horse-carriage ride
shopping // luxury yacht
See Barcelona play // Attend a play at a London theatre
OR add your own ideas
Where would you go ? What would you do ? What would you buy ?
Activity: Devil’s advocate.
This is to develop argument skills, how to politely disagree with someone.
Example: one student wants to buy a beautiful, luxurious Rolex watch. It really is an outstanding timepiece:
Without doubt, this is a luxury item. The pros …
It is gorgeous and so elegant. I will feel so special wearing it. People will admire and look up to me. They will think I am wealthy and have a great career. I will attract many cute women (or handsome men, whatever !). I may feel superior to other people who only have cheap watches or nasty fake knock-offs – like Thay Paul 🙂
Now play Devil’s advocate. Say what are the cons of owning such an item. Firstly, agree with the first student – it is without question a luxury item. Having said that …
It will attract attention … but maybe from thieves or pickpockets. It is a lot of money, maybe an obscene amount of money when so many people are poor. Can you justify living in a Socialist country and owning such a materialistic item ? Will it make you arrogant ? Will you think you are better than other people BECAUSE of a thing ? Finally … what does it DO ? Fundamentally, it tells the time. My fake Rolex will tell the same time … but it cost $20 NOT $ 5 000 !
Now students’ turn. Similar concept but this time, the latest iPhone:
The iphone 11 (woooooowwwwwwww !)
One student wants to buy it, the other must give reasons why it is not such a good idea.
Useful phrases: a waste of money / not necessary // a fashion accessory // you can’t afford it //
Role play game:
Three students will act out working in a department store, a shop with a sale on, and a street market. Other students have a set budget (say £100) and have to buy three items.
They can practice with the following language:
How much is this, please ? // Could you bring the price down for cash ? // Do you take plastic (credit cards) ? // If I smile, can you take off 10% ?
Wow, that’s a bargain ! // Sorry, that’s too much // Is that your best price ?
I’ll take it ! // Wrap it up ! // Let me think about it and come back // Sorry, that’s too much.
NOW – to make it more animated – the people working in the shops will no doubt be using different varieties of English. Let’s see if the students can alter their voices to portray an upper-class, well-spoken salesperson; a basic shop worker and a working-class street trader. I (old ham actor that I am) shall demonstrate. Yes, it’s not a conventional lesson but maybe the students will appreciate something different (even if the management don’t).
To end, I really want the students to gain confidence in speaking, so a lot of talking in small groups. I have various talking points they can discuss, and once they feel relaxed, we can play:
Just a Minute: students are given an open subject and must speak for one minute without deviation, hesitation or repetition. Other students time them and judge their performance.
Language review: students must give the correct word to a definition pertaining to tonight’s theme.
And then … take care, see you next week, later, dude !
12th November 2019 AEF 10B pp. 98 – 99
In the UK, we do have a morbid fascination with murder. This man is Alfred Hitchcock who made films from the 1920s to the 1970s, mostly suspense, thriller or murder dramas. ‘Hitch’, who was born where I live in east London, made many famous films but in my opinion ‘Psycho’, which was filmed in black and white in 1960, is his best.
Do you know these British characters ?
Sentence building:
Do you like to read murder mystery books or to watch murder films ?
Plan – don’t just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ ! Make a short introduction, just one or two sentences:
I enjoy all types of films, however I especially like a good mystery ….OR
I don’t really read much because I am so busy studying. However …
Say what film or book you like, tell me about the author and other books.
Tell me about the story and then why you think it’s good
Conclusion – “Maybe this book is not for everybody, but if you enjoy a great mystery story, then I would recommend it.”
Vocabulary building: Some useful words –
thrilling // suspense // gripping // well-written // superbly acted // atmospheric // creepy // scary // a page-turner // I was on the edge of my seat.
However, we must move from the world of fiction to the world of fact. Before we move onto a true story from the USA, let’s keep it closer to home.
What can the students tell me about Lê Hoàng Hùng ?
Students can work in small groups. They have five minutes to make a short presentation. Information can be found on these sites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Lê_Hoàng_Hùng
Then it’s time to get to tonight’s topic – murder, unsolved crimes and mystery. The lesson focuses on the mysterious death of the actress Natalie Wood. To introduce her, I’ll show a short clip of her acting, then the actual news report on TV on her death:
That clip, which has English captions, is from the film ‘Rebel Without A Cause’, from 1955. Now for the news footage:
Grammar: tag questions
Are you from Korea ? (a normal question, where we don’t know the answer)
You’re (you are) from Korea, aren’t you ? (using the tag ‘aren’t you’ to confirm what we think or know)
Take the pronoun (here it is ‘you’) and then the verb (‘are’). Invert the verb, that is, make it negative then add the pronoun. Hence ‘are’ becomes ‘are not’ = aren’t – aren’t you ?
Try these: First, decide on the appropriate pronoun (he, she, it, we etc).
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, ……….. ?
Natalie Wood was American, …………….. ?
We still don’t know who killed her, ………….. ? (here the verb is negative, so make it positive)
He’s a brilliant actor, ………….. ?
For the remainder of the lesson, I want the students to talk, talk and talk (and, yes, I mean in ENGLISH !)
Firstly, they can review tonight’s book work and air their views, thus enabling them to review negotiation language (I see your point but …. // I can’t go along with that // you raise an interesting point // I’m not sure I entirely agree … etc).
Questions:
What did they think of the subject ? (interesting, relevant, morbid, inappropriate)
Do they enjoy reading as part of class time ? Do they feel that is a good way to learn ?
How was the listening ? How much could they follow (understand ?)
What is their opinion on the amount of new vocabulary encountered ?
Naturally, I expect other students to play Devil’s advocate – to argue a point even if they personally don’t fully agree with it.
EXAMPLE: “Playing Devil’s advocate, I would say the best way to learn vocabulary is to read new words and see how they are used in a sentence.”
Activities – Just a minute
Here, students work in pairs – there are given a very open subject (work, food, family, their hometown etc) and have to talk for one minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition.
Students can be given new questions and then made to change partners regularly.
Also, encourage peer help – allow the students to correct each other, as well as giving advice and encouragement.
And finally … Mysteries – what do you think ? True or false or … ?
The Loch Ness Monster from Scotland
Area 51 in Nevada, USA. Did an alien spaceship crash here and aliens come to earth ?
The mysterious man from Taured
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
7th November for 9th November 2019 E Up 4, U7 L2 pp. 66 – 67
It’s early Saturday morning … need some high-energy music to wake up !
And the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ
For natural speech patterns, we can copy –
‘Tell me what you want, what you really, really want,’ in standard English or –
‘Tell me whatya want, whatya really, really want,’ in non-standard, with the linking sounds as well as the swallowed ‘t’ in ‘want’.
To counter the argument that this is not appropriate for an English lesson, I would say that students need to be exposed to a variety of Englishes … the linking and swallowing of words and letters is how many native speakers speak … as students will discover listening to films, TV and, as is the case here, music. What I listen for in my students, of all ages, is NOT a robotic, flat repetition of an abstract sentence, but intonation, linking and natural rhythm.
Next, I will board the remaining five jobs, but scrambled. The students, placed into two teams, must unscramble the chosen word (one student per team). One point for the first to complete, bang the board and shout out the word. Then, to add a variance, I will hold three flash cards, one of which will be the job. If they guess correctly, they earn an additional five points.
The words: ocart // tasiri // eamg reedgins // airtolujsn // iinstctes
Continuing the theme, a Runaround game:
Where does an actor work ?
1 – a hospital // 2 – a bank // 3 – a theatre
A journalist can use …
1 – a microphone // 2 – a piano // 3 – a paintbrush
Who uses clay, paint or metal in their work ?
1 – a scientist // 2 – a musician // 3 – an artist
Brad Pitt, Kirsten Stewart, Emma Watson and Robert Downey Jr are all famous …
1 – musicians // 2 – game designers // 3 – actors
Angry Birds and Candy Crush and Donkey Kong were made by …
1 – game designers // 2 – actors // 3 – Thay Paul
One student from each team will run to the board and slap a number … they can change their mind for five seconds but then they have to stay where they are.
British culture.
As a break, a little introduction to the UK and its history and traditions. The beginning of November sees Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night
In 1605, a group of men wanted to kill the King of England, James I. They wanted to blow up the building where the King was going to be, so they hid 36 barrels of gunpowder under the building. However, the King’s soldiers found one of the men, Guy Fawkes, and arrested him. The King was safe ! To celebrate, people made giants fires called bonfires.
We still do this today. Also, children help to make a Guy Fawkes from old clothes and old bags, and then adults put it on the fire. Finally, there are fireworks, sometimes at home, sometimes in parks so everyone can see.
Many different types of fireworks are used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4FGmYNCGW4
Some young children are holding sparklers – they have to wear gloves and be VERY CAREFUL.
What does you want to be or do ?
I will give the students boards and they have to write the three future plans. The last one (making movies, make a movie) is from a previous lesson, while the photo was taken in Berlin, Germany … long before my students were even born !
And now farewell … but next week, we leave the planet and go into space …
4th November for 5th November 2019 AEF 10A, pp. 94 – 95
Tonight we’ll discuss modern icons, titans of the business world, in both USA and Vietnam. It’ll be no surprise that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, who are both from the USA, are included although Vietnam also has a number of wealthy, super-rich who may not be as well known on the global stage. However tonight, which is a special day in the UK, we’ll warm up with the story of Guy Fawkes whose image is now iconic. He is part of the history of London where I was born. If you don’t know the name, maybe you’ll recognise these:
In 1605, a group of people wanted to blow up (like a bomb) Parliament (where the government meet) during a visit from the King. The group were caught; Guy Fawkes was discovered in the cellar of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder. All the conspirators were executed for treason.
A good history, with notes for English-language learners, can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soe8Z_Ej4Ck
This event is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks:
Here’s an example of what happens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OttNo41ab0
Now, without further ado, tonight’s lesson: modern icons and, for grammar, relative clauses, hence the bold font earlier on the words who, where, which and whose.
I’ll be honest with you – this can be a little complicated, although it should be easy:
Relative pronouns
Who // for a person. Mark, who is from Chicago, is working in Ha Noi
Where // for a place. Ha Noi, where Mark works, is in north Vietnam.
Which // for a thing. The guitar, which is Japanese, was a bargain at £35.
Whose // possessive. The man whose guitar was stolen was very upset.
So far so good BUT … check this out:
London, where I was born, is the capital of the UK
London, which is in the south of England, is my hometown.
In a practice, we have an example similar to this:
London where I was born is the place which I love the most.
I’ve tried to think of a way to explain this in clear simple English … here goes !
In the first clause (London where I was born) we can ask “Where were you born ?” The answer is London. However, in the second clause (the place which I love the most) try the same pattern … “Where do you love the most ?” Here, the answer is “The place.” That is not a suitable answer – it is not a real location, so it becomes a thing – therefore we use which.
Oi troi oi ! English grammar !
Now, let’s put it into practise.
Mark Zuckerberg: born 1984 in NY, USA. Studied at Harvard. Co-founded Facebook. Net worth estimated at 70.3 billion USD (wow !).
Mark Zuckerberg, who was born in 1984, grew up in NY state which is in the USA. Harvard, where he studied, is the oldest university in the States (USA). Zuckerberg, whose net worth is estimated at over 70 billion dollars co-founded Facebook which is used all over the world.
Speaking of Facebook, one of my favourite films is ‘The Social Network’ about how the company was founded. The film, which was made in 2010, is scripted by Aaron Sorkin who is, in my opinion, a fantastic and highly talented writer.
Now try with Steve Jobs: born San Francisco // was a college drop out // first worked at Atari, a video games company // Apple computers were the first to utilise a mouse // co-founded Pixar in 1986 (what is Pixar ?) // died 2011, aged 56.
Now … team work. Class in two teams and they have to make a presentation about two Vietnamese business icons: Pham Nhat Vuong & Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.
Students may use the internet and their own knowledge to tell me about these icons.
https://www.citypassguide.com/blog/vietnams-richest-business-people
Give me the facts (where and when were they born, how did they get rich, what is their area of business ?) and use relative clauses to produce longer, complex sentences.
Students may, indeed I would encourage them to, use the internet and projector to bring their presentation alive. All members of the team must speak.
Team discussion:
Last week we covered negotiation language, phrases such as, “I see your point, but …” “I’m not sure I entirely agree with you,” “That’s interesting, however have you considered.
Today, the topics will be:
I want to hear different points of view and people playing Devil’s advocate (arguing or making a point, even if you don’t personally believe it … just to encourage the opponent to develop their idea).
To encourage students, and to give them lexical resources, elicit some answers and ideas first, and board them, as well as introducing new concepts. What are the pros and cons ? The decisive factors ? What points should I consider.
With Facebook – is the answer binary (yes OR no ?) … it’s more interesting to discuss the middle ground, and illustrate it with personal examples.
I recently went on a short break to a nearby beach resort where I took many photos. I need to upload them to Facebook … or do I ? Does anybody REALLY care ? Can I really afford to spend the time doing it ? Or is it relaxing and pleasurable ? Does it enable my European friends to see a little more of my life here in Vietnam … what do YOU think … ?
Thay Paul's Notes 