Boost your English speaking !

23rd May 2023

For speaking tests, students need to be able to speak at length, using long sentences with adjectives, linking words and maybe an expression or two … and it’s never too soon to start.

Higher Kindergarten classes can answer in short sentences, instead of single word answers. They can expand by using adjectives.

For example, a teacher will ask, “What is it ?”

The answer must be in the form of a sentence, “It’s a car.” Then we can expand … “It’s a red car,” “It’s a fast, red car.”

At higher levels, students need to feel confident to speak longer, and here’s a tip. This is a mind map with one main idea, then different ideas that students can speak about.

OK, as they say in Cinema, “Show, don’t tell.”

Some expressions:

I’m over the moon (I’m very, very happy)

I was blown away (I was very impressed by someone or something)

It cheers me up (Verb 1) cheered me up (Verb 2) (made me happy after I was sad)

Don’t forget to use the linking words

because // also // so // however // as well as

EXAMPLE:

My favourite sports are football and swimming because they are fun, exciting as well as healthy.

I play football at school with my classmates. My friend John is very good. He is better than me. I also play on weekends. However, I can’t play football alone.

I really enjoy swimming. I can swim alone. I often swim at weekends at a sports centre.

Sports can cheer me up when I am sad. If my teams win, I am over the moon.

NOW … your turn.

Make a mind map for:

Free time

Movies

School

Food

See you soon.

Young Teens: our Pledge of Quiet

12th May 2023

Today I start a new class, and I’m very lucky; they are great. The class has some outstanding students who display motivation, respect and diligence.

That being said (however), they are still young, the hour is still early, so some ground rules need to be in place from Day One.

I encourage joking and having fun – the students will learn much more if they enjoy the class. But there is a time for joking and a time for working.

At the beginning of our new semester, my students will recite and sign this pledge:

I PROMISE TO BE QUIET IN CLASS AND TO LISTEN TO THE TEACHERS

No talking, shouting, animal noises, clicking of pens, stamping of feet, slamming of books, whistling etc.

You will get ONE Black Star warning. The second Black Star means you go out of the class. You will have a short meeting with the Manager. The meeting will not be fun for you.

We can not help you improve your pronunciation if there is so much noise that we can not hear you.

You signed the Pledge … now keep to your word.

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.

All the world’s a stage … and my students shall play their parts

1st May 2023

As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7

Recently, we have focused on writing, using new vocabulary and making sure the grammar is perfect. Now it’s time to apply the same creativity to speaking. Are you good to go ?

All right, all right, all right !

Let us write a short piece and then perform it for the class. We shall write about what happens in an English lesson.

First, we need four characters:

a teacher // a TA (teaching assistant) // the Manager // a student

Next, build up the character

Is the teacher strict, friendly, happy, angry ?

Is the TA helpful, funny, polite, lazy ?

Is the Manager scary, rude, kind, elegant ?

Is the student hard-working or lazy, polite or disrespectful ?

Finally, we need a situation

What happens ? Is the student very good, or very naughty ? Is the manager proud or angry ? Does the TA listen to the teacher or play on a phone ?

Word bank:

over the moon / body language / strict / furious / hard-working / thoughtless / screaming

Work in groups of four. If you only have three, you can leave out the TA or Manager.

Example

Teacher is Ms Jane / TA is Mr Khanh / Manager is Ms Mi and the student is Graham.

Ms Jane: Mr Khanh, what is Graham doing ?

Mr Khanh: I think he is sleeping. Graham, Wake up !

Graham: I am awake.

Ms Jane: Look at his body language. You must respect teachers. You should be more hard-working, like Larry.

Graham: Larry is stupid !

Mr Khanh: Say, “Sorry !” You are so rude and lazy.

Ms Jane: If you don’t say sorry, you will go to the Manager.

Graham: I’m not scared.

Ms Jane: Ms Mi will be furious. She will scream at you.

Mr Khanh: I will send her a message … now.

Ms Mi enters

Ms Mi: Where is the impolite boy ? Come here. You must always respect teachers and do as they say.

Graham: Yes, Ms Mi. I promise.

Ms Mi: Apologise to the teachers.

Graham: I’m sorry. I will work hard now.

Mr Khanh: Good. Now sit down and do the lesson.

Ms Mi starts to leave

Ms Jane: Everybody say, “Goodbye, Ms Mi.”

Ms Mi: When I see everybody working hard, I am over the moon. Keep studying.

SCENE

Now … your turn

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.