Starting Conversations
Starting Conversations
Every good conversation starts with listening.
TEACHME TEFL
Generally all lessons you teach will have set lesson material, however it is of great benefit to your students if you are able to incorporate ‘free-talk’ into your lessons.
Free-talk allows students to use the English they have been learning and apply it in their everyday life. This could be a casual conversations or even questions to get the students to speak English freely.
Beginner / Younger students
For younger and less advanced students it is harder to have free-talk as they don’t have the vocabulary to draw from, however simple questions can be used to encourage free-talk.
For example, in one lesson you are talking about animals. Use free-talk to elicit names of animals from your students. Then ask students questions such as: Why do you like this animal? Have you ever seen this animal in real life? Where does this animal live?
Using the answers to these questions, you will quickly see the students ability and may be able to add more questions and expand on the responses given.
For example, if the student says they like zebras since they look like horses, you could then say, so do you like horses too? Have you ever ridden a horse? Do you think you would one day? How do you think it would/ What did it feel like to ride a horse?
This allows the student to use the language that they have already learnt to communicate in English. After answering a few questions, you will notice the student will realise that they are ‘communicating’ in English. This will boost your students confidence and will also help to reinforce what you have taught your student.
Conversations allow your students to apply what they have learnt and work on fluency and confidence.
Advanced / Older students
With older students and more advanced students free-talk is vital as this is how they are able to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking.
Students are often talking about the same topics in English. If your students are choosing he topics, try to move off topic to allow the students different opportunities to express themselves in English.
For example, your student may be talking about what they do for work. You could ask, why did they choose this job? Is it what they would always like to do? What would be their dream job? Students may never have discussed these questions in English, this will help them to use different words and vocabulary to what they are used to.
Topics
There are many topics that can be used for all different ages and ability levels. Below are ten easy topics that can be adjusted for any age group or learning level.
Hobbies
What do you like to do for fun?
What do you do in your free time?
After school, what will you do?
Music
Do you like to listen to music?
What genres/which singers/bands?
Do you play an instrument?
Food
What is your favourite food?
Can you cook?
What do you eat for special occasions?
Family
Do you have children/ do you have any siblings?
What are their names?
Do you have grandparents, other family living with you?
Animals
Do you have any pets?
What is your favourite animal?
Have you been to the zoo?
Vacations
Do you have any vacations planned?
Have you ever left your country?
Where would you like to go?
Employment
What is your dream job/ what would you like to do when you grow up?
What is your current job?
How did you choose this job?
Country
Where do you live?
Have you always lived there?
What do you enjoy most about living there?
Entertainment
What is your favourite movie?
Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?
What do you like to do for entertainment?
Sports
Do you enjoy any sports?
What is your least favourite sport?
Are you able to watch sports?
With these basic conversation starters you will be well on your way to chatting freely with your students.
Remember the aim of free-talk is to get your students talking, you need to talk about what interests them. Find out what they love and keep them talking.
For more tips and tricks on how to engage your students sign up now for your TEFL course today.