give me some topics for adult esl to make them make conversation?

Question

they are adults educated , degree levels mostly male,iranians learning english as a second language .any ideas welcome

Answer 1

Your best bet would be to interview them personally and try to find some common topics they like first - this actually saves alot of time and makes your lessons more relevant to the students.

More interesting subjects would be:

- Culture (a comparison of) - this could be done over many lessons and cover many topics from the family dynamic, food, habits and so on.

- (Linked with culture) - you could go into art and the Persian rug - compared to western art.

- Modern technology - internet etc

- Modern science - genetic engineering, GM foods etc.

- Cinema - always good.

- Literature - a comparison of.

Preparing topics is very easy - find out what they like - internet search, adapt it for your class.

If you don't want to do it this way - then perhaps you should look at using a good all round text book such as 'New Headway' - Oxford publishing.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I think I can help you with this one. Last year, I taught at a private Asian school where the kids were all here on student visas. The English was definately not all there. Every day, I had a "question of the day." I had a little foam ball and would throw it to someone and then they would answer the question and throw it to someone else and so on until everyone had answered. Some of the favorite questions were: what is your pet peeve? (of course I had to explain what a pet peeve is,) What is your favorite food, Who is your hero, What is the best kind of car? What is your favorite sport? Which season do you lilke best and why? If you could go back in time, where would you go and why?
If you want more ideas for topics, feel free to email me, but I think you could just look at some the questions on here - epecially in the survey catergory, and use them as topics.

Answer 3

Colette H: ELS = English as a Second Language.

Try a walk around the town or visit to an interesting place. One class I visited where ESOL (as we call it) was taught had a wonderful map of the local city (Ripon, North Yorks) and the learners used this to give directions and name landmarks, shops, etc. It opened some great conversations with the added benefit of the learners learning about the locality and giving them confidence whilst out and about in town.

Hope this helps. By the way the map was handmade and covered most of one wall.

Answer 4

You could talk about food and special occasions. These are different across cultures, and some comparison would be interesting. Plus, everyone likes food, and Iranian food is spectacular. Maybe you could finish the unit up by having them each bring in a dish and tell a little about the occasion when it is eaten; if the class is pretty culturally homogenous you could have them research something about food and holidays in other cultures - brings reading skills into it, too. I also like to use travel in my class as a conversation topic, having them talk about where they have been and where they want to go.

Answer 5

I've been doing English discussion groups with foreign students. Something that worked well are "what is?-topics" (like what is friendship, what would be a great holiday for you? etc.) Talking about cultural differences can be both fun and useful!
Also you could play a game involving language like scrabble or question games. Avoid personal or sensitive topics that could keep some from sharing.

Answer 6

I have found one question that will almost always break the ice. The question is, "Do you have any hobbies?". Most people do and are normally more than willing to discuss them.

If that fails. You are on your own. But, ALWAYS (a word I seldom use) ask open ended questions. Yes and No questions get yes and no answers and that is the end of the process.

Good Luck. And I too, have no idea what you mean by; "esl".

Answer 7

Haven't you got any ESL books ???
I used to teach ESL to adults ... If in need, try something topical in the press ... Global Warming, for example ...

Have fun ;^)

Answer 8

I need to go on a course. I dont know what esl means

Answer 9

in case you detect all your grammatical skills are nicely stepped forward, besides as your skills with sentence shape and so on, you ought to attempt a speech coach. My grandmother went to one while she became into youthful. greater possibly than no longer, nonetheless, if human beings arent being acquaintances with you via fact your english isnt large or considering you have an accessory, theyre no longer well worth being acquaintances with anyhow! :)

Answer 10

Ask them if they could invite any three people to dinner, alive or dead, who would it be and why, this is always a good way to get people talking.