efl - ideas for a conversation lesson?

Question

any ideas for a shy group?

Answer 1

Before a group can have a conversation and open up they need to be able to trust each other, if they do not know each other a good starter is to split the group into 2, then get each one to mime what they would like to do for a career, there fav cartoon charecter or something relivant to that group, this is a good way for them to open up with out conversation but to enable them to have a laugh and build some trust.
the young people could then be split into pairs, 1 person in the pair needs a pen/paper and give the other a picture that u have drawn, something simple like a star in the left corner a square in the middle and 3 straight lines at the bottom of the paper, the person with the picture has to describe what is in the picture and where it is on the paper but can only give clues like: draw 1 straight line about the lenght of your small finger in the bottom right corner then underneath and the same lenght draw another 2 , draw a small, med or large circle in the centre and in the top left draw the half of a diamond and draw another one till it looks like something that shines in the sky, they are not allowed to say directly what they are telling them to draw. they then compare pics to see how near they are to the original pic, this may sound complicated but is'nt and is also fun for the young people it gets them engaged in conversation without them thinking about it and because they are sat back to back they do not feel uncomfortable..
Another good one is to lay some obsticles on the floor over a large area, blind fold a person and get another to direct them to the other side of the room without stepping on any of the obsticles they get 3 chances then are blown up {out }. This is also fun and engages them in conversation without thinking about it.
Work with hard to engage young people from the ages 13-19 and these games always get them motivated as they feel they are having fun, this helps them to break down the barriers with each other. The games i have suggested can be adapted for any age , during my traing as a youth worker we did these games as adults and still had fun...
Best of luck.
Anji. D

Answer 2

Students may be shy as a result of their personality or because they don't trust their English. Be sure to provide them with all the necessary lexis, drill for pronunciation and provide structured practice before embarking on a free activity.
If you get the students to role play rather than having to be themselves it often overcomes shyness.

A couple of ideas for situations:
1) Family friction - mother, father, teenage son and daughter at dinner. Daughter wants to go to disco/on holiday with boyfriend etc. Discuss.
2) Speed dating - provide brief details of people, equal numbers of male/female, (students can be cast against own gender). Put chairs in two rows facing each other. Students interview each other for 3 minutes each then change partners. They then choose their preferred partner. Make sure the roles are varied and have a range of ages, interests, commitments etc.

Answer 3

A shy group, Im not too sure what you mean here but if you want to learn how to improve your conversational skills/confidence talking infront of others. Talk to someone you trust everyday. This builds fluency and slowly over time, confidence.

You could also talk to yourself infront of a mirror with a loud voice to achieve the same things I stated before.

Answer 4

You don't mention the age group............but if they are shy it needs to be an uncontraversial topic. Places they have traveled to? Favourite music? That good old British standby the weather? Films thay have seen? Art they like? Favourite foods (useful for vocabulary!)? Hobbies? Pets (obviously depends on the culture they come from).

Answer 5

Try breaking the group into pairs. Ask each person to descibe themselves/their job/their home/their family (whatever you think is appropriate) to their partner.

Then ask each individual to tell the group about their partner in their own words.

Often when people are shy they are very good listeners and although it's always difficult to talk about yourself, they may find it easier to talk about someone else.

It's also a good way to get the group to open up and get to know each other.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

You could research the 'Pros & Cons' of the Iraqi invasion by the british & americans & whether it was right to invade a sovereign nation & remove the head of state.

You could then go on & debate why other heads of states in other oil less countries are not invaded

Answer 7

How approximately meals? Like: P1: Do you think of your mom might LETTUCE have a sleepover? P2: I DONUT comprehend yet i'm going to ask her. P1: ORANGE you afraid she'll say no? P2: If she says no then ICE CREAM and cry P1: ok yet do no longer fowl out P2: do no longer concern; she would be in a position to probable say definite...BUTTER her toe hurts so we would desire to be very quiet :)

Answer 8

Can you tell us what their level is? Actually that is quite relevant.
However, some ideas include: My favourite recipe, the last book I read, etiquette in my country, my travel experiences.

Answer 9

Take a Celta course, they teach you all the strategies for various learners....Go online (google for EAL/ESL/TEFL , etc) There is plenty of information and brilliant ideas...

Answer 10

im shy
can i come?
somethung silly to start with i think
an ice breaker if u like...
provide refeshments????????????
do u have a budget?????????????????///