eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 22nd, 2010, 09:41 am
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Dec 3rd, 2009
Posts: 35
excellency is on a distinguished road
Default topics

hi everybody,
I have a problem with the topics of disscussion for pre or low
intermediate students.I want to have some disscussion at the
class but I don't find any suitable topic to disscus.You know, the topics that can be disscussed at the class by students in this low level.Is there anybody to sugest me such topics?
I' ll appreciate it.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 22nd, 2010, 12:56 pm
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: topics

Stay with things which are within their (and your) experience and can be easily expressed using the structures and vocabulary that they know. For example :

(For present simple) : Describe a typical day in your life. / How do you usually spend your holidays? / What do you like doing in your spare time?
(For simple past) : What did you do at the weekend / for your last holiday? / for your holidays when you were a child?
(Mixed past forms) : What's your earliest memory? / Can you remember your first day at school? / What's the most exciting / surprising thing that's ever happened to you? / Tell us about a time you had to do a journey in really bad weather.
(Mixed forms) : Have you ever seen a UFO (when/where)? Do you believe they exist?
Why (not)?

The discussions will always be more productive if the students have a mdel to work with. So - before you ask them to discuss, tell them about something that happened to you on the same thing. Check they've understood what you've said, and then ask them to talk about the same thing.

For example : for the topic Tell us about a time you had to do a journey in really bad weather I tell a story about a three-day horseback journey I once did where, because of sudden bad weather, we got lost in the mountains. I check comprehension by giving them photos of the journey and asking them to put them in order while they listen. after my story, I then ask them to think of a journey they've done in bad weather - and start giving prompts to stimulate ideas : Maybe it was a time when you were driving and it was very foggy or it started to snow ... maybe you were travelling by plane and the plane was delayed by the weather ... or maybe you were on a plane and there was a storm. Once I see (by the looks on their faces) that they've all remembered a story, then I put them into groups and get them to tell each other their stories. Each group can then choose the best story to tell to the class. them
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 25th, 2010, 02:27 am
HUE HUE is offline
mind like a sieve
 
Join Date: Nov 15th, 2006
Posts: 302
HUE is on a distinguished road
Default Re: topics

I fully agree with Susan, so will simply add a few ideas.

1: Limit the number of questions. Rather than have a list of ten questions or more for students to answer, keep the list short. Allot several minutes for students to work at their own pace with a partner. After this, students switch partners and repeat the questions. By doing this, students will have the chance to reuse elements from the conversation, thereby improving fluency and accuracy.

2: Allow students to prepare for a minute. Students shouldn't write their answers, but can at least consider what they want to say, how they want to say, order the ideas, etc. A little preparation can be especially helpful with more difficult topics.

3: Use questions to also teach students about how to conduct conversations. The questions don't need to solely focus on the grammar, but should also require students to naturally use the language.

Here are some activity ideas (from my ebook on language teaching):

ESL Activities

You may also want to look through the following questions for your classes too:

Speaking | Chris Cotter's Heads Up English | ESL Lessons

Have great classes!
__________________
Chris Cotter
Better Language Teaching resource ebook.
Free flashcards at The Flashcard Hub.
Just print and teach materials at Heads Up English.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
Teaching Conversation Class 0
Ideas for Free-Talking Topics 4
Half-minute topics 0
What do you think are the best/ worst topics for discussion. 1

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
Teaching Conversation Class 0
Ideas for Free-Talking Topics 4
Half-minute topics 0
What do you think are the best/ worst topics for discussion. 1


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:14 pm.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2