Quick BitesShort topics from English conversation classes at a school in Japan.
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Quick BitesShort topics from English conversation classes at a school in Japan.
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Last week, Akiko was traveling on a packed subway train next to a man who was playing games on his smartphone. That's not unusual, of course, as many of us do the same....in silence, though.
He was pretty excited by the music playing through his headphones, however, and sang off-key close to her ear for the whole of her journey. He sang the same tune over and over again. The 'ordeal' lasted 15 minutes. Personally, I find people, usually men, who snort when they have a cold to be particularly distasteful. On one occasion, I offered a young guy on the subway a free packet of tissues I had been given as I entered the station. He accepted it gratefully not realising the true intention was to stop my annoyance! What manner do you find annoying when on public transport?
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One recent conversation started with the line 'do you remember,...'
I have to admit that every time that happens I'm immediately reminded of a pop song 'September' by Earth, Wind and Fire from the late 1970's. It's quite a distraction sometimes! One of the most common song lyrics I hear in the context of conversations is Yesterday by The Beatles, of course. Long ago in an office where I used to work, a colleague having a phone conversation remarked 'oh, it's not unusual....' Anyone who knows Tom Jones, a famous Welsh singer will understand what I mean.... Everyone else in the office stood up and started dancing while he tried to continue the conversation, which interestingly was with a Welsh customer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydIvSDXS7Y Rina talked this morning about a pair of shoes she bought on the internet.
Unfortunately, they were the wrong size and didn't look like the image in the advert. If you bought something online or in a shop, but it wasn't what you wanted, would you take it back and ask for a refund or just keep it? Do you have anything at home now that you've been meaning to take or send back? One day soon, I'll take back those two shirts that don't fit! #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme Lunchtime conversation yesterday included one topic which prompted me to ask the students present whether they hadn't done something that is a common thing for many people to do.
I asked my wife and her reply was that she had never been to Disneyland, or any other theme park. Me, neither! I also remembered that I had not watched Star Wars until about two years ago.. How about you? It might be embarrassing or funny, I guess. #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme Etsuko told us of a fact she heard on a TV program this morning.
Apparently, Beethoven lived in 80 different houses during his life. That sounds a lot but is even more incredible when you consider that he only lived 56 years! He must have moved house every 6-9 months during his whole life, or every 6 months if he only started moving during adulthood. Taking a card from the popular Quiz Me! Conversation level 1, pack 2, I would like to ask how many times you have moved house, and which place you liked the most. #大人 #英会話 #早良区 #イギリス #福岡 Visiting the local airport let weekend, I recalled the time I was stopped at security, not for a bottle of water or a set of car keys, neither of which can be taken through to the Departures Lounge,, but for a bike spanner! Yes, that useful dumbbell tool, which has 8 sizes to fit any nut, was considered a dangerous weapon, instead of a useful travel companion.... Have you ever been stopped, and if so, why? #大人 #英会話 #早良区 #イギリス #福岡 Michiko told us about her visit to a Tokyo museum recently.
Have you seen an exhibition by a renowned artist or visited a museum with an outstanding collection at any time? Which genre (style) do you like most? Do you have a favorite work (piece of art) ? You may have many interests, but given the choice of two; do you prefer sport or art? #子供 #英会話 #早良区 #百道浜 We had a recent conversation in class about pocket money, that small amount of cash your parents may have given you to spend on things you liked.
Looking back, can you remember how much pocket money you used to get, and what you used to spend it on? For me, it was a children's magazine and sweets... Actually, I used to have a small job delivering newspapers for the local shopkeeper. I only earned 1-2 pounds a week, but it kept me happy. Here is a link to show you comparisons of what children get in different countries. https://www.theguardian.com/aviva-save-smarter/2016/jul/15/the-startling-statistics-on-pocket-money-how-much-should-your-children-get #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme I started work in 1983 in an office of a medium-large company with a good reputation in the electrical industry. At that time, we didn't have desktop computers.
We also had old style telephones with round dials instead of push buttons. Making international calls with long numbers was very tiring! It was 1988 before I started using a computer as part of my daily work routine. The internet was first available to me in about 1994-5, though it's difficult to remember exactly. What changes have you experienced over the years? #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme Most of my family are quite accomplished, musically.
In my bedroom, gathering dust, is a guitar that I bought with the intention of learning to play. I don't think I will ever have time to practice and get up to a good standard. There is also a clarinet... The same thing happened there.... Are you musical? Have you ever played an instrument? #大人 #英会話 #早良区 #イギリス #福岡 This morning, we reviewed a new Quiz Me! pack in the making, aimed at Junior High school aged students.
One card that Mamiko particularly liked was 'Finish the sentence. I want to say 'thank you' to .... because....' If you were that age now, who would you have said 'thank you' to? #大人英語. #子供英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme We all like to say that we know, met or saw someone famous, don't we?
In English, we call it 'name dropping'. I don't have many connections, but one of my friends' cousins is an Olympic bronze medallist and World Champion at gymnastics. That is a tenuous link because I don't know her at all, and she has never heard of me! Who can you claim to know? You can find this and many other interesting topic questions in Level 2 conversation pack, AG2.1. #大人 #英会話 #早良区 #イギリス #福岡 I don't know about you, but I often find myself reflecting on past times and thinking about both good and bad experiences.
Becoming a teenager meant freedom to explore many new aspects of life, and getting a job gave me the financial means to make bigger decisions and purchases. In my 30's, I took the chance to share those benefits in a new adventure and grow a family and business. One card in Starter Pack no. 1 asks you which age you would choose to be.. #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme "I'm sure it's here somewhere... but I can't remember where I put it."
How many times have you said that to yourself? How often do you mislay important things? It might be your house or car keys. Perhaps, tickets or your passport. Why is it that things usually go missing when you most need them? #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame I went to a convenience store to buy a bottle of water. But which type; 'normal' water or flavored, big or small, still or carbonated?
Which do you normally choose? #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme I saw a TV program recently about the tremendously brave sky divers who wear webbed suits and dive off of mountain ridges, skirting perilously close to huge obstacles as they navigate their way at considerable speed down to lower ground.
It was an exhilarating experience, and one that I and most of us will never try. So, using a topic card from the Quiz Me Level 2, pack 1, what is the most thrilling activity you have ever done? Jokingly, for me, it was a 'white knuckle' bus ride to the city centre. We made it in five minutes instead of the scheduled seven! Why 'white knuckle'? Well, if you ever grab something or just make a fist, what colour do your knuckles go? I was clinging desperately to the grab handle as we swung round corners, the engine thundering as we went up the slip road to the expressway before it let really rip!! Actually, it was the best bus ride I can remember, and only 220en, too! #大人英会話 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame #Quizme During a round of Quiz Me! questions to finish off the lunchtime class, Misuzu was asked if she had ever had an encounter with a wild animal.
While studying in the USA a few years ago, she had come across a wild turkey in a forest. Most people associate them with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, so to see one in the flesh in the wild must have been a rare experience, unless you are American, of course, as they are a native species. Tell us about a wild animal you have seen. #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame A new card to feature in the Dilemmas! pack due out later this year is the scenario described below......
One of my students told us of a mistake he made last night after a night out with an ex-colleague. After a few drinks, they somehow put on each others coats as they left the bar, but neither realized what they had done. The friend noticed after they had gone their separate ways and called to tell the other. Have you ever mistaken someone else's coat or shoes for yours? Amusingly, I asked the students whether they would wear the wrong coat when returning it to the real owner. Would you? #大人英語 #ゲーム #efl #cardgame Miki's friend presented her husband with two types of sushi; one cheap and one expensive.
She asked him which he preferred, but didn't tell him the difference? Could you tell them apart, do you think? A card in Which? pack no. 1 of the Quiz Me series contains an interesting similar question in the following picture. What would you do in that situation? |
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