Topic: Driving a Car

September 3, 2016December 10, 2018 ★★, Conversation Topics

how-to-avoid-traffic-jams-35319_2A1

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: driving a car. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

seat belt

(n) a strap that holds a person in the seat if there’s an accident
People should always wear their seat belt.

passenger

(n) the other people in a vehicle who are not driving or operating it
I prefer to be the driver and not a passenger in a car.

lane

(n) the area of the road you drive in
In the USA we drive in the right lane.

speed limit

(n) the maximum allowed speed when driving
The speed limit is 120 km/h.

traffic jam

(n) a long line of cars and vehicles on a road that stopped moving or moving slowly
There’s always a traffic jam when I drive to work in the morning.

stop sign

(n) a sign at an intersection where the driver has to stop before going
Sometimes drivers don’t stop at a stop sign.

traffic light

(n) the overhead light at an intersection that has 3 colors: red, green, and yellow
When a traffic light turns red, drivers need to stop.

intersection

(n) a place where streets meet or cross
She lives near the intersection of Main and 5th Street.

crosswalk

(n) a marked path where people can cross a road safely sometimes
There are many people walking in the crosswalk.

fender bender

(idiom) when 2 vehicles have a minor accident; not a lot of damage to the cars
He caused a fender bender while driving to work.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Do you like to drive? Why or why not?
What do you do when you are stuck in a traffic jam?
Have you ever been in a fender bender or accident? If yes, tell me about it.
Do people drive well in your country? Why or why not?
Do you stop for people when they are going to use the crosswalk? Why or why not?
Which do you prefer, public transportation or driving? Why?
Do you like driving at night? Why or why not?
Tell me some reasons why drivers honk their horn.
Do you like to be a passenger in a car? Why or why not?
Do you always wear your seat belt? Why or why not?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Taking the Bus

September 3, 2016March 6, 2018 ★★, Conversation Topics

sf-solar-bus-stop-05

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: taking the bus. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

bus station

(n) a place where buses start and end their routes; people also pay for tickets
The bus station is always full of people.

bus stop

(n) a place where buses stop to let people on and off
The closest bus stop is down the street from my house.

bus driver

(n) the person who drives and operates the bus
The bus driver drives safely.

bus fare

(n) the money you pay to take a bus
The bus fare is $3.00 one-way.

bus route

(n) the direction or way the bus goes
We need to take the bus route going north to 5th Avenue.

get on

(v – phrase) to enter a bus, airplane, or train
We need to get on the bus now.

get off

(v – phrase) to exit the bus, airplane, or train
At the next bus stop, we will get off.

seat number

(n) the number given to a seat; sometimes with letters
My seat number is 24B.

transfer

(n) to go from one bus to another bus
We have to transfer buses at the next stop.

coach

(n) a type of bus that goes long distances
The coach is going from London to Paris.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Do you take the bus? Why or why not?
Why do people take the bus?
Are the bus systems in your country good or bad? Why?
Do you think more people should take the bus? Why or why not?
Have you ever taken a long bus trip? If yes, tell me about it. If no, do you want to? Why?
Would you like to be on a bus that is full of people? Why or why not?
Do you think bus stations are clean or dirty?
What are some other examples of public transportation?
Do you have a metro or subway in your country?
Do a lot of people take taxis in your country?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: In the Flower Shop

September 3, 2016March 6, 2018 ★★, Conversation Topics

the-flower-shopfront

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: flower shop. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

florist

(n) a person who works in a flower shop
The florist made a beautiful flower arrangement.

flower arrangement

(n) flowers put together in a beautiful way
The flower arrangement was made of roses.

bouquet

(n) a group of flowers arranged together; given as a gift
She received a bouquet of roses from her husband

vase

(n) a container for holding flowers; usually made of glass
The vase is filled with beautiful flowers.

wreath

(n) a ring made of flowers and leaves or evergreens
The bride wore a wreath of flowers on her head.

flower pot

(n) a container to grow plants and flowers in
She bought a flower pot to grow plants in.

delivery

(n) the act of having something delivered to a home or buildings
He bought a bouquet of roses for delivery.

pickup

(n) the act of picking something or someone up
We ordered Chinese food for pickup.

special occasion

(adj + n) an important event like a birthday or anniversary
A wedding is a special occasion.

dozen

(n) a dozen equals 12
He bought a dozen of roses for his wife.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

What are your favorite flowers? Why?
When was the last time you gave or received flowers? Why?
What are some flowers that grow in your country?
Do you have flowers planted outside your home? Why or why not?
What are some special occasions when people buy flowers?
Do you have a lot of flower shops in your city?
Would you like to work in a flower shop? Why or why not?
Why do people like flowers?
Are flowers expensive to buy in your country?
Have you ever had flowers delivered to your home? If yes, what was the special occasion?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: At the Bakery

September 3, 2016January 19, 2017 ★★, Conversation Topics

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: at the bakery. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

white bread

(n) bread that is light in color; made with refined flour
She only likes to eat white bread.

wheat bread

(n) a darker colored bread made with white and whole wheat flour
Wheat bread is healthier than white bread.

english muffins

(n) a small round flat type bread; usually sliced in two pieces
He likes English Muffins toasted and with butter.

sourdough bread

(n) a bread where the flour and water are changed chemically (ferment)
Sourdough bread is delicious to eat by itself.

pita bread

(n) round flat middle eastern bread that can open into a pocket
Pita bread can be filled with meat and peppers.

french bread

(n) usually white bread in a long, thin stick form and a hard outside
French bread is delicious with butter and garlic.

bun

(n) small round or long bread usually for hamburgers or hotdogs
Please give me another hamburger bun.

bread rolls

(n) a small round shaped bread

Some restaurants give the customers’ bread rolls.

pastry

(n) a type of sweet cake usually baked with nuts or fruit
The coffee shop has a delicious pastry called Cinnamon Roll.

slice of bread

(phrase) a loaf of bread cut into pieces
I need slices of bread to make a sandwich.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

What is your favorite type of bread?
Do you like to eat sandwiches? Why or why not?
Do you eat a lot of bread? Why or why not?
Do you think bread is healthy or unhealthy food? Why?
Does your country have its own type of bread? If yes, describe a type of bread?
Do you have a favorite bakery in your country? If yes, why are they your favorite?
Do you like pastries? Why or why not?
Can you name some other types of bread?
How often do you eat bread?
Do you like to eat bread or rolls while it’s still warm from the oven?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Parts of a Book

August 28, 2016January 13, 2019 ★★, Conversation Topics

parts-of-book-1-728

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: parts of a book. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

cover

(n) the front of the book that has the title, author, and usually images
The cover is what you see first before you open the book.

chapter

(n) one of the sections of the book; usually has a number and/or title
I’m currently reading chapter 10.

spine

(n) the outside edge that keeps the pages together; usually glued
The spine of a book usually has the title.

author

(n) the person who wrote the book
Stephen King is a famous author.

title

(n) the name of the book
The title of the book is, “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

publisher

(n) a person or company who makes the books; usually not the author
The author gave his book to the publisher to produce 1000 books.

table of contents

(n) located at the beginning of the book; a list of the chapter names and pages
The table of contents is a brief summary of the chapters in a book.

illustrator

(n) the person who creates the pictures and images for a book
The illustrator is a good artist.

glossary

(n) at the end of a book; a list of words and definitions in the book
The glossary is similar to a dictionary.

index

(n) usually at the end of a book; a list of subjects and references to include a page number
The index helps you reference specific pages about a subject.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Does reading help a person learn? Why or why not?
Do you read books? Why or why not?
What was the last book you read about?
Besides books, what else do people read?
Did you like reading when you were a child?
What is your favorite genre (type)? For example, drama.
How many hours do you spend reading in a week?
Where is your favorite place to read? Why?
Do you think it’s better to read books or watch TV? Why?
Which books would you recommend to read?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: In the Living Room

August 28, 2016September 2, 2016 ★★, Conversation Topics

living-room-decor-corner-fireplace

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: in the living room. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

furniture

(n) chairs, sofas, tables, etc that are used in a room
A bed is a piece of furniture.

couch/sofa

(n) a long piece of furniture on which a person can sit or lie
Usually, two to three people can sit on a sofa.

armchair

(n) a chair that supports your arms
I like to sit in an armchair more than a sofa.

recliner

(n) an armchair can be tilted back and has a footrest
The recliner is more comfortable than the armchair.

cushion

(n) a pillow or pad used to sit on some furniture like sofas
The cushion for the armchair is firm.

coffee table

(n) a long low table usually placed in front of a sofa
She likes to put magazines on her coffee table.

end table

(n) a small table usually next to a sofa or chair
The lamp is on the end table.

bookshelf

(n) a place to put books
The bookshelf has many different books in it.

lamp

(n) a device that produces light
The lamp is very bright.

fireplace

(n) a place where a fire can be built
We use the fireplace only when it’s cold outside.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

What do you like to do in your living room?
Where’s your favorite place to sit in your living room? Why?
What furniture is in your living room?
Do you like to eat in your living room? Why or why not?
Do you like a big or small living room? Why?
Where do you like to buy your furniture? Why?
Do you like fireplaces? Why or why not?
Do you sleep on the sofa sometimes? Why or why not?
Besides the living room, where else do you have televisions in your home?
Do you have a bookshelf in your living room? Why or why not?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Physical Appearance

August 28, 2016 ★★, Conversation Topics

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Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: physical appearance. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

handsome

(adj) usually said about a man with good looks
He’s a handsome man.

gorgeous

(adj) very beautiful
She’s a gorgeous woman.

good-looking

(adj) having a pleasing appearance; beautiful or handsome
They are a good-looking couple.

well-dressed

(adj) wearing nice and fashionable clothes
He’s well-dressed for his job interview.

poorly dressed

(adv + adj) not wearing nice and good clothes
She was poorly dressed for the bad weather.

attractive

(adj) having a pleasing appearance
Your new house is attractive.

unattractive

(adj) not having a pleasing appearance
The picture on the wall is unattractive to me.

overweight

(adj) fat; too much weight
He’s overweight by 10 kilograms.

muscular

(adj) having large and strong muscles
He has a muscular body.

slender

(adj) thin in an attractive way
She is tall and slender.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

What’s the first thing you notice about someone?
What do you do to improve or maintain your appearance?
Are clothes important to you? Why?
Are people judged by how they dress or look?
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Does appearance affect a person’s success in life?
What are some ways people change their appearance?
Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent? Why?
Is it better to be physically attractive or rich? Why?
Do people spend too much time and money on physical appearance?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Household Appliances

August 28, 2016 ★★, Conversation Topics

kitchen-appliances2

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: household appliances. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

dishwasher

(n) an appliance to wash dishes automatically
My favorite appliance is the dishwasher because I don’t have to wash the dishes by hand.

refrigerator

(n) an appliance to keep food cold; sometimes called a fridge
She has a refrigerator with a freezer on top.

freezer

(n) an appliance to keep food frozen with ice
She keeps the meats in the freezer.

stove

(n) an appliance to cook food with electric or gas; using pot and pans
The stove is good for frying or boiling food.

oven

(a) an appliance with a door to bake or roast food; usually an oven is below the stove
He likes to bake cakes in the oven.

washer

(n) an appliance to wash and clean clothes
She has an extra large capacity washer.

dryer

(n) an appliance to dry clothes after they are washed
He likes to use the dryer instead of hanging his clothes outside to dry.

coffee maker

(n) an appliance to make or to brew coffee
They use a coffee maker every day to make coffee.

toaster

(n) an appliance to toast bread or bagels
I like to use the toaster to toast bagels.

blender

(n) an appliance to blend things together; usually into liquid form
We like to make smoothies in our blender.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Tell me some of the household appliances you have in your home.
Are household appliances expensive to buy in your country?
Which household appliance is your favorite? Why?
Do you like to cook? Why or why not?
Tell me some things you can make in a blender.
How do you like your toast: lightly toasted or darkly toasted? Why?
Do you have an electric or gas stove? Which do you like better?
Tell me some things you can cook in an oven?
Tell me some things you can cook on the stove.
Where are your washer and dryer located in your home?

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Landscapes

August 28, 2016March 6, 2018 ★★, Conversation Topics

Ice-Landscapes-l

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: landscapes. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

landscape

(n) an area of land that has a particular quality or appearance
My favorite landscape is a snow-covered mountain.

mountain

(n) an area of land that is very high
The mountain is 3,000 meters high.

forest

(n) a large area of land with lots of trees and bushes
Her parents live in the beautiful forest.

river

(n) water that flow naturally crosses an area of land
The Amazon River is the longest river in the world.

valley

(n) a low area of land between mountains or hills
People have lived in this valley for a long time.

desert

(n) a large area of dry land with sand
The Atacama Desert is located in Chile.

waterfall

(n) an area in a river where running water falls down from a high place
Niagra Falls is a famous waterfall.

lake

(n) a large body of water surrounded by land
His house is next to the lake.

glacier

(n) a very large area of ice that moves slowly, especially on mountains
She wants to visit a glacier while on vacation in Switzerland.

cliff

(n) a high area of rock with a very steep side
The cliff overlooks the ocean.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Which is your favorite landscape? Why?
Tell me some landscapes that you have seen while on vacation?
Do you like to take photos of beautiful landscapes? Why or why not?
If you had a choice to visit a waterfall or glacier, which one would you pick? Why?
What are some landscapes tourists can see in your country?
Tell me some things you can find in a forest.
Would you go camping in the desert? Why or why not?
What type of activities can a person do at a lake?
Do you think a valley is a good place to live? Why or why not?
Tell me about a landscape you never saw but would like to.

Wrap-up

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Topic: Communication

August 28, 2016March 6, 2018 ★★, Conversation Topics

People communicating montage from clipart

Warm-up

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: communication. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

face-to-face

(adj) to talk directly and in front of each other
I think it’s better to talk face-to-face.

over the phone

(prep phrase) to talk to someone by phone
She told me the news over the phone.

body language

(n) to communicate with the body without talking
Waving hello to someone is a form of body language.

opinion

(n) what someone thinks about something
Her opinion is that everyone should have free education.

argument

(n) to talk about something with different opinions; sometimes with anger
They had an argument about where to go on vacation.

miscommunication

(n) fail to communicate clearly
The miscommunication caused an argument.

repeat

(v) to say again
He had to repeat his sentence because they didn’t hear him.

express

(v) to communicate what you think or feel
I want to express my sadness concerning the death of your father.

interrupt

(v) to stop a person from speaking for a short time
I need to interrupt you to tell you something important.

misunderstanding

(n) when someone doesn’t understand something clearly
There must be a misunderstanding. I never said your opinion was wrong.

Conversation

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

When was the last time you had an argument? Why did you argue?
Do you think there’s a lot of miscommunication between people? Why or why not?
Do you like when people interrupt you? Why or why not?
Tell me about 3 ways to communicate.
Do people use body language in your country? If yes, give some examples.
Why do people have to repeat what they said sometimes?
Do you like to communicate face-to-face or over the phone? Why?
Do you like to express your opinions? Why or why not?
Tell me about a time you had a misunderstanding with somebody.
Do you think some people like to argue? Why or why not?