B2.1 Unit 4: Let's Talk

Aims:

To explore vocabulary around the theme of talking and communication.

To practice using conditional sentences.


Special Focus:

To improve speaking skills, including pronunciation, vocabulary, fluency, interaction, and also "non-verbal" and "para-verbal" skills.


Listening / reading

Listening to a talk about methods of communication (P 44)

Reviews about gadgets (listen and read for specific information)


Grammar

Third condition and mixed conditionals.


Speaking

Talking about advantages and disadvantages. Speaking at length in front of a group.



Project: product review

Give a product review (4 minutes max) to three different groups in class on a topic of your choice.

Preparation: you need to

1. Choose a product you've used recently (it could be a "service" rather than a product)

2. Make a list of it's good and bad points. Can you compare it with a similar product? What's better or worse about this one?

3. Script you review or just organise it in notes.

4. Deliver the review to three different groups. (If you can bring the product, or a picture of it, in with you). Try to get it better each time!














Do you enjoy talking?















Do you sometimes have long breaks from talking? What do you do instead?















I once asked a Japanese student what she missed most from Japan. She said "talking without speaking". What do you think she meant?














Do you ever struggle in conversation in the following ways:


To start

To finish

To change topic

To get the other person to contribute

To get the other person to stop

To disagree diplomatically

To feel the conversation was worthwhile

To be taken seriously




Vocab:

Match the phrase with its correct definition                                           

1) back up	a) get illegal access to a protected computer network
2) hack into	b) have no more of something
3) print out	c) send a document from a computer to a printer
4) run out of	d) put your name into a computer
5) scroll up/down	e) save an extra copy of information to an external device
6) sign in	f) move a page in a vertical direction

7) automated	g) a piece of software that protects computers from dangerous things on the Internet
8) download	h) put energy back into a battery
9) firewall	i) a computer screen
10) monitor	j) done by robots instead of people
11) recharge	k) get into something
12) access	l) bring files from the Internet to your computer

Are you a fast talker?














Do you mind being interrupted?















What makes talking in English a challenge for you?















Do you tend to talk directly or indirectly about your feelings?









Grammar:

First and Second Conditional

Unreal and structures after "wish"

Change the verbs in the brackets to make third conditional sentences.  

    

1.  He would _______________________(understand) you if you __________________ (use) gestures. 
2. 
   

2. If I __________________ (study) languages at school, I would _____________ (be) a better communicator. 
3. 
   

3. I wouldn’t _____________________ (break up) with him if he _______________ (be) a better listener. 
4. 
   

4. If I _________________ (pay) more attention in class, I could ___________________(pass) the exam. 
5. 
   

5. If he ___________________ (speak) more during the interview, we might _________________ (offer) him the job. 
6. 
   

6. What __________ you ________________________(do) if it ____________________(rain) yesterday? 
7. 
   

7. How ________________ Jack __________________ (get) to work, if he ____________________ (miss) the bus this morning? 
8. 
   

8. I _________________________ (be) angry if John had _________________ (hack) into my computer.  

Vocabulary








infer (v)
inference (n)














imply (v)
implication (n)













What's the difference?

to explain / to articulate
to infer / to imply
gossip / chitchat
opinion / attitude
to converse / to discuss


She said


"                  ", she answered.
"                  ", she responded.
"                  ", she replied.
"                  ", she retorted.
"                  ", she called.
"                  ", she explained.
"                  ", she laughed.
"                  ", she screamed.
"                  ", she shouted.
"                  ", she admitted.
"                  ", she lied.
"                  ", she whispered.
"                  ", she sobbed.
"                  ", she hissed.









More discussion questions:



Which topics are "taboo" or divisive?


Sexism
History
Politics
Class distinctions
Religion
Sex
Personal income and finances
Moral debates like abortion or euthanasia
Mental health


Why?










What do your family and friends talk about around the table?












What are some dos and don't for talking on a first date?











Do you enjoy talking in English?












Do you still "translate" between your first language and English when talking?













Are you "not talking" to anyone at the moment?












Has someone or something ever left you speechless?













Do you like talking to strangers?












Have you ever talked to someone famous or quite famous? What did you talk about? Did the conversation go well?













What would help you get better at talking in English?












Phrasal verbs

Fill the gaps in each sentence with an appropriate phrasal verb.   

1.  We’ve __________      __________ of ink for the printer.  I’ll have to buy some more. 

2. Don’t post too many personal details online.  Someone might use them to _________    _________ your account.  

3. It’s always a good idea to ________    _________ your work onto an external hard drive in case your computer crashes. 

4. You can __________     __________ your writing task on the printer in. 

Here are some expression with the word "talk" - can you guess what they mean?

sweet talk

pillow talk

small talk

pep talk

baby talk

a public talk

all talk

sleep talk

cross talk

hollow talk

back talk

hard talk

just talk

shop talk

dirty talk

big talk

straight talk

sales talk

Idioms

lip/s

lip service

to give someone lip

my lips are sealed

tongue

a silver tongue

to bite your tongue / hold your tongue

a slip of the tongue

on the tip of my tongue

word/s

to have a word with someone

don't breathe a word

to put something into words

wordy (adj)

lost for words

to put the hard word on someone