Conversational English for a Global Society (Intermediate Level)
()
About this ebook
It works best in a traditional (or not so traditional classroom) with a skilled ESL teacher and enthusiastic students willing to take on a slightly different approach to learning the English language.
Each lesson begins with new vocabulary. It then proceeds to offer a short story or situation. Then it is followed by a dialog. Afterwards, there are comprehension questions, language exercises and ideas for role-plays. Once the student is familiar with the new language, role-plays offer excellent chances to practice and use the language in real situations.
The situations follow strict rules of English grammar and syntax; however, the dialogs sometimes stray from the rules and focus more on the way native English-speaking people converse in natural situations. This includes informal vocabulary, blending words like in the case of “gunna” for “going to” and various idiomatic and slang expressions.
There are two appendices at the end of the text. Appendix 1 offers answers to the comprehension questions. Appendix 2 covers several grammar points such as verb tenses and voices.
Related to Conversational English for a Global Society (Intermediate Level)
Related ebooks
Distinguish Yourself On the Common App Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5FLATLAND (Illustrated): A Romance of Many Dimensions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFlipped Learning for Math Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Life Skills Activities for Special Children Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a Week: The Sound of Long e Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStudy It Grammar 2 eBook Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Flipped Learning for Science Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flipped Learning for Social Studies Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Smart Kid's Guide to Using the Internet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFlipped Learning for Elementary Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Study It Conversation 4 eBook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEveryday English for Young People: Picture Process Dictionaries Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flipped Learning for English Instruction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/521st Century Skills - Learning Communication & Teamwork Gr. 3-8+ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwo Sides to Every Story 2: An Examination of Ethics, Dilemmas, and Points of View through Discussion, Writing, and Improvisation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStudy It Conversation 2 eBook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What Do You Do Around Here Anyway?: Real-Life Discussion Generators for Wannabe Principals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaising Your Hand Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSparks in Darkness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMore Than Letters, Standards Edition: Literacy Activities for Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Make Virtual Learning Matter: How to Turn Virtual Classrooms into a Remarkable, Authentic Experience for Kids Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMind your Language! English for Nannies and Au Pairs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEssential English - Grade 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLoveology Bible Study Guide: God. Love. Marriage. Sex. And the Never-Ending Story of Male and Female. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5See Johnny Read! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCool School: Where Children Love to Learn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow I Do My Homework Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5MEMORY IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR STUDENTS: Master Your Mind, Ace Your Exams (2024 Crash Course) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristine's Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
ESL For You
The Great Book of American Idioms: A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Best Little Grammar Workbook Ever! Use Alone or with Its Companion Book, The Best Little Grammar Book Ever! Second Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Love to Help Me encanta ayudar (Spanish Children's Book): English Spanish Bilingual Collection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Webster's New World: American Idioms Handbook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dictionary of Root Words: Greek and Latin Roots Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using Bible Versions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best Grammar Workbook Ever! Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage for Ages 10 Through 110 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I Love My Mom Amo a mi mama (Bilingual Spanish Kids book): English Spanish Bilingual Collection Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Let’s Play, Mom! ¡Vamos a jugar, mamá!: English Spanish Bilingual Collection Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLet's Learn Spanish: First Words for Everyone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don Quixote: Bilingual Edition (English – Spanish) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Black Book of Speaking Fluent English: The Quickest Way to Improve Your Spoken English Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/51,000 Conversation Questions: Designed for Use in the ESL or EFL Classroom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/571 ESL Interactive Games, Activities & Teaching Tips: For Teenagers and Adults Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boxer y Brandon Boxer and Brandon (Spanish Bilingual Book): Spanish English Bilingual Collection Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Brothers Karamazov: Bilingual Edition (English – Russian) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Heart of the Forest/ El corazón del bosque (An English/Spanish Dual Language Story) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Accent Reduction For Professionals: How to Eliminate Your Accent to Sound More American Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Advanced Writing Skills for Students of English Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Strategies for Teaching English Language, Literature, and Content Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/550 Ways to Be a Better Teacher: Professional Development Techniques Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Highly Selective Dictionary of Golden Adjectives: For the Extraordinarily Literate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Learn Greek Top 40: How to Flirt in Greek Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Reviews for Conversational English for a Global Society (Intermediate Level)
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Conversational English for a Global Society (Intermediate Level) - Thomas Speirs
Conversational English
FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY
By Thomas Speirs
INTERMEDIATE
© 2023 Thomas Speirs Inc
All rights reserved. No part of this text covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieved systems except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the author.
ISBN: 978 – 1 – 312 – 46101 – 7
Introduction (Conversational English for a Global Society)
This book focuses on English conversation. It is designed for low intermediate to more advanced students, and the lessons become more challenging from Unit 1 to Unit 8. It is also designed to develop the students’ conversational skills, build their vocabulary and reinforce their grammar.
It works best in a traditional (or not so traditional classroom) with a skilled ESL teacher and enthusiastic students willing to take on a slightly different approach to learning the English language.
Each lesson begins with new vocabulary. It then proceeds to offer a short story or situation. Then it is followed by a dialog. Afterwards, there are comprehension questions, language exercises and ideas for role-plays. Once the student is familiar with the new language, role-plays offer excellent chances to practice and use the language in real situations.
The situations follow strict rules of English grammar and syntax; however, the dialogs sometimes stray from the rules and focus more on the way native English-speaking people converse in natural situations. This includes informal vocabulary, blending words like in the case of gunna
for going to
and various idiomatic and slang expressions.
There are two appendices at the end of the text. Appendix 1 offers answers to the comprehension questions. Appendix 2 covers several grammar points such as verb tenses and voices.
i.
Acknowledgements
Writing a textbook such as this requires a lot of time and energy and teamwork. Prior to publication, I used many of the lessons and exercises contained in this book in the classes that I have taught over the years to evaluate the effectiveness of each. So far, I’m pleased to admit that the material contained in this text has worked pretty well as I have seen considerable language development among my students, and have been informed by many of them that they have learned a lot and enjoyed the process along the way.
My next goal was to make this book available to a wider audience, and for that I am deeply grateful to my friends Benedict and Reema Wehlage without whose technical skills and patience this book would still be limited to a considerably smaller group of students.
ii.
Conversational English for a Global Society
by Thomas Speirs (copyright August 2013)
Table of Contents
page
Introduction i.
Acknowledgements ii.
Unit One: Meeting for the First Time 1
Unit Two: Interests & Hobbies, Time and Making Appointments 6
Grammar 1 – Positive & Negative Statements and Questions 13
Basic English Sentence Structure
Grammar 2 – The Verb Be 19
Unit Three A: Getting Around Town and Finding Places: 23
Asking For and Giving Directions
Grammar 3 – Imperatives (Positive & Negative Directions and Commands) 29
Unit Three B: Looking For and Finding Things – Using Prepositions of Place 32
Grammar 4 – Prepositions 34
Unit Four: Student Life – Studies, Parents, Roommates and Relationships 38
Unit Five: The Generation Gap 49
Unit Six: Holidays and Travel 55
Unit Seven: Work and Family Matters 61
Unit Eight: Industry, The Environment and Health 79
Answers to Questions Appendix 1
Grammar Tenses Appendix 2
About the Author Appendix 3
Unit One: Meeting for the First Time
Situation One (John meets Mary)
Vocabulary and Phrases
meet majors in work for maybe
shopping center computer science both software
near already exhibit an interest company
university graduate each other apply
student degree last spring position
studies accounting sounds great decide
John meets Mary at a shopping center near her university. Mary is a student and studies (majors in) computer science at State University. John has already graduated and has a degree in accounting and now works for National Telecom. Both exhibit an interest in each other.
Conversation 1
John: Hello, my name is John. Nice to meet you.
Mary: Hello John. My name is Mary. Nice to meet you, too.
John: What do you do, Mary?
Mary: I’m a student. I study Computer Science at State University. What about
you John? What do you do?
John: I just graduated from King’s University last spring with a degree in
accounting, and now I’m working for National Telecom.
Mary: That sounds great! How do you like it so far?
John: It’s a lot of work, but it’s OK. What do you want to do when you graduate?
Mary: I don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll work for a software company or maybe apply
for a government position. I still have another year to decide.
I. Questions
1. Where do John and Mary meet?
2. What does Mary study?
3. Is John still a student? What does he do?
4. Where did John go to school, and what did he study?
5. Where does he work? Does he enjoy his job?
6. What does Mary plan to do when she finishes school?
Exercise 1:
The following sentences from Situation One have been rearranged. Without referring to the text, put the sentences back into the correct order. When you are finished, check your work.
John has already graduated and has a degree in accounting and now works for National Telecom. Mary is a student and studies (majors in) computer science at State University. Both exhibit an interest in each other. John meets Mary at a shopping center near her university.
Situation Two (John and Mary discuss their lives)
Vocabulary and Phrases
tell downtown grandparents only by the way
about parents weekend see do for a living
their dorm very them engineer
family roommate surprised often nurse
living situation however so many unfortunately lawyer
occupation sometimes campus that’s too bad teacher
live stay with a lot
John and Mary tell each other about their families, their living situations and their parents’ occupations. John lives downtown with his parents, and Mary lives in a dorm at school with seven roommates. However, sometimes she stays with her grandparents on weekends. John is very surprised that she has so many roommates. When he was a student, he also lived in a dorm, but he only had three roommates. John also has grandparents, but he doesn’t see them very often.
Conversation 2
Mary: Where do you live?
John: I live downtown with my parents. How about you?
Mary: I live on campus in a dorm. I have seven roommates.
John: Seven roommates! Wow, that’s a lot! I just had three roommates when I
was in school. Where do your parents live?
Mary: My parents live in New Town, but I have grandparents here in Livingston.