TESOL/English lesson topics
Interactive or non-interactive
[edit | edit source]| Conversation (interactions between two or more people) | one person (newscaster talks) |
|---|---|
| Agreeing and disagreeing | Expressing opinions |
| Making requests and persuading | Stating preferences |
| Expressing displeasure | Complaining about circumstances |
| Congratulations | Things you are glad about or regret |
| Asking about people | Describing people |
| Allocating responsibility | Responsibility |
| Asking about objects | Describing objects |
| Giving advice or recommendations, accepting them | Resolutions |
| Coordinating plans, such as meeting at a certain place | Hopes and goals, individual plans |
| Refusing or asking for help | Expressing trust |
| Reactions | Talking about emotions |
| Talking to a medical professional | Describing physical condition |
| Giving instructions | Narratives, describing processes |
| Nostalgia | Trends |
| Thanks | Gratitude |
| Apology | Guilt and shame |
| Meetings and introductions | Self-introductions |
| Discussing possibilities | Speculating about the future |
| Demanding an explanation | Expressing disbelief |
| Asking where and giving locations | Giving locations |
| Making accusations |
Accepting, denying, and assigning blame |
Interactive only
[edit | edit source]| Goodbyes |
| Interrupting |
| Changing the subject and returning to a topic |
Cross-topic themes
[edit | edit source]politeness and familiarity
[edit | edit source]Requests
[edit | edit source]| level of politeness | language |
|---|---|
| 25% |
|
| 50% |
|
| 75% |
|
| 100% |
|
With "you"
[edit | edit source]Using "ma'am" or "sir" at the beginning or end of a sentence makes the sentence very formal and polite. Do not use it with friends because it is too polite. It would sound cold.
Strength of language
[edit | edit source]In meaning, the difference between "freezing" and "cold" is that "freezing" is colder than "cold," but there is a grammatical difference as well. "Freezing" is a non-gradable word which behaves differently grammatically than a gradable word like "cold." For many adjectives there is a non-gradable word or expression which is stronger. Adjusting the strength of your message requires knowing these stronger words and expressions and knowing how to use them.
Encouraging or discouraging conversation
[edit | edit source]To continue a conversation, use the method short answer + extra information. If you want to stop the conversation, give only a short answer.
Another usual way is the use of question tags.