Learn about good topics for small talk in Canada
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Sept. 28/26
This page gathers helpful links for your online classes of ESL beginners (CLB 1-4) on topics such as Alberta, Canada, health, work, home and community, numbers, transportation, clothes, and grammar. Use these to create your…
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn about expected topics for small talk in Canada (and to practice some responses). |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students will discuss cultural differences in small talk (e.g., the need for small talk at all, topics, etc.) |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students will understand topics that are suitable (and unsuitable) for small talk in Canada. Students will practice responding to basic small-talk questions. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about good topics for small talk in Canada.
- What is small talk?
- What are some good small talk topics in Canada?
Skill-building activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Ask students to pay attention to the pronunciation and meaning of the words.)
- Small talk topics 🎥 (Let’s do some more vocabulary review with this short video.)
Skill-using tasks
- Common small talk questions* 🔊
- Sample answers to small talk questions* (Match the questions with some possible answers.)
- Identify good and bad topics for small talk*
Assessment/review tasks
Reflection questions
- What are three words or phrases that you learned today?
- Have you tried making small talk in Canada? How did that go for you?
- What are some good topics for small talk in Canada?
- What are some inappropriate topics for small talk in Canada? Are these topics the same in your home country?
- Canadians make a lot of small talk. Why do you think we like small talk so much?
- Do people like to make small talk in your home country?
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Click on the small right arrow at the top of this video to play the videos or go to the YouTube Your Home and Community Playlist.
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURS WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Community and neighbours” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
Kathy Garnsworthy, the creator of ESL Directions, is an ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, she specializes in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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