English Lesson (Speaking): "Talking About Drinks - Preferences, Culture, and Habits" (B2/C1 level)

Personal Preferences

1. What kind of drinks do you go for when you need a pick-me-up during the day?
2. How do you usually take your coffee or tea? Have your preferences changed over time?
3. When you wind down after a long day, what’s your drink of choice, and why?
4. Do you prefer to grab a drink on the go or sit down and enjoy it slowly? What influences your choice?
5. If you had to cut out all drinks except one for a week, what would you stick with and why?

Seasonal Drinks

1. What drinks hit the spot for you during hot summer days? What about when it’s cold and rainy?
2. Are there any beverages that bring back memories of certain seasons or holidays?
3. What’s a popular seasonal drink in your culture that you look forward to each year?

 

English Lesson (Speaking): "Talking About Drinks - Preferences, Culture, and Habits" (B1 Level)

Personal Preferences

1. What kind of drinks do you usually enjoy during the day? Why do you choose them?
2. How do you like your coffee or tea prepared? Can you describe your perfect cup?
3. What do you usually drink when you want to relax or take a break?
4. What is your favorite place to have a drink—at home, in a café, or somewhere else? Why?
5. If you could only drink one beverage for a week, what would you choose and why?

Vocabulary & Listening: "Many Ways of Expressing Yes, No, Agree and Disagree in English"

 There are many Yes, No, Agree and Disagree expressions in English both formally and informally:

Formal English	Informal or casual English
Yes No I agree. I disagree.	Yeah Nuh-uh Right on. You’re way off.

A. Guide Questions:
1. What are examples of saying YES, both formal and informal?
2. How do you say "YES" when invited to do something?
3. How do you say “YES” when you want to give permission?
4. What does “help yourself” mean?

English Lesson (Vocabulary and Speaking): "Feelings"

Feelings like happy, sad, lonely, confused, and tired are not included here because they are well-known to most beginner English learners.


1. ANGRY
What makes you angry? Or: What angers you?

Patterns:

• My sister makes me angry.
• I become angry when people do not keep their appointments.
• I do not easily become angry.
• It’s personal. It’s a secret.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: I was angry yesterday because my friend broke my cell phone.

Learning English Through Songs: "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift

Here are some lines from the song "Anti-Hero" written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. They include commonly used words, expressions, idioms, and phrasal verbs in English. This will help you understand the song better and improve your vocabulary.

LINE 1:

When my depression works the graveyard shift (1), all of the people I've ghosted (2) stand there in the room.

 

Possible Meaning: The character in the song indicates that her depression happens during late night to early morning hours and she thinks about the people she has cut off communication with. Despite the distance, she still feels their presence and the emotional weight of unresolved relationships, suggesting feelings of guilt, regret, or sadness about the past.

Vocabulary

(1) The "GRAVEYARD SHIFT" refers to a work shift that occurs during the late night to early morning hours, typically from around midnight to 8 a.m.

Translations:

• French: poste de nuit
• Japanese: 深夜勤務 (しんやきんむ, shinya kinmu)
• Chinese: 夜班 (yè bān)
• Korean: 야간 근무 (yagan geunmu)

 Sentence: "I have to work the graveyard shift this week."

Translations:

• French: "Je dois travailler le poste de nuit cette semaine."
• Japanese: "私は今週、深夜勤務をしなければなりません。" (Watashi wa konshū, shinya kinmu o shinakereba narimasen.)
• Chinese: "我这周必须上夜班。" (Wǒ zhè zhōu bìxū shàng yè bān.)
• Korean: "나는 이번 주에 야간 근무를 해야 한다." (Naneun ibeon jue yagan geunmureul haeya handa.)

English Lesson (Speaking): "Questions About Autumn"

LESSON: GENERAL ENGLISH
Topic: “All About Autumn”

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

1. What are the benefits of autumn weather?
Quels sont les avantages du temps automnal ?
가을 날씨의 장점은 무엇인가요?

Sample Answer: One benefit of autumn weather is the cooler temperatures, which are perfect for outdoor activities. It’s comfortable to go hiking or have picnics without the heat of summer. The autumn colors also create beautiful scenery, making walks more enjoyable. This season also brings a variety of delicious seasonal foods to enjoy.

2. What are some drawbacks of autumn?
Quels sont les inconvénients de l'automne ?
가을의 단점은 무엇인가요?

Sample Answer: One drawback of autumn is that the days become shorter, which can make some people feel tired or sad. The colder weather can also limit outdoor activities, especially if it rains. Additionally, as plants die back, gardens may look less lively. However, I try to focus on the beauty of the season to balance these feelings.

Vocabulary: Commonly Used Phrasal Verbs (Batch One)

BATCH ONE
Updated Sept 26, 2024

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Introduction: Native speakers, specifically Americans, use phrasal verbs more often than regular verbs so being familiar with common phrasal verbs is useful in understanding native speakers. Most phrasal verbs are used in informal or spoken English.

You can enter = You can come in (the same meaning)

TWO KINDS OF PHRASAL VERBS

[a] Separable - you can separate the verb from the preposition.

Example: PICK UP
Correct: "I picked up the paper"
Correct: "I picked the paper up"
Correct: I pick it up.
Incorrect: I pick up it. (Do not put the pronoun after the preposition)

[b] Non-separable - you cannot separate the verb from the preposition.

Example: COUNT ON (rely or trust)

Correct: "I can count on my friend"

Incorrect: "I can count my friend on."
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English Lesson (Speaking & Listening): "Being an Engineer"

LESSON: ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERS
Topic: “Being an Engineer”

Questions
1. What does an engineer do? Que fait un ingénieur ?

SAMPLE ANSWER: An engineer designs and builds systems, structures, or products. They solve problems using science and math to create efficient solutions. Their work can range from creating software to developing infrastructure.

2. What inspired you to become an engineer? Qu'est-ce qui vous a inspiré à devenir ingénieur ?

SAMPLE ANSWER: I was fascinated by how things work from a young age. My passion for math and science led me to explore engineering. I wanted to create solutions to real-world problems, and engineering seemed like the perfect path to do that.

 

Business English Listening Exercise: "Email Management"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

English Listening Exercise: "Coffee"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

Business English Listening Exercise: "Teamwork"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

English Lesson (Speaking and Listening): "Staying in Hotels" (B1-B2 Level)

LESSON: TRAVEL ENGLISH
Topic: “Staying Hotels”
Goal: Practice speaking and vocabulary

1. Do you like staying at hotels? Why/why not? Français: Aimez-vous séjourner dans des hôtels ? Pourquoi/pourquoi pas ?

Sample Answer: Yes, I like staying at hotels, especially when I am on vacation. I enjoy the convenience of having everything taken care of, like cleaning and meals. Hotels usually have good facilities like a gym, a swimming pool, and room service, which make my stay more comfortable. However, sometimes I miss the personal touch of staying at a friend's house or an Airbnb, where the atmosphere feels more homely.

2. Do you normally stay at hotels for work or for vacation? Français: Séjournez-vous normalement dans des hôtels pour le travail ou pour les vacances

Sample Answer: I usually stay at hotels for vacation. When I travel for work, my company sometimes arranges different accommodations like serviced apartments or corporate housing, especially for longer stays. However, when I'm on vacation, I prefer hotels because they offer a level of comfort and relaxation that I look for when I'm taking a break. Plus, hotels often have tourist information and services that are useful when exploring a new place.

Business English Listening Exercise: "Scheduling Appointments"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

Business English Listening Exercise: "Writing Reports"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

 

English Listening Exercise: "Boredom"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

English Listening Exercise: "Shopping Habits"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

English Listening Exercise: "Friendships and Relationships"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

 

English Listening Exercise: "Technology and Gadgets"

Technology and Gadgets B1 (English Listening Practice and Vocabulary & Questions)

Vocabulary
A. Stay in touch - keep communicating with someone (rester en contact). Sentence: I will stay in touch with you after the trip. Translation: Je resterai en contact avec toi après le voyage.

B. Through /thru/ - using something as a method (par). You can contact me through email. Translation: Vous pouvez me contacter par courrier électronique.

Other meanings of “through”
Walk through (a place) - go from one side to another. We walked through the park on our way home. (Nous avons traversé le parc en rentrant chez nous.

Through (method/channel) - using a means to do something. You can contact me through email. (Vous pouvez me contacter par courrier électronique.)

Be through with something -finish doing something. I am through with my work. (J'ai terminé mon travail.)

Be through (relationship) - end a relationship. My girlfriend and I are through. (Ma copine et moi, c'est fini.)

Work through (time period) -continue working during something. We work through the night. (Nous travaillons toute la nuit.)

C. Tell time - read and understand the time (lire l'heure). Sentence: She can tell time using both an analog and a digital clock. Translation: Elle peut lire l'heure avec une horloge analogique et numérique.

D. Track one’s (my, his, their, etc.) steps - record the number of steps (suivre ses pas). Sentence: Many people use apps to track their steps for fitness reasons. Translation: Beaucoup de gens utilisent des applications pour suivre leurs pas pour des raisons de fitness.

E. Heart rate - number of heartbeats per minute (fréquence cardiaque). Sentence: Monitoring your heart rate is important during exercise. Translation: Surveiller sa fréquence cardiaque est important pendant l'exercice.

F. Microwave - machine used to heat food quickly (micro-ondes). Sentence: I heated the soup in the microwave for a quick lunch. Translation: J'ai réchauffé la soupe au micro-ondes pour un déjeuner rapide.

G. Wisely – in a smart and careful way (sagement). Sentence: It is important to spend your money wisely. Translation: Il est important de dépenser son argent sagement.

H. Screen time - time spent using or looking at a screen, such as mobile phones, computers, etc. (temps d'écran). Sentence: Reducing screen time before bed can help you sleep better. Translation: Réduire le temps d'écran avant de se coucher peut aider à mieux dormir.

English Listening Exercise: "Cultural Differences"

Free original listening materials for learners and teachers. Transcripts are placed below all audio/video files.

 

Business English: "Human Resources - Designing Performance Evaluation Systems”

Vocabulary
A. Relevance (pertinence): Importance or connection of something to the topic. Example: “The book's relevance to our class made it a useful study tool.”

B. Ease of use (facilité d'utilisation): How simple something is to use or operate. Example: “Sentence: The app's ease of use made it popular with beginners.”

C. Actionable feedback (un retour d'information exploitable): Clear suggestions that can be used to improve. Example: “The teacher gave actionable feedback to help students improve their essays.”

Guide Questions
1. What are the main steps to design a performance evaluation system?

2. How do HR officers involve employees in the design of performance evaluation systems?

3. What criteria should be considered when choosing evaluation methods?

4. What did the speaker say about leadership?