Notes from Lesson 1 Monday, 22^nd September

I’m semi-retired

Getting to know each other

Please take some time to introduce yourselves to each other. You can talk about friends, family, work, interests, English, travel, home etc. Try to find something you have in common with your classmates. Here are some ideas:

English

• Have you taken English courses with us before? What were they and what did you learn from them?
• What made you decide to take this course?
• What do you enjoy most about speaking English?
• What are your ambitions for this course?
• How can the teacher help you with your English?
• What subjects interest you?
• What do you particularly need to improve?
• Are there any websites, apps, books etc that you could recommend to your classmates to help you with your English?

Interests & Hobbies

• What do you usually do in your free time?
• Do you enjoy reading, watching films, or listening to music? Which one most?
• Do you have a hobby or interest you started after retirement?
• Do you prefer spending time indoors or outdoors? Why?
• What do you do to keep fit and healthy?

Travel & Experiences

• What’s the most interesting place you have ever visited?
• Is there a country you would still like to visit? Why?
• Do you prefer the sea, the countryside, or the city for holidays?
• Have you ever had a “surprising” or unusual travel experience?

 

an adder

a dry stone wall

a zigzag pattern

a grass snake

 

Useful sites to practise your English:

• https://www.newsinlevels.com/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english
• https://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/

 

a plumber  “plummer”

a sink, the bathroom sink, the kitchen sink

a wash basin

 

Six-Minute English:

• What did you read or listen to? Why did you choose it?
• What was it about?
• What new vocabulary did you learn?
• Do you have any questions for each other?

 

 

• Degrowth and a degrowther
• To reduce fast fashion

 

Are you a bank loan?

You caught my interest.

 

To pay interest on a loan

 

Some people are easily offended.

Some people are oversensitive

 

 

Highly sensitive children

 

• What kind of lists do you make and why?
• Lättkränkt
• My bank account is in the red. Is this a good or bad thing? I’m in debt.
• What do you do with clothes you no longer use, need or want?
• Disenfectionsmedel?

 

I had an overdraft.

To make a to-do list

Packing lists

A wishlist

A “should-do” list

A bucket list

I give them away to charity.

To raise money for charity.

It’s a really rewarding thing to do

A charitable organisation

A “you thing” – it’s your problem

Increase – decrease

Saccharine – sentimental