Monday, April 1, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
ESL Discussion Questions & Idioms about Legs (Revised)
Legs
What are they? Limbs? Why do we have them?
There are legs on people and animals. Where else can we see legs? (On tables and stools)
What can we do with our legs? Walk, move, run, kick, jog, amble, sprint, dance, traipse, limp, hop, skip, jump, march, step, make footprints, wear leggings, knee people, climb stairs, press foot pedals, apply the brake, move pedals on bicycle, lift.....
What is you favourite thing to do with your legs?
What tricks can you do with your legs?
How many do you have? Do you wish you had more legs? What would you do if you had extra legs.
What are some parts of the leg? Feet, knees, thighs, calves, shin, hips, ankles, toes, heel.
Are legs or arms more important?
Do you like your legs? How would you describe your legs?
Do you think you have good-looking legs?
She has shapely legs. What does this mean?
Who has better looking legs? Men or Women? Why?
Ladies! Do you want your husband to have nice looking legs? What do women want male legs to look like?
Guys! Do you want your wife to have nice looking legs? What do men want female legs to look like?
Who has the most beautiful legs?
Who has the most famous legs? Whose legs would be insured for lots of money?
In what occupations, are your legs important?
Finish this sentence: Good-looking legs are ________________.
What can we do to make our legs look better?
Should men shave their legs?
Do women's legs look better when they wear high heel shoes?
Do you cross your legs? Is it okay for men to cross their legs? Why do women cross their legs?
Have you ever hurt your legs? Have you broken your leg?
Do you get leg cramps? What do you do if you have leg cramps?
You must choose between having only legs or having only arms? Which would you choose? Why?
A famous song called "Legs" says the following: She has got legs. She knows how to use them. What do you think that means?
Idioms (What do you think they mean?)
He has a leg up on me. (advantage)
Break a leg! (good luck!)
The machine is on its last legs.
It is going to cost you an arm and a leg.
You are pulling my leg!
Shake a leg! (a command to move or move faster)
It is the first leg of our trip.
After we robbed the bank, we had to leg it.
He doesn't have a leg to stand on. (you have no case or no proof)
This idea has legs.
I need to get out of the car and stretch me legs.
The man walked away with his tail between his legs. (he was embarrassed or full of shame)
Nice Legs. Shame about her face.
He puts his pants on, one leg at a time. (Ask students if they put their legs on, one pant at a time)
Monday, March 25, 2013
A Week in the Life of an English Teacher in Wuxi, China: March 18 to March 24, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
A Wuxi HyLite English School Commercial: March 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
ESL Discussion Questions about Heroes (Revised)
Heroes (Revised on March 8, 2013)
What are they? Who are they?
They are the good guy, are extraordinary people, they are admired, they are brave, they are in danger, they are regarded as models or ideals,
What is the opposite of hero? Villain, heel, bad guy,
What do heroes do?
They beat the villain, they save the princess, they save the innocent, they overcome, they find the treasure, they inspire others, they wear disguises
Can anyone be a hero? Do you have to go to school or train to be a hero?
Who is your hero? Why?
Are heroes extraordinary or ordinary?
Do heroes do spectacular things or mundane things?
Can common people be heroes?
Can these people be heroes: teachers, bankers, businessman, farmers?
What occupations do we commonly think of as being heroic?
Do you think that we make heroes of the wrong people?
Who are your movie heroes?
Do you have a favorite super-hero?
Who are some famous Chinese heroes? Why are they thought of heroes?
Who are some famous heroes of the world?
Is one man's or country's hero the villain of another man or country? Can you think of some examples of these kind of people?
Are these people heroes: George Bush, Barack Obama, David Beckham, Jay Chou, Lady Gaga, PSY, Mother Teresa, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Napoleon, Bruce Lee.
Do you want to be a hero? Why? Why not?
Have you performed any acts of heroism recently? (Have you done some heroic in your life?)
To whom do you want to be a hero?
How can a person become a hero?
To whom are you a hero? Why?
Ladies? Do you want to marry a hero?
Idioms and Expressions
Hero Worship
Unsung Hero
Super-hero
Sports hero
Guitar hero
No man is a hero to his valet.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
ESL Discussion Questions about Farming
What is it?
What are some synonyms for "farming?"
What are some synonyms for "farmers?"
What do farmers do? What task or duties do they perform?
Do you have farming experience? Are there farmers in your family?
Have you visited a farm? What did you think?
Would you like to own a farm or live on a farm?
If you had a farm, what would you grow or raise? Crops, livestock.
How is farming in China?
Can a farmer become wealthy in China?
Is farming a good career choice?
What do city people think of farmers? Do they think they are bumpkins or hayseeds?
What did Chairman Mao think of farmers?
If you were a farmer, what kind of woman would you marry?
If you were a woman, what kind of farmer would you marry?
A smaller percentage of the population works in the farming sector. Is this a good thing?
What things do you think farmers worry about?
What kind of problems does the modern Chinese farmer have?
What is it like to farm in the West?
What's a farmer's daily life like?
Are there farmers markets in Wuxi?
Do you think bio-fuels are a good idea?
What do these farming terms mean:
Rotate crops
Barn
Fence
Hoe
Shovel
Rake
Tractor
Combine Harvester
Hay
Haystack (needle in a haystack)
subsistence farming
dairy farming
arable land (Is there lots of arable land in China? Jiangsu? Wuxi?
Idioms
Buy the farm
sell the farm
Bet the farm
funny farm
Were you born in a barn?
He couldn't hit the side of a barn.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
ESL Discussion Questions about Elevators (Revised)
What is an elevator?
What are words that are related to elevator? Elevation, Elevating,
What verbs can we use with elevator? Use, ride, take,
When you do use the elevator? Can you recall the last time you used one?
Is there an elevator in Wuxi that you like taking?
Can you remember the first time you took an elevator?
What is the most interesting elevator you have ever been on? What is the highest floor you have ever been on? Do you like the elevators with the clear glass walls?
What are alternatives to using an elevator? Escalators, Stairs, Ladders, Ropes, Climbing, Jumping and Flying.
Do you sometimes take the stairs for exercise? Have you ever had to go up 20 flights of stairs because the elevator wasn't working?
What games can you play on elevators? What do you think of people who bet on elevators going up and down? What do you think of people who ride elevators for fun?
How do you use an elevator?
Are there still elevator operators in China? Would you like that job?
How does an elevator work?
Have you used a freight elevator?
How to behave on an elevator? Do you hold the door open for other people?
What are some rude actions that people do on the elevator?
What do you do if there are people leaving the elevator that you will get on?
How close can you stand against others on an elevator?
Have you ever gone on an elevator that was going in the wrong direction?
Have you ever been on an elevator with a strange person?
Is it okay to take you e-bike on the elevator?
What do you do if the elevator is crowded? How many people can be on an elevator at one time?
Have you ever walked on an elevator and all the floor buttons had been pressed?
Have you ever had an argument with a stranger on an elevator?
Have you ever not gotten on an elevator because there was a strange person on it?
Is it okay to take your pet on the elevator?
What do you think of people who throw litter on the elevator?
Do you read the advertising on the elevator?
What is the strangest thing that ever happened to you on an elevator? What is your best elevator memory?
Have you ever been stuck on an elevator? For how long? How was the situation resolved?
Have you ever kissed a girl on the elevator?
Have you ever met someone on an elevator? i.e. Made a friend? Fell in love?
How to behave on an escalator? What are some actions you hate seeing done on the escalator?
Should you move or stand still on an escalator? What should you do when you get off the escalator?
Should you leave room for people to pass you? Have you ever had an escalator accident?
Elevation. What is the highest elevation you have ever been at? Do you like high elevations? Do you like to go to elevated places and look down?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ESL Discussion Questions about Dancing
What is it?
Do you like it? Why not? Do you like to watch it?
Are you a good dancer? Do you want to show me?
Where do you dance?
What kind of dancing do you like to do? Fast dancing? Slow dancing? Group dancing? Belly dancing? Tap dancing? Dancing with a partner? (who do you want to dance with? Have you ever asked a stranger to dance? It is okay for boys to dance together? Girls? Dancing by yourself?)
What kind or style of dancing is popular now?
Where do you dance? Where can you go dancing?
The dancing in public areas – why is it so popular? Who is it popular with?
When do you dance? Do you dance to celebrate? Is the spring festival a time for dancing?
What about the dancing I see workers have to do?
Is dancing difficult? Why? Why not?
Is it hard to dance because people are shy to dance? Are you shy to dance?
Do they teach dancing in Chinese schools? Are there dancing schools or clubs in Wuxi?
Is dancing a good profession? Have you ever danced in a show?
Where can you watch people dance?
What kind of dancing do you like to watch? Ballet? Go-go dancing? Exotic dancing? Belly dancing?
Where do you like to watch dancing? Clubs? Theatres? On movies and in films?
Do you like to watch musicals? Do the Chinese make musicals? Why? Why not? Why don't they make musical movies in Hollywood anymore? Do you like Bollywood musicals?
Who do you like to dance with?
Who are some famous dancers?
Who are some famous Chinese dancers?
Why is Gangnam Style so popular?
Is Western dancing different from Chinese dancing? How?
What kind of music is good for dancing?
Dancing idioms and expressions
Out of step
Cut the rug
Would you care to dance?
Dance on air
Dance with death
The same old song and dance
I am putting on my dance shoes
Dance up a storm
