Category: Discussion

July 24, 2016

Brains

The heart to any intellect is in the mind. For an object the size of a small melon it does contain many mysteries. How does it function? Can it be changed? The shape, size and other physical characteristics have not only been studied intensively, but fascination with the origin of the mind and the development of human knowledge has also...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 24, 2016

Books

Curling up on the sofa and gently opening a book can be one of life’s great pleasures. Although many now forgo books in favour of online content, the written word stills carries much interest and is never going to disappear into that dark night (hopefully). This lesson is aimed at intermediate students to encourage a discussion on how literature has...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 24, 2016

Biscuits

What would a cup of tea be like without a biscuit? It certainly wouldn’t be a pleasurable experience. If you are anything like the typical consumer in the UK, you are predicted to eat almost 800 biscuits each year. The Brits are so addicted to biscuits that there are Facebook groups and websites dedicated to discussing the various types on...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 24, 2016

Beauty

Shall I compare thee to a summers day? It’s always been a great draw for humankind, the lustre of a painting, the curve of a staircase and the youthfulness in faces all stimulate our perception of beauty. As with many aspects of life, is beauty real? Is it just a concept people have created? Why has beauty become important in...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 24, 2016

Banks

Coins, notes, credit cards or even Bitcoin. Money in all its forms needs to be kept somewhere, and somewhere very safe indeed. Do you trust the bank where you put your money? Do banks deserve the trust they have? These questions are ever more important in a society which is concerned with greater morality and ethics. This intermediate lesson aims...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 23, 2016

Art

Art is the means in which a culture expresses itself. The style and emotions of the time are deeply embedded within the oils on canvas, the shape of pottery and the texture of the stones used in various artworks. This intermediate lesson aims to have students think about types of art and if there is potentially a hierarchy of art?...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 23, 2016

Architecture

Where you live is unique. The shapes of the building, the feel and look of the streets were not made by accident. It arose from the geography and the people who live there. Why do we design buildings the way we do? Can they influence our moods? Has design made us unhealthy? This intermediate lesson plan seeks to explore elements of...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 23, 2016

Appearance

Let’s be honest, our appearance is important. How we look and what we wear is always being scrutinised and assessed by others. It doesn’t just stop with people, it also continues with adverts on TV and print media, wouldn’t it be great if ads just didn’t focus on body image so much? How could children and adults be affected by this?...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 23, 2016

Animals

With increasing pressure on the natural environment, animals are in constant battle with humans for space and survival. The decisions people make today will decide whether our natural world will be changed irreversibly. This intermediate lesson has a broad focus from evolution to animal exploitation. Do use the images to stimulate further conversation and brainstorm further vocabulary; like beak, fin,...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 23, 2016

Amazon.com

We are in the midst of an internet shopping revolution. We can order any product at any time using any device we have with us. To top it all off, we can have it sent to us within 90 minutes or less. How has this changed shopping? Why does it become necessary to have access to millions of products at...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 18, 2016

Aliens

The eternal question of “is there any life out there?” has been playing on the minds of people for centuries, and after all these years the question still intrigues us. What makes aliens and UFOs so interesting? Why has it captured our imaginations? Could it be that the thought of humanity being all alone in the universe scares us? This...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 18, 2016

Aging / Ageing

Aging or ageing is a central theme in many cultures. In China, the elderly are revered for their wisdom and experience, while in other countries they are often ignored and neglected. As we age our bodies and mind become weaker and our view of the world can change, why does this happen? There are some who don’t change at all,...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 18, 2016

Advice

There are times in our life when we cannot go it alone. We need the wisdom and perspective of another person or group to guide us to what we seek. Advice is plentiful these days, from online to our social group, however, is it always useful? How do you know if it should be followed? Can help from others be...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0

July 18, 2016

Advertising

Advertising has now permeated through our lives, from the traditional TV to the modern Internet. This advanced lesson focuses on how advertising has shaped us culturally and if it has also imparted cultural stereotypes. The images included can be used to discuss how advertising has changed over the last 100 years and encourage students to think about advertising’s influence on...

Categories Advanced Discussion Comments: 0

June 12, 2016

When was the first time

Download the PDF lesson plan: When was the first time ESLTalkingPoints PDF        

Categories Grammar Comments: 0

June 12, 2016

Have you ever

The Present Perfect can be challenging for some students. Give them a hand with this sweet little worksheet. Download the PDF lesson plan: Have you ever ESLTalkingPoints PDF

Categories Grammar Comments: 0

June 12, 2016

Adoption

Whether for people or for animals, adoption is a keenly emotional subject. In recent years society’s attitudes towards this challenging issue are changing. Celebrities are becoming more vocal and visible in taking in children from abroad. While helping the cause it has also created controversy. Are these children a figment of public relations management? Are they really loved by these...

Categories Intermediate Discussion Comments: 0