This is a small-group course aimed at helping you build your English speaking fluency and conversation skills.
I hope you enjoy it and, at the same time, get to meet and chat with a variety of people from different regions/countries.
Don’t forget to bring your coffee!
This course can help you to…
1. Build speaking fluency
2. Build conversation skills
3. Meet and chat with people from different countries/regions in English
Who is this course for?
All learners and nationalities are welcome.
This is an English-only conversation course so it’s best for learners who already have some basic ability (eg. able to introduce themselves, talk about past experiences, future goals, and give basic opinions etc.). In other words, around upper-beginner (CEFR A2) level or over.
You are given the conversation topics (and a short ‘useful vocabulary’ list) before each lesson giving you a chance to prepare each week (see course schedule below for topics).
The first two lessons are free so you can use this time to check if you like the course.
Course timing & details
Course start: Sunday August 22, 2021
Lesson timing: Every Sunday* 4-4:40pm Japan time (3am EST) (*No lesson on Sun Sept 12)
Teacher: Paul McAleese
Learner type/level: From upper-beginner (CEFR A2). Young adult/adult learners. All nationalities welcome.
Lesson length/timing: 40min/week x10 weeks
Lesson size: 6-20 students
Lesson format: Real-time (synchronous) online*
Total course fee: USD$40.00 per student (ie. USD$5.00/lesson x 8 lessons, including course materials). The first two lessons of this course are free for everyone. Learners later have the option of joining the full (paid) course.
Apply here for first two Conversation Café lessons (free)
*Learners need access to PC or device with a webcam & mic, and a stable internet/WIFI connection. Learners also need to have Zoom (free software/app) installed
What happens in the lessons?
The course is live-online (ie. in real-time, from your home using your PC/laptop webcam & mic) with a very relaxed and informal content (as I said, bring your own coffee!). Each weekly lesson has a different conversation topic (eg. Week 2- Interests & free time; Week 3 – Travel).
Each lesson starts with a short warm up, then the class is divided into smaller groups of 3-4 learners (break-out rooms). The learners in each group briefly introduce themselves and are then free to talk about the weekly talking points.
To keep the conversations active, every 8mins the learners in each group are changed randomly into new groups and asked to restart their conversations. For the final 10min of each lesson, the class comes back together for some friendly feedback/advice/questions from the teacher.
Each lesson also introduces a new conversation skill, for example, reacting to speaker, checking information, and changing topics.
Apply here for first two Conversation Café lessons (free)
Example lesson (September 26, 2021)
Course schedule
Date/time* | Conversation topic | Talking points | |
1 | Sun Aug 22, 4-4:40pm | Hometowns & countries |
1. Where is your home country and hometown? 2. What is the best thing to do in your hometown? 3. Is there something your hometown is famous for? 4. Do you think it’s better to live in the city or the countryside? Why? |
2 | Sun Aug 29, 4-4:40pm | Interests & free time |
1. What do you like to do in your free time? 2. Are you more interested in indoor activities or outdoor activities? Why? 3. How have your interests changed since you were a child? 4. What is an activity or hobby you would like to try? |
3 | Sun Sept 5, 4-4:40pm | Travel | See course booklet |
4 | Sun Sept 19, 4-4:40pm | Movies & TV | See course booklet |
5 | Sun Sept 26, 4-4:40pm | Food & eating out | See course booklet |
6 | Sun Oct 3, 4-4:40pm | Outdoor activities | See course booklet |
7 | Sun Oct 10, 4-4:40pm | The internet & technology | See course booklet |
8 | Sun Oct 17, 4-4:40pm | Books & music | See course booklet |
9 | Sun Oct 24, 4-4:40pm | Languages & cultures | See course booklet |
10 | Sun Oct 31, 4-4:40pm | Future goals | See course booklet |
*Lesson times are Japan time (3-3:40am EST)
Introduction to the course(50sec video)
Apply here for first two Conversation Café lessons (free)
Related links:
Pomaka English YouTube channel