Conversation Café Course 1 (live-online)

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)

 

Course contact form

Apply here for first two Conversation Café lessons (free)

 

Related links:

More about Paul

Pomaka English YouTube channel

Pomaka photo gallery

IELTS preparation course

Other customized courses