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University-level conversation class ideas

Posted by kiwinfrance · December 4, 2007 · 2 replies

Salut à tous!

I'm a young NZder working in France as a lectrice at a French University.

My classes are for the most part not too difficult; however I have a group of 3rd Year students (final year of their undergraduate English degree) and I have a conversation class of 45 minutes each week with them.

They are a responsive and well behaved class (I was teaching in a primary school last year, so imagine the difference!), however I am seriously struggling for ideas.

The only guidelines I have been given for this class is: get them to talk! I am not expected to teach grammar, to get through a syllabus etc, but just to get them talking. I don't want to play too many games, and I also want to teach them things that will be useful.

Tips? Hints? Suggestions?

All would be welcome

2 Replies

clivehawkins

Sounds wonderful!

I have a few conversation classes too, and I often use ideas from the following great sites:
EFL ESL Lesson Plans | Heads Up English - Home
Breaking News English Lessons | FREE ESL Lesson Plans | Listening
There's a lot of material, too much in fact for only 45 minutes but you can change it to suit your needs.

Hope that helps.

HUE

Thanks for recommending my site, Clive!

If you only have 45 minutes, a lot of the articles you'll find at my site may be too difficult unless you assign them as homework. There are questions under Skill Builders: Speaking for Upper-Intermediate learners and Advanced learners on a variety of topics. Each set of questions combines close questions and open questions, and work well to build fluency.

Good luck.