Category

Questions keep the conversation flowing   “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” -Voltaire (1694-1778) French Enlightenment WriterAsking questions always generates more conversation; after all, an answer always follows. As mentioned before,...

Immersion in literature, current events, arts stimulates conversation   “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” -Walt Disney (1901-1966) American business magnate, animatorAre your students sometimes unsure of what to talk about? Perhaps they...

Accept–and enjoy–the inevitability of silence! “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” -Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher Many Americans feel uncomfortable with silence, even on crowded elevators or standing in lines with strangers. Some Americans...

Context determines boundaries of conversation “Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” -Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) Anglo-Irish novelist How wonderful that there are so many possible relationships to cultivate through conversation!...

Finding commonalities sparks conversations “Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” -Albert Camus (1913-1960), French novelist and Nobel Prize winnerWe can learn a great deal...

Pair your words with a respectful tone   “Beautiful tone, beautiful heart.” -Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) Japanese violinist, creator of the “Suzuki Method” Proper tone is essential for the effective conversationalist and communicator, after all, having a good conversation...

Explore with Search and Share worksheets   Photo Source: Photo taken by Nicola Sapiens De Mitri“In any field, find the strangest thing and then explore it.” -John Archibald Wheeler (1911-2008) American theoretical physicistWe live in a world full of wonderful resources...

Exude interest with body language and facial expressions   “The body never lies.” -Martha Graham (1894-1991) American modern dancerA conversation composed entirely of just words holds less meaning if there aren’t appropriate reactions and responses. Therefore, body language...

Through “mems,” students retain English vocabulary “We’ve built Memrise to embody the very best knowledge about how your brain works, and so help you learn as quickly and effortlessly as possible. We’ve turned learning facts and language into a game where you grow a...

Without listening, there’s no conversation “There is a difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak.” -Simon Sinek (1973- ) English businessman, author and philanthropistDo your students pay attention to what others are saying in a conversation? About half the...