Lesson 1 - How To Converse In English

1 LESSON GUIDE 1 LESSON 1: HOW TO CONVERSE? April 15, 2004 – SpeechPower (Cubao) English Conversation Fluency (ECF 3) 6:00-8:00 PM

How You Are As A Conversationalist? Evaluate Yourself and Learn

SO:

I want to be a good conversationalist!

AS: I Am A Good Conversationalist When I converse, I give others the chance to be heard and not only I do the talking. I find interest to others’ stories, likes and backgrounds. I focus the spotlight on others and don’t self-praise. I listen to what others have to say and patiently wait for my turn. I practice self-control and don’t compare myself to others as if I am better than them. As I converse, I reveal who I am, truthfully and honestly. I don’t put on masks. I always remember that conversation is a relationship between me and the people I talk to and like in any other relationships, give-and-take should be practiced. Furthermore, I respect others’ feelings and don’t bore them with rumblings of my own affairs. I am a good conversationalist and I am all of these, and so it is!

LA1:

Introduce Yourself by Starting a Conversation Exercise 1:

Pick-your-Situation Activity

In a bowl, pick a slip of paper bearing the situation that you should act out with a partner. Use these situations in introducing yourself by starting a conversation. Exercise 2:

Needs Analysis

Form groups and discuss with your group why you enrolled in this course and what you expect to get out of it. You are given two minutes each to discuss your

2 reasons and expectations. While a member of the group is talking, others please listen attentively. After the group has shared with each other, each group will share to the class their conversation/sharing. LA 2:

A Good Conversationalist Exercise1:

Introduce the “Five Tips to Good Conversation” by the affirmation I Am A Good Conversationalist (use OHP)

Read Aloud (individual, as class) Exercise 2: • • • • •

Five Tips to Good Conversation Talk in the other person’s background Speak with your ears Be Yourself Be Alert Be Courteous

Ask the students the meaning of “good” (since good is a subjective word – relative) to them in the context of conversing and relate it to their experiences in making conversations. Experiences wherein they had difficulties conversing. Ask them if they are more into starting conversations first or rather be in the corner, waiting to be introduced. LA 3:

Topics for Conversations (Small Talks) Exercise 1: • • •

Focus on the three levels of conversation: Conversation that has to do with people Conversation that has to do with things Conversation about ideas

Pick-your-level. Pick in the bowl topics for conversation, first level – people, second level – things. This should be done with a partner, act out the conversation using the topics you picked. For the third level, form two groups and choose a same topic. The debate-like activity will include little conversations among members. Within the group, members may agree or disagree. The first group will take a stand on the issue, the other group is meant to disagree with the stand but avoiding friction. You can disa gree without sounding disagreeable. Thus each group should come up with unanimous statements and the other group to react. LA 4:

Evaluate – how good a conversationalist are you?

3 Exercise 1:

LA 5:

After relating your difficulties in conversing, you can now point both your weaknesses and strengths. Make a list of both your strengths and weaknesses. Be ready to share to the class your list. Highlight your strong points with pleasant experiences in conversing. Building your Confidence

Exercise 1:

Rules for Building Exercise • • • • • • •

Focus on your potentials instead of your limitations. Distinguish between who you are and what you do. Find something you like to do and do it well. Replace self-criticism with regular, positive self-talk Replace fear of failure with clear pictures of yourself functioning successfully and happily. Cultivate people who help you grow. Accept challenges as motivation for you to harness your talents.

In a conversing mode, discuss the following rules by focusing on how to cultivate/enhance such attitudes. Get your partner. LA 6:

Pronunciation Drills - /i/ and /I/ Exercise 1:

Read the following words, phrases and sentences carefully. Contrast the /i/ from the /I/. Front Vowels (Refer to Vowel Classification – part of tongue used in the production, height of the jaw, tension of the muscles and shape of the lips) /i/ - is a high front, tense, unrounded vowel /I/ - lower high front, lax, unrounded vowel (Re-type, use OHP) /i/ police preach receive zero deep thief people quay amoeba Caesar key

/I/ sit city build minute ladies women Monday village scolded curtain

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(Re-type, give copies) feet

beat

sick

dean

live

fit

teen

seat

busy

receipt

flee

achieve

building

machine

intrigue

knee

mist

seek

cheese

inch

ease

tea

beat

each

feed

believe

been

money

ink

believe six

dream nymph

Jesus shriek hymn this image

language

savage

estimate

leap

secrets

thieves

seventeen

bargain

cabbage

drilling

guilt

captain

piece wreath

give a receipt beat the heat fit your big feet yield the fist 1. 2. 3. 4.

queen respite

clean machine sweet trees stream of dream believe and achieve

seize the thief steel arena series of shrieks receive the thief

shrill shrimp savage lift

spin the chip appropriate preface

drink a cup of tea eat the cheese seek the green inn

list each yield reach the sick feel the ease

Please don’t sit on the high seat. The sick have to seek a medical treatment. Marlon is at ease with his speech. The cheat gave the chit to the porter.

spin

creature

PHRASES AND SENTENCES:

/I/ language skill six privates average estimate

ship

certain

Make the students identify the /i/ and /I/

/i/ police the field weak creature each seat sleek fleet

speech

preface

5 5. The people will give their receipts. 6. The rich dean will reach the beach. 7. The sheep on the ship will yield rich profits. 8. On my knees, I will agree to please the dean. 9. She needed a pin for the ring of the queen. 10. Do you feel ill when you see an eel? TONGUE TWISTERS: /i/ A certain young fellow named Beebee wished to marry a lady named Phoebe. “But”, he said, “I must see what’s the clerical fee before Phoebe becomes Phoebe Beebee. He was a three-toad tree-toad, but a two-toad toad was she. The three-toad tree-toad tried to climb the two-toad tree toad’s tree. /I/ Bill had a billboard. Bill also had board bill. The board bill bored Bill, so he sold the billboard to pay his board bill. Now the board bill no longer bored Bill. Little Lilian, living by the lilypond, lets lazy lizards lie along the lilypads.

LA 7:

Getting to Know More Exercise 1:

Form yourselves on groups of three’s. You will be given a 15-to-20 minute conversation break. Discover enough of each other. Face the class and introduce your new-found friend. Tell everything you have discovered about him/her.

LA 8:

Oral Reading Exercise (Re-type and use OHP) Exercise 1: Read aloud, “DESIDERATA” (individual). But first underline or highlight words you are in doubt of in terms of pronunciation. Exercise 2: In one sentence, state the essence – meaning of DESIDERATA by using a line that strikes you most and relate it to an experience or personal outlook in life.

CAS: Read again and with conviction:

I Am A Good Conversationalist

END OF LESSON 1

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I Am A Good Conversationalist

When I converse, I give others the chance to be heard and not only I do the talking. I find interest to others’ stories, likes and backgrounds. I focus the spotlight on others and don’t self-praise. I listen to what others have to say and patiently wait for my turn. I practice self-control and don’t compare myself to others as if I am better than them. As I converse, I reveal who I am, truthfully and honestly. I don’t put on masks. I always remember that conversation is a relationship between me and the people I talk to and like in any other relationships, give-and-take should be practiced. Furthermore, I respect others’ feelings and don’t bore them with rumblings of my own affairs. I am a good conversationalist and I am all of these, and so it is!

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RULES FOR CONFIDENCE BUILDING

• Focus on your potentials instead of your limitations. • Distinguish between who you are and what you do. • Find something you like to do and do it well. • Replace self-criticism with regular, positive self-talk. • Replace fear of failure with clear pictures of yourself functioning successfully and happily. • Cultivate people who help you grow. • Accept challenges as motivation for you to harness your talents.

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PRONUNCIATION DRILLS: /i/ police preach receive zero deep thief people quay amoeba Caesar key

/I/ sit city build minute ladies women Monday village scolded curtain

Identify the words /i/ and /I/ sounds feet

beat

sick

dean

live

fit

teen

seat

busy

receipt

flee

achieve

building

machine

intrigue

knee

mist

seek

cheese

inch

ease

tea

beat

each

feed

believe

been

money

ink

believe six

dream nymph

Jesus shriek hymn this image

language

savage

estimate

leap

secrets

thieves

seventeen

bargain

cabbage

captain

piece wreath queen respite

speech drilling

guilt

ship

spin certain

creature preface

PHRASES AND SENTENCES: /i/ police the field

clean machine

seize the thief

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weak creature each seat sleek fleet

sweet trees steel arena stream of dream series of shrieks believe and achieve receive the thief

/I/ language skill six privates average estimate

shrill shrimp savage lift

give a receipt beat the heat fit your big feet yield the fist

spin the chip appropriate preface

drink a cup of tea eat the cheese seek the green inn

list each yield reach the sick feel the ease

1. Please don’t sit on the high seat. 2. The sick have to seek a medical treatment. 3. Marlon is at ease with his speech. 4. The cheat gave the chit to the porter. 5. The people will give their receipts. 6. The rich dean will reach the beach. 7. The sheep on the ship will yield rich profits. 8. On my knees, I will agree to please the dean. 9. She needed a pin for the ring of the queen. 10.Do you feel ill when you see an eel? TONGUE TWISTERS: /i/ A certain young fellow named Beebee wished to marry a lady named Phoebe. “But”, he said, “I must see what’s the clerical fee before Phoebe becomes Phoebe Beebee. He was a three-toad tree-toad, but a two-toad toad was she. The three-toad tree-toad tried to climb the two-toad tree toad’s tree.

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/I/ Bill had a billboard. Bill also had board bill. The board bill bored Bill, so he sold the billboard to pay his board bill. Now the board bill no longer bored Bill. Little Lilian, living by the lilypond, lets lazy lizards lie along the lilypads.

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DESIDERATA Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons that yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full heroism. Be YOURSELF. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many FEARS are born of fatigue and LONELINESS. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with GOD; whatever you conceive HIM to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its charm, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a BEAUTIFUL WORLD. Be careful. STRIVE TO BE HAPPY……….. (Found in Old St. Paul’s Church, Baltimore; dated 1692)

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