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Lesson Notes June 20, 2025 (FRIDAY ZOOM)

Words & Phrases

• I ate a tomato-based stew on my trip, it was so delicious.

• The meat was very tender, and the stew was so tasty.

• The actor spent a year and a half preparing for his role in the movie.

• I want to read the book that the movie is based on.

• A long time ago, I visited Czechoslovakia when it was still one country. Nowadays, it’s split into Czechia and Slovakia.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney has an impressive academic background in both economics and public policy.

Appropriate Language

When talking about a trip, you don’t need to give a full report. It’s better to focus on one or two highlights. Also, try asking questions to the people listening — remember, this is conversational English.

General Advice for Speaking

• 1. Focus on Highlights, Not Reports

• Just talk about 1–2 interesting parts of your trip. You don’t need to tell everything in order.

• 2. Be Personal and Natural

• Use simple expressions like “I really enjoyed…” or “It was my first time…”

• 3. Use Time Phrases

• Help the listener follow the story: “On the first day…”, “In the evening…”, “The next morning…”

• 4. Pause and Let Others Respond

• After a short story, ask: “Have you been there?”, “What do you think?”

Advice for Listening and Responding

• 1. Ask Simple Follow-up Questions

• Like: “What was it like?”, “Did you enjoy it?”, “How was the food?”

• 2. Use Reaction Words

• Show interest: “Wow!”, “Really?”, “That’s nice.”, “No way!”

• 3. Don’t Worry About Mistakes

• It’s better to ask a simple question than to stay silent.

• 4. Practice Active Listening

• Nod, smile, and look at the speaker. This shows respect and keeps the speaker talking.

• General Questions

• Where did you go?

• When did you go?

• How long were you there?

• Who did you go with?

• Why did you choose that place?

• Experience Questions

• What did you like the most?

• What did you do there?

• Did you try any local food?

• What was the weather like?

• Was it crowded or quiet?

• Follow-up / Detail Questions

• What was the highlight of the trip?

• Did anything surprise you?

• Would you go there again?

• Did you buy any souvenirs?

• How was the transportation?

• Questions for Natural Conversation

• Really? What was that like?

• Oh, where exactly is that?

• That sounds nice — how did you find it?

Useful Phrases to Encourage Sharing

• “Tell me more about that.”

• “What else did you do?”

• “I’ve never been there—what’s it like?”

• “Sounds fun. How did you find it?”