5 Low-Prep Fun Conversation Classes for Adults (1 hour each)
These 5 low-prep conversation classes are sure to get your students talking with minimal effort on planning on your part.
1. Infomercial
Bring a box of random objects to class.
Show students several infomercial videos and ask them to write down any language they hear that’s useful for selling something.
Try watching this classic OxiClean commercial.
Or another classic: Shamwow!
After you’ve watched the videos, talk about them with the students. Create a list of influential vocabulary and phrases they heard on the board.
Pass the random box of objects around. Students take an object, then they have 5-10 minutes to prepare an infomercial, and finally they present their infomercial to each other in small groups. Have students vote on the best infomercial in their groups. Give students feedback on any good (or poor) grammar that you heard.
If you still have time, let students work in small groups to prepare and then present a group infomercial to the class. They can grab another object from the box or if you prefer, they can “sell” something of their choice.
2. Make a Sandwich
Bring a few sandwich materials to class, such as mustard, ham, cheese, and bread.
Tell students they are going to tell you how to make a sandwich. First, go over any vocabulary they’re going to need, such as “first, next, then, last, etc.” as well as any sandwich making vocabulary. Give them 10-15 minutes to write a recipe with their partners. Then have the partners read their recipe out, and you do what they say, exactly as they say it. So if they say, “Put the ham on the bread,” then do just that without taking the ham or bread out of their packaging.
After you’ve let a few students read their recipes, let them try again, but this time by writing more specific directions. When they finish, have a pair read out their recipe and see if you can make a successful sandwich this time.
If you have extra time, let students write and share recipes for a meal they love, but don’t let them reveal what their recipe is for. Then have them read their recipes in small groups and see if their classmates can guess what they are making in each recipe.
3. Scary Stories
Read a few scary stories out loud to your class. Make sure to do lots of dramatic acting and spooky voices. Clarify any necessary vocabulary as you go along.
These ones from Ice Breaker Ideas are scary without being too scary.
Have them vote on the scariest story.
Now let students work in small groups and write their own scary stories.
When students finish, tell them they are going to read their stories out to the class, but they must read them with lots of body language, intonation, and interesting voices.
Turn down the lights, let each group read their story, and vote on the best ones.
4. Show My Friend Around
Tell your class that a friend or relative of yours is coming to town. (This activity is even better if it’s true.) Tell them you need help planning this friend’s trip. Explain how many day’s your friend will be staying and encourage students to ask questions, such as, “Is your friend a foodie?” They can take notes about your friend.
Now write a lot of advice phrases on the board, such as, “Your friend should… I recommend… Wouldn’t it be nice to…? If I were your friend, I’d… One great place is… Have you thought about…? Why doesn’t he/she…” and any other phrases you’d like your class to use.
Then put students into small groups and let them plan your friend’s trip. When everyone has finished, ask students to tell the class what they think your friend should do. Vote on the best idea, and if you really have a friend visiting, then you can take that group’s advice!
(This lesson can also be done by having students plan your vacation, but this only works if where you’re going is relatively familiar to your students. Otherwise, you can let your students do some research on your vacation destination first.)
5. Dear Annie
Go over some advice phrases at the beginning of class, such as, “He might want to,” “…is worth a try,” “She ought to…,” “How about…?” and “Isn’t it about time to…?”
Print or project a Dear Annie letter for your students. This Holiday Hijinks one is a good one to discuss as a class. Read it through with them, but don’t show them Annie’s answer. Let students discuss in pairs what they think this person should do and report it back to the class. Then you can check together what Annie said and see if your advice matches.
Now distribute several more Dear Annie letters to your students. Let students work in partners or small groups and read one Dear Annie letter and decide on their advice. Then have small groups meet up with one another to explain what they read and their advice to this person.
Some good letters for class are…
- How far would you go for an animal?
- Can’t control co-workers lies
- A mother retaliates to daughter’s snubs
You can repeat this several times depending on how many letters you’ve printed. At the end of class ask students what the most interesting problems were and what the best advice was.
Love it!