Conversation in English

 

English Conversation – Music and Playing an Instrument

B1–B2

Speaking practice

Objective: Practise talking about past experiences, present habits, personal interests and future plans using different verb tenses.

1. Getting started – Past experiences

Focus: Simple Past, Past Continuous, Used to

1. When did you first become interested in music?

2. What kind of music did you listen to when you were a child?

3. Did anyone in your family influence your musical interests?

4. When did you start playing a musical instrument?

5. Why did you choose that particular instrument?

6. Did you take music lessons or did you learn by yourself?

7. What was the first song you learned to play?

8. How did you feel when you played an instrument for the first time?

9. Did you use to listen to music more often when you were younger?

10. What was your favourite band or singer when you were a teenager?

11. Have you ever performed in front of an audience?

12. What was the most difficult thing you had to learn when you started playing?

13. Have you ever stopped playing an instrument for a long period? Why?

14. What musical experience do you remember most clearly?

15. If you could go back in time, would you change anything about your musical journey?

2. Music in your everyday life – Present

Focus: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect

16. How important is music in your daily life?

17. How often do you play your instrument?

18. What kind of music do you usually listen to?

19. Do you prefer listening to music or playing it?

20. Where do you normally practise?

21. How much time do you spend practising every week?

22. Do you usually play songs by other artists or create your own music?

23. Are you currently learning any new songs?

24. What is the most challenging aspect of playing your instrument?

25. Do you prefer practising alone or playing with other musicians?

26. Have you improved your musical skills recently?

27. Have you ever recorded yourself playing? What did you think about the result?

28. Do you use YouTube or other online resources to learn music?

29. How do you choose which songs you want to learn?

30. What role does music play when you are feeling stressed or tired?

31. Do you think you are a disciplined musician? Why or why not?

32. What would you like to improve about your musical abilities?

3. Musical preferences and opinions

Focus: Comparatives, modal verbs, giving opinions and justifications

33. What makes a song really good in your opinion?

34. Do you think musical talent is natural or can it be developed through practice?

35. Is it easier to learn an instrument as a child or as an adult?

36. Do you think people need music in their lives?

37. What is more important: technical ability or creativity?

38. Do you think technology has made learning music easier?

39. How has streaming changed the way people discover music?

40. Do you think amateur musicians can become as passionate as professional musicians?

41. Would you rather play in a band or perform solo? Why?

42. What makes a musician interesting or inspiring?

43. Do you think learning an instrument improves memory and concentration?

44. Is it better to practise for 15 minutes every day or for two hours once a week?

4. Future musical plans

Focus: Will, Going to, Present Continuous for future arrangements, First Conditional

45. What would you like to achieve as a musician in the next year?

46. Are you going to learn another musical instrument?

47. What songs are you planning to learn in the near future?

48. Would you like to take professional music lessons?

49. Do you think you will ever perform in front of a large audience?

50. Are you planning to join a band or play with other musicians?

51. What musical skills are you going to focus on improving?

52. If you had more free time, how would you use it to improve your musical abilities?

53. If you could play any instrument perfectly, which one would you choose?

54. Would you like to record your own songs one day?

55. Where do you see yourself musically in five years?

56. Do you think music will continue to be an important part of your life in the future?

57. What musical dream would you really like to accomplish?

58. If you could collaborate with any famous musician, who would you choose?

59. What will you do if you lose motivation to practise?

60. What would you like people to think or feel when they listen to you playing?

5. Extra challenge – Tell your musical story

Ask the student to speak for approximately 3–5 minutes, connecting the three periods of time.

My musical journey

Part 1 – The past

Describe how you became interested in music, when you started playing an instrument and what your first experiences were like.

Part 2 – The present

Explain what kind of music you enjoy, how often you practise and what you can currently do with your instrument.

Part 3 – The future

Talk about your musical ambitions, what you want to learn and where you hope to be in five years.

6. Useful vocabulary for the conversation

English	Português
To play an instrument	Tocar um instrumento
To practise regularly	Praticar regularmente
To learn by ear	Aprender de ouvido
To read sheet music	Ler partituras
To compose a song	Compor uma música
To perform live	Tocar ao vivo
To join a band	Entrar em uma banda
To improve one's skills	Melhorar as habilidades
To keep the rhythm	Manter o ritmo
To play by yourself	Tocar sozinho
To master an instrument	Dominar um instrumento
To be self-taught	Ser autodidata
To rehearse	Ensaiar
To make progress	Progredir
To get better at something	Melhorar em algo

Teaching suggestion: Ask the student to answer using at least three sentences per question. Encourage them to give examples and explain their opinions. Correct especially the use of Simple Past, Present Perfect, Present Simple and future constructions.

English Conversation – Video Games and Gaming

B1–B2

Speaking practice

Objective: Practise talking about past experiences, present habits, personal interests, opinions and future plans using different English verb tenses.

1. Getting started – Past experiences

Focus: Simple Past, Past Continuous, Used to

1. When did you start playing video games?

2. What was the first video game you ever played?

3. What was your favourite game when you were a child?

4. Did you use to play video games with your friends or by yourself?

5. Who introduced you to the world of video games?

6. What was your first gaming console?

7. Did you use to spend a lot of time playing video games when you were younger?

8. What games were popular among your friends when you were a teenager?

9. Can you remember the first time you completed a difficult game?

10. What was the most challenging game you played as a child?

11. Have you ever spent an entire night playing video games?

12. Have you ever bought a game that disappointed you?

13. What was the best gaming experience you had in the past?

14. Have your gaming preferences changed since you were younger?

15. If you could play one childhood game again for the first time, which one would you choose?

2. Gaming in your everyday life – Present

Focus: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect

16. How often do you play video games nowadays?

17. How many hours do you normally spend gaming every week?

18. What types of games do you enjoy the most?

19. Do you prefer playing on a PC, console or mobile phone?

20. Do you usually play online or offline?

21. Do you prefer single-player or multiplayer games?

22. Are you currently playing any interesting games?

23. What is the last game you have played?

24. Have you played any particularly challenging games recently?

25. Do you usually finish the games you start?

26. Do you prefer competitive games or games with interesting stories?

27. Do you follow gaming channels or streamers on YouTube or Twitch?

28. Do you usually buy games when they are released or wait for discounts?

29. How do you decide whether a game is worth buying?

30. Do you play video games to relax or to challenge yourself?

31. Do you have friends who share your interest in gaming?

32. What makes you lose interest in a video game?

33. How important are graphics when you choose a game?

34. Do you think the story is more important than the gameplay?

35. Have video games become an important part of your lifestyle?

3. Gaming preferences and opinions

Focus: Comparatives, Modal Verbs, Giving Opinions and Justifications

36. What makes a video game really enjoyable?

37. Do you think video games are a waste of time?

38. Can playing video games improve problem-solving skills?

39. Do you think violent video games influence people's behaviour?

40. Are video games a good way to develop friendships?

41. Is playing online with strangers a positive or negative experience?

42. Do you think professional gamers should be considered athletes?

43. Why do some people become addicted to video games?

44. Do you think older video games were better than modern ones?

45. Is it better to play games with realistic graphics or creative designs?

46. Do you think mobile games are as good as console games?

47. What is more important in a multiplayer game: individual skill or teamwork?

48. Should parents limit the amount of time children spend playing video games?

49. Do you think video games can be educational?

50. How have video games changed the entertainment industry?

51. Would you rather play a difficult game with excellent gameplay or an easy game with amazing graphics?

52. Do you think artificial intelligence will change the gaming industry?

4. Future gaming plans and expectations

Focus: Will, Going to, Present Continuous for future arrangements, First Conditional

53. What games are you planning to play in the near future?

54. Are you going to buy a new console or upgrade your computer?

55. Is there a game you are particularly excited about?

56. What kind of games would you like to see developed in the future?

57. Do you think you will continue playing video games when you are older?

58. Would you like to become a professional gamer or game developer?

59. Are you planning to spend more or less time playing video games?

60. What improvements would you like to see in future games?

61. Do you think virtual reality will become more popular?

62. How do you think video games will look in 20 years?

63. If you could create your own video game, what would it be about?

64. If you had an unlimited budget, what gaming equipment would you buy?

65. If you could enter the world of any video game, which one would you choose?

66. What will happen to traditional gaming consoles in the future?

67. Do you think people will eventually play games mainly using virtual reality?

68. What gaming achievement would you like to accomplish in the future?

5. Extra challenge – Tell your gaming story

Ask the student to speak for approximately 3–5 minutes, connecting past, present and future.

My life as a gamer

Part 1 – The past

Describe when you started playing video games, what your first games were and how your interests developed over the years.

Part 2 – The present

Explain what games you currently enjoy, how often you play, which platforms you use and what you like most about gaming.

Part 3 – The future

Talk about the games you want to play, the equipment you would like to buy and how you think gaming will change in the future.

6. Useful vocabulary for the conversation

English	Português
Video game	Videogame / jogo eletrônico
Gaming console	Console de videogame
Controller	Controle
Gameplay	Jogabilidade
Multiplayer	Multijogador
Single-player	Um jogador
Online gaming	Jogos online
Gaming experience	Experiência de jogo
To level up	Subir de nível
To unlock achievements	Desbloquear conquistas
To beat a game	Zerar um jogo
To defeat an enemy	Derrotar um inimigo
To complete a mission	Completar uma missão
To improve your skills	Melhorar suas habilidades
To get stuck	Ficar preso em uma fase
To download a game	Baixar um jogo
To release a game	Lançar um jogo
Gaming community	Comunidade gamer
Virtual reality	Realidade virtual
Game developer	Desenvolvedor de jogos
To team up	Formar uma equipe
To compete against someone	Competir contra alguém

7. Grammar challenge – Use different tenses

Peça ao aluno para responder às seguintes perguntas utilizando obrigatoriamente a estrutura indicada.

Question	Required structure
What game did you play yesterday?	Simple Past
What games did you use to play as a child?	Used to
How often do you play nowadays?	Present Simple
What game are you playing at the moment?	Present Continuous
Have you ever completed a very difficult game?	Present Perfect
What are you going to play this weekend?	Going to
What games do you think will become popular?	Will
If you had more free time, what would you play?	Second Conditional

Teaching suggestion: Encourage the student to give answers of at least 3–4 sentences, explain their opinions and provide examples. This will help develop fluency while practising past, present and future forms.

English Conversation – Sports, Fitness and Going to the Gym

B1–B2

Speaking practice

Objective: Practise talking about past experiences, current exercise routines, sports preferences, health, fitness goals and future plans using different English verb tenses.

1. Getting started – Past experiences

Focus: Simple Past, Past Continuous, Used to

1. Did you play any sports when you were a child?

2. What was your favourite sport when you were younger?

3. When did you first become interested in physical exercise?

4. Did your parents encourage you to practise sports?

5. Did you use to play sports at school?

6. Have you ever participated in a sports competition?

7. What was the most difficult physical activity you tried?

8. When did you first start going to the gym?

9. What motivated you to start exercising?

10. Did you use to be more physically active when you were younger?

11. Have you ever stopped exercising for several months? Why?

12. Have you ever had a bad experience at the gym?

13. What was your biggest sporting achievement?

14. Have your fitness goals changed over the years?

15. If you could go back in time, would you change anything about your exercise habits?

2. Your current routine – Present

Focus: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect

16. How often do you exercise nowadays?

17. Do you prefer going to the gym or practising sports outdoors?

18. How many days a week do you normally work out?

19. What kind of physical activities do you enjoy the most?

20. Do you prefer lifting weights or doing cardiovascular exercise?

21. What exercises do you usually include in your workout?

22. Are you currently following a specific training programme?

23. How much time do you usually spend at the gym?

24. Do you prefer exercising in the morning or in the evening?

25. Do you normally train alone or with a partner?

26. Have you noticed any improvements in your physical condition recently?

27. Have you ever tried activities such as CrossFit, Pilates or martial arts?

28. How important is nutrition for your fitness goals?

29. Do you follow a specific diet to improve your physical performance?

30. What do you usually eat before and after exercising?

31. How do you motivate yourself when you don't feel like training?

32. Do you prefer short and intense workouts or longer training sessions?

33. Are you currently trying to lose weight, build muscle or improve your endurance?

34. How important is sleep for your physical recovery?

35. What is the most difficult part of maintaining a regular exercise routine?

3. Sports, fitness and opinions

Focus: Comparatives, Modal Verbs, Giving Opinions and Justifications

36. Which sport do you think requires the highest level of physical fitness?

37. Do you think going to the gym is enough to maintain good health?

38. Is it better to exercise alone or with other people?

39. Do you think professional athletes have healthier lifestyles than ordinary people?

40. Why do some people find it difficult to maintain an exercise routine?

41. Do you think people should start exercising at an early age?

42. Is weight training more important than cardiovascular exercise?

43. Can regular physical exercise improve mental health?

44. Do you think walking is an effective way to improve physical fitness?

45. What is more important: strength, flexibility or endurance?

46. Should schools dedicate more time to physical education?

47. Do you think social media creates unrealistic expectations about people's bodies?

48. Is it better to train with a personal trainer or follow your own programme?

49. Why do some people become obsessed with their physical appearance?

50. Do you think technology has made people more or less physically active?

51. Can someone be healthy without practising sports?

52. Do you think older people should follow different exercise routines?

53. What are the advantages and disadvantages of exercising at home?

54. Do you think discipline is more important than motivation when it comes to fitness?

4. Future fitness goals and plans

Focus: Will, Going to, Present Continuous for future arrangements, First Conditional

55. What are your main fitness goals for the next six months?

56. Are you going to change your exercise routine in the near future?

57. What new sport or physical activity would you like to try?

58. Are you planning to increase the number of days you exercise?

59. Do you think you will continue going to the gym when you are older?

60. Would you like to participate in a marathon or another sporting competition?

61. What physical abilities would you like to improve?

62. Are you going to change your diet to achieve your fitness goals?

63. What would you do if you had more free time to exercise?

64. If you could become an expert in any sport, which one would you choose?

65. Do you think you will become stronger or fitter over the next year?

66. How do you imagine your physical condition in five years?

67. What will happen if people continue living increasingly sedentary lifestyles?

68. If you could build your own gym, what equipment would you include?

69. What will you do if you lose motivation to exercise?

70. What would you like to achieve physically that you haven't achieved yet?

5. Extra challenge – Tell your fitness story

Ask the student to speak for approximately 3–5 minutes, connecting past, present and future.

My relationship with sports and fitness

Part 1 – The past

Describe your experiences with sports when you were younger. Explain when you started exercising and what motivated you.

Part 2 – The present

Describe your current exercise routine, the activities you enjoy, your eating habits and your fitness goals.

Part 3 – The future

Talk about your future fitness goals, the sports you would like to try and the physical achievements you hope to accomplish.

6. Useful vocabulary – Sports and fitness

English	Português
Workout	Treino
Weight training	Musculação
Strength training	Treinamento de força
Cardiovascular exercise	Exercício cardiovascular
Treadmill	Esteira
Dumbbells	Halteres
Barbells	Barras
Weightlifting	Levantamento de peso
Squats	Agachamentos
Push-ups	Flexões
Pull-ups	Barra fixa
Bench press	Supino
Warm-up	Aquecimento
Stretching	Alongamento
Muscle soreness	Dor muscular
Muscle recovery	Recuperação muscular
Endurance	Resistência
Flexibility	Flexibilidade
Stamina	Vigor / resistência física
To build muscle	Ganhar massa muscular
To lose weight	Perder peso
To gain strength	Ganhar força
To burn calories	Queimar calorias
To stay in shape	Manter a forma
To work out	Treinar
To lift weights	Levantar pesos
To follow a routine	Seguir uma rotina
To reach a goal	Alcançar um objetivo

7. Grammar challenge – Practising different tenses

Peça ao aluno para responder utilizando obrigatoriamente a estrutura indicada.

Question	Required structure
What sports did you play when you were younger?	Simple Past
Did you use to exercise regularly as a teenager?	Used to
How often do you work out nowadays?	Present Simple
Are you following a specific workout programme?	Present Continuous
Have you ever participated in a competition?	Present Perfect
What are you going to change about your routine?	Going to
How will technology change the fitness industry?	Will
If you had more time, what sport would you practise?	Second Conditional

8. Speaking challenge – Situations to discuss

Estas situações permitem que o aluno desenvolva respostas mais longas e utilize vocabulário específico.

1. Lack of motivation: Your friend wants to start exercising but always makes excuses. What advice would you give?

2. Choosing a sport: You have to choose between swimming, running and weight training. Which one would you choose and why?

3. A sedentary lifestyle: Your colleague spends eight hours sitting at a desk every day. What changes should they make?

4. Fitness goals: You have six months to improve your physical condition. What would your plan look like?

5. Gym problems: Your gym is becoming too expensive. Would you train at home or look for another gym?

Teaching suggestion: Ask the student to give answers of at least 3–4 sentences. Encourage the use of examples, explanations and comparisons. Pay special attention to Simple Past, Present Perfect, Present Simple, future forms and modal verbs such as should, could, must and might.