Compelling Conversations is a textbook helps advanced English language learners develop conversation
skills and improve fluency by sharing experiences, reflecting on their lives, and discussing proverbs and quotes.
At advanced levels, something that students really need is a space to be able to speak and listen to English in a real life context. It is not always easy to find material for sustained conversation on a continuing basis, however Compelling Conversations does just that.
This useful ESL textbook helps advanced English language learners develop conversation skills and improve fluency by sharing experiences, reflecting on their lives, and discussing proverbs and quotes. This textbook includes 45 thematic chapters, over 1,350 questions, 500 vocabulary words, 250 proverbs and American idioms, and 500 quotes to create and sustain conversations and class discussions. Designed for both adult education and intensive English language students, the conversations and activities deepen critical thinking skills and develop speaking skills essential to those following courses in colleges and universities.
In addition to 45 well-selected topics perfectly suited for casual or in-depth conversations, the authors provide excellent resources and guidelines that make a conversation run smoothly in an engaging, informative, and thought provoking manner. Each chapter consists of a list of questions - from specific to more abstract - as well as proverbs, sayings and quotes on a given subject. There is plenty of material appropriate for different levels of proficiency: from intermediate to advanced which offer conversation tips that help the reader set a positive intention for each interaction.
Take Unit 5 as an example with the theme Making and Keeping Friends. First there is a section entitled Sharing Memories with 20 questions to be used as a focus for an exchange between students. Examples such as: Did you have a best friend when you were 8? What did you do together? Can you describe your best friend? How do you deepen a friendship?
"Each chapter takes a semi-structured approach by providing open-ended questions, targeted vocabulary, proverbs, and quotes."
After unit 5 comes a vocabulary section with a list of words like, fast friends, pal, and roommate which need to be used in a sentence. After that there is a list of proverbs which the student is invited to circle according to agreement. The pair work is then continued with 6 more questions like How do you meet new friends? Do you think people of the opposite sex can be friends? This is then followed by a list of some 13 quotes from different cultures and the meaning of each one has to be discussed with a partner. In each unit there is also a question or topic to work on as a writing activity to end the lesson.
Compelling Conversations is apt for advanced-level ESL students as well as native speakers of English who need to improve their communication skills. The format is very flexible and readable; the only thing lacking in this book is that it has no illustrations or photos to stimulate conversation. The three and four-page chapters are easily broken down into parts, which is useful when filler material is needed. Each chapter takes a semi-structured approach by providing open-ended questions, targeted vocabulary, proverbs, and quotes. There are no set lesson plans here, but opportunities for a lively personal and inter-cultural exchange.
