February Week Two

In honor of Valentine's Day, we dedicated this week's class to talking about relationships and relationship conflicts, dedicating extra attention to perfecting the grammar point, I need you + verb, I want you + verb, I expect you + to, I ask you + to, etc.

Listening:
Learners can check out any of the listening exercises about relationships over at British Council or from ESL Lounge, Love is in the Air.

For original version, listen to an episode of Esther Perel's podcast Where Should I Begin?  Or listen to the show, Dear Sugars, if you click on the episode title you can also find the transcript to go along with the listening.
 
Reading:
Learners can try a graded reading from the British Council Learning website called Love is Blind, or try a  Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Romantic Love.

For original version check out the archive of essays, articles, and stories at the New York Times section Modern Love.

Writing:
This week we'll use relationships to develop some writing skills.  Give it a shot at one of the following prompts:

1. Some relationships aren’t simple enough to be classified as toxic or healthy. Writing about a complex relationship is, well, complex. Give it a shot.
2. Every morning, the same customers show up at a quaint and cozy small-town diner. Some are great friends, some loathe each other, and some barely know each other. One day, a stranger comes to town and becomes a regular at the diner, shaking up old relationships and rivalries.
3. One character is a thief. The other is a cop. If their relationship is going to succeed, someone’s going to have to give up their career. Who will it be?
4. Has a total stranger ever helped you? Have you ever thought about all the people in this world you’ve never met but who have affected your life? Write a poem about strangers.
5. Think of something important you’ve learned about human relationships, and write an article describing what you learned, how you learned it, and how it could benefit others.
6. Do you have nieces or nephews? Tell your story of becoming an aunt or uncle. How did it change or affect your life?
7. Tell the story of how you met your best friend or significant other.

Best,
Kelly