Sample English Lesson

By Jeremiah Bourque

http://learnoutlive.com/english

Speech Coaching

Beyond simple conversation practice, Learn Out Live offers speech coaching to help you improve your spoken English.

Step #1: Relaxation

The first step is to learn in a relaxed, friendly environment where you don’t feel under pressure.

Stress interferes with learning. I want you to feel very welcome. This is your

lesson, your time. I’m here to help in every way possible.

A Two-WayLearning Process

Just as you’re learning about me (even by just hearing my voice), I’m learning about you.

This is a Good Thing – the more I know about your needs, the better I can help fulfill those needs.

Two-WayCommunication

Good lessons are not in one direction only. The best lessons always leave the door open to two-way communication.

If you have any questions or comments, please, do not hesitate to speak. I enjoy listening to my students.

Also, as I said earlier, this teaches me about you, too. Good teachers learn!

Step #2: Introductions

I’m Jeremiah Bourque. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

I’m very interested in languages, history, culture, and literature.

Tell me more about yourself if you like. There’s no pressure. Relax

Step 3: Music

I call music “the universal conversation topic”; everyone seems to have likes and dislikes with music.

I like many kinds of music, but I have a soft spot for classical/ symphonic.

How about you?

Idioms

This is an example of idioms classes.

Are You On The Ball?

To “be on the ball” is to be aware of what is happening, and to be able to adapt to changes in your environment quickly.

If you’re running a restaurant, and you expect 5 customers, but 10 arrive, and you are able to adapt and cope, you are on the ball.

Banging Your Head Against A Wall

This is figurative. To “bang your head against a wall” is to try to

surpass an obstacle by effort alone, and to fail in doing so. You try over and over again, but you only end up with pain.

Thus, it is an idiom for prolonged frustration.

It’s Beyond Me

For something to be “beyond you,” it is beyond your understanding.

So if something is confusing or too difficult, you would say (informally), “It’s beyond me!”

You could also say “that’s beyond me,” and that means 100% the same thing.

I Wasn’t Born Yesterday

This is a very common expression that simply means: I am not a fool. I am not stupid. I have life experience. I am not easily deceived or lied to.

Equivalents: “My mamma didn’t raise no fool” (highly informal: means ‘I am not a fool), and, “I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck,” meaning ‘I am not stupid.’

I Can’t Make Heads or Tails Of This

If you can’t “make heads or tails” of something, you can’t understand any aspect (part) of it.

This is for a very low level of understanding: 0% to 20%? At best?

It’s a stronger version of “it’s beyond me.”

Phrasal Verbs

This is a sample of phrasal verbs lessons, which cover one of the more difficult areas of English for non-native speakers.

You Just Crack Me Up

To “crack up” in this context is to laugh uncontrollably.

Internet abbreviations for this: lol (laugh out loud), roftl (rolling on the floor, laughing).

Example: That joke really cracked me up. BUT! To “crack up” can also be a euphemism

for losing your sanity.

Breaking Off A Conversation

To “break off” something is to break the end off a long, thin object. For example: to break off the tip of a pencil.

If you think of a conversation as a stick of a given length, to “break off” a conversation is to interrupt and end a conversation before it is fully complete.

To “break off” a class is to end the class prematurely (that is, early).

Now I’ll Call On…

To “call on” can be a more formal expression for making a visit (like “dropping in”).

But in a classroom or similar setting, to “call on” a person is to invite someone to speak at a meeting!

If I call on one of you, I will speak to you and activate your microphone so you can then speak to the entire class.

Now You’re Catching On

To “catch on” is to come to understand something. If you’re catching on, you’re understanding what is being discussed.

So for me, as a teacher, to say, “Now you’re catching on,” I’m complimenting you – my students – by saying, now you are understanding the content of my lesson.

So now you’re catching on. Right?

Getting Along With Others

To “get along with” others is to have a good relationship with others.

Example: Dave gets along with Donald. Dave is friends with Donald.

To “get along” means the same thing, but is used slightly differently.

Dave and Donald get along. Dave and Donald are friends.

Grammar

This is part of an introduction to good English grammar.

Bad English habits can be hard to break. By teaching about good habits, a person can improve their English a great deal.

Introduction

Let me begin with a few sentences to get us started.

“I am Jeremiah Bourque. “I am an author. “I write fiction and non-fiction.” These are examples of simple English

sentences.

The First Law of Good English Grammar

Every sentence MUST have a visible subject! “I am an author.” -> “I” is the subject. English needs a subject! If there is no

subject, we use a fake subject! “It is raining.” -> “It” is the subject. “There was a river.” Where was the river? We

don’t know, but it is somewhere!

The Second Law of Good English Grammar

Every sentence MUST have a verb.

“I drive a car.” “Drive” is the verb. Root form: To drive

“I write books.” “Write” is the verb. Root form: To write

An Example OfStrong Verb Conjugation

Verb: To Ride (a horse, a bicycle, etc.) I ride my bicycle to the store. (Present) I rode my bicycle to the store. (Past) I am riding my bicycle right now. (Present

Participle) My bicycle was ridden to the store by

someone else. (Past Participle)

Fly Like A Bird

Verb: To fly I fly to Los Angeles. Tom flies to New York. They flew to Boston. Lisa is flying to Miami. The plane was flown to Montreal.

Vocabulary

This is an example of intermediate English vocabulary meant to be taught to those who are not beginners, but who have not mastered English.

Gradual vs. Abrupt

Something is “gradual” if it increases over time in a way that is piece by piece, bit by bit, or figuratively, inch by inch.

Something is “abrupt” if it is sudden and occurs in a very rapid way, without warning.

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable

Something is “acceptable” if you can tolerate it, if you are satisfied, or if you simply unwilling to reject that thing.

Example: The tomatoes are acceptable. They are not wholly fresh, but that’s OK.

Something is “unacceptable” if you cannot accept that thing; if you must reject it.

Example: These tomatoes are stale. I will not accept these tomatoes.

Advantage vs. Disadvantage

An “advantage” is something that helps you; something that supports you.

A “disadvantage” is something that is a hindrance or burden which hurts you. A disadvantage can make you fall behind.

Speaking good English is an advantage; speaking poor English is a disadvantage.

“A” vs. “An”

“A” comes before a word that starts with a consonant sound, and “an” comes before a word with a vowel sound. Therefore:

An advantage, or A disadvantage. This rule never changes: not in written

English, nor in spoken English.

Perfect vs. Imperfect

Something perfect is without any flaw whatsoever.

Something imperfect has a flaw; it is not perfect. Figuratively speaking, there is a fly in the ointment.

Imperfect does not necessarily mean “bad.” There is an old saying: “Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” It can be imperfect and good.

So, What Did You Think?

This ends the sample lesson. I have tried to show you all the different areas that lessons can focus on specifically.

In addition, we can just find topics for conversation and I can stop and correct you if that will help you. However, the focus should be on learning, not feeling as if you have made a mistake.

Thank you very much!

Curtain Call

Thank you. I hope you enjoyed this lesson. I can be contacted at: jeremiahbourque@gmail.com Skype: jeremiah.bourque I can be followed at: http://twitter.com/jbtutor http://learnoutlive.com/blog