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Showing posts with label foreign language learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foreign language learning. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Foreign Language Clubs - Advanced Level Discussion Topics by Savvy Mom Ruth Paget

Foreign-Language Clubs – Advanced Level Discussion Topics by Savvy Mom Ruth Paget

Once you have secured a place for your foreign-language discussion club, I think the following topics are good ones to discuss at the intermediate level:

All these topics must be discussed in the target language:

1-Self-introduction.  Tell why you want to improve your language skills.  How much of the target language have you studied already and where did you study.  Do you have any tips that would be helpful to you.

2-Do a sales presentation for your business or school in the target language.

3-Give a summary and evaluation of a film you have seen.  Answer questions.

4-Give a summary and evaluation  of a book you have read.  Answer questions.

5-Talk about a recipe you have made.  Go through it step by step.  Give tips to make it successfully.

6-Talk about a trip you have taken and give tips.  Answer questions.

7-Talk about a museum, aquarium, or historical site you have visited.  Give some tips for visiting it.  Answer questions.

8-Talk about a play or documentary you have seen and evaluate it.  Answer questions.

9-Talk about a specific region in the country whose language you are studying.  Answer questions.

10-Talk about and analyze a biography of a famous person, who spoke the language you are studying.

11-Talk about the major industries of the country whose language you are studying.  Answer questions.

12-Talk about agriculture in the country whose language you are studying.  Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting industry in these countries.  Answer questions.

13-Talk about the political parties in the country whose language you are studying.  Analyze their political standpoints and talk about the current balance of power in these countries.

You can find information about foreign political parties in the CIA Factbook.  It is available online.

14-Discuss what American products could be sold in the country whose language you are studying.  Answer questions.  The foreign-language clubs sponsored by foreign governments tend to focus on bringing their products and services into the US only and not bringing American business into their countries.

15-Discuss the products that the country whose language you are studying is famous for.  Examine packaging on products from the country you are studying.  Study meanings associated with the color.  Color associations are not the same in every culture.

16-Tell someone how to set up a computer over the telephone in the language you are studying.

17-Troubleshoot what could be wrong with wi-fi that is not working over the telephone.  Try to find solutions.

18-Tell a nurse symptoms of illness you have in the language you are studying.  Answer questions.

19-Arrange to have a tow truck come for your stalled vehicle in the foreign language you are studying.

20-Ask a hotel concierge for information on eco-tourism outings in your area.

These questions will get you to a pretty good level in the language.  You can form a club with your university alumni group, National Guard group, religious organizations, or athletic clubs. 

Private rooms in ethnic restaurants and pizzarias might let you rent a room, if you purchase food and drink. 

You only need 5 or 6 people in a club to have a good 1-hour discussion group.

Once you have reached a good level, you might consider watching foreign news broadcasts


By Ruth Paget, author of Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

Click here for:  Ruth Paget's Amazon Books