Who are you?

I've never felt this way in my relationship with my husband, but I've definitely felt it with teenagers...

Who are you?  What's your name?  Where are you from?  Tell me about your job and/or your family.

Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water

Like a bridge over troubled water...

Practice Simple Present with "will"

Who do you turn to when life is difficult?  Who turns to you when life is rough?  How can we comfort friends and ease their worries?

The Start of Something New

Do you like to do new things?  Can you tell me about a time you started something new?  Is there anything new you really want to learn in this class?

Englishman in New York

I don't recommend that you ever say "I'm a legal alien," even if it's true.  It sounds like "illegal alien" which is much more common to hear.  "I have a tourist visa" or "I have a student visa" or "I have a green card" is much more common.

What surprises you about living here?  What cultural habits do you want to keep wherever you go?

Fight Song

Learning English can feel like a real battle.  Celebrate your small wins.  If you learn a new vocabulary word, you win.  If you understand a conversation, you win.  If you understand something today that you couldn't understand yesterday, you win. Tell me about a recent victory.

Gold Star Mother's Day

Some people honor the mothers of military members who died in service today.

Do you have children?  How old are they?  Did you ever serve in the military?  Do you have a family member that has served in the military?  Do you have required military service in your former country?  Is it good to require military service?

Nice to meet you, anyway....

Please describe someone you just met!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

This Mozart melody is probably the most popular little kid song and beginning violin tune in the United States.  When I hear it, I remember my oldest daughter practicing her violin while my four-year old and two-year old sang "Twinkle"  "ABC" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep"

ABC Song

Baa Baa Black Sheep  -- 

(We don't say "Have you any" for questions anymore.  We say "Do you have any")

Do you have children?  How many?  How old are they?  Did they ever sing these songs?  

Does anyone in your family play an instrument?

Staying Alive

My son sings this song when he does CPR.  Have you learned CPR?  You may take it at Plum Center when your English is stronger.
ACE Medical Classes (You may want to search for Plum or Pimmit)
Community Medical Classes Taught in Spanish (including CPR)

Has anyone helped you live well here in the USA?  Tell me about them.  Do you have good advice on how to live really well on just a little money?  Do you cook any delicious, healthy, inexpensive meals?

I'll Run Forward

Do you like to exercise?  Do you like to run?

I Don't Love You

One of my teenagers likes to listen to depressing music.  She tells me that today is the anniversary of "My Chemical Romance's" latest album.

What makes you feel better when you are stressed, tired, sad, or angry?

Happy Hobbit Day!!

Today is Bilbo's birthday.  Bilbo is the main character in The Hobbit, one of my daughter's favorite books.

Do you like to read?  What do you usually read?  Can you recommend a good easy-to-read book in English?

Happy International Peace Day!

How can we make our lives more peaceful?  Can we make the world more peaceful?  How?

Where do we begin?

Please describe someone you love.
(You don't have to describe a romantic partner -- a friend or family member is fine.)

CHALLENGE: Happy Talk-like-a-pirate Day!

Best Pirate Parties in North America!

Pirate Lingo to English Dictionary

Did you ever pretend to be a pirate when you were a child?  How about your children?
What games did you like to play when you were a child?

I want peace.

Please don't write, "wanna."  Write "want to."

What do you want to do in the next few weeks?

I'll be right here

What do you do to stay in touch with people you can't see often?  How do you keep the relationships happy and strong?

I will be...

What do you do to make other people happy?  What do you want to do?

Like a bridge...

Write about a time someone helped you when you needed it.

I always Remember Your Smile...

Tell me about a memory that makes you smile.