Chat Topics

Work Teaching English in Taiwan
1

My Fellow 'Umosans,

I am in need of your assistance. I have guanxi and I’m not afraid to spend it. The subject is Chat Topics or “reasons for students to talk”. I have been tasked with developing an innovative new program based on chatting. I want to compile a list of subjects. I will pay you 1 guanxi for each topic you list here.

As an additional perk, u will be helping other teachers looking for lesson material. Here’s a sample of the list so far:

Cycling
Cooking
Gardening
Photography
Travel
Pets
Astronomy
Superstitions
Parenting
Computers

I will pay an additional 2 guanxi (at least) if you provide a link that is a one click stop for subject matter.

2

sex

3

Does my bum look big in this?

4

Crib away at iteslj.org/questions/

That’s about 1000000 guanxi’s worth.

5

What’s the age group???

Movies
Martial Arts
Hobbies
Personal Information (name/age/where do you live/etc.)
School
Sports
World Politics
Clothing/Shopping
General Chat about the Night Market

6

Things I have noticed many Taiwanese are deeply interested in:

Computer games
Basketball
Downloading cyberporn
Hello Kitty
Japanese comic books
Chicken feet
Pocket Monster cards
Mahjong! Mahjong! Mahjong all Chinese New Year long!
Whisbih
Binglang girls
What rubber flip-flops are in fashion this season?
Tips on lucky offerings to the temple when you’re praying for a winning lottery ticket
Whose cellphone has the cutest musical beep?
(if the class consists mostly of girls): How many times do you utter “Hao ke-ai!” in an average day? Discuss.
(if the class consists mostly of boys): How many times do you utter “gan!” or “bo-la!” in an average day? Discuss.
Studying for pointless multiple choice tests with only one correct answer, cheating on tests, and studying on how to cheat on tests
America! Canada! Australia! Where will your family hope to eventually immigrate?
What’s the going rate at your neighborhood “barbershop” for a “horse kill chicken”?
Let’s talk politics. DPP, KMT: which party gives you the best discount for your vote?

7

I find that students don’t have enough imagination to discuss general topics until they get into the swing of things. You have to start with something more specific and hope that a ‘conversation’ grows out of it.

For instance, should children start learning a foreign language as soon as they start going to school? You might have to prompt initially by asking for (or offering) one word ‘issues’ related to the topic, such as cost, workload, learning ability, etc. Then you build up to the why of it. What are you trying to achieve by making your kids learn a foreign language.

I did this just a few days ago very successfully. Once conversation was flowing in the groups I started writing new related topics on the board every ten minutes. Eventually the different discussions went off at tangents, or focused on one specific area of interest. You want conversation? You got it in spades.

I’m not going to write any more, and no one else should either, because WSI make far too much money as it is and they’re not paying you enough to be developing their syllabus for them.

8

[quote=“WSIbasher”]I find that students don’t have enough imagination to discuss general topics until they get into the swing of things. You have to start with something more specific and hope that a ‘conversation’ grows out of it.

For instance, should children start learning a foreign language as soon as they start going to school? You might have to prompt initially by asking for (or offering) one word ‘issues’ related to the topic, such as cost, workload, learning ability, etc. Then you build up to the why of it. What are you trying to achieve by making your kids learn a foreign language.

I did this just a few days ago very successfully. Once conversation was flowing in the groups I started writing new related topics on the board every ten minutes. Eventually the different discussions went off at tangents, or focused on one specific area of interest. You want conversation? You got it in spades.

I’m not going to write any more, and no one else should either, because WSI make far too much money as it is and they’re not paying you enough to be developing their syllabus for them.[/quote]

Too late, your 1 idea was so enlightening that I am now able to devise a killer syllabus to put us over the top. Now you will have no choice but to teach at WSI as everyone who wants to learn English will be knocking down our doors. We will soon become the only game in town. We’ve done it, thanks to you SB. Well done!

As an aside, I have never encountered anyone so concerned about my paycheck as you. Even my ex-wife, who left me because the size of my erm, paycheck, wasn’t satisfying enough, wasn’t as concerned as you are. SB, where were you in my acting daze…you could have been my agent. I would have been getting a week of triple scale for simply showing up at a cattle call.

Mod Lang, some good yuks (not really, they are all recycled material), but I am interested in serious topics here. Thanks for the effort, please try again. You do get $1G for PC games.

twocs, nine solid ideas…$9G for you…thx…

AC…WOW…lump sum payment or doled out a little each month for the rest of you life? I know, how about I start posting under your handle…then all my future $G earnings become yours, yours, YOURS.

Sandman,…YES!

Ax,…No! But thanks for the offer.

And, unbeknownst to all of you (until now), I got a PM from one of our more illustrious 'umosans that has made my life so much easier. Thank you mystery person. And I’m sorry that Jame was so nasty to you.

9

Is this double dutch?

10

Well if you’re teaching High School kids you will have, in a class of ten, three talkers four kids too shy to speak andc three kids who have no business learning English. Entertain the talkers keep the shy ones happy and make sure the others aren’t reading comics in class. I hate teaching HS because the kids usually aren’t motivated to talk. Here’s an interesting topic:

How would you feel if you lived in (country name) and couldn’t communicate very well in their native language… discuss.

Andy

11

[quote=“Grasshopper”]Well if you’re teaching High School kids you will have, in a class of ten, three talkers four kids too shy to speak andc three kids who have no business learning English. Entertain the talkers keep the shy ones happy and make sure the others aren’t reading comics in class. I hate teaching HS because the kids usually aren’t motivated to talk. Here’s an interesting topic:

How would you feel if you lived in (country name) and couldn’t communicate very well in their native language… discuss.

Andy[/quote]

Sorry about that…I guess I’m a legend in my own mind. I thought y’all knew I worked for a (potential for shamelesss plug narrowly averted :moo: ) school with highly motivated adult speakers. Pie Se…my mistake.

HS kids…different breed altogether. I stare at them until they ask me questions. Or rote drill them as the management of any school dealing with these “students” would have you do. Bleeeech!

12

Is it too late for topics??

How about

  • Family / Friends
  • fav. food, and why
  • why they want to learn english
    …

never mind, I’ve tried and i am not good at it .

13

[quote=“MiakaW”]Is it too late for topics??

How about

  • Family / Friends
  • fav. food, and why
  • why they want to learn English
    …

never mind, I’ve tried and I am not good at it .[/quote]

3$G for you.

14

How about “Why has Toe Slave used my idea but not given me any Guanxi like he promised?” Yes, I checked.

Not after the publicity I will gain as the inventor of the “SB method”, when I sue your maple-leafed arse off for theft of my intellectual property. My school charges less than yours does anyway. Why should students pay more for a copy of the original?

I just hate to see a good man being exploited. Here’s another topic for you:

Should Toe Rag leave this job for one that pays better? Go on, ask the people who are spending all this hard-earned money to be with you what they think.

Also is Miaka just a tease, or is SB really going to get that threesome?

I’m not much of a one for yule, but enjoy your New Year.

Resolution number 1: I will not let any bastard exploit me.

15

[quote=“stragbasher”]How about “Why has Toe Slave used my idea but not given me any Guanxi like he promised?” Yes, I checked.

Not after the publicity I will gain as the inventor of the “SB method”, when I sue your maple-leafed arse off for theft of my intellectual property. My school charges less than yours does anyway. Why should students pay more for a copy of the original?

I just hate to see a good man being exploited. Here’s another topic for you:

Should Toe Rag leave this job for one that pays better? Go on, ask the people who are spending all this hard-earned money to be with you what they think.

Also is Miaka just a tease, or is SB really going to get that threesome?

I’m not much of a one for yule, but enjoy your New Year.

Resolution number 1: I will not let any bastard exploit me.[/quote]

For making me laugh, here’s some $G.

Miaka has also offered to participate in a 3P, but with you and me. Sorry, you are funny and maybe even, in some circles, desirable. However, I’d rather stick hot pins in my eyes or eat bark than get all jiggy with you. I’m afraid you’ll have to find another Toe Plug to play with.

16

Yes, if TS said no, then oh well, sorry SB…, at least I tried right?! :wink:

17

Ah, so you’re into S&M? Well, I guess I could oblige just this once - as long as I still get to get jiggy with Miaka. But how will you read my witty replies to your posts with pins in your eyes?

Conversation Topic #37: Should perverts be allowed to continue teaching after engaging in pseudo-sexual practises that result in blindness?

Student A: Well, I suppose for this money you have to take what you can get…

18

esl.about.com/library/lessons/blland.htm