Session 1

 

 

Let’s Have a Talk!

 

1. This past Monday was a holiday. What did you do over the long weekend?

2. Are you religious? If you are, what made you religious?

3. Are you following any celebrities or influencers on Instagram? What made you follow them?

4. It’s election day next week. Do you like to talk about politics with your family or friends?

 

 

Happy to Be Here: How Americans Celebrate Birthdays

 

If we were lucky as children, our birthdays came with games, gifts and cake. But as we get older,

things can change. And a survey has found that 54% of Americans celebrate their birthdays by

thanking God they're still alive. That was the most common answer to a question by YouGov, which

asked how people in the US celebrate their birthdays. The survey company asked 1,000 adult Americans

about their birthdays.

 

When thinking about the last five years, just one out of five people said they almost always had a

party, while 18% usually took a day off work. Half said that nearly every year they spend the day with

family, and 40% usually have a special meal — no surprises there. Speaking of surprises, 33% of people

said they'd love a surprise party on their big day, compared to 7% who would hate the idea. But that

doesn't mean most Americans get excited about their birthdays. When the day comes, 47% said they

don't like it or dislike it — it's just "fine."

 

That number was even higher among over 65s, with 58% saying they have no strong feelings about

their birthday. Fifty-eight percent of adults even said they prefer Christmas to their birthday — and

almost half like the American holiday of Thanksgiving better than their own birthday as well. But 37%

of people said they still have cake on their birthday almost every year — with chocolate being the most

popular type.

 

 

1. Have you ever had a party at a burger place or a pizza place on your birthday?

2. What’s the best birthday gift you’ve ever got?

3. Do you think your birthday puts you in a good mood?

4. Are there any holidays that you look forward to more than your birthday?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 2

 

 

Let’s Have a Talk!

 

1. It’s starting to get hot. Do you prefer summer to winter?

2. Do you ever have any friends who are terrible at taking hints?

3. What did you do when you got the disaster relief fund a few years ago?

4. Do you have any plans for summer vacation?

 

 

A Short History of the FIFA World Cup

 

Every four years, soccer fans around the world come together for the sport's biggest event: the FIFA

World Cup. But how did it start?

 

Variations of soccer have been played for hundreds of years or more. But in 1863, the Football

Association — or FA — was formed in London, England, and it created the game's first official rules.

And so, soccer as we know it was born.

 

As the game's popularity spread, there came the need for an international soccer governing body. In

1904, FIFA — or Fédération Internationale de Football Association — was founded in Paris by soccer

associations from seven countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and

Switzerland. And in 1908, soccer was included as an official sport in the Olympic Games. At the time, it

was the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world.

 

Over the years, soccer associations from different parts of the world joined FIFA, and in the 1920s,

Jules Rimet, then president of FIFA, thought of organizing an international soccer tournament outside of

the Olympics. The first official World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, with 13 teams: seven from

South America, four from Europe and two from North America. Uruguay was the winner.

 

Twenty-one World Cups have now been held in 17 countries. The tournament has been held every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when it was canceled because of World War II. Today, 32 teams take part in each World Cup. The 2022 Qatar World Cup, which begins on November 20, will be the first held in the Middle East, with 5 billion people expected to watch.

 

 

1. The World Cup is coming up soon! Do you have a lot of hope for Korea?

2. When was the first time you watched the World Cup?

3. Have you ever watched the World Cup with your classmates at school?

4. Who is the best: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?