English: Conversation

• 26 hrs exercises

• 60 pts final exam (written part)
• 40 pts mid-term test (written part)

Active participation in classes along with passing a written exam will show that a student is able to: - communicate with greater confidence when engaged in more sophisticated debates - use wider vocabulary based on the topics discussed including slang, phrasal verbs and idioms (science and technology, religion, money, weapons, space exploration, telling lies, death penalty, addictions, art, immigration, racism) - apply smoothly and carefully all common grammar rules during conversation (grammar tenses, relative clauses, time clauses, conditionals, passive voice, modal verbs) - use proper stress and intonation - give well-structured, attractive presentation - negotiate, persuade, express and defend opinions

• New Headway Intermediate 2 (BAN4)

The student signed up for the class is expected to be able to: - use general vocabulary from all common areas (family, home, food, jobs and career, health and sickness, travelling and transport, sports, hobbies) - apply carefully grammar rules during conversation (grammar tenses, relative clauses, time clauses, conditionals, passive voice, modal verbs) - speak clearly with certain error tolerance - understand very well classes taught in English

TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE CONVERSATION CLASS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – WHERE DO WE GO? What are the main dangers of scientific advances? Will science end the world or save the world? What are the most important inventions / discoveries ever? Will machines rule the world? THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS / RELIGION What is (un)happiness? What makes us feel happy? Does it lie within us or outside us? Do you think some nations are happier than others? What is our attitude to religion? Do we need God? MONEY - THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL? Can you imagine living in a world without money? Would there be no poverty? How would the world be different if all the money was shared out equally among all people? Is money really the root of all evil? Are rich people more attractive? NOBODY NEEDS A GUN Gun massacres in schools. Why do people keep guns? Why do men love guns that much? Would you ever use a gun? CAR - A DANGEROUS WEAPON? Do we make way for cars or cars make way for us? What countries produce the best cars? Do you think the car a person drives is an extension of his/her personality? SPACE EXPLORATION - LIVING ON MARS FOREVER? Is everything perfect in the Universe? Is it worth spending so much money on space research? Is colonizing space essential? TELLING LIES Are we honest? How honest are we? Are we strong enough to face the truth? How to tell the truth? When to hide it? DEATH PENALTY Are you in favour of death penalty? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Is capital punishment deterrent to crime? How many innocent people have died from the death penalty? NOT MY TYPE Biting nails, thin legs, bad complexion - what do you avoid in a partner? ADDICTIONS Alcohol, smoking, drugs, chocolate, shopping, football, sex - what are we hooked on? ART What is art? Does art change the way we think or feel? How would the world be different without artists? BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING Do we really care for freedom? Do you think that a surveillance society is a safe society? Do our parents respect our privacy? IMMIGRATION AND RACISM Why are we racists? Will racism ever disappear from the world? What are the benefits of immigration?

Semester test (vocabulary) - 40 points Presentation - 60 points