small talk: How SMALL is it really?

Do you have to talk to new people in English at work? / Why?
Is it easy for you to start a conversation? Why?/ Why not?
Do you think small talk is important in business?

Read this text and find out more ways to start a conversation.

Now Play the Small Talk Game!

Finding Common Ground

What do you think is happening in the photo?

Is it typical where you live?

How do you normally greet:

friends / family members/ shop assistants / visitors from abroad/ colleagues

What are some rules foreign visitors to Greece need to follow, besides greetings? Do you always follow these rules yourself?

Let's practice some vocabulary

What do you think this HSBC commercial talks about?

HSBC Personal Space from allaboutcom on Vimeo.

What are the proximity rules in Greece? What are rules of other countries you know? Let's watch this video and discuss.

City Life

What are some benefits and drawbacks of urban life?

Would you chose to live in the countryside or the city? Debate! (Urbans vs Rurals)

(traffic jams, population growth, commuting, public transportation, healthcare, pollution, sustainable projects, cultural events)

Look at these photos. What do you think is happening with pedestrians?

Mike Roberts from London, United Kingdom - New Oxford Circus X-Crossing Uploaded by

One of the world's most heavily used pedestrian scrambles, at Hachikō Square in Shibuya, Tokyo

What is the city you live in like?

Imagine you have the magic wand! What would you like to change?

Today we're travelling to London. Let's find our way around!

SING!
CLASH - Should I stay or Should I go
                 Rock the Casbah  meaning

Unexpected Discoveries

How do you think  the title relates to the photo (look at the capion)?

What are some things that people discover? 

How do they make this kind of discoveries?

A tourist looking out of one of the famous Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona, Spain

What do you know about the invention of the objects that you use on a daily basis?

What skills /qualities do you think an inventor and this artist have in common?

Sculpture made entirely of paper clips (Pierro d' Angelo)

Discover vocabulary

Discuss with a partner
What do you do when you want to focus on smth?
How do you tune out noise when you want to concentrate?
What is somnething you find annoying?
What are some of your special or unusaul talents? Explain them to your partner.

Watch the discovery of the Microwave oven.

What do you think serendipity has to do with Percy Spencer and the microwave oven?
Do you think inventors like him think differently than other people?
Read the article to find out more

Look at the graphic and discuss with a partner
1. What happens as we get older?
2. What might be the consequences of this change, especially for the invention and discovery?
3. Do you think there is a way to increase the percentage of adults who are capable of divergent thinking?

Are you a divergent thinker?

Lyrics

Messages....

Do you have  a list of things you want to do before you die?
Have you ever told anyone what's on the list?

Do you think Chang's neighbours will fill in the sentences?
What topics do you think people will write about? Rank from 1-6
____ Fame   ____Hapiness  _____Love  _____Money  ____Travel   ___Work

Let's talk about meanings...
.

THE VOICE in Britain...  Lyrics

Less is More!

Do you like eating in places like this where there is a lot of choice?

Why? Why not?

Do you think that having a lot of choices is always a good thing? Why? Why not?



In pairs:
1. Discuss: How do you think the expression Less is More apply?

2. Vocabulary (make a dialogue with your partner using these words)
impact
research
be aware of
options
appreciate
evidence
overwhelming

3. Discuss: Are you a perfectionist?
Does having a lot of options impact your ability to make a decision? Explain why.
Are some kinds of situations overwhelming for you? Explain why.
Are you satisfied with the size of your appartment house? Explain why.

Let's sing

Lady in Black lyrics

A Titatic mistake reveals titanic life stories

Why was it called the Titanic? Watch the video to find out!

What do you think caused the sinking of such a fascinating super structure?

Take one possible alternative each

Now read some fascinating survivor stories

Meet AI -Sophia

What do you think helps build rapport among people?

 What is AI?
Does it exist in our lives today?
How do you think it will affect the human society in the future?

Read an article about AI and its implications

The Power of words

Flower carpets for Mark Zuckermann?

What easter tradition do you value most?

So would you have laid the red carpet for M. Zuckermann after the data breach?
Read here

What would you have done if the company data  data had been hacked?
Play the game

 Time to sing!

  The Lyrics

What prank would you pull if you could?

Here are some ideas for pranks
Have you played any of these pranks?
Which one would you never pull and why?
If you could do any prank, which one would you do and to whom?

Practice the second Conditional  here 

Are you superstitious?
What superstitions do you know?
If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck!
If you see a penny on the ground and pick it up,
If you walk under a ladder,
If you find a four-leaf clover,

Practice the First Conditional  here

Let's hone our Listening and Reading skills

 Lyrics

The world of work

What do you think these people do to earn a living?
sewer flasher, pet psychologist, bed warmer, beefeater, chief listening officer

What do you think is the yearly income of a bed warmer ?
Let's check from this infographic about strange jobs.

How about you?
Discuss these questions

How do you think gender equality applies at work?

How do we connect our ideas?
Practice here

Lyrics

What have you been told about S. Hawking?

TIME TO EXPLORE
Please  share with the group anything you know on
-The Big Bang theory
-Hawking radiation
-ALS

What did you know about Professor Stephen Hawking until yesterday? :-)
Here's his story 

How about watching a short video about S. Hawking

How exciting to learn about how to speak on an abstarct level!
How much will be discovered soon!
Practice here

Now that Stephen is departing, write a recommendation letter for him for St Peter!