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Bullying. Speaking exercise

Introduction

Conversation class on Bullying

Conversation class on Bullying

In this week's English conversation classes we will be talking about Bullying, and looking at the Passive in English.

 

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CLASS 1

Physical threats are typical of bullies.

Physical threats are typical of bullies.

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In this first class we will be looking at a quote based on Bullying, and discussing some questions based on vocabulary related to the topic. We also recommend that you take some time to study the common pronunciation problems and common mistakes that our students make.

 

Quote:

Discuss the following quote with your native English teacher via Skype:


"If they don’t like you for being yourself, be yourself even more."

– Taylor Swift

 

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Questions to discuss with your teacher:

1. What different types of bullying are there?
2. What can people who are bullied do to stop the bullying?

 


Check your pronunciation of the vocabulary with your native English teacher, and discuss the questions below:

Vocabulary Questions
A bully Describe a bully from your school days.
Bullying How big a problem was bullying when you went to school?
To be bullied Is it worse for children or adults to be bullied?
To prevent What can parents do to prevent their child from being bullied?
To stand up for someone If someone you knew was being bullied, would you stand up for them or would you be a bystander?
To gossip Do you think that gossiping is one of the worst forms of bullying?

 


Common pronunciation problems 

  • Target TargetIn British English

  • Humiliate HumiliateIn British English

  • Cyberbully CyberbullyIn British English

 

Common Mistakes

   
✘ I was scary ✔ I was scared / I was afraid
✘ I was bully when I was a child ✔ I was bullied when I was a child
✘ She is very gossip ✔ She likes to gossip a lot

CLASS 2

Trolling and cyberbullying have become a serious problem.

Trolling and cyberbullying have become a serious problem.

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In this class we will be looking at more questions and vocabulary related to Bullying, specifically a new kind of bullying that has arisen since the birth of social media.

 

We also recommend you to watch the video before your English class, so you can discuss it with your English teacher.

 

unknown.pngQuestions to discuss with your teacher:

1. Do you think that students who are bullied need more help from teachers than their bullies do?
2. What kind of help do bullies need?

 

 

Check your pronunciation of the vocabulary with your native English teacher, and discuss the questions below:

Vocabulary Questions
Cyberbully What is a cyberbully?
Trolling What type of bullying is worse, trolling (online bullying) or bullying that is face-to-face?
To target What type of people are usually targeted by online bullies?
To commit suicide If a victim commits suicide, should the bully be charged with murder?
Campaigns Why do some people think anti-bullying campaigns are ineffective?

 

 

Now discuss the video with your English teacher in your online conversation classes via Skype:

Click to do the English listening exercise on this video!

CLASS 3

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reading.pngReading Practice:

Read and discuss the article on Knowing Why Bullies Bully with your native-speaking English teacher online via Skype:

 

“Almost everyone has been bullied at one time or another, and we often take solace in the assumption that living well is the best revenge. We will have happy and fulfilling lives whereas bullies are trying to compensate for their own low self-esteem and will lead miserable lives. Read more…



Questions to discuss with your English teacher

1. How damaging is bullying according to the CDC?
2. What advantages or benefits are there to bullying?
3. How is 'social competition' similar to bullying?
4. How does the article say that bullying can be stopped?

 

Present Past Participle
Beat Beat Beaten
Forget Forgot Forgotten
Feel Felt Felt

CLASS 4: Grammar Review

English grammar review

English grammar review

Revision of the Passive Voice in English

The passive is used when the the person doing the action is unknown or not important, and so this tense is commonly used when talking about bullying.

 

This is how we form the passive: Object + Be + Past Participle

 

And here are some examples, along with some great vocabulary related to bullying...

Examples in the past tense:

  • He was bullied all his life.
  • He was teased when he was younger.


Examples in the present tense:

  • He is beaten up every week by the bullies at his school.
  • He is called names such as ‘shorty’ and ‘fatty’.

 

Examples in the future tense:

  • He will be picked on at school because of his height.
  • He thinks he won’t be believed if he tells the teachers about his bullies.

Writing Practice


Improve your English writing skills by choosing one of the following essay questions, and sending it to us for correction.

 

  • Intermediate essay question
    Social media has changed the way we communicate - has it also changed the way we bully and are bullied?

 

  • Advanced essay question 
    There have recently been many campaigns about bullying, to raise awareness and promote change. Do you think these campaigns and discussions have been effective? Talk about how they have had an impact on bullying and what has changed in the last few years.


We will reply within 48 hours with the corrected text, clearly marking your mistakes, and a feedback sheet, which you can use to improve your future written work.

 

Buy a Writing Correction pack now

 

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Improve your English speaking skills


See our other English conversation lessons, to improve your grammar and vocabulary, and practice your reading and listening skills.

 

And don't forget to book your online English conversation classes with one of our native English-speaking teachers to put into practice what you’ve learned in this lesson.

 

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Tags: English Speaking Exercises Passive voice

Practicar inglés avanzado con Greg Pioli

Gregory Stephen Pioli

Owner of OLA Online Language Academy

★Degree in French (University of Kent at Canterbury)
★DELE Superior (Spanish) (Instituto Cervantes, Leeds)
★TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) (i-to-i.com)

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