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Modern Slavery. Speaking exercise

Introduction

Conversation class on Modern Slavery

Conversation class on Modern Slavery

In this week's English lesson we will be talking about Modern Slavery, and looking at the difference between can / be able to.

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CLASS 1 - Slavery in modern society

Quote on slavery

Quote on slavery

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In this first class we will be looking at a quote based on slavery in modern society, and discussing some questions based on vocabulary related to modern slavery. 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:

 

"Slavery is a weed that grows on every soil."

– Edmund Burke

 

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Questions to discuss with your teacher:

1. Why does slavery exist?

2. What do you consider to be slavery?

 


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

Vocabulary Question
Slave What is a slave?
Forced Labor Is forced labour common in your country? Explain.
Human Trafficking Why do you think human trafficking should be illegal?
Debt Bondage Should debt bondage be considered slavery? Why?
Slave labour Have you ever complained that your job or school was like slave labour?

 


Common pronunciation problems 

  • Debt DebtIn British English

  • Slavery SlaveryIn British English

  • Trafficking TraffickingIn British English

 

Common mistakes

   
✘ Slavery is worse than dead ✔ Slavery is worse than death.
✘ Lessons must to be learnt! ✔ Lessons must be learnt!
✘ My first job was as slave labour. ✔ My first job was like slave labour.

CLASS 2 - Preventing Slavery

What is worse than death?

What is worse than death?

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In this class we will be looking at questions and vocabulary related to the prevention of slavery

 

We also recommend you watch the video before your English class to be able to discuss it with your English teacher.

 

 

unknown.pngQuestions to discuss with your teacher:

1. In which parts of the world does slavery exist?

2. Do you think it is possible to end slavery? How?

 

 

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

Vocabulary Question
To clamp down on How can we begin to clamp down on slavery?
The Authorities What should the authorities do about slavery?
Protest Do you think protesting can change anything? Explain.
Outlaw / Ban If slavery was banned in every country, would it stop completey?
Refuge Why do slaves sometimes not seek refuge?

 

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 - Modern Slavery in the UK

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reading.pngReading Practice:

This article talks about slavery in the UK and how the victims need better support from the government. Read and discuss the article with your native-speaking English teacher online via Skype:

 

“The treatment of some victims of modern slavery by UK authorities is "morally unacceptable", the country's first anti-slavery commissioner has said." Read more… 

 

Irregular Verbs

Present Past Participle
Hold Held Held
Find Found Found
Put Put Put

CLASS 4: Grammar Review

English grammar review

English grammar review

Can / Be able to

Both can and be able to can be used to talk about ability, and so the difference between to two is a very common question.

 

A) CAN
When talking about ability, can may be used in the present tense, paste tense (could) and conditional (could). It is not possible to use can in any other tenses.


Examples:

  • I can swim.
  • She could speak English when she was 4 years old.
  • We could go to the countryside this weekend.

 

B) BE ABLE TO
When talking about ability, we can use be able to in any tense (present, past, future, perfect tenses...). It is therefore a lot more versatile than can, although we generally use can if it is posisble to do so.
 
Examples:
  • We have been able to visit 3 customers this morning.
  • She will be able to work when she graduates from university.
  • He had been able to visit 30 countries before he lost his passport.

 

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
    What is slavery? Do you believe that it exists anywhere in the world today? Does it exist in both underdeveloped and developed countries? Explain and give examples.

 

  • Advanced essay question
    What factors contribute to the existance of slavery? Discuss what countries can do to fight its existance.

 

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.

 

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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

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Gregory Stephen Pioli

Owner of OLA Online Language Academy

★Degree in French (University of Kent at Canterbury)
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★TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) (i-to-i.com)

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