66
Neighbours
1. Tell us about your neighbours
2. Which do you like and which don’t you like and why?
3. Are you a good neighbour? What are your good and bad sides as a neighbour?
4. Which neighbours do you usually spend your time with? What do you do with them?
5. Do you have any funny memories with your neighbours? Tell us the story
6. Tell us about the best and worst neighbours you have had.
7. Have you ever had a neighbour you never forget, and why?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: upstairs, downstairs, next-door neighbour, a couple, retired, middle-aged, an elderly couple, a family with kids, a group of friends, housemates in a shared house, kind, funny, generous, reliable, shy, sociable
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Neighbours
1. I have great neighbours. Ilkay is my next-door neighbour. He is a hairdresser. He is very funny. My other next-door neighbour is a medical company. There are a lot of young men working there. They are very sociable. Upstairs we have an old couple, Ayhan and Mine. They are old but very friendly.
2. I like all my neighbours. They are great neighbours and friends.
3. We are good neighbours. Everyone in the street visits us. We have tea and chat together. We are a bit noisy after 7 pm. But it is ok for all the neighbours
4. We usually spend time with Ayhan and Mine. We usually drink tea and talk about work and friends.
5. One day, we did construction in the cafe. A contractor promised to come in the evening, but he turned off his phone. We couldn’t reach him. We had a school group of 40 students coming the next morning, so we started the construction. It was after midnight, we were in dust and sweat from head to toe. Two neighbours came to ask for information about Spoken Cafe. Altan Hoca’s face was covered in white dust, and sweat was dropping from his face. He was also holding a big hammer. It was about 1 am after midnight. He started giving information for about 20 minutes. They were quiet, listened for 20 minutes, and left.
6. We have never had bad neighbours. They were all good people.
7. We had a neighbour, Soysal. He was the manager of the Trabzon dormitory. 2 years ago, he died suddenly. We were very sad after him
65
People
1. Who is your favourite actor/actress and why?
2. Who is your favourite celebrity and why?
3. Do you have a favourite athlete?
4. Do you have a favourite person in history?
5. Who is your idol? Why is he/she your idol?
6. Who is a very interesting person around you? Why is he/she interesting?
7. Tell us your favourite fictional character from movies. Why is he/she your favourite?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: adventurous, humble, courageous, generous, sincere, trustworthy, wise, determined, lively, outgoing, easygoing, friendly, thoughtful, considerate, energetic, energetic, calm, quiet, successful, serious, intellectual, humorous, helpful, stingy
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: People
1. My favourite actor is Tom Hardy. He is a very good actor. he acted great in his films “The Warrior” and “Legend”
2. My favourite celebrity is Yaşar Kurt. he is one of the greatest Rock singers in Turkey
3. My favourite athlete is Mike Tyson. He was a powerful and fast boxer.
4. My favourite person in history is Leonardo da Vinci. He was a great artist and scientist. He was very clever and artistic
5. My idol is my close friend and colleague Devrim. Devrim Günay is a very important academic in English language Teaching. He is a real intellectual.
6. Yaren is a fascinating person. She is energetic, she talks a lot. You can listen to her for a long time, but don’t understand anything she says.
7. My favourite fictional character is Rocky Balboa. He is a very good friend, a perfect athlete and a humble person. He works hard, and he never gives up
64
Games
1. Do you have any favourite mobile or PC games? What’s your favourite board game?
2. Do you play games when you meet your friends?
3. Do you play any computer or mobile games? If yes, why do you like them?
4. Tell us about your favourite game shows on TV. Why do you like them?
5. What did you use to play with when you were a child?
6. Which game shows did you watch when you were a child?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: puzzle, crossword puzzle, hangman, backgammon, chess, board games, play cards, marbles, puppet, teddy bear, doll, dominoes, balloons
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Games
1. My favourite mobile game is Angry Birds. I play it every night before sleep. I don’t like board games. Sometimes I play backgammon
2. When I gather with my friends, we play Batak or backgammon
3. I play Angry Birds 2 because it is fun
4. My favourite game show is Millionaire. Because it is very educational
5. When I was a child, I played basketball with my friends. Sometimes we played Okey in coffee shops
6. When I was a child I watched “Turnike” and “Bir kelime bir işlem”
63
Leisure and fun
1. Tell us about the most enjoyable time you had recently. What did you do?
2. Did you start any new TV series recently? Did you like it?
3. Which movies did you watch recently? Which one was the best?
4. Did you do anything for fun recently?
5. Did you go anywhere interesting recently?
6. Recently, did you go to a restaurant? What did you eat and did you like it?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: go camping, go fishing, ride a bike, go for a walk, go out for a drink, go out for dinner, go shopping, go to a concert, go to the beach, go to the seaside, listen to music, surf the Internet, visit a museum, visit friends, watch a movie, watch TV
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Leisure and fun
1. Last weekend we went to Mahir Restaurant in Pangaltı. We ate lahmacun and “içli köfte”. The food was great and it wasn’t costly. We had a wonderful time
2. I started “Murder Mindfully” on Netflix. I love it because it is enjoyable. I learned a lot about Germany and the German people
3. I watched a lot of films recently. I watched The Godfather Part 1 again. It is a great film and the story is very good.
4. Last week my old friends visited me. We drank coffee and chatted together. It was a lot of fun.
5. We went to the Picasso exhibition on Saturday. There were some original paintings and some copies. It was very interesting
6. We went to a Kokoreç restaurant in Karaköy, İzmir İşi. The kokoreç was great.
62
Transportation
1. How do you usually go to work? By car, bus, on foot, etc.
2. When you travel by car, where do you park your car?
3. What is your favourite way of transportation in Istanbul and why do you like it?
4. What are the good and bad about transportation in Istanbul, and why do you think so?
5. What is the worst way of transportation in Istanbul, and why do you think so?
6. In which cities do you think transportation is best? Why do you think so?
7. Do you have any interesting experiences with public transport? Tell us your story
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: walk, travel, on foot, bus, coach, tram, train, ride a bike, ride a motorbike, travel by car-bus-plane, drive a car, journey, ferry, boat, pull over the car
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Transportation
1. I go to work on foot. My home is within walking distance to my work.
2. I usually park my car around my apartment. When I go far, I usually use Ispark
3. My favourite way of transportation in Istanbul is by tram because you can see the whole city by tram.
4. I think there aren’t good things about ıstanbul transportation. They are usually very crowded and stressful.
5. The worst way of transportation is by bus. It is very crowded and it is usually stuck in traffic.
6. In London, transportation is very easy and fun
7. I don’t have any fun or interesting experiences in transportation in Istanbul.
61
Animals
1. Do you like animals?
2. Do you have a pet?
3. Do you want to have a new pet? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had pets in your house? What pets did you have?
5. What’s your favourite animal and why?
6. Do you know any famous animals? What are they famous for?
7. What’s your favourite movie or TV series in which animals act? Tell us the story of it.
8. Tell us about the most interesting animals you’ve seen or heard about.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: domestic animals, wild animals, fish tank, pet, cat, dog, budgie, parrot, hamster, lion, tiger, fish, goldfish, horse, kitten, wolf, fox, rabbit, duck, owl, eagle, chicken, bear, pigeon, seagull
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Animals
1. Yes, I love animals.
2. We have three cats. Cingöz, Pelo and Boncuk
3. No, we don’t. Because our cats are very energetic and demanding.
4. I have had a lot of animals in my house. I have had a lot of cats, 2 dogs, birds and fish.
5. My favourite animal is a cat. Because they are very funny and they relieve me on stressful days.
6. Lessie was a very famous dog. I watched the Lessie TV series when I was a child. She was very helpful and brave. She was a hero
7. My favourite movies about animals are Planet Ape, Hachiko and The Red Dog. Planet Ape is a film about Caesar the monkey, it is very exciting. Hochiko is a film about a teacher and his dog in Japan. Red Dog is an Australian film. It’s about a friendly dog and Australian mine workers.
8. We had a cat named Kuyruksuz about 5-6 years ago at Spoken Cafe. She was aggressive but funny. She was fat and ugly. But we loved her. She got lost during the COVID pandemic.
60
How is life nowadays
1. How is your life nowadays?
2. How is your work this year? Do you have any troubles or difficulties?
3. How is your health this year? Are you feeling better than last year?
4. Do you have any good news about your family or friends?
5. Do you have any problems with your family or friends?
6. Did you start anything new this year?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: excellent, marvellous, boring, dull, exciting, enjoyable, funny, have a family gathering, meet up with friends, go out of town, stay in, go away for the weekend, graduate, succeed, go to a fun fair, go to the cinema, go sightseeing, chat with friends
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: How is life nowadays
1. My life is great these days.
2. Work is busy this year. But our students have financial difficulties. We can feel that from their faces.
3. My health is great. Thankfully, I haven’t had any serious health problems for more than 20 years.
4. Yes, I have some good news. My brother has a new job, a better job than before. And my sister bought a new car.
5. I don’t have any problems with my friends or family.
6. I started a new exercise this year, Tabata. Tabata is a 4-minute exercise, but it is very tiring.
59
Items
1. Which items do you have with you now, and what do you do with them?
2. What are your favourite possessions and why do you like them?
3. What do you always keep in your bag when you travel?
4. Do you have any special items? What are they?
5. Do you have a lucky charm? Why do you think that item will give you good luck?
6. What were your favourite toys or items when you were a child? Why did you like them so much?
7. Tell us about interesting items or vehicles in movies or books. What makes them interesting?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: mobile phone (cellphone), keyring, lucky charm, laptop, wallet, purse, backpack, sunglasses, pocket knife, watch, clock, umbrella, lighter, headphones, thermos, stamp, antique, brand, painting, rare, special edition, vintage, second hand, coin
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Items
1. I have my phone, wallet, home keys, and car keys. I use them in my daily life.
2. My favourite possessions are my projector and home theatre system. I don’t have a TV, but I watch a lot of TV series and films on my projector system.
3. If I go to a foreign country, I have my passport. I usually have my books, charger, toothpaste and toothbrush. And a lot of spare clothes, of course.
4. I have a Swiss army knife. It has a lot of functions. I always have my pocket knife with me when I go camping or travel.
5. I don’t have a lucky charm. I don’t believe in lucky charms.
6. I didn’t play with toys when I was a child. But I liked the tools. I repaired devices when I was a child. Sometimes I made my toys with my tools.
7. I remember the black car, Kitt. It was a high-technology car in the TV series, Knight Rider. Kitt could talk, and it had a lot of functions.
58
Dreams
1. Tell us about your dreams. What things do you want to do and have?
2. What were your dreams when you were a child?
3. Have you ever had a dream that came true?
4. Do you have any friends who had a dream and made it real?
5. Tell us about your dream job and dream house.
6. What’s your biggest dream about your life?
7. What’s your biggest dream about the world, and who do you think should change?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5, Grammar6
Related Words: be a scientist/an engineer, childhood dream, be successful at, live in a foreign country, travel around the world, peaceful life, achieve, long-term plan, short-term plan, be a musician, be an artist, target, ambitious
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Dreams
1. Hello. I am Yasin and I am an actor. My dream is to be a successful actor. I want to play in good projects.
2. When I was a child, I wanted to be an actor. Now I am an actor.
3. Yes. I played in the Gibi TV series, in two episodes.
4. My close friend wanted to be a military officer and finally became a military officer this year.
5. My dream job is opening a patisserie. My dream house is a house at the seaside in the Mediterranean
6. My biggest dream is to travel to all the cities in Turkey.
7. My biggest dream about the world is to have no war, racism and discrimination.
57
Social life
1. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
2. How often do you meet your close friends or visit your family/relatives?
3. Do you text or call your friends? What do you usually chat about?
4. What social activities do you do? Like parties, dancing, playing games with friends, etc.
5. Tell us about your social network. Who do you usually spend time with?
Grammar
Related Words: confident, in a good/bad mood, nightlife, socialize, circle, gossip, chat with friends, go clubbing, gather with, best friend, buddy, communicative, eye contact, body language, being shy, get along with, arguments, play card games/board games, go camping, gym friends, workmate, classmate
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Social life
1. Hello. I am Esra, and I am one of the directors of Spoken Cafe. I am an extroverted person. I like chatting with people, and I have a lot of friends
2. I meet my close friends every now and then. That means whenever I have the chance. I visit my parents every month or every two months. They live in Malkara.
3. I always text my friends. We are very active on WhatsApp. We talk about daily things, sometimes work and sometimes clothes and shopping.
4. We usually go shopping together. We go to concerts, museums and restaurants. Sometimes we go abroad with my friends
5. My social network consists of people from Spoken Cafe and our neighbours.
56
Preferences
1. Do you prefer summer or winter? I mean, are you a summer or winter person? Why do you like it more?
2. Do you prefer tea or coffee? Why do you like it?
3. Do you prefer cats or dogs? Are you a cat or dog person? Why do you like them more?
4. Do you prefer quiet weekends at home or busy weekends with many social activities?
5. Do you prefer going on vacations to the beach or nature? Why do you prefer that?
6. Do you prefer watching films or reading books? Why do you like it more?
Grammar
Related Words: freezing, boiling, warm, cool, caffeine, sleepless, sleepy, loyal, disloyal, playful, cute, tranquil, social, suntan, sunbathe, summer breeze, forest, fresh air, paperback, novel, poetry, thriller, author
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Preferences
1. I like both summer and winter. I like winter more in Istanbul and summer in Egea. Normally, I am a summer person. But in Istanbul, summer is boring. That’s why I like summer in holiday towns
2. I prefer tea. I can drink 20 glasses of tea every day. Coffee is too strong. I can only drink one cup of coffee a day.
3. I am a cat person. I love dogs too. But cats are funny and more enjoyable.
4. I like quiet weekends. In the week, we are too busy. That’s why I like resting at the weekends.
5. I like both of them. I love nature and the beach. But my favourite is visiting a foreign country.
6. I love reading and watching movies and TV series too. I read a book 3 days a week and watch TV series or films 4 days a week
55
The best way
1. What’s the best way to lose weight and be fit? What do you do to be fit?
2. What’s the best way to make a lot of money?
3. What’s the best way to recover from a cold?
4. What’s the best way to have fun? What activities do you think are a lot of fun?
5. What’s the best way to learn a new language?
6. What’s the best way to be happy in life?
Grammar
Related Words: work out, pushup, dumbbells, weight lifting, gym, trekking, money laundry, lottery, stock market, invest, feel under the weather, use medication, fun fair, play video games, study grammar, listen to podcasts
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: The best way
1. The best way to lose weight is to have an active life. I am very busy in the day and also I have dinner before 6 pm. I do exercise every day.
2. The best way to make money is to have a business. If you have your own business you must work very hard. You can make money if you work very hard in your own business.
3. Resting is the best way to recover from an illness.
4. Being with your close friends is the best way to have fun.
5. The best way to learn a new language is Spoken Cafe 🙂 If you listen a lot and practice speaking, you learn a new language easily.
6. The best way to be happy is to have good and positive people and animals around you.
54
Favourite Things
1. What is your favourite TV show? What do you like about it?
2. What is your favourite city? When did you last go there and what did you do?
3. What is your favourite clothes brand? What do you like most about it?
4. What is your favourite food? Where do they cook it best in our city?
5. What’s your favourite piece of clothing? What do you like about it?
6. What’s your favourite part of the city? Why do you like it that much?
Related Words: documentary, reality TV show, quiz show, touristy, attractions, fashionable, casual clothes, formal clothes, coat, trainers, main course, appetizers, seafood, long-lasting, made of cotton, neighbourhood, tourist attraction, historical area, downtown
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Favourite Things
1. My favourite TV show is the Gibi TV series. I love it because it is very funny and absurd.
2. My favourite city is Istanbul. I have seen a lot of European cities but Istanbul is the best because it is very active 24 hours a day.
3. I don’t have a favourite clothes brand. I wear any brand with good quality and material.
4. My favourite food is Kokoreç. The best Kokoreç restaurant in Istanbul is İzmir İşi in Karaköy.
5. My favourite piece of clothing is my coat. I love wearing it on cold winter days
6. My favourite place in Istanbul is Şehremini because the locals are sincere and easy-going.
53
Books
1. What kind of books do you like?
2. Do you read books in English? If yes, which books have you read? And did you like them?
3. What’s your favourite book?
4. What was your favourite book when you were a child? Why did you like it?
5. What do you usually read? Books or newspapers?
6. Tell us the story of your favourite book or movie
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: fiction, non-fiction, genre, thriller, mystery, fantasy, action, adventure, biography, autobiography, dystopian, personal development, true story, novel, short story, poem, author, writer, poet, science fiction, love story, emotional, historical, illustration, paperback, hardcover, comics, inspiring, dramatic, tragedy, story, chapter, character
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Books
1. Hello. I am Esra, and I am one of the directors of Spoken Cafe. I like novels and poems. I love fiction.
2. Yes, I like reading in English. I have read Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Sherlock Holmes, Beauty and the Beast, White Fang and Notting Hill
3. My favourite book is Ince Memed. I love all Yaşar Kemal books.
4. My favourite book when I was a child was The Town Musicians of Bremen
5. I read books.
6. Ince Memed was a villager. He started fighting with landlords and the landlord system. He was a hero and everyone loved him. He hated cruel landlords, and he started fighting against them
52
Indoor and outdoor activities
1. What are your favourite indoor and outdoor activities?
2. Which indoor activities do you usually do in your home?
3. Which outdoor activities do you do when you go out?
4. What do you do when you meet at home with friends or family?
5. What do you do when you meet up outdoors with friends or family?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: stay in, go trekking, walk in the forest, go to the seaside, watch movies at home, play games with friends, go for a drink, go out for a meal, do gardening, water the flowers, go camping, go fishing, play board games, horse riding, climbing, watch TV series, go to the countryside
word game – Indoor and outdoor activities
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Indoor and outdoor activities
1. My favourite indoor activity is watching TV series and films on my projector. My favourite outdoor activity is walking on the streets and having a picnic.
2. I usually watch films, read a book and do exercise
3. When I go out, I go to Şehremini or walk in the park.
4. When I host my friends or family, we eat together, drink coffee on our balcony and chat.
5. We usually eat at a fancy restaurant when we go out. Sometimes we go out of town together and visit attractions.
51
Hometown
1. Where are you originally from?
2. Do you often visit your hometown?
3. When did you last visit your hometown? What did you do?
4. Tell us about your hometown. What do you like and dislike about it?
5. Who do you usually visit when you go to your hometown?
6. Who are your best friends in your hometown? What do they do?
7. What is it famous for?
8. Are there any celebrities from your hometown? Do you have any connections with them?
9. Tell us some memories which you have in your hometown
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: downtown, relatives, shopping centre, green spaces, nightlife, festival, peaceful, crowded, cosmopolitan, historical places, attractions, local people, friendly, hospitable, warm people, countryside, lively, deserted, calm place, tranquil, touristic, suburb
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Hometown
1. I am from Manisa. I was born in Akhisar and I grew up in Soma. My grandfathers are from Thessaloniki and Karabük. My grandfathers are immigrants. That’s why my ID card registration is Bursa, Kemal Paşa
2. I never visit my hometown
3. I last visited Soma in 2008, just after my military service.
4. Soma is a small town, but it isn’t a boring town. Locals are very friendly and talkative. I like it because of the locals, but there aren’t many activities in Soma.
5. My parents moved to Altınoluk after they retired. I can only visit my childhood friends in Soma.
6. I have a lot of old friends. They all studied at universities after high school. Some became engineers, some became military officers and some became self-employed like me.
7. It is famous for coal mines.
8. There aren’t many celebrities from Soma. But there are a lot of famous businessmen from Akhisar, like Ramiz Restaurants and Keskinoğlu
9. One day we climbed a big mountain, Sarıkaya Mountain, with my close friend Ercan in Soma. On our way back to the town we got lost in the hill and walked and climbed down after midnight. It was about 3-4 am when we returned to our homes. There were no mobile phones then and our parents were very worried about us.
50
Istanbul (if you’ve never been to Istanbul, talk about your city)
1. Tell us about your favourite places in Istanbul.
2. Tell us about your favourite cafes, bars and shopping centres in İstanbul
3. What do you like and dislike about Istanbul?
4. What’s your favourite district in the city? Why?
5. Which places in Istanbul don’t you like and why?
6. When was the last time you had a great time when you went out in Istanbul? What did you do?
7. Tell us an unforgettable memory that you had in Istanbul.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: crowded, rush hour, parking spot, shopping centre, bakery, bus station, tram station, underground station, old city, downtown, street vendor, stressful, tranquil, historical district, modern district, dangerous district, active, quiet, calm, public transport, university district, national park, public museums
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Istanbul (if you’ve never been to Istanbul, talk about your city)
1. I like Şehremini, Eminönü, Beyazıt and Taksim.
2. My favourite cafe in ıstanbul is Spoken Cafe 🙂
3. I like Istanbul because it is always active. But sometimes it is tiring and crowded.
4. My favourite district is the Old City, Fatih.
5. I don’t like any part of Istanbul after Topkapı
6. We had a great time last week. We went to an excellent restaurant, Mahir Restaurant. All the food was great.
7. I have a lot of memories of Istanbul, mostly of Spoken Cafe. In 2010, one of our students, Mahmut Abi, had problems with an American teacher. He didn’t like Americans very much. One day they started arguing again, he turned to me and said, “söyle hocam şuna, bana gözünü belertmesin.” I answered, “Mahmut abi, how can I say that in English?”
49
Cooking
1. Can you cook?
2. What do you cook best?
3. What did you cook last? And did you or other people like it?
4. Do you know any special recipes or foods your friends probably don’t know?
5. Who is the best cook around you? What can he/she cook best?
Grammar
Related Words: pan, saucepan, cook, bake, roast, boil, fry, chop, mash, slice, grill, stir, peel, cooker, oven, cutting board, delicious, spice, spicey, sweet, tasty, serve hot, serve cold, oil, butter
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Cooking
1. Yes, I can
2. I cook all fast food very well. I can make delicious pizzas and hamburgers.
3. This morning I cooked “Gözleme”. It is a traditional Turkish pancake with cheese and parsley.
4. I know how to make pizza without a tray. It is crisper than pizza in a tray
5. The best cook around me is my wife. She cooks everything perfectly.
48
Celebrities
1. Which celebrities, singers, actors and actresses do you like and why?
2. Which celebrities don’t you like and why?
3. Have you ever met a celebrity? What did you talk about?
4. Do you have any famous friends or relatives? Who are they?
5. Which celebrities do you think are good examples for young people? Why do you think so?
6. Who are your favourite people in other fields? Science, sports and literature. And why?
7. Would you like to be a celebrity? What would you like to be? (an actor/actress, athlete, a politician) And why?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: singer, comedian, anchorman-anchorwoman, talent show, become famous almost overnight, artist, athlete, cartoonist, director, writer, legend, music band, rock star, child star, politician, author, megastar, journalist, poet, scientist, academician, model, social media celebrity
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Celebrities
1. I like Tom Hardy, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman and Şener Şen.
2. I don’t like new singers, actors and actresses.
3. I have met Yaşar Kurt, Beyazıt Öztürk, Nejat Yavaşoğulları, Küçük İskender, Levent Kırca, Barış Akarsu, Derya Köroğlu, Orhan Kural. Athlete Irem Yaman and actor Onur Bay were our students for a while. We chatted and had long conversations with Küçük İskender, Beyazıt Öztürk, Derya Köroğlu and Levent Kırca.
4. My cousin Esra was an actress in many Turkish TV series. She was a contestant in Miss Turkey in 2001 and had a TV program on TRT Music.
5. I think Barış Manço and Şener Şen are very good examples for young people.
6. I like Orhan Veli in poetry. And I have some favorite scientists too. I like Stephen Hawking and Nikola Tesla
7. I wouldn’t like to be a celebrity because life would be hard. You can’t walk freely on the streets if you are a celebrity.
47
Memories
1. Tell us some of your memories you never forget.
2. Tell us a memory from Spoken Cafe.
3. Tell us some of your favourite TV programmes as a child.
4. Tell us a funny memory that happened to you or your friends.
5. Tell us more unforgettable memories from childhood and school years.
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: once, one day, remember, recall, nostalgic, when I was a child, in my hometown, in primary-secondary-high school, at the campus
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Memories
1. I have a lot of unforgettable memories. One day in 2000, my friend Gökay and I were walking in front of Istanbul University’s literature Faculty. There was a big crowd of armed police waiting in front of the faculty gate. With no reason, my friend screamed, “kaç lan kaç, polis!” and he started running. The police were looking at me, and I was looking at the police officers. They hesitated because I was a young and clean university student. Finally, I started running too. I ran fast to Aksaray. Gökay was still running.
2. One night at 4.45 a.m., someone called Spoken Cafe’s phone. We were shocked, but we were curious, too. We answered the telephone. The man on the phone said he called to get information about Spoken Cafe. I talked nonstop for about 40 minutes and gave very detailed information. I spoke very technically and academically. The person on the phone wasn’t drunk or mad. He called to get information for real.
3. When I was a child, I watched Sesame Street. I had a lot of favourite characters—Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster and Kermit the Frog. I loved them all. They were very funny
4. One day,y my sister came with me to visit my close friend, Gökay. She didn’t know he was such an interesting person. One afternoon, Gökay was driving his car in Sarıkamış. He was an English teacher there. On the side of the road, he saw an eagle and he pulled over the car. He started watching the eagle. The eagle was moving its shoulders slowly. He watched for about 30 minutes. He said in Turkish, “oğlum karatlı gördüm, insanlığımdan utandık”. My sister looked shocked, and she thought she had taken it too seriously. That meant, “ı saw the eagle and he got ashamed of my humanity”
5. When I was in high school, I went to school, but I had no tie. Before the lessons started, one of my friends threw his tie from the window, so that I could enter the school. Our school principal, Mustafa Alaca, saw me and he shouted my name and I ran away. All day, he announced my name from the speakers. I got scared and I didn’t go to his room
46
Food
1. What time and what do you usually eat?
2. What type of food do you usually eat?
3. What is your favourite food?
4. What are the best dishes your mother and father cook?
5. Which dishes or foods do you hate? And why?
6. What don’t you usually prefer to eat?
7. Tell us about your favourite restaurants and dishes in Istanbul.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: meal, fizzy drinks, mineral water, soda, fatty, healthy, spicy, salty, soup, main course, brown bread, white bread, meat, poultry, seafood, garlic, onion, cereal, sour, hot, chilli, carbs, dessert
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Food
1. I have breakfast at about 12.00 and I have dinner before 6 pm
2. At breakfast, I eat a lot. At dinner, I never eat bread. I usually eat healthy food
3. My favourite food is kokoreç
4. My mother cooks sura. It is a traditional Balıkesir kebap
5. I hate kapuska. Because we ate kapuska almost every day during military service.
6. I never eat eggs. I have a phobia
7. My favourite restaurants in Istanbul are Mahir Restaurant in Pangaltı, İzmir İşi in Karaköy and Kardeşler Kebap in Şehremini. My favourite dishes in Mahir are lahmacun and içli köfte. In Kardeşler we usually eat döner kebab
45
Clothes
1. Tell us about your favourite clothes. Why do you like them?
2. Which accessories do you like? Why do you like them?
3. What’s your favourite accessory?
4. Which brands do you like and why?
5. What colours do you usually wear and why?
6. Where do you often buy your clothes?
7. Have you ever bought clothes online? What did you buy?
8. What was the last thing you bought?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: coat, socks, tracksuit, pyjamas, dress, suit, shirt, sunglasses, trainers, bracelet, watch, belt, hat, cap, boots, trousers, jeans, shorts, jumper, cardigan, wallet, purse, shopping centre, clothes shop, sweatshirt, slippers, mask
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Clothes
1. Hello. I am Yaren. I am one of the teachers of Spoken Cafe. My favourite clothes are my green cardigan and my red sweater
2. I like earrings, sunglasses and bracelets. I like them because I feel beautiful, and it makes me feel happy.
3. My favourite accessory is my Game of Thrones ring. I always wear it.
4. I like Zara, Mango and Stradivarius because their clothes are stylish and they have good quality.
5. I usually wear black and red because I love red, and black is a safe option. It goes well with everything.
6. I usually buy clothes from a shopping mall, but I love shopping online more.
7. Yes, I have bought clothes online. I usually buy my clothes online. I last bought 2 jeans and 1 jacket.
8. The last thing I bought was an earring for myself as a gift.
44
Family and relatives
1. Tell us about your family
2. How many brothers and sisters do you have? What do they do for a living?
3. Tell us about your cousins and other relatives
4. Do you have any famous or interesting relatives?
5. Who is the richest or the most successful relative? What does he/she do?
6. Who is the most interesting relative? Why do you think so?
7. Who is your favourite member of the family and why?
8. Who is the most problematic relative? What does/did he do?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: cousins, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, grandson, granddaughter, husband, wife, fiancée, son, daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, sociable, friendly, talkative, intelligent, knowledgeable, successful, wise
word game – Family and relatives
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Family and relatives
1. I have one brother and one sister. My parents are retired and they live in Altınoluk
2. My sister Dilek is a nurse. She works at a hospital in Manisa. My brother Cemal is working in a cafe in Çorum.
3. I have a lot of cousins, but I only see my cousins Burak and Murat regularly
4. My cousin Esra is famous. She played in some TV series, and she had a music program on TRT Music
5. My cousin Şönem is very successful and rich. She has a textile company in Germany and factories in Denizli.
6. My cousin Burak is very interesting. He is very funny and friendly.
7. All my family is my favourite. I like them all.
8. I have two cousins. They are very problematic. One of them is a drug addict, and his brother is in jail now. They are arrested every 1-2 years.
43
TV and Radio
1. Tell us about your favourite TV channels. Why do you like them?
2. Tell us about your favourite radio channels. Why do you like them?
3. What’s your favourite TV programme? Why do you like it?
4. Which other TV programs do you watch? Why do you like them?
5. What’s the best TV series on TV currently? Why do you think so?
6. What’s the best TV series ever? Why do you think so?
7. Tell us about your favourite TV programmes when you were a child
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: TV channel, radio channel, radio frequency, slow music, foreign music, popular music, rock music, classical music, folk music, protest music, science fiction, documentary, cooking shows, chat show, reality show, sitcom, game show, quiz show, news, watch sports on TV, comedy show, travel program, talent show, tv series, *soap opera
* (A soap opera is a television series usually about domestic life and is generally emotional. The term soap opera originated from radio dramas sponsored by soap companies.)
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: TV and Radio
1. I like documentary channels. I don’t like or watch ordinary TV channels
2. My favourite radio channels are Radio Eksen and Pal Nostalji. I like listening to old music.
3. My favourite TV program is “How It’s Made” because it is very interesting and educational.
4. I don’t watch any other TV programs because I don’t have a TV in my home.
5. The best TV series is Lost. It is not on TV, but it is on Netflix now.
6. The best TV series ever is Lost, and Person of Interest is very good too. Because they are very exciting and they have great stories
7. My favourite TV programs when I was a child were Sesame Street and Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.
42
Shopping
1. Do you like shopping? Why, why not?
2. Where do you often go shopping?
3. What did you last buy?
4. When did you last buy something online, and what was it?
5. What was the most profitable shopping of your life?
6. What was the worst shopping experience of your life? Why do you think so?
7. When are you planning to go shopping soon, and what do you want to buy?
8. On what do you spend most of your money?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: shopping centre, pharmacy, shoe shop, bookshop, record shop, toy shop, bargain, brand, cashier, casual clothes, sportswear shop, fitting room, try-on, discount, shop assistants, wholesaler, outlet shop, pricey-expensive, cost an arm and a leg, second hand, brand new, shopaholic, shop around, order online
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Shopping
1. I hate shopping. Because I don’t have time to go to shopping centres. And I don’t like shopping centres either.
2. I usually shop on the internet. I rarely go to the Forum Istanbul shopping centre.
3. I last bought a pair of jeans.
4. I last bought a pair of blue jeans online.
5. The most profitable shopping of my life was my car. I bought it 8 years ago and I am still using it. It hasn’t caused me any problems.
6. The worst shopping of my life was my tablet PC. I bought it during the pandemic, but later I saw it was very slow
7. I want to buy a new leather jacket in 2-3 weeks.
8. I usually spend my money on restaurants. I like eating good food and trying new restaurants
41
Your neighbourhood
1. What do you like and dislike about your neighbourhood?
2. What do you have around you? ( cinema, market, theatre, etc)
3. Do you know any good places, parks or shops in your neighbourhood?
4. Who do you usually communicate with within your neighbourhood?
5. What do you usually do when you go out in your neighbourhood?
6. If you didn’t live in that neighbourhood, which neighbourhood would you like to live in and why?
7. Tell us an interesting memory that happened in your neighbourhood.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: downtown, pavement(sidewalk), parking spot, open market, pub, historical place, bakery, bookshop, central location, mosque, gym, bus stop, tram station, underground station, train station, gas station, next to, near, tranquil, busy, crowded, noisy, detached house, apartment blocks, narrow-wide street, avenue, local people
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Your neighbourhood
1. I live in Şehremini. It is a beautiful neighbourhood. I love it because it is a very central location and transportation is very easy. Sometimes we have a parking problem here, and the streets are too narrow.
2. We have a very big park, some small parks and a lot of good restaurants around.
3. Çukurbostan Park is really good. There are a lot of trees and plants, and a 500-meter running track in the park
4. We usually chat with my neighbours. They visit us and we drink tea together with my neighbours.
5. I usually go downtown and go shopping there or eat in the restaurants in Şehremini.
6. If I didn’t live in Şehremini, I would like to live in Fındıkzade or Haseki. Because I love living in the old city
7. I have a lot of funny memories here, but don’t remember any now.
40
Holiday
1. Where did you go on your last holiday? Did you like it?
2. Tell us about the most beautiful places you have seen so far
3. Tell us the best holiday you have had in your life. And why did you like it so much?
4. What are the best holiday places in Turkey?
5. Do you know any good holiday places around your city?
6. Tell us about ur dream holiday place. Why do you want to go there so much?
7. What are your holiday plans for this summer?
8. When you retire, do you want to settle in a holiday town? And why do you want to settle there?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: holiday town, holiday home, go away for the weekend, go out of town, go abroad, go on a picnic, go camping, go sight-seeing, go on a cruise, go on a boat tour, go on a guided tour, go on a school trip, journey, currency, forest, waterfall, attraction, island, old city, downtown, hostel, 4-star hotel, bed and breakfast, guesthouse, buy a holiday package
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Holiday
1. ı went to Tbilisi on my last holiday and loved it. It is a beautiful city with many historical places.
2. The most beautiful places I have seen are London, Montenegro and Prague
3. The best holiday of my life was when I went to Bracknell. It is only 40 minutes from London and is a beautiful English town.
4. The best holiday places in Turkey are Ayvalık and Akçay.
5. Around Istanbul, Erikli is a beautiful city. It has lovely beaches and the city centre is gorgeous too.
6. My dream holiday place is Australia. I want to see and explore the wildlife in Australia.
7. This summer I plan to go to Egypt and see the pyramids and the desert. I want to drive a 4×4 on the desert sands.
8. When I retire, I want to go to holiday towns near the Ida mountains and settle there. The sea and towns there are beautiful, and the air is fresh
39
Ancestors
1. Where were you born?
2. Where are your parents originally from?
3. Tell us about your mother’s/father’s hometown.
4. Do you like your parents’ hometown? Why/why not?
5. Where did your ancestors come from?
6. Tell us about your grandparents
7. Tell us about your great-grandparents
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: grandparents, grand grandparents, parents, my mother’s parents, my father’s parents, grandchildren, originally from, immigrant, migrate, settle, was born and raised in, when I was a child, root, talkative, funny, friendly, helpful, sociable, cute, moody, serious, give pocket money
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Ancestors
1. I was born in Akhisar. Akhisar is a town in Manisa
2. My father is originally from Akhisar too. My mother is from Karabük. My father’s parents are originally from Thessaloniki, Greece
3. Akhisar is a big and populated town in Manisa. It is usually calm, and the people of Akhisar are friendly. Karabüt is a province in the Western Black Sea. It is green and beautiful.
4. I like both cities. Istanbul is usually crowded and stressful. When I go there, I feel relieved.
5. My ancestors came from Greece. They are Turkish immigrants. They came to Bursa about 100 years ago.
6. My grandparents are all dead. They were very friendly and funny.
7. I don’t know my great-grandparents. They came to Bursa and settled there, and after that, they moved to Akhisar
38
Weekend and evenings
1. What do you usually do when you go home in the evening after work?
2. Do you have any hobbies you do in the week?
3. Do you go anywhere in the week?
4. What are the last things you usually do before sleep?
5. What do you do at the weekends?
6. What did you do last weekend?
7. What are you planning to do this weekend?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: go trekking, go cycling, go walking in the park, go shopping, go to a concert, go to the seaside, go to the gym, visit relatives, visit friends, watch a movie, meet up with friends, take a nap, lie on the sofa, take a rest, have dinner with my family, water flowers, do gardening, go away for the weekend, go on a picnic
word game – Weekends and evenings
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Weekend and evenings
1. When I go home, I usually turn on my computer and read the news.
2. I have a lot of hobbies. I watch films and TV series almost every night. I read a book 3 days a week and ı do exercise 5-6 days a week
3. I work every day on weekdays. That’s why I don’t usually go out in the week. Sometimes we go downtown with my wife.
4. Before I sleep, I brush my teeth and wash my face.
5. We are off both on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, we usually go for a meal. We go out too on Sundays, but sometimes we stay in on Sundays.
6. Last weekend we went to a Greek restaurant in Balat. All the food was great
7. This weekend I want to go to a kokoreç restaurant. We may go to Taksim for a walk too.
37
Social media posts and videos
1. Which social media pages or applications do you follow and why?
2. How much time do you spend on social media daily?
3. Which social media pages share the best posts? Why do you like them?
4. Do you sometimes share photos and posts on social media? What do you usually share?
5. Tell us about the funniest Facebook, Instagram or Twitter posts
6. Tell us about the funniest videos you have seen on social media
7. Tell us about interesting and informative posts and what you learned from them.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: YouTube video, Facebook post, Instagram post, read tweets, short footage, funny videos, cat videos, comics, share news, read articles on the internet, video log, travel video, repair videos, technology videos, short videos, cookery videos, makeup videos, travel tips, repair tips, funny posts, caps
word game – Social media posts and videos
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Social media posts and videos
1. I don’t like social media. I am not active on Instagram and don’t have a TikTok account. I have a Twitter account. I sometimes follow YouTube and watch interesting videos.
2. I spend about 10 minutes on social media
3. I think YouTube shares the most interesting and educational videos.
4. I only share photos with my friends when visiting a new city or country.
5. There is a lot of funny content on social media. I think the videos of the Gibi TV series are very funny.
6. The funniest video on social media is Ilkkan’s monologue from the Gibi series. It starts with “You are getting old, Ilkkan, you are not!”
7. I usually learn from documentaries, not social media posts.
36
Travelling
1. What’s your favourite way of travelling?
2. When did you last have a long journey?
3. Where did you go? Did you enjoy it?
4. What did you like and dislike about your last journey?
5. Did you experience interesting or funny incidents on your last journey?
6. Where do you want to travel in your next opportunity?
7. Did you have any trouble when you travelled somewhere? An accident, lost luggage, flat tyre …
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: journey, flight, map, check-in, take photos, attractions, go sightseeing, luggage, passenger, travel light, suitcase, trip, walk around, do shopping, tent, travel by car, travel by plane, travel by bus, go on a cruise, go on foot, pull over, have a coffee break
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Travelling
1. I like travelling by car and walking.
2. I had a long journey last summer. We drove to Altınoluk and visited my parents.
3. We went to my parents’ house. We had a lot of fun. My close friends also live in Akçay. We had a great time together.
4. I liked driving at the seaside. We opened the windows and listened to music. But the weather was extremely hot last summer.
5. We visited a fascinating museum. We saw a lot of interesting and antique items.
6. Next summer we want to drive to Greece. My close friend from university, Chousin, invites me every summer. We went once, but we will go again this summer to visit my friend.
7. In 2019, we went to Prague and THY lost our luggage. We had to stay in our house for 2 days for the luggage
35
Happiness
1. When do you usually feel happy? And what makes you happy?
2. Who is the happiest person around you? Why is he/she so happy?
3. Who is the most unhappy person around you? Why do you think he/she is so unhappy?
4. What do you do when you feel bored?
5. Are you feeling happy these days? And why?
6. Tell us about the happiest time of your life. Why were you so happy? How did you have so much fun?
7. Tell us some happy memories
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: joy, have a lot of fun, delighted, cheerful, glad, I’m crazy about, in a good mood, in a bad mood, overjoyed, smile from ear to ear, over the moon, it made my day, enjoyable, humorous, hang out with friends, spend time with family, have coffee with friends, leisure time, experience new activities, do something new
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Happiness
1. I feel happy at home on a cold winter day. Tranquility makes me happy
2. My mother is the happiest person around me. She lives in Altınoluk in a very calm place. Talking to people on the phone makes her happy.
3. The most unhappy person around me is my cousin. He always complains about politics in Turkey.
4. I go for a walk when I am bored. Walking relieves me.
5. I am feeling great these days. Spoken Cafe is very busy and we have a lot of students these days.
6. The happiest time of my life was my university years. Because I was very social and I had great friends. And also now is a very happy time for me. I have my own business, a lot of students and a lot of good friends.
7. At university, we were laid back. We were young and we didn’t care about anything. We didn’t have any stress. Most of the time we didn’t attend our lessons, and sometimes we didn’t participate in the visa or final exams.
34
Good and bad times
1. When did you last have a good time? Why did you enjoy it so much?
2. When did you last have a terrible time? Why was it so bad?
3. Are you now in a good time in your life? Why do you think the present is so good/bad?
4. Tell us about the best times in your life.
5. Tell us about the worst experiences ever.
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: have a wonderful time, have a terrible time, recently, nowadays, currently, good memories, bad memories, bittersweet memories, unforgettable, disappointment, feel lonely, school years, university years, at the beginning of my career, enjoyable, have a lot of fun, go to a party, in my childhood, unlucky day, lucky day
word game – Good and bad times
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Good and bad times
1. Yesterday I was at our Kadıköy branch. I did some repair work and later, students came and we had a great time.
2. The weather was extremely hot last summer for 2-3 weeks. Whenever I went out, the sun burnt my skin and I started itching.
3. Yes, now is a great time for me. Spoken Cafe is very busy, and we did a lot of curriculum work this year.
4. The greatest time of my life was my university years. Because I was very social and I had great friends. And now is also a great time for me. I have my own business, a lot of students and a lot of good friends.
5. I failed for two years at university. In my fifth and sixth years, all my classmates graduated from our faculty. Two close friends and I studied hard to finish school.
33
The weather and season
1. What is your favourite season? And why?
2. Are you a summer person or a winter person? Why do you feel so?
3. Which weather condition do you like best and why? (rain, snow, wind, sun, etc.)
4. Which summer and winter sports do you do? Why do you like them?
5. In which season do you like going into nature and why?
6. What do you usually like doing in the summer, winter, spring and autumn?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: rainbow, rain cats and dogs, shower, sunrise, sunset, windy, dry, humid, snowy, foggy, summer breeze, boiling, freezing, cool, warm, heat-wave, lightning, storm, shiny, clear, sunshine, allergies, vacation, leaves fall, flowers bloom
word game – The weather and season
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: The weather and season
1. My favourite season is spring. Because it is not very hot or cold, the trees are colourful and the air is fresh in spring.
2. I am a summer person. Because I like travelling in the summer and tracking in the mountains in the summer.
3. I like the rain. Because when it rains, there is a fresh smell in the air. And watching the streets is beautiful during the rain.
4. In the summer, I usually run in the park at night and swim a lot.
5. In spring and summer, I go to forests or mountains
6. In winter, I like staying in and watching TV series. In summer I usually travel or go abroad. I work a lot in autumn and don’t go out very often. In spring, I go camping or go on picnics.
32
Work
1. Tell us about your job
2. What do you like and dislike about your job?
3. What do you do during the day at work?
4. Tell us about your workmates.
5. Who is your favourite workmate and why?
6. What did you do before you started your current job?
7. Do you have any work or future career plans?
8. What would you like to do if you could change your job?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5, Grammar6
Related Words: self-employed, shop owner, shop assistant, artist, architect, engineer, plumber, technician, repairman, employer, employee, workmates, run a firm, salary, interview, minimum wage, well-paid job, permanent job, temporary job, apprentice/trainee, work overtime, work flexible hours, get retired, manager, assistant manager
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Work
1. I am an English language teacher. I am self-employed. I manage Spoken Cafe, and I do curriculum work for Spoken Cafe. I arrange English learning groups and I manage the teachers and the system of Spoken Cafe.
2. I like it because it is a lot of fun. I am very social and I have met thousands of people. Sometimes it is hard because I work till 10 pm every weekday. Sometimes it is hard to manage the finances of our business
3. I go to work in the afternoon and leave at about 10 pm. In the afternoon, we check the evening groups, our teachers and students. After that, we have a lot of visitors, sometimes we have meetings before the evening. During the evening sessions, I usually do curriculum work and make a lot of English content.
4. My wife works here with m,e and also we have a teacher, Yaren. My wife, Esra, manages most of our business and follows our groups and students. She is very helpful during the day. She is a lot of fun. We have another part-time teacher, Alvaro. He is also a lot of fun and helpful. We have Hamza in charge in Kadıköy. He is a very social and talented young man.
5. My favourite workmate is Esra. She works a lot and she does most of the work.
6. Before I opened Spoken Cafe, and after I opened it, I worked at some universities like Istanbul University, Bilgi University, Medipol University and Air Force Academy. I have worked as an English language teacher and lecturer.
7. I plan to have managers in all our branches and want to travel more.
8. If I could change my job, I would like to be a physicist or an engineer.
31
TV
1. When and where do you usually watch TV?
2. Who do you usually watch TV with?
3. Can you describe your television if you have one at home? How is it, and why did you buy that brand and model?
4. Have you ever appeared on TV? Did you speak? And what did you talk about?
5. If you haven’t appeared on TV, do you have any friends or relatives who were on TV? What was it about?
6. Tell us your favourite TV programmes. And why do you like them?
7. What are the best Turkish TV series? What are they about?
8. What are the best foreign TV series? And why do you think so?
9. Tell us the TV programmes which you liked when you were younger
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: documentary, news, quiz show, talk show, game show, TV series, soap opera, episode, travel program, sports program, talent show, reality show, sitcom, music program, current affairs, cooking show, educational program, live program, sports match, historical film, comedy, science fiction, real-life story, fantastic film, animation film
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: TV
1. I don’t have a TV in my house. That’s why I watch TV when I visit relatives.
2. I watch TV with my mother and my wife.
3. I don’t have a TV but a projector and sound system in my living room. It is about 3 metres wide
4. I have appeared on TV about 15-20 times. I talked about Spoken Cafe and how people should learn English.
5. My cousin is an actress. She acted in some TV series.
6. My favourite TV program is “How it is made” I like it because it shows how things are made
7. The best Turkish TV series is Gibi. It is about 3 close friends living in the same apartment. They have funny and absurd adventures.
8. The best foreign TV series is Lost. Because it has a very clever story and mysterious incidents
9. As a child, I watched Knight Rider, A-Team and MacGyver. Knight Rider was a TV series about Michael Knight and his high-tech car, the KITT. It was very exciting. The A-team was exciting and fun too. MacGyver was my hero. He was a very clever man. He solved all problems with his intelligence. He always had practical solutions to problems.
30
Childhood and youth
1. What did you do when you were a child and when you were a teenager?
2. What were your hobbies?
3. Where did you live when you were a child? Tell us about that neighbourhood
4. Who were your close friends? Where are they and what are they doing now?
5. Who were your best teachers when you were a child? Why did you like them?
6. Do you have any happy memories from your childhood? Tell us the story.
7. Tell us about a film you will never forget that you watched as a child.
8. Tell us your favourite cartoons when you were a child and your favourite TV programmes when you were young.
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: In my childhood, when I was a child, kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, high school, university years, nostalgia, classmate, buddies, close friends, best friends, in my hometown, unforgettable memory, unforgettable teachers, happy memories, sad memories, have a big circle, feel lonely, successful student, lazy student, graduate
word game – Childhood and youth
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Childhood and youth
1. When I was a child, I was a very curious child. I used to read a lot of books and encyclopedias, and I did a lot of science experiments
2. I made toys and I read a lot. And I climbed mountains and hills.
3. I lived in Soma when I was a child. It is a small but beautiful town in Manisa. We had 3 parks and a busy street in the centre. There were a lot of forests and mountains around Soma.
4. I had a lot of close friends. They all studied. Some became teachers, some became engineers, and some became English teachers.
5. My best teachers were Şefika, my Turkish teacher and Yunus and Selma, my English teachers. I loved them because they taught me a lot. Şefika made me love reading. Yunus taught me English, and he inspired me as an English teacher. Selma was very young, but a perfect teacher too. She helped me to pass my university exam.
6. I had many happy memories. When I learned English in my prep class, it was the happiest time of my childhood. I learned English and learned a lot about world cultures. At that time, there was no internet or English movies. In a small town like Soma, I was so lucky to have my English teacher, Yunus and have English classes for a year.
7. I watched Robocop when I was in secondary school. It was the first movie I watched at the cinema. That’s why that film is special to me. I went to summer cinemas with my mother, but there were always Turkish ökovies at summer cinemas. Robocop was the first Hollywood movie I watched in English with Turkish subtitles.
8. I loved Lucky Luke and Inspector Gadget as a child. And my favourite TV programme was Sesame Street. And my favourite TV series was MacGyver.
29
Things to do
1. Do you have anything to do or plans after our meeting?
2. Do you have anything to do or finish nowadays?
3. Do you have any meetings soon with your friends or family? What are you planning to do?
4. Do you need to buy anything soon? What is it?
5. Are you planning to have a holiday soon? What’s your holiday plan?
6. Do you have anything to do at the weekend or have any plans?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: be free, have nothing to do, decide, waste time, spend time with family, spend time with friends, hang out, feel like doing something, work out, I’m thinking of doing, meet up with friends, gather with family, watch tv series, do sports, rest, take a nap, invite friends, stay in, go out, have a quiet night in
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Things to do
1. I don’t have any plans tonight. I will go home and relax.
2. I need to finish the Spoken Cafe beginner-level curriculum these days. And we will start a new project about reading.
3. We will gather with some old friends on New Year’s night.
4. I need to buy a new telephone these days. My old phone is very slow now.
5. We are planning to go to Belgrade soon. We want to visit the historical places in that city.
6. At the weekend, we plan to host some students from our faculty in our Kadıköy branch. We are always in touch with our young colleagues.
28
Music
1. Do you know any good radio stations?
2. Where do you often listen to music?
3. What type of music do you like?
4. Which one do you think is the best soundtrack? Why do you like that soundtrack and movie?
5. Do you play an instrument or did you use to play one before?
6. What type of music and which singers did you listen to when you were younger?
7. When did you last go to a concert? Did you like it?
8. Tell us about the best concert you have been to in your life
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: album, alternative rock, rock music, heavy metal, house music, music band, folk music, a hit, live music, protest music, soundtrack, choir, foreign music, slow music, soft music, orchestra, singer, composer, a duet, taste in music, audience
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Music
1. Yes. I like Radyo Eksen and Rock FM
2. I listen to the radio when I drive. I sometimes listen to my YouTube Music lists in my car.
3. I like Rock Music. Sometimes, I listen to Anatolian rock and protest music.
4. I think the best soundtracks are the Rocky soundtracks. I love the Eye of the Tiger song. I like both the film and the music. It is a perfect match for Rocky’s character.
5. When I was in high school, I played the piano and short bağlama. After I started university, I started playing the classical guitar. In my 3rd year of university, I started playing the acoustic guitar.
6. When I was in high school, I listened to Anatolian Rock Music and Turkish Folk Music. At university, I started listening to foreign Rock music
7. I last went to the Hayko Cepkin concert. I loved it
8. I think the best concert I have ever seen was the Yeni Turkü concert. It was a lot of fun
27
Friends
1. Tell us about your best friends at university or high school and your present friends
2. Tell us about your workmates or classmates. Which ones are your favourite?
3. Do you have any interesting or very successful friends? What makes them interesting or successful?
4. What do you usually do with your friends?
5. Do you have any specific places where you meet up with your friends?
6. What is the best favour a friend has done for you or a favour you’ve done for a friend?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: buddy, classmate, roommate, dormmate, workmate, close friend, have a big circle, have a small circle, hometowner, humble, serious, humorous, enjoyable, sociable, easy-going, generous, helpful, considerate, laid-back, intelligent, clever, intellectual, lazy, successful, polite, quiet, talkative, energetic, calm, talented, artistic, stingy, trustworthy, wise
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Friends
1. My best friends at university were my flatmates and classmates. Gökay, Devrim Gökhan and Abduş were my classmates. Gökay is an English language teacher in Karasu, Devrim is an academic at the ELT department in my faculty now, Gökhan is an English teacher and an artist in Berlin, and Abduş is an English language teacher in a state school. Murat, Zafer and Civan were my flatmates. Murat is a bank officer, Zafer is a barman, and Civan is working in the Netherlands.
2. I have a lot of workmates and colleagues. I am working with my wife, Esra. She does all the management and arrangements of Spoken cafe. yaren and Alvaro are our fulltime English teachers. They are very good teachers and they are both a lot of fun.
3. My friend Devrim is a very successful academic. He is very successful and well-known in our field, ELT.
4. I usually gather with my old friends in the summer in Akçay. We walk around together and enjoy our holiday together.
5. We meet on holiday in Akçay or go abroad with my close friends. We love exploring foreign cultures and cities.
6. My friends always supported me with my business, and I always shared my problems or plans with my friends.
26
Sports
1. How often do you exercise? What do you do?
2. Did you play in any professional or non-professional sports teams when you were younger?
3. What is your favourite sport and sports team, and do you follow it?
4. What is the best sport in the world? Why do you think so?
5. Who is your favourite athlete and why?
6. Who is the most legendary athlete in history? Why do you think so?
7. What is your favourite movie about sports, and tell us the story
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: work out, go to the gym, do training, trainer, push up, sit up, table tennis, athlete, ride a bike, go running, jogging, do weight-lifting, play badminton, diving, tournament, exercise, wrestling, lift a barbell, warm up, stretch, skip rope, burn calories, cardio
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Sports
1. I do exercise almost every day. I do cardio and fitness. Once or twice a week I go running in the park.
2. I didn’t play in any professional or non-professional team
3. My favourite football team is Beşiktaş. I never watch football. The last time I watched a Beşiktaş game was in 2008.
4. All sports are good. I think running and swimming are one of the best sports.
5. My favourite athlete is Mike Tyson. He was the fastest and strongest boxer in boxing history
6. I think George Foreman was a legend. He became the oldest-ever heavyweight boxing champion. He was 45 and he wasn’t in very good shape.
7. My favourite sports movie is the Rocky series. Rocky Balboa was an ordinary man, and he was poor. He was given the chance to fight the best boxer. He trained hard, and he had two great matches against Apollo Creed
25
Computer programs, mobile applications and PC, mobile games
1. What are your favourite computer programs?
2. What are your favourite mobile applications?
3. What’s the best mobile application and why do you think so?
4. Do you play any mobile games or computer games?
5. Tell us about your first computer and mobile phone. Which programs and games did you use or play on them?
6. Which programs did you like best when you first started using a computer?
7. What games did you play on the computer when you were younger?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: app, mobile game, pc game, video game, game console, multimedia software, education software, translator, simulation software, social media app, productivity app, news app, music app, travel app, dating app, reminder, calculator, flashlight app, weather app, shopping app
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Computer programs, mobile applications and PC, mobile games
1. My favourite computer program is Google Chrome. I surf the internet every day, and Chrome is very practical.
2. My favourite mobile app is the Spoken Cafe App. It teaches a lot, has a lot of topics and materials like an English course book, and it gathers a lot of students and good teachers.
3. The best mobile application is Google Maps. Because it helps people find their way and find good restaurants and places.
4. I don’t play any mobile games.
5. On my computer, I use the web browser, Google Chrome. I usually check the Spoken Cafe website, and I study our English curriculum on our website. On my mobile, I use WhatsApp mostly to arrange my work.
6. When I started using a PC, I watched a lot of movies and listened to music. I used Media Player Classic for movies and Winamp for music.
7. When I was younger, I played Command and Conquer Generals. It was a very good strategy game.
24
Abilities
1. Do you have any special abilities? Like singing, driving, walking on your hands, moving your nose, etc.
2. What’s your greatest ability?
3. Do you have any strange or interesting abilities?
4. Can you play any instruments?
5. Can you do any sports very well? What do you do?
6. Can you write poems or stories?
7. What can’t you do, and do you want to be able to do it very much?
Grammar
Related Words: I’m good at, I’m bad at, I’m terrible at, I’m brilliant at, I’m hopeless at, I’m useless at, play an instrument, work in a team, deal with people, speak in public, ride a horse, ride a motorbike/bike, scuba diving, cook, use technological devices, lead groups, organize, arrange, repair, paint, draw, build
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Abilities
1. I can play the guitar and the piano. I am very good at swimming. I can also run 10-11 km distances when I am in good shape. Generally, I run about 4-5 km.
2. My greatest ability is my creativity. I am a very curious person. I always think about and do business plans.
3. I can bend my fingers to both sides
4. I can play the guitar. Both acoustic and classical guitars.
5. I can swim, ride a bike and box. I can swim very well.
6. I can’t write poems, but I can write stories.
7. I can’t fly a plane. I would love to know how to fly a plane.
23
Last weekend
1. How was your weekend?
2. What did you do on Friday night?
3. What did you do on Saturday?
4. What did you do on Sunday?
5. Did you go anywhere interesting? If yes, why did you go there?
6. Tell us about the best weekend you had recently
7. What are your weekend plans for next weekend and the following weeks?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: quiet weekend, wild weekend, go out, rest, eat out, go for a drink, go away for the weekend, do cleaning, do gardening, go trekking, go camping, go on a picnic, go to the park, go to the seaside, gather with friends, visit relatives, host friends
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Last weekend
1. Last weekend was great. I had a great time with my wife and friends.
2. I worked on Friday and I went home late. I was at home on Friday night.
3. On Saturday, I stayed in all day. I went shopping for food in the evening.
4. On Sunday, we made pizza and watched The Godfather 2.
5. No, I didn’t. I had a quiet weekend last weekend.
6. The best weekend I had recently was 3-4 weeks ago. We went to a good restaurant and gathered with some friends in Taksim.
7. Next weekend we are planning to go to Pristina and Skopje. We are going to rent a car at Pristina airport, stay a night in Pristina and go to Skopje the next day. We will spend one day in each city
22
Help
1. When did you last help a stranger, and what did you do?
2. When did a stranger last help you, and what did he/she do?
3. When did you last help someone you know, and what did you do?
4. When did someone you know help you? What did he/she do?
5. What was the best favour someone did for you?
6. What was the biggest favour you have done for someone?
Grammar
Related Words: push a car, charity, donate, help the elderly cross the street, give advice, share your food, share your money, help someone with their lessons, give directions, feed animals, pay the bill, buy a drink for someone, buy a meal for someone, help a friend move their house
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Help
1. I helped a stranger last week. I helped them find the way to the Şehremini bus stop.
2. A stranger helped me last month. He gave me my key when I dropped it.
3. I helped my friend last Sunday. I helped them carry their heavy shopping bags.
4. My brother helped me yesterday. He helped me fix my phone.
5. The best favour someone did for me was when my friend gave me a ride home when I was stuck in Kadıköy. None of the taxis accepted us.
6. The biggest favour I did for someone was when I helped my friend move to a new house.
21
Problems
1. What problems do you have nowadays?
2. What are the problems you have at work?
3. Do you have any health problems?
4. Did you have any health problems earlier?
5. Tell us about some problems earlier. What were they, and how did you get over the problem?
6. What are the main problems of İstanbul and our country?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: get over a problem, recover from an illness, financial problems, be broke, have an accident, be busy at work, use a medicine, unemployed, fail a test, unlucky, failure, have a bad day, get injured, broken, mobbing, problematic, work long hours, deadline, crisis
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Problems
1. I don’t have many problems now. Sometimes, I feel tired.
2. At work, sometimes I have too much to do, and it’s hard to finish everything on time.
3. No, I don’t have any health problems at the moment. I feel good.
4. Yes, I had a cold last month. It was not very serious, and I rested to get better.
5. Last year, I had trouble with my studies. I spent more time studying, and I asked for help from my teacher.
6. The main problems in İstanbul are traffic and parking problems. In our country, there are also problems with jobs and the economy.
20
Health
1. What do you do for good health?
2. How often do you do sports, and what do you do?
3. Do you have any health problems?
4. Do you have any people around you who have serious problems?
5. Do you have any people around you who are health professionals? If yes, what’s his/her profession? Where does he-she work?
6. Have you ever had a serious health problem? How did you recover?
7. Have you ever stayed in a hospital? If yes, what was your health problem?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: fever, high blood pressure, broken arm, toothache, stomachache, runny nose, cough, feel dizzy, sore throat, flat-footed, headache, poisoned, allergy, catch a cold, bed rest, blood test, pharmacy, medicine
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Health
1. I eat healthy food, and I never drink fizzy drinks. I never eat after 6 pm, and I don’t eat white bread at dinner.
2. I do fitness every two days. Sometimes I go running in the park at the weekends.
3. No, I don’t have any health problems now.
4. No, I don’t know anyone with serious health problems right now.
5. My sister is a nurse in Manisa. And we have a lot of students who are doctors, as our Fındıkzade branch is very close to hospitals
6. I had chronic bronchitis about 24 years ago. I cam to Istanbul from Soma. People in Soma usually have this problem. I recovered after 3-4 years. The air in Istanbul is less polluted than in Soma.
7. No, I have never stayed in a Hospital.
19
Telling stories
1. Tell us some experiences that happened to you or your friends
2. Tell us a story your parents or grandparents told you, and you will never forget.
3. Tell us a funny story or ask a riddle to your friends
4. Tell us some funny or interesting videos or news that you saw on TV or the internet
5. Tell us the story of your favourite book or movie
Bonus: tell us a joke
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: once upon a time, the other day, once, during, while, when, after, before, until, in fact, actually, as soon as, whenever, that day, that morning, then
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Telling stories
1. One time, my wife couldn’t get out of the underground train in London, and we had no internet on our phones. I waited at the same station. She came back to the station with the next train. It was a little scary, but we laughed about it later.
2. My grandmother once told me about how she walked 15 km to school every day when she was a child. I will never forget that because it was so hard for her.
3. Here is a funny story: I tried to make cold coffee with milk but accidentally used salt instead of sugar. The coffee was very salty, and we all laughed a lot.
4. I saw a funny video of a cat trying to catch a laser pointer, but it kept missing it. It was very funny!
5. My favourite movie is “The Lion King.” It is about a young lion named Simba. He grows up and learns to be brave. He becomes king and saves his home.
Bonus: Here’s a funny joke:
Why did the bicycle fall over?
Because it was two-tired!
18
Home
1. Where is your home? Which floor is it?
2. Tell us about your home
3. What do you like and dislike about it?
4. What’s your favourite room or place in your home and why?
5. What do you usually do at home when you have free time?
6. What’s your favourite activity at home?
7. Who usually visits your house? And what do you do with them?
8. What are you planning to buy for your home nowadays?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: first floor, top floor, basement, sofa, armchair, corner sofa, coffee table, cellar, detached house, hallway, floor, ceiling, stairs, wardrobe, cushion, fridge, stove, fireplace, balcony, curtains, chandelier, a nature painting, a family photo
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Home
1. My home is very close to Spoken Cafe Fındıkzade. It is only 400 meters away. It is on the first and second floors. It is a duplex apartment.
2. My home is a duplex, but a small apartment. 2 rooms and one bedroom. We have two balconies on the 1st and 2nd floors, a small kitchen and a spacious living room.
3. I like it because it is in a very central location, on a busy street. ı don’t like the noise. Our street is very busy and it is always noisy. We can’t rest enough.
4. My favourite room is my living room. Because it has everything I need. And it is very comfortable.
5. Every two days, I watch a film on my projector and watch movies or TV series. I do exercise at the same time. Every two days, I spend my night in my bedroom and read a book.
6. My favourite activity at home is watching films or TV series because we have a huge projector and good home theatre systems. It is fun to watch things with our movie system.
7. Our friend and teacher Yaren and my other close friends usually visit us. We eat pizza and watch films together.
8. I am planning to buy a new technology computer these days. My computer is older than 10 years. Sometimes it is very slow for our work tasks.
17
Personality :
1. Describe your personality.
2. What are your good sides?
3. What are your bad sides?
4. What makes you happy?
5. What makes you angry?
6. What kind of behaviour irritates you the most?
7. When and where do you feel the most comfortable?
8. What do you want to change about your personality and why?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: nice, self-disciplined, adventurous, confident, sensible, sensitive, hardworking, lazy, determined, optimistic, pessimistic, optimist, pessimist, ambitious, honest, humble, arrogant, sincere, humorous, patient, smart, sociable, easy-going, persistent, artistic, sympathetic, talkative, intelligent, clever, calm, introvert, extravert, generous, stubborn, bad-tempered, self-centred, moody
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Personality: Hello. I am Emre, and I am one of the students at Spoken Cafe
1. I am friendly and helpful. I like to talk to people and help them.
2. I am kind and patient, and I listen well to others.
3. Sometimes, I can be slow to understand some things, and I don’t always know how people feel.
4. I feel happy when I can help someone or when people are kind to each other.
5. I do not feel angry, but I understand when people are upset because of unfair things.
6. I think people can get upset when someone is rude or does not listen.
7. I feel comfortable when I help people. I like to be in a quiet place with kind people.
8. I would like to understand feelings better so I can help people even more.
16
Entertainment
1. When did you last have a great time?
2. What’s your favourite activity? Why do you think it is so much fun?
3. What is the most enjoyable activity you have ever done?
4. What activities do you usually do to have fun?
5. What do you do when you get bored?
6. Are you planning to do any fun activities soon?
7. What’s enjoyable about learning English? Do you enjoy learning English?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: gathering, fun fair, casino, movie theatre-cinema, pub, play cards, play board games, go fishing, enjoyable, play backgammon, play video games, zoo, chat with friends, gossip, meet up with friends, go for a drink, go for a meal, go out, stay in, workshop
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Entertainment: Hello. I am İrem, and I am one of the students at Spoken Cafe.
1. I had a great time last weekend. I went out with friends, and we laughed a lot.
2. My favourite activity is playing games. It is fun because I can relax and enjoy time with friends.
3. The most enjoyable activity I did was going to the beach in Akçay. I swam in the sea and played volleyball. It was very fun.
4. I usually watch movies, play sports, or go for walks to have fun.
5. When I get bored, I go out and walk in Çukurbostan Park in Çapa.
6. Yes, I am planning to visit a museum with my family this weekend.
7. Learning English is fun because I can talk to people from different places in Istanbul. Spoken cafe makes English learning even more fun. We talk and laugh a lot.
15
Learning languages
1. How do you study English?
2. What do you do before and after Spoken Cafe?
3. How did you improve your English before you came here?
4. Do you know any good software and websites for learning English?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: study, review, memorize, listen to podcasts, watch films with English subtitles, read short stories, practice English, study grammar, make sentences, verbs, adjectives, nouns
word game – Learning languages
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Learning languages
1. I study English by reading books, listening to music, and watching videos in English. I also learn English at Spoken Cafe
2. Before Spoken Cafe, I prepare Spoken cafe topics. I write them in my notebook and review them before my Spoken cafe session. After Spoken Cafe, I practice what I learned and repeat difficult words.
3. Before I came here, I improved my English by studying at school, watching English movies, and playing computer games
4. I know some good apps and websites like Duolingo and BBC Learning English. These help me learn English.
14
Plans
1. What are your short-term plans?
2. What are your long-term plans?
3. Do you have any plans for your business or your work?
4. Do you have any plans for your education?
6. What are your plans for the weekend?
7. Do you have any holiday plans for soon?
8. Are you planning to buy anything nowadays?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: free, busy, weekdays, have nothing to do, have a lot to do, decide, waste time, spend time with family/friends, hang out, feel like doing nothing, feel like going out, work out, I’m thinking of going away for the weekend, meet up with friends, gather with family, watch tv series, do sports, rest, take a nap, invite friends, stay in, have a quiet night in
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Plans
1. My short-term plans are to relax and enjoy my free time. This weekend we will ride a horse in Sarıyer, Hasat Çiftlik. They have friendly horses and a great breakfast. It is a family-friendly place.
2. My long-term plans are to travel more and learn more.
3. Yes, we have a lot of plans for our business, but they are all secret.
4. No. I am too old for new schools. I want to read more books
6. This weekend, I plan to rest.
7. Yes. This summer we are going to Serbia.
8. Yes, I am planning to renew my phone. Next weekend we will be in Kosovo. We will buy a new phone there.
13
Astrology
1. Do you believe in astrology?
2. What’s your star sign?
3. What are its characteristics?
4. Do you reflect the characteristics of your star sign?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, rising sign, selfish, helpful, domestic, self-disciplined, smart, confident, sensible, hardworking, lazy, optimistic, pessimistic, ambitious, honest, arrogant, sincere, funny, patient, sociable, persistent, artistic, sympathetic, talkative, intelligent, sensitive, introvert, extravert, stubborn, bad-tempered, moody
word game – Astrology Starsigns
word game – Astrology Character1
word game – Astrology Character2
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Astrology: Hello. I am Zafer. I am one of the students at Spoken Cafe.
1. I don’t believe in astrology.
2. My star sign is Aries.
3. People believe Aries people are brave, energetic, and confident.
4. Yes, I think I am brave and like to try new things, just like Aries people.
12
Technology
1. Do you like the English Spoken Cafe application? How do you use it? What do you think we should add to our application?
2. Are you a technology person or a traditional person? Explain why you feel so
3. What do you like and dislike about technology?
4. How do you use technology in your daily life and at work?
5. How do you use your mobile?
6. Can you show us and tell us which applications you use? What do you use them for?
7. Do you have any favourite mobile applications, and why are they your favourite?
8. What do you think is the best invention? Why do you think so?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: scientist, app, desktop, laptop, projector, screen, monitor, install, operating system, surf the web, crash, touchscreen, memory, artificial intelligence, social media
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Technology
1. Yes, I like the Spoken Cafe app. I use it to prepare for my topics. Maybe you could add more games to make learning more fun.
2. I am more of a technology person. I like using phones and computers because they help me work faster.
3. I like that technology makes life easier, but sometimes I don’t like how it can be distracting.
4. I use technology every day for work, like checking emails and using apps. At home, I use it to watch videos or chat with friends.
5. I use my mobile to talk to my family, check the weather, take photos, and use apps to learn new things.
6. I use apps like WhatsApp to chat, Google Maps to find places, YouTube to watch videos, and the Spoken Cafe app to learn English
7. My favourite app is YouTube because I can watch so many interesting or funny videos and learn new things.
8. I think the Internet is the best invention. It helps us find information and talk to people.
11
School years
1. At which schools did you study from primary school to university?
2. Which schools did you like and why?
3. What did you usually do in your free time at school?
4. Who were your favourite teachers and lessons and why?
5. Who were your best friends in primary school, high school and university? Are you still in touch?
6. What did you like and dislike about your school?
7. Tell us memories you never forget from your school years
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: Science, History, Geography, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Education, Social Studies, Art, Literature, Religion, Physics, Philosophy, kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, high school, classmate, buddy, best friend, close friend, principal
word game – School years subjects
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: School years:
1. I started primary school in Akhisar, at Gazi Primary School. After that, we moved to Soma. There I studied at Naciye Evren Primary School, Soma Linyit Secondary School and Soma Linyit Super High School. I came to ıstanbul for university studies and I studied English Language teaching at Istanbul University Education Faculty.
2. I loved Istanbul University most because I had the best times with my friends. My faculty was in the middle of Istanbul in beyazıt. I was both in the middle of history and modern Istanbul.
3. We usually sat and chatted in the faculty yard. We had a lot of fun.
4. My favourite teachers were my English and Turkish teachers. Yunus Gündüz was the best English teacher I have met in my life. Şefika Turan was my Turkish teacher. Because of Şefika, I currently have the habit of reading. She also taught me a lot. Selma was my English teacher while I was studying for the university entrance exam. She helped me a lot to be successful in the university entrance exam.
5. I had a lot of close friends in high school and university. When I was a child, we moved a lot, so I couldn’t have long-term friendships. I am still in touch with my university friends Devrim, Murat, Zafer, Civan, Gökay, Abduş and Gökhan.
6. I mostly liked all my schools. There is nothing I disliked about them
7. I have a lot of memories. I will tell you one. One day, my friend Civan’s mother, Safinans teyze, came to visit our flat. At that time, the kitchen was untidy and a bit dirty. 5 guys lived in that apartment, it was normal for us. We told her not to go to the kitchen, but she insisted on going to the kitchen. She wanted to clean it a bit. Suddenly she screamed because of an insect. “Insect!!!”, she yelled. With that shock, Zafer ran to the kitchen. He said, “Don’t be afraid, Safinaz Teyze. Mice eat those insects.”
10
Summer
1. Do you like summer? If yes, why? If not, why not?
2. What do you like and dislike about it?
3. What did you do last summer?
4. What are you going to do next summer?
5. Do you have any summer hobbies?
6. Is there a specific place to go every summer, where and why?
7. Tell us about the best summer you had in your life
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: vacation, swimsuit, waterpark, watermelon, melon, trip, kite, sunbathe, sunscreen, sandcastle, beach, suntan, backpack, travel light, boat tour, journey, road trip, seaside, shorts, swim trunks, summer house, tent, go camping, walk on the beach, walk at the seaside, summer fruits
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Summer
1. Yes, I like summer! It is warm, and I can go outside more.
2. I like the sun, long days, and ice cream! But I don’t like it when it is too hot.
3. Last summer, I went to Altınoluk and Akçay. We gathered with my friends every night. We had a lot of fun.
4. Next summer, I want to go to Belgrade.
5. Yes, I like swimming and riding a bike in summer.
6. Yes, I go to Altınoluk and Akçay every summer. My parents live there.
7. The best summer was when I went to London with my wife and my friends from Spoken Cafe.
9
Places
1. What are your favourite places and why do you like them?
2. Where do you often spend your weekends?
3. Which places do you want to see nowadays and why?
4. When did you last go to a different place? Did you like it?
5. What is the best place in the world? Why do you think so?
6. Which places did you like when you were a child? Why did you like them so much?
7. Tell us about the best place you have seen in your life. Why do you think it was so beautiful?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4
Related Words: bookshop, bakery, pub, park, gym, zoo, shopping centre, quiet, crowded, busy street, tranquil, children’s playground, holiday town, relaxing, attractions, historical places, shopping centre, cinema-movie theatre, supermarket, market place, historical bazaar, library, funfair
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Places
1. I like the old city of Istanbul. I have been living here for 24 years and I love this place.
2. I usually spend my weekends in Şehremini, Taksim or Karaköy. On Saturdays, I sometimes visit our Kadıköy branch.
3. I want to see the pyramids in Egypt these days. I am curious about life in Egypt and the deserts.
4. 3 months ago I visited Tbilisi. It was a historical city and they have a different culture.
5. I think Istanbul is the best place. I have seen many different countries and cities. Istanbul is always more fun.
6. I liked Dikili and Ayvalık. In the summers, we visited those places with my parents. I liked them because I loved the sea when I was a child.
7. Istanbul is the best place. But if we talk about other countries, London was the best. They have a great history and beautiful streets and parks.
8
Hobbies and pastimes
1. Tell us about your hobbies
2. What do you often do in your free time?
3. What do you usually do at home?
4. Do you do any sports as a hobby?
5. What hobbies do you have with your close friends?
6. What hobbies did you have when you were younger?
7. How did you spend your time during the quarantine?
8. What hobbies do you want to have and why?
9. What subjects are you interested in and why?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: eat out, do exercise, go to the gym, walk in the park, cook, gardening, play the guitar, ride a bike, ride a horse, watch films, watch TV series, read, play cards, surf the internet, do a puzzle, play board games, play computer games, play online games, go camping, go dancing, fishing, play chess, play darts, cycling, work out, science, history, technology, model cars-boats-planes
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Hello. I am Mehmet. I am one of the students of Spoken Cafe. Hobbies and pastimes
1. I like drawing, reading books, and playing computer games.
2. I listen to music or watch movies.
3. At home, I read, clean my room, and sleep a lot.
4. Yes, I like playing football with my friends.
5. We play video games and sometimes play board games together.
6. I liked colouring books and riding my bike.
7. I learned to cook, read more books and did some exercise at home.
8. I want to learn to play the guitar because I love music.
9. I like drawing, reading books, and playing games. I like science because I enjoy learning about the world and animals.
7
Internet
1. Tell us about your favourite websites and why you like them.
2. Which websites do you follow for your work or profession?
3. Which Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages do you follow? Why do you follow them?
4. On which internet pages do you do your online shopping? When did you last buy something on the internet?
5. When did you start using the internet?
6. Which websites did you follow when you started using the internet?
7. Do you have any favourite Facebook or Instagram celebrities, and why do you follow them?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: laptop, desktop, social network, influencer, YouTube channel, Facebook page, Instagram page, internet celebrity, news website, blog, vlog, chat on the internet, comment, applications, surf the Internet, watch films on the internet, movie websites, streaming service, watch series on Netflix-amazon prime-Disney plus
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Hello. I am Mehmet. I am one of the students of Spoken Cafe. Internet:
1. I like YouTube because I can watch funny videos and learn new things.
2. I don’t work; I am a student, but I use Google for homework.
3. I usually follow technology pages
4. I use Trendyol and Hepsiburada. I bought a book on Trendyol last week.
5. I started using the internet when I was in secondary school
6. I followed YouTube and Facebook. There were no other social media pages at that time
7. I don’t like social media celebrities. I follow some good artists or singers.
6
News
1. Tell us about some interesting news that you read recently.
2. Did you read or see any funny news, and tell us the story
3. What good and bad news did you read this week?
4. What is the most interesting news you have heard in your life?
5. Have you seen any interesting or funny news videos recently?
6. Which news you heard recently do you think will change our lives?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: anchorman, economy, technology, crime, gang, invention, locals, column, columnist, sensational, front page, article, funny video, footage, accident, explosion, plane crash, football match
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: News
1. I read about a baby panda born in a zoo in China. People are very happy because pandas are rare animals.
2. Yes, I saw a video of a parrot singing Beşiktaş songs like a human. It was very funny, and the parrot was very talented!
3. Good news: Scientists made a new medicine to help cancer.
Bad news: A storm damaged many houses in the USA.
4. A man in a small Anatolian town made an electric car out of an old Broadway. It was like a movie!
5. Yes, I saw a video of a cat saving a baby from a dog. The cat was very smart and brave!
6. I heard about a new way to make clean energy from the sun. This can help the world be a better place.
5
Daily Routines
1. What time do you get up, and what do you do before work or school?
2. How do you go to school or work? By bus, underground, etc.
3. What do you do during your journey? Listen to music, observe people?
4. Tell us about your school/work day. What do you do during a typical day?
5. What time do you go home, and what do you do in the evenings?
6. Tell us about your weekend routines. What do you usually do at weekends?
Grammar
Related Words: get up, stay in bed, have breakfast, have lunch, have dinner, commute to work, brush my teeth, wash my face, put on makeup, get dressed, gather with friends, take a shower, style my hair, watch tv, read the newspapers, go to bed, study, drink coffee/tea, chat with my friends
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Daily Routine:
Hello. I am Onur. I am one of the students at Spoken Cafe. Here is my daily routine.
1. I get up at 7:00. I brush my teeth, eat breakfast, and get ready for the day.
2. I go by M1 underground. It is fast and easy.
3. I listen to music or watch the people on the train.
4. At school, I study, talk with friends, and do homework. I don’t have a job yet.
5. I go home at 5:00 PM. In the evening, I eat dinner, watch TV, and relax.
6. On weekends, I sleep late, meet friends, clean my room, and sometimes go to the park.
4
Experiences
1. Have you ever been abroad? Which countries have you seen, and when did you go there?
2. Have you ever played a musical instrument? Which instruments did you play, and where and when did you play them?
3. Have you ever been to a zoo? When did you go there and which animals did you see?
4. Which museums have you visited? Which one is your favorite, and what did you like about it?
5. How many times have you been to the theatre? Which plays have you watched? Which one is your favourite?
6. Have you ever slept in a tent? When did you last go camping and what did you do there?
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3
Related Words: travel, journey, the guitar, the flute, the piano, giraffe, tiger, lion, wolf, camel, bear, elephant, gorilla, crocodile, historical, painting, trekking, fishing, forest, river, lake
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Experiences
1. Yes. I have. I have visited England, the Czech Republic, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Georgia. I visited them at different times. I have visited England 6 times.
2. I played Turkish bağlama and piano in high school. At university, I played classical and acoustic guitar. About 5 years ago, I tried playing the harmonica, but I quit after 3 months.
3. Yes. Once I visited Darıca Zoo. I saw a lot of different wild animals.
4. I have visited all the museums in ıstanbul and other countries. But the best museums were in London. My favourite museum is the British Museum
5. I have been to the theatre maybe a hundred times. The best play was Cibali Karakolu
6. I usually go camping in the summer at the seaside in Balıkesir. Every summer I also go camping in Mocamp in Silivri. Last summer we also went camping in Erikli and Mecidiye. Erikli is a great town
3
Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
1. How often do you watch TV? What do you usually watch on TV?
2. How often do you eat out? Where and what do you usually eat?
3. How often do you take public transportation? Which ones do you usually take, and where do you go by public transportation?
4. How often do you go to the movies? When did you last go and what did you see?
5. How often do you go for a walk? Where do you usually go for a walk?
6. How often do you go shopping for clothes? When did you last go shopping for clothes?
Grammar1, Grammar2
Related Words: documentaries, reality TV, quiz shows, dessert shops, fine-dining restaurants, traditional food, ferry, double-decker bus, tram, underground, movie theatre, action film, science fiction, mystery movies, thrillers, horror films, trainers, coat, jeans, sweater, t-shirt, shorts
word game – Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
1. I never watch TV. I don’t have a TV in my home
2. I eat out 3-4 days a week. Our work is busy. We sometimes order food from Kardeşler kebap. At the weekends we eat out too
3. I have a car, so I don’t usually use public transport. Sometimes, I use Marmaray to get to our Kadıköy branch.
4. I haven’t been to the movies for a long time. The quality of movie theatres in Turkey has been bad recently. Normally I go to the cinema every month.
5. I go for a walk every day after work. I walk to Şehremini or walk in the park, in Çukrubostan Park.
6. I never go shopping for clothes. I buy clothes on the internet.
2
When was the last time…?
1. When was the last time you went on a vacation? Where did you go and what did you do?
2. When did you last visit a museum or art gallery? Did you like it?
3. When did you last visit a new city or country? Where did you go? What did you like and dislike about the place?
4. When did you last try a new hobby or activity?
5. When was the last time you took a photograph? Where were you and why did you take the photo?
6. When was the last time you went to a party? Did you like it?
Grammar
Related Words: journey, trip, sunny, sunset, sunrise, road trip, tent, painting, historical, modern art, walk around, visit attractions, modern district, old city, crowded, deserted, touristy, birthday party, wedding ceremony
word game – When was the last time…?
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: When was the last time…?
1. I last went on a vacation 3 months ago. We went to Tbilisi. We visited historical places and ate Georgian food. We stayed in an Airbnb for 4 days.
2. I last visited the Ottoman Palace Paintings Museum about 2-3 months ago. ı loved it. There were beautiful paintings and drawings in the museum.
3. I last visited Tbilisi in Georgia.
4. I tried AI pictures on my friend’s telephone. It was fun
5. I last took a photo last Saturday at our Kadıköy branch with our students.
6. I haven’t been to a party for a long time. We gathered with my old friends on New Year’s night in 2022
1
Sleep and dreams
1. Do you have any sleeping problems? What time do you go to bed and wake up?
2. Do you sometimes take a nap? Where and when do you like taking naps?
3. Where and when did you last take a nap
4. When didn’t you last sleep all night and why?
5. When did you last oversleep? What were you late for?
6. Tell us about the best sleep of your life. Why was it a perfect sleep?
7. Tell us the last dream you remember
8. Tell us a dream you never forget
Grammar1, Grammar2, Grammar3, Grammar4, Grammar5
Related Words: fall asleep or doze off, oversleep, stay up late, stay up all night, sleepy, sleepless, stay in bed, have a nightmare, feel sleepy, hit the sack-hit the hay, light sleeper, heavy sleeper, wake up on the wrong side of the bed, didn’t sleep a wink, a good/poor nights sleep, early bird, night owl, fast asleep, get an early night
EXAMPLE ANSWERS: Sleep and dreams
1. I don’t have any sleeping problems. But I go to bed very late and wake up late. I go to sleep at about 5-6 am and get up at 12.00
2. I don’t usually take a nap. Sometimes I take a nap before dinner on Sundays
3. I last took a nap last Sunday on my corner sofa. I was reading an article on my PC and I fell asleep.
4. I didn’t sleep all night 24 years ago before my final exam at university.
5. I overslept last Saturday. I woke up at 1 pm. I was exhausted during the week.
6. My best sleep was in Altınoluk last summer. I swam and travelled a lot before that night.
7. In my last dream, I cooked fish in the oven. I put a big slice of fish, potato slices and tomato on the stick and cooked them in the oven. After that dream, we went to a fish restaurant
8. When I was a child, I had a repetitive dream. In my dream, I was walking and a star in the sky started chasing me. I started to run faster and the star was coming fast too. But it never caught me.