In this lesson you will learn how to talk about any topic in English.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome

IOT. With these three letters, you can talk about any topic in English. Welcome to Speak English with Tiffani. I am teacher Tiffani. Let’s jump right in.

Explanation

The first step is to identify. The second step is to organize. And the third step is to talk. So, our first question is: What types of games do you play at parties? So we must identify. What is this question asking us about? Well the topic really is games.

Next, we must organize. So we have who, what, where, when, and why. And the key is to make sure you have three pieces of information for each of the five Ws.

Now, when I go to the last step, talk, I can give a very clear and very detailed answer.

I usually go to parties with my family, my coworkers, or my friends. We normally play games like Pictionary, Uno, or card games. The type of game depends on when the party is and what it’s for. Sometimes the parties are for birthdays, Saturday night hangouts, or just Sunday fun days. So we will usually play Pictionary at my friend’s house, Uno at my house, and cards when we are at the office. We love playing games together because it is a nice way to enjoy quality time, be active, and also have some fun.

Example Question 1

Now, let’s go into a little bit more detail. Okay, what type of home would like to live in? Again, we have to go to organize our thoughts. Okay, now we have the information that we’re going to use to speak about this topic.

For the who I chose to list the people that I want to live with me in this home. I chose my husband, of course, my children and also my parents, I want them to live with me when they get older.

For the what I decided to list three different details about the home that I want to live in. A garage, a big kitchen because I like cooking and also a basement for entertaining my friends.

For the when I chose to list three different things all related to when I wanna buy the house. So 10 years from now, when I have no debt and also before I retire.

For the where, I decided to give three different facts or details about the place I want to live, so for example I said Alabama, which is actually where I went to university. A place that is warm or even Tennessee.

And for the why I chose to give three different reasons for why I actually want to live in this house. For example, family time, entertaining and also it’s been my dream to live in this type of house.

Okay, let’s talk about it.

When I think of the home I would lie to live in, it always includes my husband, my children, and also my parents. We’ve answered the who. And let’s pause for a second and look at one of the patterns in this sentence that we can use for future times when we talk. When I think of. This pattern is used when you want to speak about something that you have thought about before or thought about for a long time.

For example, when I think of my home town. When I think of ice cream. When I think of spending time with my family, okay? Right here when I think of. Let’s keep going. I want to live in a house with a nice garage, a big kitchen and a basement, okay? What pattern do we see here? I want to.

Now remember, this always deals with desire. Something you desire to do. I want to live in America. I want to go to school. I want to study English. Okay, the next sentence. This type of house would be great for spending family time together and entertaining. It has always been my dream house.

So these are the reasons why I want this type of house. Now, let’s look at this pattern in this sentence. We see would be great for. We use this pattern when we wanna speak about something that is a match.

For example, he would be great for Sally. It means he’s a good guy for Sally. So we use would be great for when someone or something is a match for someone or something else, okay? Let’s keep going to the next sentence. My plan is to purchase it within the next 10 years or before I have to retire. I want to have no debt when I purchase it. Now, let’s look at the pattern in this sentence.

Okay, so the pattern is my plan is to. So we’re going to use this pattern whenever we have a schedule. This is when we are going to use this pattern. For example, my plan is to study English for one year. My plan is to go to Paris next year. That is my schedule, okay? Let’s keep on going to the last sentence.

The exact state is not important, but it would be nice to live somewhere warm like Alabama or Tennessee. Now, let’s take a look at the pattern in this sentence. Okay, we see it would be nice to. Now, this pattern is used when we want to express that something would be a benefit. Something that would be good for us.

For example, it would be nice to go home early.

Example Question 2

Next, have you ever been to a karaoke room?

Okay, here is all of our information. For who I chose to list the people that I actually go to karaoke rooms with. For example, my friends, my students or my coworkers.

For what, I chose to list the type of songs or type of music that I sing when I go to karaoke rooms. For example, I sing 90s songs, ballads and sometimes R&B.

For the when I chose to list the times that I go to the karaoke room, for example Saturdays nights, vacation or my birthday party or a friend’s birthday party.

And for where, I chose to list some of the places I go to. For example, a coin karaoke, one near my house, or even a fancy place.

And finally for the why, I chose to list three reason why I actually like going to karaoke rooms. I said I like music, it’s fun and also I enjoy dancing and singing.

Okay, let’s begin. I have been to a karaoke room several times because I like music, having fun, and singing and dancing. These are the three reasons why I go to a karaoke room. Now, let’s look at the pattern in this sentence. We have I have been to, okay?

Now, this refers to an experience, something I have experienced. For example, you can say I have been to America. I have been to Paris. I have been to London. Or you can say something that’s even closer. I have been to that university before, okay? It’s just talking about an experience you have had, okay?

Let’s keep going onto the next sentence. Usually I go with my friends, students, or my coworkers. Now, let’s look at the pattern in this sentence. Usually I go with. Okay, this is something that we do often and then we’re going to list the people or the person that we go with.

For example, usually I go with my uncle. Usually I go with my sister. Let’s keep going. We often go to one of the many karaoke rooms near my house, or the fancy karaoke room near my friend’s house. There is also an inexpensive karaoke room called a coin karaoke room. So the pattern is we often go to.

Now, this pattern is used to talk about somewhere that you go to often, or somewhere you regularly visit. Regularly visit. For example, we often go to the mall. We often go to the park. We often go to the university. Okay, let’s keep going. Sometimes we go there on Saturday nights, during vacation, and also for birthday parties.

Okay, these three things answered the where. Let’s keep going. We usually sing 90s songs, ballads, or R&B. Okay, we’ve answered all of the five Ws and now we can talk clearly about this topic.

Example Question 3

Next, what types of news do you enjoy watching?

Okay, for the who I have chosen to list the news stations that I normally watch. For who, you don’t always have to list a person’s name. For this situation, I’m just gonna use the news broadcast stations. So I’ve chosen NBC, FOX and CNN.

For what I chose to list the types of news that I like, for example sports, culture and weather.

For when I’m listing the three periods of time that I normally watch the news. For example, before work, after work and on the weekends.

For where I’m listing the three places I normally watch the news. For example, on the train, my home, or even my sister’s home.

And last why, why do I watch the news. Well, first I love sports, I think the news is interesting and I also think the news is important.

Now, let’s talk about it, here we go. Normally, I watch the news before work, after work, and on the weekends. Now, let’s see the pattern in this sentence. Normally I thing thing thing. Or normally I dot dot dot. So we use this pattern normally I when we wanna talk about something that we do often or on a regular basis, just like in our previous example.

Often or on a regular basis. For example, normally I go to school. Normally I teach English. Normally I eat breakfast, so something that you do often or on a regular basis. Okay, let’s keep going. I watch it either on the train, at my home, or even at my sister’s house. Okay, now we’re gonna look at the pattern. I watch it either. Now, we normally use this pattern when we have options, different things that we can do.

For example, I watch it either at home, at my sister’s house or on the train. There are three different options that I have, three different places that I can watch it. So I could also say I watch it either on my TV, on my phone or on my computer. You see, I have three options and I always use or. So we can even change the verb to something else. I eat it either at home, on the train or at my sister’s house.

Okay, let’s keep going. My favorite news channels are NBC, FOX, and CNN, because they are very popular news channels. Now, the pattern in this sentence is very easy. My favorite dot dot dot, so let’s just keep going. I enjoy watching sports news, cultural news, and news about the weather, okay? This is also very simple, I enjoy dot dot dot.

Very simple, let’s keep going. This is because I love sports and I also find the other types of news to be interesting and important. Okay, the pattern in this sentence is this is because. Now, we can use this pattern when we want to give a reason for something, okay?

For example, this is because I love eating ice cream. This is because I love traveling. This is because I love going to work early in the morning. So before we use this is because there has to be an action happening before it.

So, for example, I said I enjoy watching sports news, cultural news, and news about the weather. The next thing I’m going to do is to give the reasons why. So this is because I love sports and I also find the other types of news to be interesting and important. Okay, so now you understand this pattern. I’ve answered and I’ve talked about this topic.

Example Question 4

Next, what is your favorite sport?

Okay, for the who I’ve chosen to list people that are related to the sport that I like. For example, my dad, my friend Wilma and my college friends.

For the what, I’ve decided to list different things regarding basketball. For example, watched him play, played one-on-one, and played on a team. Now, something that is different about this example is there is a connection between the first one, between the second one and also between the last one.

So, for example, my dad what? I watched him play. My friend Wilma what? I played one-on-one with her. My college friends what? I played on a team with them. So as we move forward, there will still be a connection.

Let’s keep going. For when I’ve listed when this happened. For example as a child I watched my dad play. As kids and now I played basketball or I still play one-on-one with my friend Wilma and also four years, so I played on a team with my college friends for four years.

Okay, let’s keep going. Where? At an outdoor court, at school and even at a college gym. Now, for why I decided to list three reasons why I like basketball. For example, I’m an athlete, I think it’s good exercise and it’s a fast-paced game. Okay, now let’s talk about it. My favorite sport is basketball. It is a good form of exercise and it is also a fast-paced game. So, being that I am an athlete, I really enjoy it.

Now, let’s look at one of the patterns within this sentence. Now, in the third sentence we see a pattern so being that I am. Now, this pattern is used when we wanna show proof or provide evidence for something we’re talking about. For example, so being that I am an athlete, I really enjoy it. Well, this is the proof or even the reason why I would like basketball.

So, for example, let’s say I am talking about being an English teacher. Well, I could say this. So being that I am an American, I teach English to students. Well, of course, since I’m American I speak English which gives me a reason for being able to teach English. Okay, let’s continue. As a child, I used to watch my dad play basketball with his friends at an outdoor court.

Now, you notice that I actually included more than one of the Ws in this sentence. My dad, outdoor court, so I included who and also where. So now, let’s look at the pattern with this sentence. The pattern is I used to. Okay, now, I used to is used when we want to talk about something that we did in the past. Something we did in the past but we don’t do anymore.

For example, I used to study Spanish. Or I used to like going to the movies. Okay, let’s keep going. When I got old enough to play, I started to play one-on-one with my friend Wilma. Now, let’s look at the sentence pattern really quickly. When I got old enough, I. Okay, so this is kind of like a couple pattern, let’s look at it down here.

So what’s happening is I’m talking about a period of time plus what I did. So, for example, I could say when I got old enough, I started to learn how to play the piano. Okay, let’s keep going to the next sentence. We played basketball at school almost every day as kids and we sill play each other now, okay?

Now, the patterns in this sentence are very simple, so let’s keep going with the next sentence. Then, when I got to college, I played on a team with my college friends for about four years. Okay, now, there’s one pattern in this sentence that I want us to look at closely.

Here’s the pattern. For about. Now, let’s take this on this side and let’s look at it. Now, we use for about when we want to guess a period of time. Guess or average, give an average amount of time. For example, I can say, “Oh, I have studied English for about two and a half years.” It’s not an exact time, but I’m guessing, I’m giving an overall amount of time, okay? Giving an average. Or I can say, “Hmm, I’ve been here for about an hour,” okay? So we use for about when we’re guessing or if we’re trying to give an average amount of time, okay?

And the last sentence, here we go. We mainly played in the college gym. It was great. Okay, one last pattern here. We mainly. Now, for this one, this is when you want to say something that you did a majority of the time. So we’re gonna say a majority. For example, let’s see we mainly eat ice cream on Sundays.

Well, the majority of the time we eat ice cream on Sundays. Or we mainly go to school every day, so majority. Or you could even say usually, okay? This is a good expression to use, a good pattern to use.

So we mainly go there after school, something we do a majority of the time or usually, okay? This is how you answer and talk about this topic and these are some patterns.