Free Advanced Esl Verbal Conversation Resources And Sample Materials

English language learners at advanced levels often seek authentic, engaging materials to improve their speaking skills. This article explores the various free resources available for advanced ESL verbal samples, conversation materials, and lesson plans designed for high-intermediate to advanced learners (C1/C2 level on the CEFR scale). These resources can be valuable for both self-study and classroom instruction, providing opportunities to practice real-life conversations and develop fluency.

Overview of Advanced ESL Verbal Resources

Advanced ESL verbal resources encompass a variety of materials including conversation samples, dialogues, speaking activities, and discussion prompts. These resources are specifically designed for learners who have already achieved a strong command of English but wish to refine their speaking skills, expand their vocabulary, and engage in more complex discussions. The sources reviewed offer numerous free options that teachers and self-learners can access without cost.

Several platforms provide specialized content for advanced learners, focusing on authentic language use, critical thinking, and real-world communication scenarios. These resources typically include not just conversation samples but also supporting materials such as vocabulary lists, comprehension questions, and discussion activities that enhance the learning experience.

Online Platforms Offering Free Advanced ESL Verbal Materials

Linguahouse

Linguahouse offers unique, high-quality content for teachers with limited preparation time. While primarily a paid membership site, Linguahouse provides exclusive free lesson plans to those who subscribe to their email newsletter. Their free resources for high-intermediate to advanced ESL students include conversation-focused materials such as:

• Mastering Conversation
• Pandemic Millionaires
• Snow Leopards
• Spider Home Invasion
• Shakespeare's Insults
• Changing Careers

These materials are designed to engage advanced learners with relevant, contemporary topics while providing structured speaking practice. The platform's approach emphasizes authentic language use and critical thinking, which are essential components of advanced verbal communication skills.

Breaking News English

Breaking News English provides a plethora of advanced ESL lessons with worksheets that can be quickly downloaded and used in the ESL classroom. The platform offers both short and long lesson plans to accommodate various teaching situations. Their level six materials, which are equivalent to C1 and C2 student levels on the CEFR scale, include numerous conversation-oriented lesson plans.

Examples of free advanced lesson plans available at Breaking News English include:

• Extreme Heat Lesson Plan
• Record Breaking 96-year old DJ Dies
• Herald of Wild Elephants on the March in China
• Job Offers $30 an Hour for Eating Candy
• London's Thinnest House sells for $1.3 million

These lesson plans typically incorporate speaking activities, discussions, and debates related to the news topics, providing advanced learners with opportunities to practice verbal communication skills in context.

Ello

Ello is a website featuring thousands of free listening exercises that can serve as excellent verbal resources for advanced learners looking to improve their listening and speaking skills. The platform offers great topic choices that go beyond traditional reading lessons, focusing on authentic spoken English.

While the source doesn't provide specific examples of conversation samples from Ello, it mentions that the audio lessons are particularly useful for advanced learners who want to switch up their learning approach from reading-focused materials to listening and speaking activities. These authentic listening materials can be used to create speaking practice opportunities through discussions, role-plays, or presentation activities.

TED Talks

TED Talks are recognized as very interesting and engaging content that provides excellent discussion points for advanced ESL learners. These talks can form the basis of entire lesson plans suitable for advanced learners at the C1 level.

The source suggests that teachers can use TED Talks by: 1. Asking comprehension questions after watching the short videos 2. Following up with discussion questions that ask for opinions, experiences, and ethical considerations 3. Analyzing the language used in the TED Talk, including unfamiliar vocabulary and phrases

Free resources like Free English Plans offer ready-made TED Talk lesson plans specifically designed for advanced-level C1 students. Additionally, TED-Ed provides comprehension and discussion questions mapped out for each video, making it easier to incorporate these authentic materials into verbal practice sessions.

Specific Lesson Plans and Conversation Samples

ESL Pathways: Frontiers

The "ESL Pathways: Frontiers" book offers free advanced adult ESL lessons suitable for both online and in-person classes. These lessons include extensive reading passages, discussion and comprehension questions, and various review exercises designed to help advanced learners refine their English fluency.

Two notable lessons mentioned in the sources include:

Lesson 47: "Arguments in Favor of Zoos"

This lesson features an argument in favor of zoos, followed by comprehension questions and discussion questions. It provides advanced learners with opportunities to practice expressing opinions, supporting arguments, and engaging in structured debates about complex social issues.

Lesson 36: "Urban Legends"

This lesson includes an article about various urban legends, comprehension questions, discussion questions, and a series of fun riddles for students to solve. The combination of reading, discussion, and problem-solving activities creates a multifaceted approach to language development that can enhance verbal communication skills.

EnglishCurrent Advanced Conversation Lessons

EnglishCurrent hosts a collection of advanced ESL lesson plans specifically designed for conversation classes at the C1/C2 level. These lessons contain video or reading inputs, vocabulary practice, and speaking activities that encourage debate and critical thinking.

The topics covered in these lessons include: - Free speech - Political polarization - Social media - Philosophy - Immigration - Other real-world issues that engage advanced students

These conversation-focused lessons are structured to include multiple components that work together to develop advanced verbal skills, including input materials, language focus, and output activities.

PhraseCamp Advanced English Conversations

PhraseCamp offers eight powerful advanced English conversations based on real-life scenarios perfect for ESL learners looking to improve their speaking skills. These dialogues are designed to boost fluency and confidence by simulating everyday interactions.

The eight conversation topics include:

1. The Dream Job

   • Example dialogue: "Hey Sarah, I've been thinking about career paths lately. If you could have any job in the world, what would be your dream job?"

2. The Importance of Fashion

   • Focuses on discussing personal style, cultural influences on fashion, and the role of clothing in social contexts.

3. A Friend's Crime

   • Explores ethical dilemmas, loyalty, and decision-making in complex social situations.

4. Zoom vs. Traditional Classes

   • Compares different learning formats and discusses preferences, advantages, and disadvantages.

5. A Daily Habit

   • Examines routines, productivity, and the psychology of habit formation.

6. Most Respected Person

   • Discusses qualities of admired individuals and personal role models.

7. Necessity of a College Degree

   • Explores perspectives on higher education, career paths, and alternative qualifications.

8. Month Without a Phone

   • Addresses technology dependence, digital detox, and the impact of smartphones on daily life.

Each dialogue is designed to reflect everyday interactions and offers meaningful discussions on various topics, providing advanced learners with authentic language models and practice opportunities.

Additional Resources with Free Samples

ESL Pals

ESL Pals offers ready-made lesson plans that are easy to download and print. While primarily a paid resource starting at $49 for six months of access, ESL Pals does provide some free samples at the C1 level. Their materials include business English, general English, and grammar lessons that incorporate speaking activities.

Off2Class

Off2Class provides many lessons that can be shared with advanced-level students, particularly those teaching online. The platform features a huge curriculum that can be adapted to various needs, with plentiful advanced-level lessons.

While Off2Class requires a monthly or annual subscription fee starting at $8 per month, it does offer some free samples, including:

• Five ESL Lesson Plans to Teach Idioms
• Five ESL Lesson Plans to Get Your Students Speaking
• Consumerism and Consumption
• The Business of Philanthropy

These sample lessons can provide valuable ideas and materials for advanced ESL verbal practice.

Using Authentic Materials for Advanced Verbal Practice

The sources suggest that authentic materials—produced for native speakers like newspapers, menus, brochures, movies, or magazines—can be effectively used to create ESL lesson plans for advanced learners. While these materials are not specifically designed with language learners in mind, they provide exposure to real-world language use.

When using authentic materials for advanced verbal practice, educators should: 1. Choose materials carefully based on learner interests and proficiency level 2. Prepare questions about the material to guide discussion 3. Follow up with role-play or written exercises to reinforce learning 4. Analyze language use, including vocabulary, grammar, and discourse patterns

For example, teachers might examine how a tabloid newspaper aims to communicate in relation to its genre or how sentences are structured to create specific effects. This focus on authentic language use helps advanced learners develop more natural and effective speaking skills.

British Council Resources

The British Council provides access to a few free advanced ESL lesson plans on general topics for secondary school students and adults. These lesson plans are designed around engaging themes and typically require one or two class sessions to complete. The British Council also offers some free Business English lesson plans that can be useful for advanced learners in professional contexts.

While the sources indicate that the British Council doesn't have many lesson plans available, they can be valuable resources for teachers who are looking for additional materials to supplement their curriculum.

Strategies for Effective Implementation

When using these free advanced ESL verbal resources, educators and self-learners should consider several strategies to maximize their effectiveness:

1. Combine Multiple Resources: Different platforms offer unique strengths. Combining materials from various sources can provide a more comprehensive learning experience.

2. Focus on Relevance: Select topics that align with learners' interests, goals, and needs to maintain engagement and motivation.

3. Create Opportunities for Output: Ensure that each lesson includes sufficient speaking practice time, whether through discussions, debates, presentations, or role-plays.

4. Provide Supportive Feedback: Offer constructive feedback on language use, pronunciation, and communication strategies while focusing on meaning and fluency.

5. Encourage Reflection: Help learners identify their progress and areas for improvement to guide further development.

Conclusion

The availability of free advanced ESL verbal resources has significantly increased, providing teachers and self-learners with access to high-quality materials without cost. From specialized platforms like Linguahouse and Breaking News English to authentic materials like TED Talks, numerous options exist to support advanced speaking development.

These resources offer structured approaches to practicing real-life conversations, engaging with complex topics, and developing the critical thinking skills essential for advanced verbal communication. By strategically selecting and implementing these materials, educators can create dynamic learning environments that help advanced learners refine their speaking skills and achieve greater fluency and confidence in English.

Sources

1. ESL Advanced Lesson Plans
2. Adult ESL Lessons - Advanced
3. Advanced ESL Lessons
4. Advanced English Conversations