Idiom of the Day: No Skin Off My Back

Idiom of the Day 

no skin off my back 

Example: If she doesn't like me that's no skin off my back. There are a lot of other pretty girls here. 

Definition: the action will not be a problem or will not cause harm 

ESL Conversation Questions: Gentrification

1. What is gentrification?

2. How can gentrification negatively affect people?

3. Who does gentrification benefit? How so?

4. Is gentrification a problem?

5. If you had to move to a new community or city where would you move?

6. Do you see gentrification happening in your community or city?

ESL Grammar: Could

Forms of Could

Affirmative 

Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb

Example: I could swim.

Negative

Subject +  auxiliary verb + not + main verb

Example: She could not read.

Question

Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

Example: Could you clean the room?

Uses of Could

1. This modal verb is used to describe a past possibility or ability. He could swim when he was five years old. After leaving the hospital, I couldn't drink alcohol. 

2. This model verb is used for requests. Could you tell me where the club is, please? Could you not be so annoying, please? 

ESL Conversation Questions with Could

1. Could your country become the dominant superpower in the world?

2. How could you improve your English?

3. Where in your city could you meet more English speaking foreigners?

4. Do you think you could travel the world alone?

5. In your opinion what could the government do to improve the education system in your country?

6. Could you please tell me why you like your favorite movie?

ESL Grammar: Past Perfect Progressive

Forms of Past Perfect Progressive

Affirmative

Subject  +  had  +  been + ing verb

Example: I had been eating.

Negative

Subject  +  had  + not  +  been  +  ing verb

Example: She had not been reading.

Question

Had  +  subject  +  been  +  ing verb

Example: Had they been dating for a long time?

Uses of Past Perfect Progressive 

1. Use the past perfect progressive tense to describe an action that happened in the past and continued up until another time in the past. They had been talking for over two hours before Larry had arrived. I had been taking a shower before Kimberly called. 

2. Use the past perfect progressive tense to show cause and effect. Samantha was sad because she had been arguing with her boyfriend. David gained weight because he had been overeating. 

Past Perfect Progressive Conversation Questions

1. What had you been doing before you clocked in to work yesterday?

2. Where had you been learning English before you used Cambly?

3. How long had you been hearing about Cambly before you decided to try the app?

4. How many hours had you been working yesterday before you got hungry?

5. After university or high school, how much time had you been living in your parent's home before you decided to move out?

6. Who had you been talking to before you called on Cambly, today?

Idiom of the Day: Rule of Thumb

Idiom of the Day 

rule of thumb 

Example: A good rule of thumb is to invite 20 girls to your house party if you want 10 to actually come. 

Definition: a suggested method ; an approximation 

ESL Conversation Questions: Cultural Sensitivity

1. What is cultural sensitivity?

2. When is cultural sensitivity important?

3. Have you ever had to be sensitive to another person's culture? How so?

4. What professions demand employees to be culturally sensitive?

5. Should people not share their opinions or feelings to someone if it's not culturally sensitive?

6. Is the photo below  inappropriate in your country?

Idioms of the Day: To Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

Idiom of the Day 

to make a mountain out of a molehill 

Example: You are making a mountain out of a molehill! She's just working with him late at night for her job. She's not cheating on you. 

Definition: to make a small problem seem more important than it actually is; exaggerate a small problem