How to start a free English conversation club

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Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.

A simple weekly format (60–90 minutes)

1. Welcome and a name round (10 minutes). Everyone says their name and one thing about their week. Use name tags.
2. Warm-up (10 minutes). Ask the topic's first question to the whole group.
3. Listen together (10 minutes). Play a lesson conversation from the slides or a Listening Room episode, and pick out three useful phrases.
4. Small-group talk (25–40 minutes). Groups of three or four talk about the topic's questions. Volunteers join a group and keep the talk going.
5. Share back (10 minutes). Each group shares one new word or phrase. Write them on the board.
6. Close (5 minutes). Tell everyone next week's topic, and that they can practise at home free at englishcoaching.au/learn-english/ (the flyer has a QR code).

10 ready topics

Each topic has three questions to talk about, a lesson with classroom slides and a listening episode.

1. Meeting people and introductions

• Talk about it: Where did you grow up? What was it like? · How do people greet each other in your culture? · Who was the first person you met here?
• Use: Saying hello and introducing yourself (slides), Talking about your family (slides), Job interview: 'Tell me about yourself' (episode), Making friends in a new city (episode)

2. Daily routines and time

• Talk about it: What does a normal weekday look like for you? · Are you a morning person or a night person? · What would you change about your routine?
• Use: Time, days and making plans (slides), My daily routine (episode)

3. Food, cafés and eating out

• Talk about it: What's a dish from home that you miss? · Do you prefer cooking or eating out? Why? · What food here surprised you?
• Use: Ordering food and coffee (slides), Shopping at the supermarket (slides), Ordering at a restaurant (episode)

4. Shopping and money

• Talk about it: Where do you like to shop, and why? · Do you pay by card or with cash? · Have you ever had a problem with something you bought?
• Use: Numbers, prices and paying (slides), Returning something at a shop (slides), Returning something at a shop (episode)

5. Getting around

• Talk about it: How do you usually get around? · Tell us about a time you got lost. · What's the best place to visit near here?
• Use: Catching public transport (slides), Asking for and giving directions (slides), Asking for and giving directions (episode)

6. Health and the doctor

• Talk about it: What do you do to stay healthy? · What's different about seeing a doctor here and in your country? · What do you do when you have a cold?
• Use: Making an appointment by phone (slides), At the doctor and the pharmacy (slides), Going to the GP (episode), At the pharmacy (episode)

7. Home and renting

• Talk about it: Describe your favourite room at home. · What makes a good neighbour? · What's important when you look for a place to live?
• Use: Calling about a rental property (slides), Asking for rental repairs (slides), Renting your first place in Australia (episode)

8. Work and jobs

• Talk about it: What jobs have you done? · What's your dream job? · What advice would you give someone on their first day at work?
• Use: Job interview basics (slides), Your first day at work (slides), Your first week at a new job (episode)

9. Weekends and hobbies

• Talk about it: What did you do last weekend? · What do you enjoy doing in your free time? · What's a hobby you'd like to try?
• Use: Small talk with coworkers and neighbours (slides), Talking about the weather (slides), What did you do on the weekend? (episode), Talking about your hobbies (episode)

10. Family, children and school

• Talk about it: Tell us about someone in your family. · How was school different when you were a child? · What do you like doing with your family?
• Use: Talking about your family (slides), Talking to your child's school (slides), Chatting at school pickup (episode)

Tips for volunteers

• Speak clearly, not loudly. Slow down a little, pause between ideas and use common words.
• Let learners talk most of the time. Ask open questions ("What do you think about…?"), then wait. Silence is thinking time.
• Correct gently. Repeat the sentence back the right way ("Oh, you went to the market?") rather than stopping someone mid-sentence.
• Write key words down. A whiteboard or a sheet of paper helps learners see new words and spelling.
• Welcome newcomers. Pair a new person with a friendly regular, and go over the format again for them.
• Celebrate progress. At the end of a term, print certificates of participation for everyone who took part.

Safety and respect basics

• Meet in a public place such as a library or community centre, and follow the venue's rules.
• Check what your organisation needs. Ask whether volunteers need a Working with Children Check or a police check, especially if children or young people may attend.
• Respect privacy. Don't take photos or share anyone's contact details without their permission.
• Never pressure people to share their story. Some learners have been through hard times. Let them choose what to talk about.
• Keep it welcoming. Everyone is welcome, whatever their background, faith or level. Avoid topics that could upset people unless the group chooses them.
• No selling or recruiting, and no advice on visas, migration or legal matters. Point people to official services instead.
• Know the basics: where the exits and first-aid kit are, and who to call in an emergency.

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