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These posts are written for learners of English themselves. Find learning tips and ideas for learning English.

For Students

<p>In January of 2020, Doris moved to Thailand from China with her two young daughters, Candy and Cherry. Even though all she knew was one Thai word and very little English, she found a house to rent, bought a car, and registered her daughters for school.</p>

<p>Later that year, she enrolled in an English class. According to her teacher, Myriam, she was a good writer and understood basic grammar.</p>

<p><img alt="Doris and Myriam" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1460/content_125202364_5193540807352955_7074738393205264499_o.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">Here, Doris (left) is pictured with Myriam (right).</p>

<p>Since she began learning English, Doris has been a studious student. She reads self-study books, attends an extra weekly conversation class, and always completes her homework assignments.</p>

<p>Doris is very motivated and makes learning English a priority,&rdquo; Myriam says.</p>

<p>Recently, Myriam used the <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/129/lessons">True Grammar Stories</a><i> </i>lesson as inspiration for an incredible activity. After reading the friendship story about <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/129/lessons/3358">Dan and Norah</a>, Myriam had Doris write her own story. Doris wrote about her daughter, Candy. Listen to Doris read the story she wrote and follow along with the transcript as she speaks.</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/1461/Big_coach_.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<blockquote>
<p>Transcript:</p>

<p>Candy is my seven-year-old daughter.</p>

<p>A few days ago, at Candy&rsquo;s tennis class, I saw her talking with an old person. He is from Australia. I don&rsquo;t know his name but he told Candy that his name is Big Coach!</p>

<p>Candy thought that he was lonely because he was sitting alone. She went up to him and said, &ldquo;Hi, what&rsquo;s your name?&rdquo;</p>

<p>The old man said, &ldquo;You need to call me Big Coach!&rdquo;</p>

<p>Candy said, &ldquo;No, that young man is my coach!&rdquo;</p>

<p>But he replied, &ldquo;No&hellip; he is small coach. I am Big Coach!&rdquo;</p>

<p>So, whenever Candy sees him, she shouts, &ldquo;Hello, Big Coach!&rdquo; and she told me, &ldquo;This is his name!&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img alt="Candy and Big Coach" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1462/content_image__1_.png" /></p>

<p class="attribution">Here, Candy (right) is pictured with Big Coach (left).</p>

<p>We hope you enjoyed learning about Doris and Myriam, and that Doris&rsquo;s story inspires you! Teachers, do you have a fun student project to share? Tell us about it in the comments below for a chance to have it featured on our blog!</p>


Student Spotlight: Doris

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<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/1504/making-small-talk.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<h2>How many people do you talk to as you move throughout your day?</h2>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1749">Making small talk</a> is an important part of the culture here in Canada as well as in the United States&nbsp;and in many other countries around the world.&nbsp;We make small talk with&nbsp;friends, <strong>acquaintances</strong>, and even people we&#39;ve never met before (and may never see again).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Small talk is short, informal conversation.&nbsp;It may end after a few <strong>pleasant</strong> <strong>exchanges,&nbsp;</strong>or it may act as a bridge into<strong>&nbsp;</strong>a more serious discussion.</p>

<p>Making&nbsp;small talk is <a href="https://thewalrus.ca/blah-blah-blah-the-lack-of-small-talk-is-breaking-our-brains/">more difficult during a pandemic</a>, but it is not impossible. You can make small talk in a virtual setting, on the phone, or even in person from a safe distance.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;I never thought I&rsquo;d say this, but I miss small talk. I miss those 15-second exchanges with strangers at the gym. I miss asking acquaintances about their <strong>significant others</strong> or <strong>dropping</strong> an &lsquo;<em>I like your shoes</em>&rsquo; to a woman in the elevator before <strong>hopping off</strong>.&rdquo;</p>

<p class="attribution">&mdash;Hannah Seo</p>
</blockquote>

<h1>Small Talk Challenge</h1>

<p>According to psychologist Susan Pinker, social interaction (including small talk) is the #1 secret to living a longer life. (Watch the video below.)</p>

<p>Try counting how many people you talk to on an average day. Then see if you can slowly increase the number of social interactions you have, even if it starts with one extra hello!</p>

<h2>5 Types of People&nbsp;to Chat with</h2>

<ul>
	<li>postal workers / delivery people</li>
	<li>cashiers / customer service reps</li>
	<li>neighbors / dog walkers</li>
	<li>transit workers</li>
	<li>coworkers / classmates</li>
</ul>

<h2>5 Places to Make Small Talk</h2>

<ul>
	<li>at a bus stop</li>
	<li>at a playground or park</li>
	<li>before a live or virtual meeting or class</li>
	<li>in a waiting room or lineup</li>
	<li>in (or while waiting for)&nbsp;an elevator</li>
</ul>

<h2>5 Safe Subjects for Small Talk</h2>

<ul>
	<li>the weather</li>
	<li>sports and entertainment</li>
	<li>scenery or surroundings</li>
	<li>food and beverages</li>
	<li>weekend or holiday plans</li>
</ul>

<h2>5 Small Talk Questions</h2>

<ul>
	<li>How are you? / How are things? / How have you been?</li>
	<li>Do you have any plans for the weekend?</li>
	<li>Have you been waiting long?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Have you seen any good movies lately? / Did you <strong>catch the game</strong> last night?</li>
	<li>Nice day, huh? / Is this winter ever going to end?</li>
</ul>

<h2>5 Reasons to Make Small Talk</h2>

<ul>
	<li>to be polite</li>
	<li>to practice your English</li>
	<li>to fill an uncomfortable silence</li>
	<li>to help people feel comfortable around you</li>
	<li>to live longer (watch the video clip from&nbsp;7:12&ndash;9:27)</li>
</ul>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ptIecdCZ3dg?start=432" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Leave a Comment</h2>

<p>Will this &quot;secret&quot; to a longer life convince you to take this challenge and <strong>step out of your</strong> <strong>comfort zone</strong>? Will you turn your microphone on in your online class and ask your teacher about her weekend? Will you <strong>strike up</strong> a conversation with your neighbor as he&#39;s walking the dog? How about talking about the weather with your friendly postal worker?&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Vocabulary</h2>

<ul>
	<li>acquaintance: a person you&#39;ve met but&nbsp;don&#39;t know well</li>
	<li>pleasant: light and happy&nbsp;</li>
	<li>exchange: a short conversation (often between two people)</li>
	<li>significant other: a romantic partner (e.g., wife or boyfriend)</li>
	<li>drop: to quickly say something</li>
	<li>hop off: to exit quickly</li>
	<li>catch the game: watch a&nbsp;sporting event</li>
	<li>step out of one&#39;s comfort zone: to take a risk or do something that makes you feel uncomfortable</li>
	<li>strike up: to start</li>
</ul>

<div class="whiteBox"><span class="label hangingLabel">Related Lesson</span>

<p class="circleThumb"><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1749"><img src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/emails/monthly-newsletter/thumbs/Tara_Making-Small-Talks_Thumb.png" /></a></p>
In this <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1749">Functional English</a> lesson, students listen to a number of short dialogues and practice making small talk. The digital version of this lesson includes a speaking assessment task (video coming soon).</div>


Can Making Small Talk Help You Live Longer?

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<p>You can now practice your speaking using ESL Library tasks! Your teacher will assign you a speaking task for homework. You will see this task on your student dashboard. A speaking task may be one question or a few questions. You always have 2 minutes to answer each question.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Here are 5 Speaking Tips&nbsp;</h2>

<h3>1. Read and Reread the Instructions</h3>

<p>Read the <strong>intructions</strong> carefully. Did you already start the task? You can review the instructions by clicking on the <strong>i</strong>&nbsp;in the top right corner.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="instructions modal" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1406/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.23.55_PM.png" style="height: 266px; width: 400px;" /></p>

<h3>2. Study the Prompt</h3>

<p>Every speaking task is different. The <strong>prompt</strong> might be a question, a picture, or a listening task.&nbsp;Study the prompt before you speak.</p>

<p><img alt="speaking task example" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1404/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.16.15_PM.png" style="height: 437px; width: 400px;" /></p>

<p>Note: There may also be a <strong>reference</strong> that you need to look at. Click the&nbsp;View Reference button if you see one. Some text or a video will appear. This will help you answer the question.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1409/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.32.20_PM.png" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; width: 400px; height: 157px;" /></p>

<h3>3. Make a Plan</h3>

<p>Take a bit of time to <strong>plan</strong> what you want to say. There is no time limit. Take some notes. Your&nbsp;teacher will be able to see how long you spent on the task (not just the recording time).</p>

<p><img alt="speaking plan example" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1407/content_Image_from_iOS.jpg" style="height: 533px; width: 400px;" /></p>

<h3>4. Practice</h3>

<p>Practice before you submit your final recording. Record your answer and listen to it. Did you speak <em>loudly</em> and <em>clearly</em>? Did you say everything you wanted to say?&nbsp;If you want to try again, <strong>delete</strong> the audio&nbsp;and <strong>re-record</strong> it.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Check that there is no background noise in your room. Make sure you are close to your microphone. Do not cover&nbsp;your microphone with your hand.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img alt="Review Answer" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1408/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.28.35_PM.png" style="width: 400px; height: 127px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;" /></p>

<p>If you are happy with your recordings, <strong>submit</strong> your responses to your teacher!</p>

<p><img alt="Submit" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1410/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.50.29_PM.png" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; width: 400px; height: 161px;" /></p>

<h3>5. Review the Feedback</h3>

<p>Your teacher can leave you <strong>feedback</strong> about your speaking activity. After your teacher leaves you feedback, you will see a <strong>speech bubble</strong> on your <strong>dashboard</strong> beside the speaking task. Review your teacher&#39;s feedback or rating. You can try&nbsp;again&nbsp;if you want to improve!</p>

<p><img alt="Teacher Feedback" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1405/content_Screen_Shot_2021-04-14_at_2.19.13_PM.png" style="width: 400px; height: 145px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;" /></p>

<p><b>Vocabulary</b></p>

<ul>
	<li>instructions (<em>noun</em>):<em> </em>information about what to do</li>
	<li>prompt (<em>noun</em>): the&nbsp;text, audio, or&nbsp;picture you are going to speak about</li>
	<li>reference (<em>noun</em>): an extra prompt to help you answer the question</li>
	<li>plan (<em>verb</em>): to&nbsp;think about what you want to say</li>
	<li>delete (<em>verb</em>): to erase your response</li>
	<li>re-record (<em>verb</em>): to record your response again</li>
	<li>submit (<em>verb</em>): to send the file to your teacher</li>
	<li>feedback (<em>noun</em>): your teacher&#39;s notes and rating</li>
	<li>speech bubble (<em>noun</em>): a comic&nbsp;icon that you write spoken words in&nbsp;(see image at the top of this blog post)</li>
	<li>dashboard (<em>noun</em>): the place you go to find digital assignments from your teacher&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Waiting for speaking assignments? Ask your teacher to assign you some tasks from our <strong>Speak Up</strong> resources (<a href="https://ellii.com/resource_categories/105/resources/3608">Beg&ndash;Low Int</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/resource_categories/105/resources/3594">Low Int&ndash;In</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/resource_categories/105/resources/3611">High Int&ndash;Adv</a>). Your teacher can also assign a task called <strong>Pronounce Your Name </strong>from the digital version of this&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/courses/72/lessons/1211">Discussion Starters</a> lesson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Video Demo for Teachers</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JP6GbZ2Lxvs?si=KTI_x_Azcz4Lsebk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

<p>Teachers: Please take our short&nbsp;<a href="https://esllibrarysurvey.typeform.com/to/X8N9ng5N">Speaking Task Survey</a> to help us improve this task type. Thank you!</p>


Speak Up! 5 Recording Tips for Students

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<p>Listen to this post.</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/1160/Word-of-the-Year.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<blockquote>
<p>&quot;The way you do great things is by setting great&nbsp;goals.&quot;</p>

<p class="attribution">&mdash;Bill de Blasio, New York City Mayor (New Year&#39;s Eve, 2020)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Dear students,&nbsp;</p>

<p>Happy New Year! Do you like to make New Year&#39;s resolutions? Instead of deciding what <em>not</em>&nbsp;to do at the beginning of a new year, I always choose a Word of the Year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>My Word of the Year for 2021 is &quot;zeal.&quot; Here is the definition from <a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/zeal">Lexico</a> dictionary.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>zeal </strong>(noun): <em>great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an&nbsp;objective</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I chose the&nbsp;word &quot;zeal&quot; because I think it will inspire&nbsp;me to bring enthusiasm to lots of different goals, including work goals, family goals, and personal goals. In 2021, I&#39;ll&nbsp;do my best to bring energy and enthusiasm into every space I&#39;m in.<br />
<br />
My new office wall offers a strong&nbsp;visual for my Word of the Year! It&#39;s a fun backdrop for virtual meetings&nbsp;and&nbsp;a useful conversation starter. The connected names symbolize&nbsp;the importance of teamwork (and my own love of words).&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Tara Benwell's Office Wall" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1158/content_IMG-3019.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">I have about 15 more ESL Library staff names to add (waiting on&nbsp;more wooden tiles to arrive)! My pup Rootbeer is also full of energy and keeps my family moving, even during lockdown. (He&#39;s hoping I&#39;ll add his name to the wall!)</p>

<p>What&#39;s your Word of the Year for 2021? Ask your teacher to assign the ESL Library lesson <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/74/lessons/2563">How to Write a Basic Paragraph</a>. In this lesson, you will practice writing a short paragraph about your Word of the Year. If you want to share your writing, please copy your paragraph in the comments below for all of us to see!<br />
<br />
You don&#39;t have to be an ESL Library student to share your Word of the Year. Anyone (teachers and ESL Library staff) can participate by sharing their word in the comments below.&nbsp;Please tell us why you chose your word.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Best of luck with your language learning throughout 2021!</p>

<p>XOXO</p>

<p>Tara &amp; the ESL Library Team</p>


Word of the Year for 2021

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<h1>Let&#39;s Follow the Instructions</h1>

<p>It&#39;s time to join&nbsp;ESL Library as a student. Did your teacher send you an email invitation to join ESL Library?&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Go to your email inbox.</li>
	<li>Find the invitation from your teacher to join ESL Library.</li>
	<li>Click the blue Join Now button.</li>
	<li>Choose the green box. Create an Account. (It&#39;s your first time using ESL Library.)&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fill out the form. Start by adding&nbsp;your first name and last name.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Add your email address.</li>
	<li>Add a password.</li>
	<li>Click Create an Account.</li>
	<li>Choose an avatar (a picture for your profile page).</li>
	<li>Click Start Learning.</li>
</ol>

<p>You are now on your Student Dashboard! This is where you will see your&nbsp;ESL Library assignments.</p>

<h3>Important!</h3>

<p>Next time you come to ESL Library, go to <a href="http://ellii.com/students">ellii.com/students</a> and go to the Log In form. Use the same email and password.</p>

<h1>Reminders</h1>

<ul>
	<li>You only use the email invitation one time.</li>
	<li>Next time, go to <a href="http://ellii.com/students">ellii.com/students</a> and&nbsp;Log In. Use the same email address and password each time you log in.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h1>Questions</h1>

<ul>
	<li>Do you have a problem or&nbsp;question? Visit this post: <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-faq">FAQs for Students Using ESL Library</a>.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Did you forget your password?&nbsp;Ask your teacher to reset it for you. Here is a <a href="https://help.ellii.com/article/193-how-to-reset-your-students-passwords">video for your teacher</a>&nbsp;on how to reset your password.</li>
</ul>


Sign Up as a Student with an Email Invitation

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<h1>Let&#39;s Follow the Instructions&nbsp;</h1>

<p>It&#39;s time to join&nbsp;Ellii as a student. Follow the instructions.</p>

<ol>
	<li>Go to <a href="http://ellii.com/students">ellii.com/students</a>.</li>
	<li>In the top right corner, choose Create an Account.&nbsp;(It&#39;s your first time here.)</li>
	<li>Type the Invitation Code. (Your teacher gave you this.)</li>
	<li>Type your first name and last name.</li>
	<li>Add your email (If you don&#39;t have an email, type a username. Don&#39;t forget it.)</li>
	<li>Add a password. (Don&#39;t forget it.)</li>
	<li>Agree to the Terms of Use. (Check the box.)</li>
	<li>Click Create Student Account.</li>
	<li>Choose an avatar. (This is a picture for your profile page.)</li>
	<li>Click Start Learning.</li>
</ol>

<p>You are now on your Student Dashboard! This is where you will see your&nbsp;Ellii homework. Do you have assignments&nbsp;already? See <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-faq">Questions 5 and 6</a>&nbsp;from our post on&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-faq">FAQs for Students</a>.</p>

<h1>Reminders</h1>

<ul>
	<li>You only use the invitation code one time.</li>
	<li>Next time you come to <a href="http://ellii.com/students/">Ellii</a>&nbsp;remember to&nbsp;<strong>Log In</strong> instead. Go to ellii.com/students and Log In with your email (or username) and password.</li>
	<li>If you forget your password, ask your teacher for help.</li>
</ul>

<h1>Questions</h1>

<p>Do you have a problem or&nbsp;question? Visit this post: <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-faq">FAQs for Students Using Ellii</a>.&nbsp;</p>


Sign Up as a Student with a Class Code

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<h1>Let&#39;s Learn</h1>

<p>Preview the Queen&#39;s vocabulary:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>disruption:</strong> something that stops or pauses another thing</li>
	<li><strong>front&nbsp;line:</strong> first in line of defence* (traditionally a war term)</li>
	<li><strong>vulnerable:</strong> more likely to experience harm than others&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>spare:</strong> to save others from harm</li>
	<li><strong>tackle:</strong> to attack a problem and try to solve it</li>
	<li><strong>resolute:</strong> with great purpose</li>
	<li><strong>attribute:</strong> an important part of something</li>
	<li><strong>applaud:</strong> to clap for, congratulate</li>
	<li><strong>convert:</strong> to change into something new</li>
	<li><strong>endure:</strong> to live through something difficult</li>
</ul>

<h1>Let&#39;s Watch</h1>

<p>Write down any words or expressions you don&#39;t know. Look them up in a dictionary. Then watch again.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bP_hNq6-0S8" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h1>Let&#39;s Review</h1>

<p>Answer the questions in the comments area. Can you use some of the Queen&#39;s vocabulary?&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Who does the Queen thank?</li>
	<li>What happens in the broadcast at 2:03? Why does the Queen think this is important?</li>
	<li>According to the Queen, what symbol will remind us of this difficult time?</li>
	<li>What historic event does the Queen use to compare difficult times in the past and present?</li>
	<li>What message of hope does the Queen give at the end of the broadcast?</li>
</ol>

<p>*<strong>Note:</strong> British spelling is used in this post due to the subject matter.</p>


Learning English with the Queen

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<h1>Let&#39;s Learn</h1>

<p>Our student log in page looks a bit different now!&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>If you don&#39;t have an account, choose <strong>Create an Account</strong> in the top right corner.&nbsp;Fill out the form.</li>
	<li>If you already have an ESL Library student account, type your username and password and<strong> Log in</strong>.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>If you forget your username or password, ask your teacher to reset it. (Don&#39;t sign up again.)</li>
</ul>

<div class="videoWrapper"><img alt="ESL Library Student Log In Page" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1118/content_Screen_Shot_2020-12-15_at_9.28.51_AM.png" /></div>

<h1>Let&#39;s Review</h1>

<ul>
	<li>Go to <a href="http://ellii.com/students">ellii.com/students</a></li>
	<li><strong>Create an Account</strong> if you are new.</li>
	<li><strong>Log in</strong>&nbsp;if you already have an account. (You already have a username and password. Use these each time you log in. Don&#39;t reuse an invitation code.)</li>
</ul>

<h1>Tips</h1>

<p>Did you forget your username or password? Your teacher can tell you your username or reset your password for you. See&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-faq">Frequently Asked Questions&nbsp;for Students Using ESL Library</a>&nbsp;for more help.</p>


Create an Account or Log In?

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<h1>Let&rsquo;s Learn</h1>

<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all in this together.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Have you heard this a lot? This does not mean we are all having the same <em>experiences</em> or&nbsp;<em>feelings</em>.</p>

<p>Here are four types of feelings you may be having during the coronavirus outbreak: <strong>fear</strong>, <strong>anxiety</strong>, <strong>gratitude</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>hope</strong>.</p>

<p>Learn some common sentence structures related to these feelings. Then practice expressing your feelings in the comments&nbsp;below.</p>

<h2>Fear</h2>

<blockquote>
<p>I am afraid/scared of +&nbsp;<em>noun</em></p>

<p>I am afraid/scared of + ‑<em>ing&nbsp;verb</em></p>

<p>I am afraid/scared + <em>clause (simple future&nbsp;tense)</em></p>
</blockquote>

<h4>Examples:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>I am afraid of <strong>the coronavirus&nbsp;test</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am scared of <strong>getting&nbsp;sick</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am afraid <strong>(that) I will lose my&nbsp;job</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Anxiety</h2>

<blockquote>
<p>I am worried/anxious/stressed about +&nbsp;<em>noun</em></p>

<p>I am worried/anxious/stressed about + ‑<em>ing&nbsp;verb</em></p>

<p>I am worried + <em>clause (simple future&nbsp;tense)</em></p>
</blockquote>

<h4>Examples:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>I am worried about <strong>my&nbsp;grandparents</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am stressed about <strong>the&nbsp;economy</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am anxious about <strong>losing my&nbsp;job</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am worried <strong>(that) I will spread the&nbsp;virus</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Gratitude</h2>

<blockquote>
<p>I am thankful/grateful for +&nbsp;<em>noun</em></p>

<p>I am thankful/grateful + <em>clause (simple&nbsp;present)</em></p>
</blockquote>

<h4>Examples:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>I am thankful for <strong>health‑care&nbsp;workers</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am thankful for <strong>first&nbsp;responders</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am grateful <strong>(that) we have a&nbsp;backyard</strong>.</li>
	<li>I am grateful <strong>(that) I don&rsquo;t live&nbsp;alone</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Hope</h2>

<blockquote>
<p>I hope <em>+ clause (simple present&nbsp;tense)</em></p>
</blockquote>

<h4>Examples:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>I hope <strong>(that) my grandmother&nbsp;recovers</strong>.</li>
	<li>I hope <strong>(that) the schools open&nbsp;soon</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<h1>Let&rsquo;s Practice</h1>

<p>How are you feeling today? Are you afraid, worried, grateful, or&nbsp;hopeful?</p>

<p>Leave a comment to express your feelings. (Sign in with your student account if you have one. Teachers can write example sentences&nbsp;too.)</p>


Expressing Feelings During the Coronavirus Outbreak

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<p>To use Ellii as a student, your teacher must first invite you to a class. Here are some answers to <strong>frequently asked questions</strong> (FAQ) from students like&nbsp;you.</p>

<h1>1. I&#39;m new! How do I sign up with an email&nbsp;invitation?&nbsp;</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>Go to your email inbox. Open your teacher&rsquo;s invitation. Click <strong>Join&nbsp;Now</strong>.</p>

<p><img alt="" class="hasBorder" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/262/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_1.20.47_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>This will take you to <a href="https://ellii.com/students/">ellii.com/students</a>.</p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>Click the green box that says &quot;Create an Account. I am new!&quot;</p>

<p><img alt="Create an Account button" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1115/content_Screen_Shot_2020-12-14_at_2.04.24_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #4</h5>

<p>Fill out the form. Type your <strong>email address</strong> or create a <strong>username</strong> (don&rsquo;t forget it). Is your username taken? (You didn&#39;t sign up already did you?) Choose a different username. Add a password. Don&#39;t forget it! Make sure your form has no errors (red boxes). Agree to the terms. Then click <strong>Create Student&nbsp;Account</strong>.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1116/content_Screen_Shot_2020-12-14_at_12.48.30_PM.png" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="whiteBox">
<h5>Step #5</h5>

<p>Choose an avatar.&nbsp;Click Start Learning.</p>
</div>

<hr />
<h1>2. I&#39;m new! My teacher gave me an invitation code. How&nbsp;do I sign up?&nbsp;</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>Go to <a href="https://ellii.com/students/">ellii.com/students</a>.</p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>In the top right corner, choose New to Ellii?&nbsp;<b>Create an Account</b>.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1117/content_Screen_Shot_2020-12-14_at_12.47.25_PM.png" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>Fill out the form. Type the code your teacher gave you. Then fill out the rest of the form. See Step #4 and #5 above.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<h1>3. I have an account. How do I log&nbsp;in?&nbsp;</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>Go to <a href="https://ellii.com/students/">ellii.com/students</a>.</p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>Enter your username or email address and password. (Use the one you used last time.)</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/276/content_Screen_Shot_2020-04-23_at_2.41.41_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>Click <strong>Log In</strong>.</p>

<h5>Step #4</h5>

<p>You are now on your <strong>Student&nbsp;Dashboard</strong>.</p>

<div class="whiteBox">
<h5>Important</h5>

<p>Use this method every time you log in. Do not use your invitation email&nbsp;again.</p>
</div>

<hr />
<h1>4. How do I join my teacher&rsquo;s&nbsp;class?</h1>

<p>Your teacher will put you in a class. Ellii&nbsp;does not have a video platform for online classes. Ellii has the content and activities for class and homework. Use email or text to ask your teacher how you are going to meet online. Your teacher may choose a video platform such as Zoom or Google&nbsp;Hangouts.</p>

<p>In a video chat, your teacher can share his/her screen. You can do some Ellii tasks together. This tool is called <strong>Broadcast</strong>. Your teacher can also send you tasks to do for homework. You can do them on your mobile device, tablet, or computer and then send them to your&nbsp;teacher.</p>

<hr />
<h1>5. How do I see my&nbsp;homework?</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>Log in at <a href="https://ellii.com/students/">ellii.com/students</a>.</p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>Enter your <strong>Username</strong> and&nbsp;<strong>Password</strong>.</p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>You are now on your <strong>Student Dashboard</strong>. This is where your <strong>Assignments</strong>&nbsp;are.</p>

<p><img alt="" class="hasBorder" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/258/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_12.20.42_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #4</h5>

<p>Look at the <strong>To Do</strong> list. Do you see a lesson with a bell? This is your new&nbsp;homework.</p>

<p>Look at the <strong>Due Date</strong>. Do your homework before this day and time. (It is a good idea to click on the lesson to see how many tasks your teacher&nbsp;assigned.)</p>

<hr />
<h1>6. How do I do my homework?</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>Log in at <a href="https://ellii.com/students/">ellii.com/students</a>.</p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>Click on the lesson in your <strong>To&nbsp;Do</strong>&nbsp;list.</p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>Choose a task you haven&rsquo;t done yet (e.g., Listen &amp;&nbsp;Type).</p>

<p><img alt="" class="hasBorder" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/257/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_12.06.55_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #4</h5>

<p>Click <strong>Start</strong>.</p>

<h5>Step #5</h5>

<p>Read the instructions.</p>

<h5>Step #6</h5>

<p>Start the task.</p>

<h5>Step #7</h5>

<p>Do the task. Click the arrow at the bottom of your screen to go to the next&nbsp;question.</p>

<h5>Step #8</h5>

<p>Submit your answers.</p>

<p>Your teacher will be able to see your&nbsp;answers after you submit them. You can also try a task again! For some tasks, you can even fix your&nbsp;answers.</p>

<hr />
<h1>7. How do I see my results?</h1>

<h5>Step #1</h5>

<p>After you finish each task, click <strong>I&rsquo;m Finished</strong> or <strong>Submit </strong>(or advance the&nbsp;arrow).</p>

<h5>Step #2</h5>

<p>Click <strong>Review Answers</strong>.</p>

<p><img alt="" class="hasBorder" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/259/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_12.23.37_PM.png" /></p>

<p>Tasks with one correct answer (e.g., True or False) will show your results right away. Some tasks don&rsquo;t have results (e.g., Read &amp; Listen). Your teacher will need to check some of your written&nbsp;tasks.</p>

<p><img alt="" class="hasBorder" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/260/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_12.23.46_PM.png" /></p>

<h5>Step #3</h5>

<p>Click <strong>Try Again</strong> to redo the&nbsp;task.</p>

<div class="whiteBox">
<h5>Tip #1</h5>

<p>Your teacher will see your results and attempts (the number of times you tried a task). Your teacher will also see how much time you spent on each task. This is how your homework looks for your teacher. When your teacher clicks View Results, he or she sees your&nbsp;answers.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/261/content_Screen_Shot_2020-03-27_at_12.27.41_PM.png" /></p>
</div>

<div class="whiteBox">
<h5>Tip #2</h5>

<p>For some written answers, your teacher can send you&nbsp;feedback about your ESL&nbsp;Library homework. There is no Score, but you will see a pen notification on your dashboard if there is feedback. Click on the pen to see your teacher&#39;s feedback.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/272/content_Screen_Shot_2020-04-09_at_12.13.02_PM.png" /></p>
</div>

<hr />
<h1>8. I forgot my username or password. What can I do?</h1>

<p>Ask your teacher to check your username in his or her My Students list. Your teacher can reset your password there and tell you what it is. Log in with this new temporary password. Then go to My Profile and choose Change Password.</p>

<h1>9. How do I ask more questions about Ellii?</h1>

<p>You can write a question in the Comments. If it&rsquo;s about using Ellii digital as a student, I will approve your question and answer&nbsp;it.</p>

<p>Follow along on our <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/categories/for-students">blog</a> for more learning tips and mini‑lessons. Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/esllibrary/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for free mini‑lessons&nbsp;too!</p>


FAQs for Students Using Ellii

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<blockquote>
<p>Politeness is an inexpensive way of making&nbsp;friends.</p>

<p class="attribution">&mdash;William Feather</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In today&#39;s post, we&#39;re going to focus on how to express politeness when speaking in&nbsp;English.</p>

<p>Whether you&#39;re studying English for immigration, work, or travel, knowing how to be polite in English will help you in many ways! You&#39;ll avoid offending people unintentionally and you&#39;ll connect with others more easily. Also, learning polite language might help you win friends in your personal life and build stronger relationships at&nbsp;work.</p>

<p>Here are ten expressions that will help you sound more polite in&nbsp;English.</p>

<h2>1. &quot;Could you&hellip;?&quot;</h2>

<p>We often use &quot;could&quot; when making requests in English. This softens the request and makes it sound less like an order. &quot;Can&quot; is also common, but it&#39;s more often used with close friends. If you&#39;d like to sound more polite when talking to someone you don&#39;t know well, &quot;could&quot; is great to&nbsp;use.</p>

<p>So, instead of&nbsp;saying:</p>

<p>&quot;Send me the report.&quot; or &quot;Close the&nbsp;door.&quot;</p>

<p>You could&nbsp;say:</p>

<p>&quot;<strong>Could you</strong> send me the report?&quot; or &quot;<strong>Could you</strong> close the door,&nbsp;please?&quot;</p>

<h2>2. &quot;I was wondering if&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>We normally use this expression in spoken English to ask someone politely for help. It follows this&nbsp;pattern:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I was wondering if + subject + past&nbsp;verb</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here are some&nbsp;examples:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>I was wondering if</strong> you had time to help&nbsp;me.</li>
	<li><strong>Sarah was wondering if</strong> you could pick her up from the&nbsp;airport.</li>
</ul>

<p>We also use this expression to ask someone politely if they would like to do something. For&nbsp;example:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>I was wondering if</strong> you wanted to join me for dinner&nbsp;tonight.</li>
</ul>

<h2>3. &quot;By any chance&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>This is a common expression we use to ask for information. &quot;By any chance&quot; means &quot;possibly,&quot; and it&rsquo;s used as a polite emphasis in questions or&nbsp;requests.</p>

<p>We can use &quot;by any chance&quot; at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the&nbsp;sentence.</p>

<p>Let&#39;s look at some&nbsp;examples:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>By any chance</strong>, do you know where the train station&nbsp;is?</li>
	<li>Do you,<strong> by any chance</strong>, know where the train station&nbsp;is?</li>
	<li>Do you know where the train station is<strong> by any&nbsp;chance</strong>?</li>
</ul>

<h2>4. &quot;Do you mind if&hellip;?&quot;</h2>

<p>&quot;Do you mind if&hellip;?&quot; is a great way to <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1750" target="_blank">ask for permission</a>, and it follows this&nbsp;pattern:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Do you mind if + subject + present&nbsp;verb</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example,</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Do you mind if</strong> I use your&nbsp;phone?</li>
	<li><strong>Do you mind if</strong> we park&nbsp;here?</li>
</ul>

<h2>5. &quot;What if&hellip;?&quot;</h2>

<p>We often use this expression when we want to suggest something indirectly. Generally speaking, when someone proposes an option and you&#39;d like to suggest an alternative, offering your suggestion in the form of a question will help you sound more&nbsp;polite.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>What if</strong> we went out to eat&nbsp;instead?</li>
	<li><strong>What if </strong>we tried a different&nbsp;design?</li>
</ul>

<p>&quot;What if I&hellip;?&quot; can also be used as an informal way of suggesting something that you can do to help&nbsp;someone:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>What if I </strong>helped you with your&nbsp;essay?</li>
</ul>

<h2>6. &quot;Pardon me?&quot;</h2>

<p>&quot;Pardon me&quot; is a polite expression often used to ask someone to repeat what they said. Because responding with &quot;What?&quot; can sound rude and too direct in some cases, replying with &quot;Pardon me?&quot; or just &quot;Pardon?&quot; is a great alternative when asking for&nbsp;clarification.</p>

<p>Here&#39;s an example:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Pardon me</strong>? I didn&#39;t hear what you&nbsp;said.</li>
</ul>

<h2>7. &quot;Sorry to bother you&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>&quot;Sorry to bother you&hellip;&quot; can be used as a polite way of <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1747" target="_blank">interrupting someone</a> when you&rsquo;d like their attention. For example, if you have to interrupt someone because you need their help, you can&nbsp;say:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Sorry to bother you</strong>, but I really need your&nbsp;help.</li>
</ul>

<p>Here are a few other&nbsp;examples:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Sorry to bother you,</strong>&nbsp;but do you know what time it&nbsp;is?</li>
	<li><strong>Sorry to bother you,</strong>&nbsp;but do you know if this bus goes to the&nbsp;mall?</li>
</ul>

<h2>8. &quot;I would like&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>Because &quot;I want&quot; can be direct and impolite in some situations, a more polite option is &quot;I would&nbsp;like&hellip;&quot;</p>

<p>When using &quot;I would like,&quot; follow one of these&nbsp;structures:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I would like + infinitive (to&nbsp;+&nbsp;verb)</p>

<p>I would like + noun</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example, instead of&nbsp;saying:</p>

<ul>
	<li>I want another&nbsp;coffee.</li>
</ul>

<p>You could say:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>I would like</strong> another&nbsp;coffee.</li>
	<li><strong>I would like</strong> to have another&nbsp;coffee.</li>
</ul>

<h2>9. &quot;I would love to, but&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>This is a polite way to say &quot;no&quot; in English. For instance, if someone invites you to do something and you want to decline their invitation nicely, you can&nbsp;say:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>I&#39;d love to</strong>, <strong>but</strong> I can&#39;t. I have to get up early tomorrow&nbsp;morning.</li>
	<li><strong>We&#39;d love to</strong> join you, <strong>but</strong> we&#39;re going away this&nbsp;weekend.</li>
</ul>

<h2>10. &quot;I&#39;d love to hear more, but&hellip;&quot;</h2>

<p>We often use this expression when we&#39;re in a hurry and we need to end a conversation&nbsp;politely.</p>

<p>Here are a few&nbsp;examples:</p>

<ul>
	<li>I&#39;m so sorry.<strong> I&#39;d love to hear more</strong>, but I&#39;m late for&nbsp;work!</li>
	<li><strong>I&#39;d love to hear more</strong>, but I have to run to an&nbsp;appointment.</li>
</ul>

<p>We&#39;d love to hear from you! What other expressions would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments. Also, do you have a friend or a colleague who would like to know how to be more polite in English conversations? If so, please share this post with them. Thanks for&nbsp;reading!</p>

<h2>Related</h2>

<ul class="resources">
	<li class="blog-post"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/modals-of-possibility-may-might-could/" target="_blank">Modals of Possibility</a></li>
	<li class="lesson"><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1750" target="_blank">Asking for Permission</a></li>
	<li class="lesson"><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1747" target="_blank">Interrupting</a></li>
	<li class="lesson"><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1754" target="_blank">Making Requests</a></li>
	<li class="lesson"><a href="https://ellii.com/courses/92/lessons/1745" target="_blank">Asking for Help</a></li>
</ul>


10 Expressions to Help You Sound More Polite in English Conversations

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Posts describing lessons or activities for the ESL classroom.

Activities

<h3>Could I please have a few minutes of your time?</h3>

<p>English language learners often want to practice their speaking skills above all others, and informational interviews are a great&nbsp;way to practice speaking. We usually teach our students how to be the&nbsp;<i>interviewee</i>&nbsp;(at a job interview or for a speaking test, for example), but have you ever taught them how to be the&nbsp;<i>interviewer</i>?</p>

<p>Conducting an informational interview is a great way to get your learners talking in English, but a simple one-on-one speaking&nbsp;activity isn&#39;t the only way interviews can be used! Try assigning an interview as part of an essay or other writing project, as the basis for a presentation, or as a precursor to a group or class discussion or debate the following day.</p>

<p>What makes a good interview? Below are some handy tips that your students should keep in mind as they get ready to interview someone.</p>

<h3>1. Think of a good theme or topic.</h3>

<p>Choose something that interests you, such as talking to someone who has a job you&#39;re interested in or someone who does a sport/activity that you want to learn.&nbsp;Or, if your teacher&nbsp;assigns a topic to you, try to find an interesting angle. For example, if your teacher asks you to interview someone about their family, ask them about their family history from a hundred years ago.</p>

<h3>2. Contact the person.</h3>

<p>Arrange the interview by phone, or approach someone in your school or neighborhood and politely ask if you can ask them a few questions. Some good ways to start an interview are:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Excuse me, may I ask you something?</li>
	<li>Hello, this is Maria. I&#39;d like to interview you about your family.</li>
	<li>Could I please have a few&nbsp;minutes of your time?</li>
	<li>Are you interested in participating in a interview?</li>
	<li>Would you mind answering a few questions?</li>
	<li>Hi! I&#39;m conducting interviews about people&#39;s career choices for my class. Could I ask you a few questions?</li>
</ul>

<h3>3. Be prepared.</h3>

<p>Be sure to write out your questions beforehand. You want your interview to have some structure so that you ask the important content questions within a reasonable amount of time. Try not to have too many questions (10 questions is usually a good number).</p>

<p>Try to have some general questions and some specific ones so that you get a variety of responses. It&#39;s also&nbsp;more interesting to get someone&#39;s personal opinion/experiences, so try to ask a few personal questions (but not <em>too&nbsp;</em>personal).&nbsp;For example, if you were interviewing someone about their career, your questions could include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>What education and background experience did you need for your career? (general)</li>
	<li>What do you like and dislike about&nbsp;your&nbsp;career? (general)</li>
	<li>What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue this career? (specific)</li>
	<li>If you could do anything differently in your career, what would it be? (specific)</li>
</ul>

<h3>4. Take notes.</h3>

<p>Jot down notes so you don&rsquo;t forget what someone said. Your notes can be short&mdash;just enough to jog your memory. You <em>don&#39;t</em> need to write down what someone said word for word (except for those lines you want to quote directly in your report later on, if any).</p>

<p>Or, if it&#39;s too difficult to write and listen at the same time, try&nbsp;recording the interview so you can write things down later when you have lots of time. You could download and use&nbsp;a free recording app on your mobile phone if your school doesn&#39;t have recording devices available.</p>

<h3>5. Report your findings&nbsp;as soon as possible.</h3>

<p>Writing your report right away is the right way of doing things! Whether you&#39;re writing a report, preparing a presentation, or reporting your findings to a group or partner, it&rsquo;s easiest while the interview is fresh in your mind.</p>

<p>Try not to have too much of a delay between the interview and the assignment. If you have to wait a few days, review your interview notes before completing the assignment.</p>

<h3>6. Have fun!</h3>

<p>Most importantly, don&rsquo;t forget to have fun and enjoy this opportunity to practice speaking&nbsp;in English! Don&rsquo;t be nervous&mdash;people are usually very friendly and flattered when an English learner wants to interview them. Ask your questions slowly and clearly.</p>

<p>Also,&nbsp;don&#39;t hesitate to&nbsp;respond to what someone is saying! Most people prefer a conversation-style interview to one that is simply a question-and-answer session. But don&rsquo;t go on and on about your own experiences/opinions&mdash;you don&rsquo;t want to take up&nbsp;<i>too</i>&nbsp;much of someone&rsquo;s time.</p>