Conversations with Tutor Mike

Posted on November 11, 2016 by faeslcommunity

Tutor Mike is a robot who is happy to have a conversation with you. First, tell him your name (such as by writing: “Hi Mike. My name is Marian.”). When you press Enter, he will write back to you.

You can write anything you like to Mike (“How old are you?”; “Where do you live?”; “I like your hair.”) and he will try to answer you. He can also help you with your English if you make a mistake. (Try to ask him: “What is a apple?”) And lots more.

For smartphones and tablets, there is a free Tutor Mike app for Apple (called “ESL Robot”) and Android (called “ESL Robot Pro”).

100 Conversations

Posted on November 9, 2016 by faeslcommunity

It’s important to practice speaking – out loud – as much as possible. If you would like to practice when there is nobody to speak with, you can use this YouTube video called 100 English Conversations Practice.

It’s a set of conversations between two people. When one person is quiet, read their words out loud. They speak at normal speed, so this will also give you practice speaking more quickly. It’s easier if you make the video the full size of your screen.

If you are with a friend who is also learning English, you can turn the sound off on your phone/computer, and you can each speak half of the conversation.

How Are You Feeling Today?

Posted on November 7, 2016 by faeslcommunity

Here’s a longer list of feelings (emotions), with a practice exercise at the bottom.

Can I Pet Your Dog?

Posted on November 5, 2016 by faeslcommunity

“Can I pet your dog?” If someone says this to you, they are asking if they can touch (pet) your dog. If your dog is good with strangers, it’s nice to be friendly and say “yes”. If your dog might be uncomfortable with a stranger, you can politely say “no”, and then let the person know why.

It’s a good idea for you to ask this, before you pet someone else’s dog.

Dogs make it easier to have a short conversation with someone also out walking. In addition to “Can I pet your dog?”, you could start with something like “That’s a beautiful dog. What kind is he (she)?”, or “It’s a great day for a walk, isn’t it?”

Do you know this great place to take your dog to play? Eagle Pond at Callahan State Park in North Framingham.

Conversation Groups in Our Area

Posted on November 3, 2016 by faeslcommunity

English Conversation Groups are free and informal. They’re a great way to learn some English and practice your speaking. They usually meet once a week for 1 to 2 hours, and you attend when you can. Here is an updated list of conversation groups in our area. Due to the pandemic, most of the places have groups that are either suspended or being offered online. So unfortunately, space is more limited than usual.