Speaking skills practice: Different opinions (Intermediate B1)

Summary

In this conversation, Jack and Gemma catch up after their summer holiday and discuss their first day back at school. They talk about their teachers, including Madame Martin, who teaches French, and their math and science teachers, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Greenwood. Gemma enjoys Madame Martin’s strict yet informative teaching style, while Jack finds it embarrassing and difficult. Despite their differing opinions on teachers, they finally agree on their science teacher, Miss McLoud, who they both find amazing and nice. The conversation captures their friendly banter and the challenges of returning to school.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jack and Gemma had a good summer holiday and are catching up after returning to school.
• 😀 Gemma's first day back at school was okay, while Jack had French class, which he found difficult.
• 😀 Jack's French teacher is Madame Martin, whom Gemma likes, although Jack finds her strict and challenging.
• 😀 Jack is uncomfortable with Madame Martin's French-speaking approach, which makes him embarrassed and confused.
• 😀 Gemma finds Madame Martin's teaching method effective despite the strictness and language barrier.
• 😀 Jack's math teacher is Mr. Thomas, whom he likes because of his teaching style.
• 😀 Gemma has Mr. Greenwood for math, who is a good teacher but gives a lot of homework.
• 😀 Jack prefers Mr. Thomas over Mr. Greenwood due to less homework.
• 😀 Gemma and Jack disagree on their favorite math teacher but agree to disagree.
• 😀 For science, both Jack and Gemma have positive opinions about their teachers, with Miss McLoud being a favorite of both.
• 😀 In the end, Gemma and Jack finally agree on Miss McLoud as an amazing and nice teacher.

Q & A

How did Gemma feel about her summer holiday?

Gemma mentioned that her summer holiday was good.

What was Jack's first day back at school like?

Jack said his first day back at school was okay, but he found his French class awful.

Who is Jack's French teacher, and what is his opinion about her?

Jack's French teacher is Madame Martin, and he doesn't like her because she makes students speak French all the time, which he finds embarrassing and hard to understand.

How does Gemma feel about Madame Martin as a teacher?

Gemma likes Madame Martin and thinks she's really good because she helps students learn a lot in her classes, even though she is strict.

Who is Jack's math teacher, and what does he think about him?

Jack's math teacher is Mr. Thomas, and he considers him his favorite because he likes his teaching style.

Who is Gemma's math teacher, and how does she feel about him?

Gemma's math teacher is Mr. Greenwood. She finds him to be a good teacher who explains everything well, although she acknowledges that he gives a lot of homework.

How do Jack and Gemma compare their math teachers?

Jack prefers Mr. Thomas, while Gemma prefers Mr. Greenwood, who she feels gives clear explanations, despite the heavy homework load.

Who is Gemma's science teacher, and how does she feel about her?

Gemma's science teacher is Miss McLoud, and she thinks Miss McLoud is amazing and really nice.

How does Jack respond to Gemma's praise of Miss McLoud?

Jack agrees with Gemma that Miss McLoud is a great teacher and expresses surprise that they finally agree on something.

What is the dynamic between Jack and Gemma throughout the conversation?

Jack and Gemma engage in a friendly exchange where they share opinions about their teachers. They have different preferences but often find common ground, especially towards the end of the conversation.