Conversation courses outline
The outlines provide a learning framework for the Cactus conversation classes. They are designed to provide you with a good idea of what you might cover over the course period. Includes information on typical themes, grammar and vocabulary fields. They are flexible rather than prescriptive. Our language teachers may decide to adapt their learning plans to the specific level, aims and interests of their classes.
Our conversations courses are ‘3 months rolling’. This means there is new content every month for 3 months before the content is repeated. We therefore recommend that all students sign up for the same level of conversation course for 3 consecutive months before progressing to the next level.
Use the tabs below to view the relevant conversation course outline for your level. If you want to cover the aspects such as reading, writing and listening skills, we recommend the 10-week courses.
Basic
Personal Information
- Introducing yourself – who you are and where you are from
- Spelling your name
- Your nationality and country
- Greetings and gestures
- Ask for and give personal information
Food
- Food nouns/adjectives
- Language to express preferences
- Expressing quantity, meal times and what you eat
- National dishes and recipes
- My favourite food and dishes to cook
Life & Routine
- Everyday routine – Where? When? How?
- Adverbs of frequency?
- Job’s vocabulary
- Interests and hobbies
- Discuss leisure activities
Explorers & Travel
- Asking for and giving directions
- Discuss past events and experiences
- Describe a place you have been to
- Review vocabulary
- Talk about your future travel plans
I Am Based In …?
- Describe something in your city
- Talk about shops and local buildings
- Ask about and say where places are
- Vocabulary to ask and give directions
- Describe places in my area
Home Sweet Home
- Describing people in the familiy
- Talking about your family and friends
- Family names and adjectives
- Vocabulary for the house
- Review family tree
Rock n’ Roll
- Describing music
- Vocabulary for music and instruments
- Talking about music tastes
- Discuss music festivals and events
- Review music vocabulary
Technology
- Describing technology
- Vocabulary for technology
- Positive and negative aspects
- Review vocabulary
- Talk about your favourite gadget
Life Stories
- Vocabulary to tell a story
- Past tenses and present perfect
- Talk about a fun anecdote
- Talk about they first day at school/workplace
- Vocabulary about months and seasons
Celebrations
- Describing parties
- Vocabulary for parties
- Talking about best celebrations in a year
- Vocabulary to describe birthdays
- Talk about planning birthday parties
My Favourite Person
- Describing people in your life
- Vocabulary for personality and feelings
- Talking about qualities of a person
- Vocabulary for personality and feelings
- Describe someone physically and emotionally
Coffee & TV
- Describe TV films and movies
- Vocabulary for TV
- Likes and dislikes about TV
- Talk about your favourite TV programmes
- Review vocabulary
Choose this level if…
- You are studying at Beginner levels (Beginner 1, 2 and 3) with Cactus and/or have basic knowledge of the language and have completed a minimum of 10 hours of language class time
- It will help you understand and use familiar everyday expression whilst improving your speaking skills
- CEFR Level Name: Beginner
Competent
Personal Information
- Meeting someone new
- Introducing yourself
- Your name and unusual names
- How do you feel?
- Review vocabulary about personal information
Food
- Cooking with friends
- Food nouns and adjectives
- Language to express preferences
- What’s cooking in the pan?
- Use creativity to discover review vocabulary
Gift Shopping
- Describe your favourite shop and experience
- Vocabulary for shopping
- Group work on shopping
- Talk about your first present
- Talk about gift traditions around the world
Explorers & Travel
- Describing past events
- Vocabulary for positive and negative travelling experiences
- Describe the place you have travelled to
- Talk about your plans for the future
- Review vocabulary for travelling
Life Stories
- Vocabulary to tell a story
- Past tenses and present perfect
- Describe your favourite time of the year
- Discuss different opinions on seasons
- Review vocabulary
Work & Business
- My career goals
- Everyday routine
- Adverbs of frequency and job’s vocabulary
- Talk about different job positions
- Create a business plan
Rock n’ Roll
- Describing your music idol
- Vocabulary for music
- Talking about different music taste
- Discuss a plan for a music festival
- Review vocabulary
Eureka
- Describe modern inventions
- Discuss impacts of inventions
- Talk about changes in modern life
- Talk about your favourite invention
- Review vocabulary
My Favourite Person
- Describing people in your life
- Vocabulary for personality
- Talking about when, how and why
- Talk about your best friend
- Review vocabulary
Celebrations
- Describe parties
- Vocabulary for parties
- Talk about celebrations
- Discuss different events
- Review friends and family vocabulary
Fortune-Teller
- Talk about mystery and superstitions
- Vocabulary for unusual events
- Describe a mystery
- Tell a story of extremely good luck
- Review vocabulary
Coffee & TV
- Describe a movie
- Vocabulary for TV
- Likes and dislikes about TV
- Talk about your favourite TV programmes
- Review vocabulary
Choose this level if…
- You are studying at Elementary levels (Elementary 1, 2 and 3) or Intermediate levels (Intermediate 1, 2 and 3) with Cactus and can communicate using simple and familiar language
- It will help you understand sentences and frequently used expressions whilst developing your speaking skills
- CEFR Level Names: Elementary and Intermediate
Expert
Learn Something New
- Discuss different language and how they change in time
- Talk about language learning challenges
- Advantages of learning a new language
- Best method for learning a language
- Reasons for learning a language
Good News or Fake News
- News coverage in the media
- Talk about most important current news stories
- Describe how to find out about news stories
- Best method for reading news in a different language
- Discuss the impact of fake news
Another Adventure
- Discuss about travel adventures
- Vocabulary for when travelling
- Talk about travel plans
- Advice for planning trips
- Travel review
Human Progress
- Discuss the results of scientific progress
- Talk about effects in human history
- Examples of progress
- The impact of technology
- Tools to improve life quality
I Want to be Successful
- Why do we work?
- Talk about work achievements
- Careers and success
- Advantages/disadvantages of working from home
- Advice for younger generations
Save The Planet
- Talk about the environmental problem of today
- List 5 things to do to preserve the planet
- The impact of climate change
- How to be more environmental friendly
- Describe the consequences of a natural disaster
Shopaholic or Fashionable?
- Fashion and trends
- Fashion then and now
- The impact of fashion on the planet
- Animal rights and fashion
- Discuss the relation between fashion, planet and animals
Eureka
- The best inventions
- Things that should have never been invented
- Investment in research and development
- What would you like to see invented?
- Talk about changes to modern life
Younger Me
- Talk about your child adventures
- Parents and family
- Were you a troublemaker as a teenager?
- Describe about differences between then and now
- Advice to your younger you
Grab Some Popcorn
- TV and movies nowadays
- Channels to watch in a foreign language
- Discuss the impact of TV
- Best foreign movies to learn a language
- Describe your favourite movie
Explorers
- Travelling somewhere new
- Holiday plans for the future
- How to learn a language before a holiday abroad?
- Vocabulary for places and destinations
- Discuss a new travel plan
Supernatural
- Talk about superstitions
- Common superstitions in different countries
- Superstitions then and now
- The impact on different areas
- Describe one you have just discovered
Choose this level if you…
- You are studying at Upper-Intermediate levels (Lower and Higher), Advanced or Proficiency levels with Cactus and can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics
- It will help you advanced your speaking skills so you can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely
- CEFR Level Names: Upper-Intermediate, Advanced and Proficient
How to book with Cactus
Select a language
Simply select which language you would like to learn and from the box below and click lets go.
Take the level
This is a quick test to help you find the right course for your current level of knowledge.
Book your course
Use our simple online booking system to select your course.
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PortugueseFrequently asked questions
What will I learn?
Our Course Outlines give an overview of the content and learning framework of Cactus courses. Includes themes, grammar and vocabulary you can typically expect to cover. These are intended as a guide only. Language teachers may at times adapt the course content to suit the specific level, aims and interests of the class.
How do I know what level I am?
Are you unsure where to start or progress to? Then take our level test and read our level descriptions for guidance.
Do I receive a qualification or certificate?
At the end of your course you receive a certificate of participation. You will be able to be download it from your MyCactus account. This confirms the language and level of course you have taken. Our course levels are based on two internationally recognised systems. You will have a universally accepted reference for your studies. (Important: Please note that you must complete the end of course questionnaire sent to you to be able to get your certificate! You will receive the course questionnaire by e-mail at the end of your course.)
Do I need a course book?
You will need a course book to attend your course. Course books are not included in the course fees. We recommend that you buy your own course book separately before your course starts. We will let you know which course book you will require and advise where you can purchase this. Please note that a course book often covers more than one level. So if you progress to the next course, you may not necessarily need to buy a new book. Again, we will advise you of this at the time. The course book is chosen by our teachers and academic team. This is based on which book is most suitable for the level of the class whilst offering the most communicative approach.
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