Start your lesson with a warm-up activity. First divide students into groups of four. Demonstrate four pictures (see the PPT) one by one. Elicit what they can see in the pictures. Then in groups ask them to make up a short story (orally or in writing; if the latter option is chosen, ask a weaker student to be responsible for that) to link these four images together. Give them 2-3 minutes for that. Check if they understand the task. Some ICQs: T.: - What must you make up? (a story) - Must the story be based on the pictures? (yes) - Do you have to write it? (no, we can do it orally) - How much time do you have? (2-3 minutes) While monitoring encourage students to use what language they can at this stage (for example, for one of the pictures - to use vocabulary of land description) Conduct feedback. Do not over-correct here.

Ask students the following questions: T.: Were the pictures connected? Did they have the same topic? (no) T.: Was it easy to link them? (anticipated answer is 'no') T.: When do we usually change the topic, jump off the topic?? When we write stories or speak, have a conversation? (anticipated answer is 'when we speak') Explain that they are going to listen to a conversation and say which of the topics (see PPT) people are talking about. Before playing the recording ask a student to read the list of topics. Play the recording. Elicit the answers and say the following: T.: Now we are going to listen to three more conversations. What will you have to do? (listen and identify the topic) T.: How many extra topics are there? (2) Play the recordings and elicit the answers. Correct answers: 1. A situation at the airport. 2. A sandwich bar. 3. The cinema 4. A dinner for staff Ask them: T.: Did the speakers talk about one topic? (no, they discussed 2) T.: Let's listen to each of the four conversations again. What might the task be? (find out what the 2nd topic is) Play the recording all the way through. Let them discuss their answers in pairs.Then elicit them. Correct answers: 1. driving licence 2. Janet's baby 3. history test 4. school cafeteria

T.: The following are key words the speakers used to change the topic of conversation. Can you remember the whole phrase? What, do you think, the numbers in brackets mean? (the number of words in a particular phrase) Let them recall the conversations and work out the phrases in groups. Elicit the answers. Correct answers: 1. Speaking of 2. That reminds me 3. By the way 4. Before I forget 5. I have just remembered something Ask students the following: T.: Did all the topic changes run smoothly, logically? Were the previous and the following topics always connected with each other? (no) Elicit that some of the topics had logical connection and went smoothly while others didn't have logical connection or very little, the changes were sudden. the new information was urgent. On the board write the key words 'logical connection' in one column and 'no connection/urgent info' in another one. T.: Let's remember the conversations and decide which phrases we use to introduce a new topic connected or not connected with the previous one. Conduct the feedback. Leave the phrase "by the way" for the last. During the voting feedback elicit the following issues (refer to the recording examples) 1. Speaking of - after the phrase we use the word previously mentioned - the pronunciation of ‘of’ - we can also say 'talking of' but we cannot say 'saying of' or "telling of' 2. That reminds me - after the phrase we use a clause with the conjuction 'that' but the idea must be connected with the previous situation. 3. By the way - can be used for both logical and illogical jump off the topic. After the phrase we usually use a comma in writing. 4. I have just remembered something - in conversations we use the contracted form of 'have' - I have = I've - after the phrase, simply a new idea comes 5. Before I forget - we use present tense instead of future (L1 inteference is possible here) for 'forget' - after the phrase, simply a new idea comes - the linking [r] Then listen to the recording (Audio 2) and ask students to repeat chorally and then individually. Draw the students' attention to Task 2 (Student's Worksheet). Elicit the task from the students. Let them work individually first and then let them check in pairs. Correct answers: 1. Speaking of 2. By the way 3. Before I forget 4.That reminds me about 5. I've just remembered something

Explain the following: T.: Imagine that we are on a train and travelling somewhere. Vladivostok, for example. We have got plenty of time. What do people usually do while travelling on a train? (get to know co-passenegers) T.: What do they talk about? (students' answers) T.: The only difference in the game is that it is not you who chooses the topic. On the board you will see 4 topics that you will have to fit in the conversation. One topic for each student. Do you think, the topics are going to be connected? (no) T.: What will help you in this case? (the phrases) T.: Which phrases is it easier to use? (the second column) Why? T.: That's why the rule will be the following, if you change your topic with some logical connection, you get three points, if you jump off, you get 1 point. What must you use, do you think? T.: You may use questions to lead the conversation in the direction you need. Do the demonstration or write the rules schematically on the board. Ask them to write points. Ask ICQs if necessary. Then start the game. Monitor and make notes of errors students.

After the activity, conduct some board error correction. Thank your students for good work.