Who Is Your Favorite Author?

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Improve your ability to talk about books.

Exercise 1

Warm-up

Have a short conversation based on these questions. Make sure you ask your tutor some questions too!

How much time do you spend reading for pleasure?

What's your favorite genre of book?

Exercise 2

Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

read reviews
ask for recommendations
check out bestseller lists
browse my local bookstore
borrow books
check staff picks

Let's Practice

Fill in the blanks using "often," "sometimes," or "never" to make these sentences true for you.

I read book reviews.

I ask for book recommendations from friends.

I check out bestseller lists.

I browse my local bookstore.

I borrow books from friends.

I check the staff picks at bookstores.

Exercise 3

Useful Language

Listen and repeat these words and phrases with your tutor.

predictable
unoriginal
underwhelming
hard to follow
didn't hold my interest
couldn't relate to the characters

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor if each pair of words or phrases has a similar or different meaning.

predictable / expected

unoriginal / unique

underwhelming / exciting

hard to follow / too long

didn't hold my interest / boring

couldn't relate to the characters / badly written

Exercise 4

Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor, then answer the questions.

	Yan-ting Who is your favorite author?
	Meryem I've been a massive fan of Stephen King since high school. How about you?
	Yan-ting I love mysteries, so for me it's Agatha Christie.
	Meryem Oh, her novels are brilliant! How do you usually find books to read?
	Yan-ting I usually check out bestseller lists or just ask for recommendations from friends. You?
	Meryem Yeah I often borrow books from friends. But my favorite thing is just browsing at my local bookstore. Do you prefer paper books, e-books, or audiobooks?
	Yan-ting Physical books are the only way to go for me. There's nothing better than the smell of a book — especially an old book! How about you?
	Meryem Audiobooks are great for when you're driving. E-books I'm not such a fan of.
	Yan-ting Yeah, me neither. Have you ever struggled to finish a book?
	Meryem Oh, definitely. I tried to read a nonfiction book about the history of anime that had really good reviews, but I just found it hard to follow. How about you?
	Yan-ting I've given up on quite a few novels either because they didn't hold my interest or I couldn't relate to the characters. What books have you read the most times?
	Meryem I've lost count of how many times I've read The Shining. It's an absolute classic.

Check Your Understanding

How does Yan-ting usually find books to read?

Which speaker prefers e-books?

What reasons does Yan-ting give for struggling to finish books?

Exercise 5

Find the Mistake

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence. Be careful — not all sentences have a mistake!

I'm been a massive fan of George Orwell all my life.

I've given up on quite a few novel.

Have you ever struggled to finish a book?

The first few chapters were totally underwhelming.

I couldn't related to the characters at all.

My favorite thing is just browse at my local bookstore.

How are you usually find books to read?

I found the story quite hard to follow.

Exercise 6

Fill in the Blanks

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor and fill in the blanks. You will be Nina. Use the Answer Pool below to help you.

	Akio Adachi Who's your favorite author?
	Nina I have many, but my (1) right now is Gillian Flynn. Her plots always have me on the edge of my seat. How about you?
	Akio Adachi Definitely Neil Gaiman. Every one of his books feels like a journey into another world. How do you usually find books to read?
	Nina I often (2) the staff picks at my local bookstore — there's always something good. I just read (3) online, too.
	Akio Adachi Right. Do you prefer paper books, e-books, or audiobooks?
	Nina I actually prefer (4) because they take up so little space, but I've got hardback (5) of all my favorite books.
	Akio Adachi I'm all about audiobooks these days. They're such a good way to pass the time on my commute. Have you ever struggled to finish a book?
	Nina Absolutely. I got a few (6) into a book the other day before deciding it was too (7) to bother with!
	Akio Adachi I'm a bit more patient, but I have given up on a few really predictable books. What books have you read the most times?
	Nina I've read Nineteen Eighty-Four so many (8). It's one of those books that always seems relevant.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

times
reviews
check
copies
pages
favorite
unoriginal
e-books

Exercise 7

Conversation

Have a conversation based on these questions. Don't forget to ask your tutor some questions too!

Who is your favorite author?

How do you usually find books to read?

Do you prefer paper books, e-books, or audio books?

Have you ever struggled to finish a book?

What books have you read the most times?