Well, She Lives In The Moon...

The following are conversations I've had in my oral English classes. The class is centered around having conversations about certain topics picked every day in a group setting. My students are between the ages of 12-16 with varying levels of English speaking ability, so some concepts and ideas are lost in the translation from Chinese to English. The conversations have been slightly edited for the sake of understanding and continuity. 

Subject of Conversation: Hobbies

Ryan: So Charlotte, tell me about your hobbies.

Charlotte: I like to watch TV

Ryan: That is your only hobby? TV?

Charlotte: Yes, that is all.

Ryan: Oh...well what is your favorite TV show

Charlotte: I like... *motions two fingers towards her neck* ...Diaries.

Ryan: Vampire Diaries?

Charlotte: Yes, Vampire Diaries.

Alice: What is your favorite show?

Ryan: Me? I don't really watch a lot of TV.

Alice: What do you do?

Ryan: I like to read a lot. Actually, I don't even own a TV.

Alice: (with an incredulous look on her face) Are you poor?


Subject of Conversation: The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Cake Festival

Ryan: OK, Charlotte, what is your favorite holiday?

Charlotte: I like Mid-Autumn Festival.

Ryan: Tell me about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Jack: We eat moon cakes.

Ryan: What's a moon cake?

Sherlock: Like a...small pie.

Ryan: OK, why do you celebrate Mid-Autumn festival; or, why do you do it?

Jack: We have Mid-Autumn festival because the moon give birth to the girl.

Ryan: Wait, what?

Jack: The girl, Chang'e, lives in the moon...with her rabbit.

Ryan: So why does she live in the moon?

Harriet: One day, the girl was sad so she ate a...pill.

Charlotte: --then she flew to the moon.

Ryan: So this girl flew to the moon because she ate a pill...and she lives with her rabbit?

Jack: Yes.

Harriet: One day, bad people were trying to steal the...pill.

Charlotte: And her husband wanted to live with her in the moon.

Harriet: Then they could be together forever.

Ryan: People tried to take the pill?

Harriet: Yes, and the husband did not want them to take.

Jack: So the woman ate the pill.

Harriet: And flew to the moon.

Charlotte: Now we eat moon cakes.


Subject of conversation: Hobbies

Ryan: Reya, tell me your hobbies.

Viola with a sad face. Get it? Get it? Ehhhhehe.
Puns people, puns.

Reya: (after a long awkward pause)...I don't have hobbies, I only have things I do every day.

Ryan: OK then, tell me what you do every day.

Reya: I have a piano. It lives in my room. I like to read Shakespeare.

Ryan: Very good, what else do you like to do?

Reya: I play the viola. I play the viola...with a sad face.

Ryan: OK, so you play the viola...what do you guys think of that (motioning to the rest of the class)

(The rest of the class sits in silence with scared/confused looks on their face)

Ryan: --So, Harriet! Tell me about your hobbies.