Learn to share your holiday stories, how to respond to them and when exaggerating and embellishing a tale makes it better.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. After the extra long golden week, we fully expect that most of you have a story to tell about what you got up to – so here’s your chance! Did everything go swimmingly? Or did you just have the holiday from hell? If you’re interested in being able to take advantage of a break to make conversation, then make sure you come to this class.

What? We’ll start off by looking at a selection of horrible holidays – where anything that could go wrong, did. Next, we’ll look at what language we can use to make the stories we tell about our holidays more interesting and exciting – even if they’re not 100% true! Finally, we’ll look at a variety of compensation claims which holidaymakers have made and discuss whether they deserve their money back, or if they should just put up or shut up!

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Just a quick note to let you know we’ll be closed during the upcoming holidays. We will be back on 13th October with a new class for you.

Whatever you’re doing for the super-mega-double-holiday, and whoever you’re spending it with, we wish you all the best and we’ll see you soon.

English Collective

Learn to discuss what you need to bring with you on your perfect holiday, and what you’d advise a traveller who comes to shanghai to do to get a taste of the city.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. In honour of Iain and Claire’s brief return to Shanghai, we’ll take the opportunity to talk about travel. When you go away, do you bring everything but the kitchen sink? Or are you a light traveller? Would you call yourself a thrill-seeker? Or more or beach bum? If you’re a bit confused by these terms, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by discussing how to pack for a trip. What would you bring with you? What would you do once you got there? Next, we’ll consider the perfect holiday, and try to make a decision between us about an quick trip overseas? Finally, we’ll make some suggestions for where different kinds of travellers should go if they were to come to Shanghai.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to discuss travel arrangements, deal with problems you might encounter overseas, and plan your perfect holiday!

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. This year, the National Holiday is being combined with the Mid-Autumn Festival to make a super-mega-combo vacation! So how will you spend it? If you’re like most people in China, you’ll be travelling – whether that means catching the coach to a nearby city, jumping on a train to another province, or even flying somewhere further afield aboard a silver bird. But if you had to do it all in English, how would you cope? If you’re interested in the language of travel – even if its just talking about where you’d like to escape to, and how, while you’re chatting to a colleague – then make sure you book this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at what we like – and don’t like – about travelling. Next, we’ll look at some helpful language for catching public transport to get from where we are to where we need to be, and then use this language to try and help solve some problems on a nightmare journey! Finally – after that’s over – we’ll look at a selection of itineraries and work together to create our dream holiday!

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. How do you feel about the environment? Does it leave you sleepless at night – tossing, turning and worrying about what kind of world your children will grow up in? Or couldn’t you care less as you absent-mindedly throw more litter in the street and clog up landfill with household junk. How about your company? Do you have a strong sustainability program? Or are your bosses too worried about keeping costs down to make sure their environmental impact is minimal? Whether you’re interested in the environment and what we can do to save it, or if you think environmentalism is a waste of time, make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by discussing endangered animals and plants and deciding which we would save and why. Next, we’ll look at how we can express skepticism using environmental issues to practise the language. Finally, we’ll look at the case of a large manufacturing plant in North America who face a crucial decision about the future of their company due to their factory’s pollution.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to discuss internet censorship, weibo and how netizens are taking control of their lives.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. In China, over 500 million people now have access to the internet – that’s more than the entire population of the United States and double the amount of American online citizens. But how has the internet changed the lives of the people who have access to it? As with all media, the authorities would like to make sure that the internet remains a harmonious place, but how has the internet – and particularly weibo – changed how Chinese see the world? If you’re interested in discussing this, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by discussing our views of online censorship, and how it can be both beneficial and a huge drawback for the people who use the internet. Next, we’ll look at the way weibo has changed the landscape of the internet in China. Finally, we’ll debate whether we believe that it’ users should be given free rein to say what they want or kept on a tight leash.

Follow this link to listen to a podcast on the BBC, “It Started With A Tweet“.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Do you believe in love at first sight? How about everlasting love? Love can, apparently, conquer everything, but would you agree? If you’re interested in discussing the merits (or otherwise) of love and marriage, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at the reasons why people get married. Next, we’ll discuss the differences between male and female perspectives of marriage and the reasons for these differences. Finally, we’ll help to persuade one of our friends to get married – or not!

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Shakespeare claimed that life is a stage, and each man plays different roles in different stages of their life – which stage are you in now? What happens when we approach the later stages of our life? Have you planned for your retirement yet? Are you even looking forward to it at all? If you’re interested in discussing the benefits and drawbacks of retirement, and what we can do to help ourselves if we find we’re looking for love or championship in our latter years, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at the seven stages of man, and discussing the pros and cons of each stage of life. Next, we’ll focus on the latter stages of life, and what we’re expecting to happen to us at this time. Finally, we’ll read about an interesting story which has become famous around the world involving Shanghai retirees looking for love in all the wrong places, and what can be done to try and resolve the issues related to this story.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn mediation skills and decide how you can help to resolve conflict between neighbours and people who disagree with each other.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. As the bible tells us, “Love they neighbour” – but is it always so easy? I’m sure we’ve all had problems with noisy and annoying neighbours – maybe you’ve been one in the past? What would you do in those situations? Is it better to step in and do something yourself or just pass the buck to the police or building managers? How would you deal with an ongoing conflict with your neighbour when everything you’ve done has come to nothing? If you’re interested in learning how to deal with conflict between people, using neighbours as an example, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class we’ll start off by discussing our own experiences with neighbours from hell, and what we did when we had problems with them. Next, we’ll step into the shoes of two sets of neighbours who are struggling with an ongoing conflict and see if we can mediate a truce between them. Finally, we’ll  try and decide how we can deal with a particularly noisy neighbour who is interrupting the peace and quiet of a suburban neighbourhood.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn about the different types of people you need to make a successful team, and what type of team-worker you are yourself.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Have you ever wondered why other people are getting promoted instead of you? Do you wonder why the people who don’t seem to do as much work as you often seem to get ahead? Why does that guy who always comes in late look like he’s most likely to be the one picked out by management for the fast-track management scheme? When you’re putting a team together it’s important not just to get talented people, but the right combination of talents. According to management theorist Meredith Belbin, there are eight different types of people you need for a successful team – which type of person are you? If you’re interested in finding out where you fit into a team, and how you can change the way your boss sees you by altering your behaviour to fit what they need, then make sure you come to this class.

What? We’ll start off by looking at the pros and cons of working in teams – why do we need to collaborate when we could work on our own initiative? Next, we’ll look at Belbins groups of team workers, and how we see ourselves in relation to these groups. After that, we’ll look at how being an effective team worker (not just in terms of how you get on with your colleagues but also where you fit into the team) can impact on your career. Finally, we’ll use a case study and try and work out what changes we need to turn an unsuccessful team into a well-knit team.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Just a quick update to let you know that English Collective will be closed for the Dragon Boat Festival.

We hope you have a great holiday and will see you again next week!

Learn to discuss your attitudes towards the food you eat, and whether we should depend on the government, business or ourselves when it comes to making sure the food we eat is safe as well as delicious.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. “You are what you eat” – or so some would have us believe. But what exactly are you? Attitudes towards food have been changing in China since the economy has developed. At first people were eating more meat as their disposable income grew, and now there is a change in attitude amongst some that is leading to a decline in their meat consumption – whether for ethical or safety reasons. There is also a growing organic movement in China’s larger cities, growing in response to fear of chemicals and additives added to food in the production process. If you’re interested in being able to discuss the issues related to our food culture – both positive and negative – then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at whether it is ethically acceptable to eat meat or not – does becoming a vegetarian make you a better person? Next, we’ll look at our own attitudes towards human intervention in the food production processes – would you accept GM foods on your dinner table? Finally, we’ll discuss where the responsibility for food safety lies, how we can prevent food safety issues affecting ourselves, and what should be done to punish those who exploit our need for food and produce unsafe products to fatten their own wallets.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Continuing from last week’s class, this week we’ll focus on apologising strategies.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Nobody’s perfect, and we all make mistakes from time to time. However, sometimes we put ourselves in difficult positions because we decide to do what seems to be the right thing, but might be the wrong thing morally or ethically. For example, if you really needed work, would you lie on your C.V. or in an interview to get a job? What happens when you get caught? And when you do get something wrong, being able to deflect attention from your actions is an important skill which we all need to use from time to time! If you get things wrong more than you get right, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class we’ll start  off by looking at a situation where two friends blame each other for the breakdown in their relationship, and use this to learn how to pass the buck to other people when something goes wrong in our own lives. Next, we’ll look at some strategies for saying sorry when we finally have to hold our hands up and admit we’ve been wrong. Finally, we’ll bring it all together in an extensive role play and look at how laying the blame instead of holding your hands up for doing the wrong thing can have an impact on our own private lives.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to debate the right and wrong ways of going about things, how to get out of situations where you’ve done the wrong thing and shift the blame for something on to someone else, and if necessary how to apologise for your actions.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Nobody’s perfect, and we all make mistakes from time to time. However, sometimes we put ourselves in difficult positions because we decide to do what seems to be the right thing, but might be the wrong thing morally or ethically. For example, if you really needed work, would you lie on your C.V. or in an interview to get a job? What happens when you get caught? And when you do get something wrong, being able to deflect attention from your actions is an important skill which we all need to use from time to time! If you get things wrong more than you get right, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class we’ll start off by debating whether it is right to pad out our C.V. with untruths, and what we would do if we got caught afterwards. Next, we’ll look at a situation where two friends blame each other for the breakdown in their relationship, and use this to learn how to pass the buck to other people when something goes wrong in our own lives. Finally, we’ll look at some strategies for saying sorry when we finally have to hold our hands up and admit we’ve been wrong.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Rich all poor, all men are created equal – right? Or do you agree with George Orwell, who said “some are more equal than others”? Money can change your life – but does it always change it for the better? How about surviving on no money at all – could you do it? If you’re interested in talking about money – or a lack of it – can decide your fate, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class we’ll start off by thinking about the rich – what do they do with their money and how did they get it all in the first place. Next, we’ll look at some tips for saving money when we’re travelling, and discuss how we can apply these tips to our own daily lives. Finally, we’ll look at those who are living on a shoestring and decide what – if anything – we should do to help them.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to reminisce about your childhood, talk about parenting and debate the benefits (or otherwise) of adoption.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Do you ever wish you could re-live your childhood? Or how about just take the time to reminisce about them (making sure to put on your rose-tinted spectacles, of course)? But not every childhood is golden – some children are a lot more ‘challenging’ than others. How do parents cope when their children start acting up? If you’re interested in discussing the issues related to children and parenting, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll start off by trying to remember our fondest memories of childhood, and reminisce about the good old days. Then we’ll try and put ourselves in the position of Britain’s naughtiest child, and try to work out what makes him tick – and then decide what his parents should do to try and keep him under control. Finally, we’ll look at some non-traditional families and discuss whether we think they are a good alternative to the ‘nuclear family’.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn the language you need to discuss families, parental relationships and how what we think about the responsibilities of our children.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. In English, there is a common phrase, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” All cultures have very different attitudes towards family, for example some cultures are matriarchal (for example the Musuo in china) and some are patriarchal, and some are a blend of the two depending on the circumstances. Approaches to parenting are also very different – for example the Asian phenomenon of Tiger Mothers and Eagle Dads, and the British experiences of ‘latchkey kids’ and American ‘helicopter parents’. If you’re interested in discussing the values of families around the world, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at the value of families, and how we think they differ across different cultures. Next, we’ll watch a video of an Eagle Dad and use it as a springboard for discussion on whether parents have a responsibility to toughen up their kids. Finally, we’ll look at ‘Kippers’, and our attitudes to when we think children should fly the coup and leave home.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to make effective lies and spot when someone is lying in English.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. With all the talk of online rumours in the media recently, it’s becoming more and more important to try and work out for ourselves what to believe – and also what to ignore. But how do you reach your conclusions? Do you know the tricks and techniques that effective liars use when they want to persuade us something is true? How can you piece together different opinions to get to the truth of the matter at hand? If you’re interested in learning how to find the truth and read between the lines, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll look at some situations where lying might be OK, and decide for ourselves what the correct response might be when we’re faced with a choice of telling an uncomfortable truth or a helpful lie. Next, we’ll look at some of the phrases used by the news media when they report on something and want to persuade us that their opinion is the correct one – and use this to dissect some of the recent news stories. Finally, we’ll look at ways that people lie in normal conversation and use these skills to try and trick our partners – it takes a liar to spot a liar!

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to talk about the different kinds of rituals and traditions associated with passing away, and learn the right way to express your condolences.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Following the recent Qing Ming Festival, here at English Collective we’ve decided to try and deal with one of the most difficult topics imaginable – passing away. While we know many people don’t like to discuss this subject, we feel that it’s important to be able to talk about all aspects of culture, not just the ones that make us happy. If you want to be able to broaden your language by looking at how we view death and also learning some idioms related to death, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class we’ll start off by looking at the best way to describe someone’s death, and how we can express our condolences appropriately. Next, we’ll look at some of the different ways of dealing with the logistics of death, and how we celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Finally, we’ll look at our own ideas about this tricky subject matter and what type of language is right when talking about it with other people.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Just a short message to let you know that we will be closed for the upcoming Qing Ming festival so there will be no classes during the weekend of 31st March and 1st April. We will be open again from 7th April.

See you then!

Learn how to obtain consensus and make difficult decisions by showing different degrees of agreement and disagreement.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Making decisions is easy – getting people to buy-in to them is the hard part! How many times have you had a great idea, but had a hard time convincing other people to accept them, or implement them and follow-through on their action points? In this class we’ll look at creating shared objectives, which are vital if unpopular decisions are going to be accepted. If you need help getting people to buy-in to your ideas, then make sure you come to this class!

What? In this class we’ll start off by looking at what we need to do or see to know that people have bought-in to an idea. Next, we’ll watch two videos of a chairman trying to obtain consensus on a decision which has divided the meeting – with varying degrees of success. Finally, we’ll put these ideas into practice by trying to obtain the consensus of the group on a divisive issue.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn the essential language of teleconferencing to make sure your teleconferences run smoothly and effectively.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Teleconferencing is here to stay, and while for many modern business people teleconferencing is an essential tool to keep in touch with their colleagues and clients around the world, English Collective teachers often speak to students who absolutely dread having to dial into them. That’s why we’ve created this lesson, to help our members communicate more effectively, efficiently and make sure they get their message across. If you want to improve your teleconferencing skills, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at an emergency teleconference held by a company who have a disaster at their factory. Their CEO is woken in the early hours of the morning and has to call in to the teleconference – and we’ll be there to listen to what everyone has to say. Next, we’ll look at the language they use to deal with each other and the problem at hand, and finally we’ll hold our own teleconference to decide how to deal with an impending disaster on set of the film we’re producing.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Wherever you’re from, you are a product of your environment. Whether you’re an American in Paris, an Englishman in New York, or someone who works across different cultures, knowing how to deal with cultural issues is an essential skill. If you’re interested in learning about different cultures – and where some of the potential conflicts may arise between them – then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll look at our attitudes to our private and public selves – how much of yourself do you feel comfortable ‘putting out there’ and what do you keep ‘hidden away’? Next, we’ll look at the story of a ‘works do’ with 12 different nationalities, and what happens when two cultures clash. Finally, we’ll discuss our own opinions about how we should deal with culture clashes, and what – if anything – needs to happen to those who cross cultural boundaries.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Never scared to tackle the big subjects, our guest teacher Mark Seeley presents a special lesson discussing some of the main schools of Western philosophy and how we can apply their teachings to our own lives.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Why are we here? What is my purpose? These are questions that have occupied the minds of the great and the good from all walks of life – and still there is no definitive answer. We all have questions about life and everyone has different answers that make up their own personal philosophy, and if you’re interested in explaining your deepest thoughts about the world and yourself, then this is the class for you.

What? In this Upper-Intermediate level class, we will learn about the ideas behind the most important philosophers in the Western world from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Friedrich Nietzsche, so that we can learn how to best express our own personal philosophies.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate

Learn to discuss news content, factual reporting and sensationalist journalism.

Who? This class is for Upper-Intermediate members. Every day around the world news crews and journalists are always on the lookout for the next big story, some breaking news that they feel is important to report. But are there some aspects of the news which should be played down? Or is all news useful important, no matter how morbid? Where is the line between reporting the facts and sensationalism? In many countries, some media are accused of rubbernecking and making stories more gruesome than they have to be to make sure that their viewers, listeners and readers are entertained as well as informed – is this acceptable? If you want to be able to discuss this difficult topic, then make sure you come to this class.

What? In this class, we’ll start off by looking at some different perspectives about the news and whether people have a right to know all the details of a story or if the media has a duty to downplay certain aspects of the news. Next, we’ll role play a news room discussion and look at some potential news stories, debating which should be allowed  into our news bulletins, and how we should put the  information across. Finally, we’ll use the news to discuss whether censorship can actually be a useful thing, or if people have the right to know all of the details of every news story.

Credits 20

Maximum Students 8

Level Upper-Intermediate