Topics for English Salons 2024 Damien
1Please note: Though I would like you to talk about the topics I have chosen below, if you
do not wish to talk about any of them, feel free to choose your own topic.
May 2024
Tell us about yourself!
Welcome to the English Salon!
Some of us may know each other already but I’m sure we’ll be meeting some new members
in our first class, so please introduce yourself!
Tell us where you were born, introduce your parents to us and tell us about your brothers
and sisters, what they were like? If you worked, tell us about your job. What are yourhobbies and interests? Why did you decide to become an English Salon member?
By the way, I’m very interested in knowing about your childhood life in Japan. I wonder
what your favorite food was, did you eat dinner at a kotatsu, did you sleep on a futon, did
you have a bath in your home or did you go to a local public bath (sento)? What householdchores did your parents make you do? Did you go on family trips together?
Nowadays we live very modern lives, but I think it will be interesting for us all to hear aboutsuch things from your past.

June 2024
TechnologyThese days our homes have video door phones, and with a touch of a button we can heatup our baths to exactly 40 degrees.
Now family restaurants have robots that deliver food to tables! In some restaurants wemust order our food with a tablet. What do you think about these things? Are you
comfortable with such technology?
Do you use a smartphone? Do you regularly send messages to your family members andfriends using LINE? Do you think LINE is a good way to communicate?
Technology has both good points and bad points. What do you like and dislike? Whattechnology do you find useful, do you dislike or find hard to use?

Topics for English Salons 2024 Damien
2July 2024
Who do you admire, who do you detest?
Being able to talk about people is an important English skill!
Please us about your favorite Japanese or international personalities. Why do you likethem, what makes them special?
Perhaps there is someone you dislike. Talk about them and tell us why.

September 2024
If I could…
Would you like to be a great actor, musician, artist, sportsman, writer, English speakeror ???
I have a magic wand. If I wave it I can grant you overnight, any skill that you would like!!
If you had a chance to have a new skill, what would choose it to be? Tell us what skill orskills that you would like to have, why you want them, and what you would do!

October 2024
Risks
Have you sometimes taken some risks in your life? Are you a risk taker or are you afraid totry new things?
Tell us about some things you did in your life that were risky. What happened? What werethe outcomes? Are you glad you took those risks?
Are there some risks you wish you had taken?
Have you taken any risks recently?

Topics for English Salons 2024 Damien
3

November 2024
City or country life?
There are many advantages to living in cities, but there are disadvantages too. Cities arenoisy, the air is not so clean, people are not so friendly, and so on.
I think Sakura is a great place to live but if you could choose to live anywhere in Japan,
where would you like to live and why?

December 2024
Looking back at 2024
The end of the year is drawing to a close! There have been many events that have takenplace. What were the most important events for you in 2024 and why!

January 2025
New Year with your family, past and present!
Things are changing rapidly in Japan. Old customs are being forgotten, new customs arebeing made…
Tell us about how you spent your New Year’s holiday!
What are you family traditions and customs? Have they changed from what you did in thepast?
Also, what are your dreams for 2025? What would you like to do and where would you liketo go?

February 2025
Famous Japanese people!
Japan has had a long, rich history with many famous people who have had a big impact onJapanese life and culture.

Topics for English Salons 2024 Damien
4Tell us about someone from Japan’s past whom you admire and respect! Why were they
important? Tell us about their achievements and the impact they had on Japanese life andculture.

March 2025
Choose your own topic!
I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together and that you’re getting more confident with yourEnglish speaking ability.
Do you have your own topic or topics that you’d like to talk about? This is your chance!
Please tell us about any of the things that interest you.